US4250142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-04-06
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Granted: 1981-02-10
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Expires: 1999-04-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention is a volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus to continuously sample methane gas in an oil well drilling mud. The detector apparatus includes 1) a gas sampler assembly to gather the methane gas from the drilling mud; 2) a control module assembly to receive and amplify electrical signals from the gas sampler assembly; and 3) a recorder assembly to receive output electrical signals from the control module assembly. The recorder assembly is of a conventional nature and operates to record on a paper roll the date, time of day and the amount of methane gas present in the drilling mud. The main novelty lies in the gas sampler assembly which includes 1) a hood housing assembly to straddle a flowing channel of drilling mud; 2) a sensing head assembly mounted in the hood housing assembly to measure amount of methane gas therein; and 3) a pump assembly operable to draw inlet air through the sensing head assembly and discharge air into the channel of drilling mud. The discharge air acts to agitate the drilling mud to increase release of methane gas therein to transmit a more accurate measurement of the methane gas to the recorder assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus E. Kollmai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:14
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus, comprising: (a) a gas sampler assembly having a hood housing assembly to straddle an open stream of continually flowing liquid material moved by a power source suspected of containing a hydrocarbon gas therein; (b) said gas sampler assembly includes a sensing head assembly mounted in said hood housing assembly having a sensor head member to receive hydrocarbon gas and generate a first output signal therefrom with the strength of said first output signal dependent on the amount of hydrocarbon gas present; (c) a recorder assembly connected to said sensor head member to receive said first output signal therefrom to continuously indicate the amount of hydrocarbon gas in said stream of flowing liquid material; (d) said gas sampler assembly includes a pump assembly; (e) said pump assembly includes an air discharge assembly; and (f) said air discharge assembly includes a discharge head adapted to be submerged in said stream of flowing liquid material to supply air under pressure thereto to aid in release of any hydrocarbon gas therein for detection by said sensor head member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus, comprising: (a) a gas sampler assembly having a hood housing assembly to straddle an open stream of continually flowing liquid material moved by a power source suspected of containing a hydrocarbon gas therein; (b) said gas sampler assembly includes a sensing head assembly mounted in said hood housing assembly having a sensor head member to receive hydrocarbon gas and generate a first output signal therefrom with the strength of said first output signal dependent on the amount of hydrocarbon gas present; (c) a recorder assembly connected to said sensor head member to receive said first output signal therefrom to continuously indicate the amount of hydrocarbon gas in said stream of flowing liquid material; (d) said gas sampler assembly includes a pump assembly; (e) said pump assembly includes an air discharge assembly; and (f) said air discharge assembly includes a discharge head adapted to be submerged in said stream of flowing liquid material to supply air under pressure thereto to aid in release of any hydrocarbon gas therein for detection by said sensor head member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: (a) said discharge head positioned within the outer periphery of said gas sampler assembly and having a plurality of holes therein to achieve substantial agitation in said stream of flowing liquid material to release the hydrocarbon gas therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: (a) said pump assembly includes a pump member having an air inlet line connected to said sensor head member to draw inlet air with any hydrocarbon gas therewith for measurement by said sensor head member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
207 words
A volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus, comprising: (a) a gas sampler assembly to straddle an open stream of continually flowing liquid material suspected of containing a hydrocarbon gas therein; (b) said gas sampler assembly includes a sensing head assembly mounted in said hood housing assembly having a sensor head member to receive hydrocarbon gas and generate a first output signal therefrom with the strength of said first output signal dependent on the amount of hydrocarbon gas present; (c) a recorder assembly connected to said sensor head member to receive said first output signal therefrom to continuously indicate the amount of hydrocarbon gas in said stream of flowing liquid material; (d) said gas sampler assembly includes a pump assembly; (e) said pump assembly includes an air discharge assembly; (f) said air discharge assembly includes a discharge head adapted to be submerged in said stream of flowing liquid material to supply air under pressure thereto to aid in release of any hydrocarbon gas therein for detection by said sensor head member; and (g) said discharge head positioned within the outer periphery of said gas sampler assembly and having a plurality of holes therein to achieve substantial agitation in said stream of flowing liquid material to release the hydrocarbon gas therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
A volatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus, comprising: (a) a gas sampler assembly to straddle an open stream of continually flowing liquid material suspected of containing a hydrocarbon gas therein; (b) said gas sampler assembly includes a sensing head assembly mounted in said hood housing assembly having a sensor head member to receive hydrocarbon gas and generate a first output signal therefrom with the strength of said first output signal dependent on the amount of hydrocarbon gas present; (c) a recorder assembly connected to said sensor head member to receive said first output signal therefrom to continuously indicate the amount of hydrocarbon gas in said stream of flowing liquid material; (d) said gas sampler assembly includes a pump assembly; (e) said pump assembly includes an air discharge assembly; (f) said air discharge assembly includes a discharge head adapted to be submerged in said stream of flowing liquid material to supply air under pressure thereto to aid in release of any hydrocarbon gas therein for detection by said sensor head member; and (g) said discharge head positioned within the outer periphery of said gas sampler assembly and having a plurality of holes therein to achieve substantial agitation in said stream of flowing liquid material to release the hydrocarbon gas therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A folatile hydrocarbon detector apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein: (a) said pump assembly includes a pump member having an air inlet line connected to said sensor head member to draw inlet air with any hydrocarbon gas therewith for measurement by said sensor head member.
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) | 1984-02-10 | 1984-08-11 | 1985-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-10 | 1988-08-11 | 1989-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-10 | 1992-08-11 | 1993-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |