Chemiluminescent method and apparatus for the detection of ozone

Claim 1

An apparatus for the continuous detection and measurement of ozone in the atmosphere as a function of altitude, said apparatus comprising a main body portion and a nose portion, said main body portion housing a reaction chamber, detector and amplifying means for generating a signal proportional to the concentration of ozone in said reaction chamber, a body of ozone reactive chemiluminescent material in said reaction chamber, a transmitter means for transmitting said signal, said nose portion being frustoconical for aerodynamic stability and having an opening communicating with a duct for the admission of an ambient air flow through said opening into said duct, said air flow occurring as said apparatus falls through said atmosphere, said duct excluding stray light and directing said air flow into said reaction chamber over and in contact with said body of chemiluminescent material, the ozone in said air flow reacting with said chemiluminescent material to form molecular oxygen and emit light, said air flow being directed in a continuous stream through said reaction chamber into at least one exit duct and an exit chamber, said exit duct excluding stray light from said reaction chamber, said exit chamber including a pair of openings on opposite sides directing said air flow equally through said openings out of said apparatus to maintain equilibrium, the light emitted by the reaction of said ozone with said chemiluminescent material being proportional to the concentration of ozone in said air flow and being detected by said detector and amplifying means, the signal generated by said detector and amplifying means being transmitted to a receiver for visual display.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the continuous detection and measurement of ozone in the atmosphere as a function of altitude, said apparatus comprising a main body portion and a nose portion, said main body portion housing a reaction chamber, detector and amplifying means for generating a signal proportional to the concentration of ozone in said reaction chamber, a body of ozone reactive chemiluminescent material in said reaction chamber, a transmitter means for transmitting said signal, said nose portion being frustoconical for aerodynamic stability and having an opening communicating with a duct for the admission of an ambient air flow through said opening into said duct, said air flow occurring as said apparatus falls through said atmosphere, said duct excluding stray light and directing said air flow into said reaction chamber over and in contact with said body of chemiluminescent material, the ozone in said air flow reacting with said chemiluminescent material to form molecular oxygen and emit light, said air flow being directed in a continuous stream through said reaction chamber into at least one exit duct and an exit chamber, said exit duct excluding stray light from said reaction chamber, said exit chamber including a pair of openings on opposite sides directing said air flow equally through said openings out of said apparatus to maintain equilibrium, the light emitted by the reaction of said ozone with said chemiluminescent material being proportional to the concentration of ozone in said air flow and being detected by said detector and amplifying means, the signal generated by said detector and amplifying means being transmitted to a receiver for visual display.

Claim 6

A method for continuously measuring the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere by chemiluminescence as a function of altitude, comprising the steps of: (1) conveying a detection apparatus to the upper atmosphere; (2) causing said detection apparatus to descend in the atmosphere in a controlled manner to establish a flow of air through said apparatus; (3) directing a continuous stream of said air within said detection apparatus and through a duct having at least two ninety degree turns to exclude stray light; (4) directing said air through a reaction chamber within said detection apparatus over a body of ozone reactive chemiluminescent material in said chamber; (5) reacting the ozone in said air with said chemiluminescent material to produce molecular oxygen and light in proportion to the concentration of ozone in said air; (6) detecting said light and generating a signal directly proportional to the intensity of said light; (7) transmitting said signal to a receiver for visual display; (8) and exhausting said air flow through an exit duct excluding stray light from said reaction chamber and an exit chamber having opposing openings directing said air in a continuous evenly distributed manner out of both sides of said detection apparatus in an area of low pressure immediately adjacent said detection apparatus.

Claim 7

A method for continuously measuring the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere by chemiluminescence as a function of altitude, comprising the steps of: (1) conveying a detection apparatus to the upper atmosphere; (2) causing said detection apparatus to descend in the atmosphere in a controlled manner to establish a flow of air through said apparatus; (3) directing a continuous stream of said air within said detection apparatus and through a duct having at least two ninety degree turns to exclude stray light; (4) directing said air through a reaction chamber within said detection apparatus over a body of ozone reactive chemiluminescent material in said chamber; (5) reacting the ozone in said air with said chemiluminescent material to produce molecular oxygen and light in proportion to the concentration of ozone in said air; (6) detecting said light and generating a signal directly proportional to the intensity of said light; (7) transmitting said signal to a receiver for visual display; (8) and exhausting said air flow through an exit duct excluding stray light from said reaction chamber and an exit chamber having opposing openings directing said air in a continuous evenly distributed manner out of both sides of said detection apparatus in an area of low pressure immediately adjacent said detection apparatus.

Claim 9

An apparatus for the continuous detection and measurement of ozone in the atmosphere as a function of altitude, said apparatus comprising an outer cylindrical body portion and a nose portion, said outer body portion housing a reaction chamber, detector and amplifier means for generating a signal proportional to the intensity of light in said reaction chamber, a body of ozone reactive chemiluminescent material in said reaction chamber and a transmitter means for transmitting said signal, said nose portion being frustoconical for aerodynamic stability with a central opening communicating with a duct for the admission of an ambient air flow through said opening into said duct, said air flow occurring as said apparatus falls through said atmosphere, said duct having at least two right angle turns prior to said reaction chamber to exclude stray light and directing said air flow into said reaction chamber over and in contact with said body of chemiluminescent material, the ozone in said air flow reacting with said chemiluminescent material to form molecular oxygen and emit light, said air flow being directed in a continuous stream through said reaction chamber into a pair of exit ducts having right angle turns to exclude stray light and an exit chamber, said exit chamber having a pair of openings, on opposing sides, each of said openings directing said air flow equally out of said apparatus to maintain equilibrium of said apparatus, the light emitted by the reaction of said ozone with said chemiluminescent material being proportional to the concentration of ozone in said air flow and being detected by said detector and amplifying means, the signal generated by said detector and amplifying means being transmitted to a receiver for visual display.

Claim 10

An apparatus for the continuous detection and measurement of ozone in the atmosphere as a function of altitude, said apparatus comprising an outer cylindrical body portion and a nose portion, said outer body portion housing a reaction chamber, detector and amplifier means for generating a signal proportional to the intensity of light in said reaction chamber, a body of ozone reactive chemiluminescent material in said reaction chamber and a transmitter means for transmitting said signal, said nose portion being frustoconical for aerodynamic stability with a central opening communicating with a duct for the admission of an ambient air flow through said opening into said duct, said air flow occurring as said apparatus falls through said atmosphere, said duct having at least two right angle turns prior to said reaction chamber to exclude stray light and directing said air flow into said reaction chamber over and in contact with said body of chemiluminescent material, the ozone in said air flow reacting with said chemiluminescent material to form molecular oxygen and emit light, said air flow being directed in a continuous stream through said reaction chamber into a pair of exit ducts having right angle turns to exclude stray light and an exit chamber, said exit chamber having a pair of openings, on opposing sides, each of said openings directing said air flow equally out of said apparatus to maintain equilibrium of said apparatus, the light emitted by the reaction of said ozone with said chemiluminescent material being proportional to the concentration of ozone in said air flow and being detected by said detector and amplifying means, the signal generated by said detector and amplifying means being transmitted to a receiver for visual display.