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US4204121A
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Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates from pollution sources
Assignee: Geomet Inc
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Filing: 1979-01-08
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Granted: 1980-05-20
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Expires: 1999-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates from pollution sources, such as those emanating from ore mines, factories, office buildings, and the like. The method is characterized by its ability to quantify airborne fugitive emissions by defining an arcuate profile of pollutant flux, while driving a pollutant sensor in a peripheral arc surrounding the pollution source. According to wind changes, the pollutant sensor may be advanced peripherally of the pollution source to an arcuate detection plane downwind, so as to quantify fugitive emission rates, regardless of source emission characteristics or wind direction.
Inventors
- 👤 George H. Milly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0031; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/2273; G01N1/2202; G01N2001/222; G01N2001/2223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates from pollution sources comprising: A. driving a pollutant sensor in a peripheral arc surrounding a pollution source; B. gauging wind velocity and direction at an index point downwind of the pollution source; C. advancing said pollutant sensor to said index point; D. outlining at said index point an arcuate pollution detection plane, said plane being oriented transversely and vertically with respect to the wind; E. sensing pollutant concentration at a series of height intervals within the vertical and lateral confines of said arcuate pollution detection plane, so as to obtain integrated products of cross wind concentration and wind speed; and F. displaying said products as a vertical profile of total mass flux of pollutant through said detection plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates from pollution sources comprising: A. driving a pollutant sensor in a peripheral arc surrounding a pollution source; B. gauging wind velocity and direction at an index point downwind of the pollution source; C. advancing said pollutant sensor to said index point; D. outlining at said index point an arcuate pollution detection plane, said plane being oriented transversely and vertically with respect to the wind; E. sensing pollutant concentration at a series of height intervals within the vertical and lateral confines of said arcuate pollution detection plane, so as to obtain integrated products of cross wind concentration and wind speed; and F. displaying said products as a vertical profile of total mass flux of pollutant through said detection plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 1, wherein said outlining includes driving said pollutant sensor through a downwind segment of said peripheral arc, encompassing said index point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 1, wherein said outlining includes reciprocating said pollutant sensor within a downwind segment of said peripheral arc, encompassing said index point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 3, wherein said outlining of said pollutant detection plane is such that the vertical and lateral dimensions of said plane encompass a substantial portion of pollutant flux emanating from said pollution source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 2, wherein said outlining is such that the vertical and lateral dimensions of said arcuate pollution detection plane coincide with said vertical profile of pollutant flux.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying figitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 2, wherein said index point is sufficiently close to said pollution source such that said vertical profile of pollutant flux in said pollution detection plane is similar to the vertical profile of pollutant flux at said pollution source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 1, wherein said gauging of wind is at vertically spaced points within said arcuate pollution detection plane and is aligned with the axis thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 7, wherein said sensing of pollutant concentration at a series of height intervals is accomplished simultaneously at spaced vertical points within said pollution detection plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 8, wherein said sensing within the lateral and vertical confines of said plane is accomplished sequentially crosswind within said pollution detection plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 9, wherein said sensing is by lifting while moving sensing devices within the lateral and vertical confines of said pollution detection plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 8, including infra-red sensing of said fugitive emissions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 9, wherein said infra-red sensing is correlated with elapsed time, as a measure of variation in fugitive emission intensity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 10, wherein said infra-red sensing is correlated with both elasped time and wind speed, as a measure of fugitive emission intensity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 7, including comparing downwind quantifying with similar upwind quantifying so as to relate incoming pollution with apparent fugitive emission rates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 7, wherein said sensing of pollutant concentration is accomplished sequentially at spaced vertical points within said pollution detection plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 3, wherein said traversing is at a speed such that the concentration of pollutant is approximately constant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 3, including re-orienting said pollution detection plane, according to changes in wind direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
Cylindrical method of quantifying fugitive emission rates into the atmosphere from pollution sources as in claim 3, including advancing said pollutant sensor throughout said peripheral arc, to a plurality of downwind index points, according to wind changes, and displaying said integrated products of crosswind concentration and wind speed as a factor of total fugitive emission from said pollution source.
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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) | 1983-05-20 | 1983-11-19 | 1984-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-05-20 | 1987-11-19 | 1988-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-05-20 | 1991-11-19 | 1992-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |