US4063452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for monitoring vapor concentration at a phase interface
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1976-02-13
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Granted: 1977-12-20
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Expires: 1996-02-13
Abstract
Abstract Method of monitoring and indicating the concentration of vapor components at a phase interface comprising sampling vapor at the vapor source phase interface, comparing the vapor concentration in the sample with a standard, and indicating the concentration of the vapor relative to the standard. A monitoring device is disclosed which comprises a sensing means and means for responsively coupling the sensing means to the vapor source phase to be monitored so that a representative vapor sample is presented to the sensing means. The method and device disclosed herein can be advantageously used to monitor volatile components, especially moisture, available to potted plants.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Ian Bradshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/008; G; G01; G01N; G01N31/00; G01N31/22; G01N31/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A device for monitoring and indicating the concentration of a vapor at a phase interface comprising a. a sensing means for comparing the concentration of a selected vapor component in a sample with a standard which is representative of a selected parametric concentration of said vapor in said sample, said sensing means including means for indicating the concentration of said vapor in said sample relative to said standard, and b. a differentially vapor permeable, liquid impermeable envelope enclosing said sensing means to responsively couple said sensing means to a vapor source phase at said phase interface, said envelope comprising a base adapted to rest on said vapor source phase and a cover for said base, said base and said cover vapor permeable defining a sealed, closely conforming envelope containing said sensing means, said cover having a vapor transmission rate equivalent to a water vapor transmission rate of between 20 and 60 grams/1000 cm 2 /24 hours, said base having a vapor transmission rate at least 50% greater than the vapor transmission rate of said cover, said cover adapted for viewing said indicating means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A device for monitoring and indicating the concentration of a vapor at a phase interface comprising a. a sensing means for comparing the concentration of a selected vapor component in a sample with a standard which is representative of a selected parametric concentration of said vapor in said sample, said sensing means including means for indicating the concentration of said vapor in said sample relative to said standard, and b. a differentially vapor permeable, liquid impermeable envelope enclosing said sensing means to responsively couple said sensing means to a vapor source phase at said phase interface, said envelope comprising a base adapted to rest on said vapor source phase and a cover for said base, said base and said cover vapor permeable defining a sealed, closely conforming envelope containing said sensing means, said cover having a vapor transmission rate equivalent to a water vapor transmission rate of between 20 and 60 grams/1000 cm 2 /24 hours, said base having a vapor transmission rate at least 50% greater than the vapor transmission rate of said cover, said cover adapted for viewing said indicating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises an indicating component capable of visibly responding to changes in the concentration of a selected vapor component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said selected vapor component is ammonia.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said selected vapor component is water vapor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said indicating component comprises cobalt chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said sensing means is adapted to change color at a relative humidity between 50 and 75%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said indicating component is a deliquescent salt capable of reversibly changing from an opaque to a transparent state in response to a change in relative humidity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A soil monitoring device according to claim 4 wherein said base is a vapor permeable hydrophobic pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A soil monitoring device according to claim 8 wherein said device also includes a porous protective sheet underlying said base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A soil monitoring device according to claim 9 wherein said indicating component comprises a mixture of cobalt chloride and polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A soil monitoring device according to claim 9 wherein said sensing element is a film of indicating component comprising a mixture of cobalt chloride and polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer, said film adhered directly to said cover sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said cover of said envelope has a water vapor transmission rate in the range of about 20 g/1000 cm 2 /24 hours to about 40 g/1000 cm 2 /24 hours.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A body dressing comprising an aqueous liquid absorbent layer and a liquid impervious layer, said body dressing including a monitoring device according to claim 1 located adjacent said absorbent layer, at least a portion of said liquid impervious layer being transparent so that said monitoring device can be viewed therethrough.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of continuously monitoring the concentration of vapor at a phase interface which comprises a. continuously collecting a representative vapor sample in a differentially vapor permeable, liquid impermeable, envelope directly from a vapor source phase at the phase interface, said envelope comprising a base and a cover vapor permeable, said cover having a vapor transmission rate equivalent to a water vapor transmission rate of between 20 and 60 grams/1000 cm 2 /24 hours; b. comparing the concentration of a selected vapor component in said sample with a standard contained in said envelope which is representative of a selected parametric concentration of said vapor in said sample; and c. visibly indicating the concentration of said vapor in said sample relative to said standard.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of continuously monitoring the concentration of vapor at a phase interface which comprises a. continuously collecting a representative vapor sample in a differentially vapor permeable, liquid impermeable, envelope directly from a vapor source phase at the phase interface, said envelope comprising a base and a cover vapor permeable, said cover having a vapor transmission rate equivalent to a water vapor transmission rate of between 20 and 60 grams/1000 cm 2 /24 hours; b. comparing the concentration of a selected vapor component in said sample with a standard contained in said envelope which is representative of a selected parametric concentration of said vapor in said sample; and c. visibly indicating the concentration of said vapor in said sample relative to said standard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein said vapor component is water vapor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said vapor source phase is soil containing a potted plant and said parametric vapor concentration is indicative of the minimum life-sustaining soil moisture concentration necessary for said potted plant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said envelope comprises a cover having a water vapor transmission rate of from about 20 g/1000 cm 2 /24 hours to about 40 g/1000 cm 2 /24 hours and a base having a water vapor transmission rate at least 50% greater than said cover.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-19 | 1981-06-20 | 1981-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-19 | 1985-06-20 | 1985-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-19 | 1989-06-20 | 1989-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |