Patent US3912613A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3912613A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Two-electrode gas analysis system for electrically sensing and controlling redox reactions
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-09-17
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A gas analysis system includes a pair of electrodes disposed in a cell containing an electrolyte through which a sample gas containing an unknown quantity of a reactant gas is passed. The gas reacts with the electrolyte, which changes the electrical resistance of the electrolyte in proportion to the concentration of the reactant gas. The electrodes are part of an externallypowered monitoring circuit which alternately senses the resistance of the electrolyte and then generates a voltage between the electrodes in response to the sensed resistance, permitting a generating current to flow periodically in response to the sensed resistance, the generating current being proportional to the amount of gas reacting with the electrolyte.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolph L Heuser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/42; G01N27/44; G01N27/02; G01N27/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
AN EXTERNALLY-POWED, TWO-ELECTRODE SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF A GASEOUS COMPONENT REACTABLE WITH AN ELECTROLYTE, THE SYSTEM INCLUDING A CELL CONTAINING THE ELECTROLYTE THROUGH WHICH A GAS STREAM CONTAINING SAID COMPONENT TO BE MEASURED IS PASSED, A CATHODE AND AN ANODE DISPOSED IN SPACED APART RELATION WITHIN THE ELECTROLYTE IN THE CELL, AND AN EXTERNALLY-POWERED ELECTRICAL MONITORING CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO THE CATHODE AND THE ANODE AND IN WHICH SENSING AND GENERATING FUNCTIONS OF THE CIRCUIT ARE ALTERNATELY SHARED ONLY BY SAID CATHODE AND ANODE, THE MONITORING CIRCUIT INCLUDING A SENSING CIRCUIT ADAPTED TO APPLY A FIRST VOLTAGE PULSE BETWEEN THE CATHODE AND ANODE TO PRODUCE AN OUTPUT RELATED TO THE CONDUCTIVITY OF THE ELECTROLYTE, A GENERATING CIRCUIT RESPONSE TO THE OUTPUT PRODUCED BY THE SENSING CIRCUIT FOR PRODUCING, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SAID FIRST VOLTAGE PULSE, A SECOND VOLTAGE PULSE BETWEEN THE CATHODE AND THE ANODE EITHER SUFFICIENT TO ELECTROLYZE THE ELECTROLYTE WHEN THE SENSED CONDUCTIVITY OF THE ELECTROLYTE IS WITHIN A FIRST RANGE, OR INSUFFICIENT SO THE ELECTROLYTE IS NOT ELECTROLYZED WHEN THE SENSED CONDUCTIVITY OF THE ELECTROLYTE IS WITHIN A SECOND RANGE, AND MEANS FOR RECORDING THE GENERATING CIRCUIT CURRENT AS AN INDICATION OF THE AMOUNT OF SAID GASEOUS COMPONENT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
AN EXTERNALLY-POWED, TWO-ELECTRODE SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF A GASEOUS COMPONENT REACTABLE WITH AN ELECTROLYTE, THE SYSTEM INCLUDING A CELL CONTAINING THE ELECTROLYTE THROUGH WHICH A GAS STREAM CONTAINING SAID COMPONENT TO BE MEASURED IS PASSED, A CATHODE AND AN ANODE DISPOSED IN SPACED APART RELATION WITHIN THE ELECTROLYTE IN THE CELL, AND AN EXTERNALLY-POWERED ELECTRICAL MONITORING CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO THE CATHODE AND THE ANODE AND IN WHICH SENSING AND GENERATING FUNCTIONS OF THE CIRCUIT ARE ALTERNATELY SHARED ONLY BY SAID CATHODE AND ANODE, THE MONITORING CIRCUIT INCLUDING A SENSING CIRCUIT ADAPTED TO APPLY A FIRST VOLTAGE PULSE BETWEEN THE CATHODE AND ANODE TO PRODUCE AN OUTPUT RELATED TO THE CONDUCTIVITY OF THE ELECTROLYTE, A GENERATING CIRCUIT RESPONSE TO THE OUTPUT PRODUCED BY THE SENSING CIRCUIT FOR PRODUCING, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SAID FIRST VOLTAGE PULSE, A SECOND VOLTAGE PULSE BETWEEN THE CATHODE AND THE ANODE EITHER SUFFICIENT TO ELECTROLYZE THE ELECTROLYTE WHEN THE SENSED CONDUCTIVITY OF THE ELECTROLYTE IS WITHIN A FIRST RANGE, OR INSUFFICIENT SO THE ELECTROLYTE IS NOT ELECTROLYZED WHEN THE SENSED CONDUCTIVITY OF THE ELECTROLYTE IS WITHIN A SECOND RANGE, AND MEANS FOR RECORDING THE GENERATING CIRCUIT CURRENT AS AN INDICATION OF THE AMOUNT OF SAID GASEOUS COMPONENT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the electrolyte has a characteristic voltage level above which it can be electrolyzed and below which it cannot be electrolyzed, and in which the generating circuit voltage pulse is above said level if the electrical resistance sensed by the sensing circuit is above a certain level, and in which the generating circuit voltage pulse is below said level if the electrical resistance sensed by the sensing circuit is below a certain level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the sensing circuit periodically measures the electrical resistance between the cathode and anode, and in which the generating circuit responds periodically to the resistance measured by the sensing circuit to produce a periodic output which is a function of the resistance periodically measured by the sensing circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the sensing circuit includes means for maintaining the voltage of the first pulse below said characteristic voltage level between the cathode and the anode, and in which the sensing circuit includes means producing a first output signal when the electrical resistance of the electrolyte present between the cathode and the anode is above a certain level, and a second output signal when the electrical resistance of the electrolyte present between the cathode and the anode is below a certain level, and in which the generating circuit is responsive to either the first output signal for applying a voltage pulse between the cathode and the anode sufficient to electrolyze the electrolyte, or to the second output signal for applying a voltage pulse between the cathode and the anode insufficient to electrolyze the electrolyte.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the cell includes a reaction chamber containing the electrolyte, with the cathode and anode being submerged in the electrolyte in the reaction chamber, and in which the cell further includes a gas inlet tube extending to the vicinity of the cathode and anode so that a sample gas stream passing through the inlet tube will react with the electrolyte in the presence of the cathode and anode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which either of the cathode or anode is a cylindrical open-ended body, and the other is located in the interior of the cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the gas is admitted at a location to provide circulation of the electrolyte through the cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the cell includes an inlet conduit opening into a portion of the cell containing the electrolyte for admitting electrolyte to the cell as the electrolyte is being consumed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the inlet conduit is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the cell which contains the portions of the electrodes submerged in the electrolyte, and in which the inlet conduit opens into the cell immediately below where the electrodes are submerged in the electrolyte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the cell includes a container for holding a body of the electrolyte and a sample gas inlet tube in communication with circulating electrolyte in the container, and in which the container and sample gas inlet tube are connected in electrical circuit relation with the monitoring circuit so the container and inlet tube act as the cathode and the anode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the cell includes an inlet conduit opening into a portion of the cell containing the electrolyte for admitting electrolyte to the cell as the electrolyte is being consumed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the inlet conduit is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the cell which contains the portions of the electrodes submerged in the electrolyte, and in which the inlet conduit opens into the cell immediately below where the electrodes are submerged in the electrolyte.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |