US4097239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-flame burner for flame photometric detection
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1977-02-28
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Granted: 1978-06-27
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Expires: 1997-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A two-flame burner is used in a flame photometric detector for analyzing a sample material. The sample material is introduced via a first conduit structure into a hydrogen-rich first flame, and the combustion products and excess hydrogen from the first flame are passed via a second conduit structure into an oxygen-containing environment. A second flame is maintained at the exit end of the second conduit structure. The first and second conduit structures are composed of material that does not contribute to the coloration of the second flame during operation of the detector. Particular constituents of the sample material are detected by observing the presence of colors in the second flame indicative of the constituents. For example, the presence of sulfur is indicated by a blue coloration, and the presence of phosphorus is indicated by a green coloration. The presence of nitrogen is indicated by a coloration of the second flame resulting from a chemiluminescent molecular recombination of nitric oxide and oxygen atoms to form nitrogen dioxide molecules. The presence of any hydrocarbon can be indicated by a flame coloration resulting from a chemical reaction indicative of elemental carbon.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul L. Patterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/71; G01N21/72; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/16; Y10T436/17; Y10T436/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for analyzing a chemical substance, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said chemical substance into a hydrogen-rich first flame, passing combustion products and excess hydrogen from said first flame into a second flame via a conduit structure having a substantial thermal conductance such that said conduit structure, in operation, does not contribute to the coloration of said second flame, and detecting the presence in said second flame of a color that is indicative of the presence of a particular constituent in said chemical substance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for analyzing a chemical substance, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said chemical substance into a hydrogen-rich first flame, passing combustion products and excess hydrogen from said first flame into a second flame via a conduit structure having a substantial thermal conductance such that said conduit structure, in operation, does not contribute to the coloration of said second flame, and detecting the presence in said second flame of a color that is indicative of the presence of a particular constituent in said chemical substance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the color indicative of the presence of a particular constituent in said chemical substance is detected by spectrophotometric means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said spectrophotometer means comprises means for observing said second flame by a photomultiplier through an optical filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen content in a peripheral region of said second flame is controllable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the oxygen content in said peripheral region of said second flame is decreased for depriving said second flame of sufficient oxygen to react with all of the hydrogen in the second flame, thereby providing a hydrogen-rich second flame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a blue color in said second flame indicative of sulfur.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a green color in said second flame indicative of phosphorus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the oxygen content in said peripheral region of said second flame is increased to provide more than sufficient oxygen to react with all of the hydrogen in said second flame, thereby providing an oxygen-rich second flame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a coloration of said second flame resulting from a chemical reaction indicative of elemental carbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a coloration of said second flame resulting from a chemical reaction indicative of elemental nitrogen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said chemical reaction comprises a chemiluminescent molecular recombination of nitric oxide and oxygen atoms to form nitrogen dioxide molecules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A two-flame burner for use in analyzing a sample material, said burner comprising: an inner conduit structure, an end of which defines a first flame tip; an outer conduit structure, an end of which defines a second flame tip; said first and second flame tips being spatially separated; said inner conduit structure being disposed within said outer conduit structure to provide a passageway between said conduit structures for hydrogen, an oxydizing gas and said sample material to a region adjacent said first flame tip, thereby permitting a hydrogen-rich first flame to be maintained adjacent said first flame tip; said outer conduit being configured to cause combustion products and excess hydrogen from said first flame to exit at said second flame tip, thereby permitting a second flame to be maintained in an oxygen-containing environment adjacent said second flame tip; said inner and outer conduit structures being chemically inert with respect to combustion products of said first flame; said inner and outer conduit structures being disposed in thermally conductive relationship with a heat sink, whereby said conduit structures do not contribute to coloration of said second flame during operation of said burner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A two-flame burner for use in analyzing a sample material, said burner comprising: an inner conduit structure, an end of which defines a first flame tip; an outer conduit structure, an end of which defines a second flame tip; said first and second flame tips being spatially separated; said inner conduit structure being disposed within said outer conduit structure to provide a passageway between said conduit structures for hydrogen, an oxydizing gas and said sample material to a region adjacent said first flame tip, thereby permitting a hydrogen-rich first flame to be maintained adjacent said first flame tip; said outer conduit being configured to cause combustion products and excess hydrogen from said first flame to exit at said second flame tip, thereby permitting a second flame to be maintained in an oxygen-containing environment adjacent said second flame tip; said inner and outer conduit structures being chemically inert with respect to combustion products of said first flame; said inner and outer conduit structures being disposed in thermally conductive relationship with a heat sink, whereby said conduit structures do not contribute to coloration of said second flame during operation of said burner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The burner of claim 12 wherein said inner conduit structure is composed of a stainless steel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The burner of claim 12 wherein said inner conduit structure is composed of a ceramic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The burner of claim 12 wherein said outer conduit structure is composed of a stainless steel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The burner of claim 12 wherein said outer conduit structure is composed of a ceramic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The burner of claim 12 wherein a means is provided for introducing an oxygen-containing gas at a controlled flow rate into the region adjacent said second flame tip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The burner of claim 17 wherein said means for introducing said oxygen-containing gas into the region adjacent said second flame tip comprises a tower structure enclosing said inner and outer conduit structures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The burner of claim 18 in combination with spectrophotometric means for detecting a particular constituent in said sample material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The burner of claim 12 in combination with spectrophotometric means for detecting a particular constituent in said sample material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein said spectrophotometric means comprises means for observing a chemiluminescent molecular recombination of nitric oxide and oxygen atoms to form nitrogen dioxide molecules.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein said spectrophotometric means comprises photomultiplier means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said photomultiplier means is used in conjunction with an optical filter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The burner of claim 12 wherein said inner and outer conduit structures are of generally cylindrical configuration and are coaxially disposed with respect to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The burner of claim 24 wherein access for hydrogen to the region adjacent said first flame tip is provided via the passageway between said inner conduit structure and said outer conduit structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The burner of claim 25 in combination with spectrophotometric means for detecting a particular constituent in said sample material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The burner of claim 24 wherein access for the oxidizing gas and said sample material to the region adjacent said first flame tip is provided via said inner conduit structure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The burner of claim 27 in combination with spectrophotometric means for detecting a particular constituent in said sample material.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for detecting nitrogen-bearing compounds in a sample material by reacting said sample material to produce nitric oxide molecules, and by observing a chemiluminescent reaction of said nitric oxide molecules with oxygen atoms to form nitrogen dioxide molecules, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said sample material into a first flame to produce combustion products that include nitric oxide, passing and nitric oxide into an oxidizing second flame, and observing a coloration in said second flame indicative of said chemiluminescent reaction.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for detecting nitrogen-bearing compounds in a sample material by reacting said sample material to produce nitric oxide molecules, and by observing a chemiluminescent reaction of said nitric oxide molecules with oxygen atoms to form nitrogen dioxide molecules, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said sample material into a first flame to produce combustion products that include nitric oxide, passing and nitric oxide into an oxidizing second flame, and observing a coloration in said second flame indicative of said chemiluminescent reaction.
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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) | 1981-06-26 | 1981-12-26 | 1982-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-26 | 1985-12-26 | 1986-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-26 | 1989-12-26 | 1990-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |