US4166379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the detection of volatile organic substances
Assignee: Pye Electronic Products Ltd
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Filing: 1978-01-09
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Granted: 1979-09-04
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Expires: 1998-01-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for detecting the presence of volatile, organic substances in gaseous mixtures comprises a filament on which the substances are absorbed when the filament is cold and released when hot, an electron capture device to detect the emitted substances, a primary and a secondary flow of inert gas, and a valve system in which system an inlet valve which admits the gaseous mixture automatically closes when the gas pressure of the gases within the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, the presence of the volatile organic substances being indicated by an output signal from the electron capture device. The apparatus alternatively may be used for controlling the flow of gases containing organic volatile substances. The filament may be sensitive to specific vapors.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. D. Bradshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0011; G01N30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
An apparatus for detecting a volatile organic substance contained in a gaseous mixture, comprising: (a) a chamber and an electron capture device disposed in said chamber of said apparatus, (b) a heatable filament which adsorbs, when cold, said volatile organic substance and when heated, releases said substance to said electron capture device, said apparatus further comprising a duct containing said filament, said duct communicating with said chamber, (c) a first inlet passage with a first inlet valve to admit a quantity of said mixture into the apparatus, said first inlet valve communicating with said duct and comprising means for opening said first inlet valve when the pressure in the apparatus is less than the ambient pressure and to close when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, (d) a second inlet passage that communicates with said duct and comprises means for admitting a primary flow of an inert gas over said filament, (e) a third inlet passage communicating with said chamber and comprising means for admitting a secondary flow of the inert gas which passes over the electron capture device when said filament is cold, (f) a first outlet passage with a first outlet valve to exhaust the gas under analysis and the inert gas to the atmosphere, said first outlet passage communicating with said duct. (g) a second outlet passage with a second outlet valve, said second outlet passage communicating with said chamber and comprising means for the primary flow of inert gas to take volatile components released from the filament when heated to the electron capture device, (h) means to open said first outlet valve of said first outlet passage when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, and (i) means to open said second outlet valve of said second outlet passage, the presence of one or more of the volatile organic substances being detected by a change in an output signal from the electron capture device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
323 words
An apparatus for detecting a volatile organic substance contained in a gaseous mixture, comprising: (a) a chamber and an electron capture device disposed in said chamber of said apparatus, (b) a heatable filament which adsorbs, when cold, said volatile organic substance and when heated, releases said substance to said electron capture device, said apparatus further comprising a duct containing said filament, said duct communicating with said chamber, (c) a first inlet passage with a first inlet valve to admit a quantity of said mixture into the apparatus, said first inlet valve communicating with said duct and comprising means for opening said first inlet valve when the pressure in the apparatus is less than the ambient pressure and to close when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, (d) a second inlet passage that communicates with said duct and comprises means for admitting a primary flow of an inert gas over said filament, (e) a third inlet passage communicating with said chamber and comprising means for admitting a secondary flow of the inert gas which passes over the electron capture device when said filament is cold, (f) a first outlet passage with a first outlet valve to exhaust the gas under analysis and the inert gas to the atmosphere, said first outlet passage communicating with said duct. (g) a second outlet passage with a second outlet valve, said second outlet passage communicating with said chamber and comprising means for the primary flow of inert gas to take volatile components released from the filament when heated to the electron capture device, (h) means to open said first outlet valve of said first outlet passage when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, and (i) means to open said second outlet valve of said second outlet passage, the presence of one or more of the volatile organic substances being detected by a change in an output signal from the electron capture device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pump situated in said first outlet passage, said first inlet passage communicating with said first outlet passage via said duct wherein said first inlet valve of said first inlet passage is opened by lowering the pressure in the apparatus below the ambient pressure by said dump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first outlet valve of said first outlet passage is a spring-loaded ball valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means to open the second outlet valve of said second outlet passage is an electrically operated solenoid valve, said apparatus comprising means for energising said solenoid valve when said filament is heated and the valves of the first inlet passage and the first outlet passage are closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said duct is present between said first and seocnd inlet passages and said chamber containing said electron capture device, and said filament is an electric element which is removably mounted in said duct between the first and the second inlet passages and the electron capture device.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
283 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow of a gas mixture in which a quantity of the gas is drawn into the apparatus, comprising: (a) a filament which, when cold, adsorbs volatile organic substances contained in the gas and when heated, releases the volatile organic substances, to an electron capture device, (b) a first inlet passage with a first inlet valve to admit the quantity of said gas mixture into said apparatus, the first inlet valve of said first inlet passage being adapted to open when the pressure in the apparatus is less than the ambient pressure and to close when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, (c) a second inlet passage to admit a primary flow of an inert gas over said filament, (d) a third inlet passage to admit a secondary flow of said inert gas to pass over said electron capture device when said filament is cold, (e) a first outlet passage with a first outlet valve which exhausts the gas and the inert gas to the atmosphere, (f) a second outlet passage with a second outlet valve which permits the primary flow of inert gas to take the volatile components released from the filament when heated to the electron capture device, (g) means to open the first outlet valve when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the pressure of the gas mixture drawn into the apparatus and (h) means to open the second outlet valve, wherein the presence of one or more of the volatile organic substances being detected by a change in an output signal from the electron capture device, whereafter a further quantity of gas is drawn into the apparatus via the first inlet passage.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
283 words
An apparatus for controlling the flow of a gas mixture in which a quantity of the gas is drawn into the apparatus, comprising: (a) a filament which, when cold, adsorbs volatile organic substances contained in the gas and when heated, releases the volatile organic substances, to an electron capture device, (b) a first inlet passage with a first inlet valve to admit the quantity of said gas mixture into said apparatus, the first inlet valve of said first inlet passage being adapted to open when the pressure in the apparatus is less than the ambient pressure and to close when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the ambient pressure, (c) a second inlet passage to admit a primary flow of an inert gas over said filament, (d) a third inlet passage to admit a secondary flow of said inert gas to pass over said electron capture device when said filament is cold, (e) a first outlet passage with a first outlet valve which exhausts the gas and the inert gas to the atmosphere, (f) a second outlet passage with a second outlet valve which permits the primary flow of inert gas to take the volatile components released from the filament when heated to the electron capture device, (g) means to open the first outlet valve when the pressure in the apparatus exceeds the pressure of the gas mixture drawn into the apparatus and (h) means to open the second outlet valve, wherein the presence of one or more of the volatile organic substances being detected by a change in an output signal from the electron capture device, whereafter a further quantity of gas is drawn into the apparatus via the first inlet passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a pump that is situated in the first outlet passage, said apparatus comprising means for opening said inlet valve by lowering the pressure in the apparatus below the pressure of the gas to be drawn into the apparatus by said pump.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, in which said first outlet valve is a spring-loaded ball valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, in which the means to open the second outlet valve is an electrically operated solenoid valve which is energised when said filament is heated and the valves of the first inlet passage and the first outlet passage are closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, in which a duct is present between said first and second inlet passages and said chamber that contains said electron capture devices, wherein the filament is an electric element which is removably mounted in said duct between the first and the second inlet passages and the electron capture device.
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) | 1982-09-03 | 1983-03-05 | 1983-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-03 | 1987-03-05 | 1987-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-03 | 1991-03-05 | 1991-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |