US3998101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sampling the atmosphere in non-hermetically-sealed containers
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1975-07-31
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Granted: 1976-12-21
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Expires: 1995-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of vapor-producing substances such as explosives contained within an item of baggage, in which the item of baggage is enclosed in a chamber and the air pressure in the chamber is varied cyclically in order to mix at least a portion of the air in the item of baggage with that in the chamber. A vapor detector is then used to detect the presence in the chamber air of vapors given off by an explosive substance or drug (e.g., cannabis) contained within the item of baggage.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Fagan Donat Bradshaw
- 👤 Colin Frank Richardson Wainwright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0011; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/2273; G01N33/0078; G01N33/0081; G01N2001/022; G01N2001/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for sampling the atmosphere in a non-hermetically-sealed container, the method comprising the steps of locating the container within a substantially closed chamber, cyclically varying the pressure within the chamber at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure range, and then sampling the atmosphere within the chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for sampling the atmosphere in a non-hermetically-sealed container, the method comprising the steps of locating the container within a substantially closed chamber, cyclically varying the pressure within the chamber at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure range, and then sampling the atmosphere within the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said repetition rate is in the range of about 1 to about 50 cycles per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said pressure change range is about 0.01 to about 0.2 pounds per square inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the said pressure range is atmospheric pressure ± 0.1 pounds per square inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is provided with a vent, the dimensions of the chamber and the vent being such that the air in the chamber is excited into resonance at the given repetition rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure variations are produced by cyclically changing the enclosed volume of the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the wall of said chamber comprises a flexibly - movable portion and volume change is produced by movement of said flexibly-movable portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for detecting the presence of a volatile organic substance contained within a non-hermetically-sealed container, the method comprising the steps of locating the container within a substantially closed chamber, cyclically varying the pressure within the chamber at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure change range, and then determining whether or not any vapor from the substance is present in the atmosphere within the chamber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for detecting the presence of a volatile organic substance contained within a non-hermetically-sealed container, the method comprising the steps of locating the container within a substantially closed chamber, cyclically varying the pressure within the chamber at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure change range, and then determining whether or not any vapor from the substance is present in the atmosphere within the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said chamber is provided with a vent, the dimensions of the chamber and the vent being such that the air in the chamber is excited into resonance at the given repetition rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the pressure variations are produced by cyclically changing the enclosed volume of the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein wall of said chamber comprises a flexibly-movable portion and the volume change is produced by movement of said flexibly-movable portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for sampling the atmosphere in a non-hermetically-sealed container, the apparatus comprising a substantially-closable chamber of a size sufficient to envelop said container, means for cyclically varying the pressure within the chamber at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure range, and a sampling device so arranged as to sample the atmosphere within the chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for sampling the atmosphere in a non-hermetically-sealed container, the apparatus comprising a substantially-closable chamber of a size sufficient to envelop said container, means for cyclically varying the pressure within the chamber at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure range, and a sampling device so arranged as to sample the atmosphere within the chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the said repetition rate is in the range about 1 to about 50 cycles per second.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the said pressure change range is about 0.01 to about 0.2 pounds per square inch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the said pressure range is atmospheric pressure ± 0.1 pounds per square inch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 including means for cyclically changing the volume of the chamber to produce said pressure variations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein a wall of the chamber is provided with a flexibly-movable portion movement of which produces the said volume change.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the flexibly-movable portion is movable by means of a drive mechanism.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the drive mechanism is an electric motor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, including means for purging the air from the chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said chamber is provided with a vent, the dimensions of the chamber and of the vent being such that the air in the chamber and vent resonates at the given repetition rate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the vent has the form of a pipe one end of which opens into the chamber and the other end of which is open to the atmosphere.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 including X-ray apparatus so arranged in relation to the chamber that the presence of metal objects within a container located in the chamber may be detected thereby.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of a volatile organic substance contained within a non-hermetically-sealed container, the apparatus comprising a substantially-closable chamber of a size sufficient to envelope said container, means for cyclically varying the pressure within the container at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure range, and a detector for detecting the presence of any vapor from said substance in the chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of a volatile organic substance contained within a non-hermetically-sealed container, the apparatus comprising a substantially-closable chamber of a size sufficient to envelope said container, means for cyclically varying the pressure within the container at a given repetition rate and within a given pressure range, and a detector for detecting the presence of any vapor from said substance in the chamber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, including means for cyclically changing the volume of the chamber to produce said pressure variations.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein a wall of the chamber is provided with a flexibly-movable portion movement of which produces the said volume change.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the flexibly-movable portion is movable by means of a drive mechanism.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, including means for purging the air from the chamber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said chamber is provided with a vent, the dimensions of the chamber and of the vent being such that the air in the chamber and vent resonates at the given repetition rate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the vent has the form of a pipe one end of which opens into the chamber and the other end of which is open to the atmosphere.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, including X-ray apparatus so arranged in relation to the chamner that the presence of metal objects within a container located in the chamber may be detected thereby.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3617734A
Cited
US3568411A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-12-21 | 1980-06-21 | 1980-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-21 | 1984-06-21 | 1984-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-21 | 1988-06-21 | 1988-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |