Patent US4387369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4387369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Broad spectrum charged electric field polar gas sensing and detection system
Assignee: Johnson Service Co
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Filing: 1980-10-16
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2000-10-16
Abstract
Abstract An air pollutant and/or fire combustion sensing apparatus includes a capacitive sensor having spaced sensing electrodes producing a free space mounted within an environment subject to possible fire or the like. One of the sensing electrodes has an outer dielectric layer for absorbing contaminating gaseous products. The electrodes are connected to a high voltage power source for producing a charged capacitor with a high intensity static electric field of substantially 5×10 5 V/M up to the dielectric breakdown of air in the free space or gap. The electric field reacts upon the contaminating gaseous products of combustion and environmental pollution and produces an opposing electric field with a net change in the electric field and the summated voltage appearing across the electrodes. A high input impedance detecting circuit with good electrometer characteristics responds to the change in the field.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl F. Klein
- 👤 John E. Aukofer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:12
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B17/00; G08B17/10; G08B17/117; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/68; G01N27/70; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
An environmental gaseous product sensing apparatus creating an electrical signal in the presence of environmental borne contaminating products including particles and gaseous products, comprising a first and second sensing plate means each having an extended exposed sensing surface and being closely spaced to define a free space between said exposed sensing surfaces, means for mounting of the plate means exposed to contact with the surrounding environment in which said contaminating products may arise, an electrical detection means having a high input impedance amplifier connected to said first and second plate means, means defining a high voltage charge source having an output voltage of approximately 2,000 volts, switch means connected to said detection means and to at least one of said plate means and to said charge source for creating a high voltage charge on said plate means and disconnecting the charged plate means from the source during connection to said detection means, said charge producing a high intensity electric field between said plate means with said source disconnected from said plate means, said field having an intensity selected to induce polarization of particles and gaseous products in said contaminating products between said plate means and within said field, said induced polarization of said products in said free spacing producing an opposing field and with said high intensity electric field producing a changing electric field and thereby producing a detectable electrical output at the detection means related to the environmental borne contaminating products.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
An environmental gaseous product sensing apparatus creating an electrical signal in the presence of environmental borne contaminating products including particles and gaseous products, comprising a first and second sensing plate means each having an extended exposed sensing surface and being closely spaced to define a free space between said exposed sensing surfaces, means for mounting of the plate means exposed to contact with the surrounding environment in which said contaminating products may arise, an electrical detection means having a high input impedance amplifier connected to said first and second plate means, means defining a high voltage charge source having an output voltage of approximately 2,000 volts, switch means connected to said detection means and to at least one of said plate means and to said charge source for creating a high voltage charge on said plate means and disconnecting the charged plate means from the source during connection to said detection means, said charge producing a high intensity electric field between said plate means with said source disconnected from said plate means, said field having an intensity selected to induce polarization of particles and gaseous products in said contaminating products between said plate means and within said field, said induced polarization of said products in said free spacing producing an opposing field and with said high intensity electric field producing a changing electric field and thereby producing a detectable electrical output at the detection means related to the environmental borne contaminating products.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one plate means includes a dielectric layer defining said exposed surface exposed to said free space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one plate means includes a base conductor mounted in spaced relation to the second plate means and having a dielectric material layer intimately attached to said base conductor, an outer capacitor conductor plate intimately attached to said dielectric layer, said outer capacitor conductor and said base plate being connected to said charge source and to said first output means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said conductor plate has a dielectric layer defining said exposed surface exposed to said free space.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of detecting environmental borne contaminating particles and products in a gaseous sample comprising, forming a free space defined by first and second sensing surfaces of first and second sensing probes, periodically applying a high voltage source of approximately 2,000 volts to the sensing surfaces and generating a high intensity electric field therebetween, periodically disconnecting the high voltage source from the sensing plate and switching the outputs of the sensing probes to a detection means, passing a gaseous test sample suspected of containing environmental borne contaminating particles and products through said free space when the high voltage source is disconnected, contacting said gaseous sample with said sensing surfaces and the high intensity electric field, said electric field polarizing said particles and gaseous product within the electric field to establish an opposing electric field and thereby generating an electric signal indicative of a changing electric field due to said high intensity field and said induced opposing electric field, amplifying said generated signal in said detection means by passing said signal through a high impedance amplifier and transmitting the amplified signal to an output means in said detection means for indicating the presence of said environmental particles and products.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of detecting environmental borne contaminating particles and products in a gaseous sample comprising, forming a free space defined by first and second sensing surfaces of first and second sensing probes, periodically applying a high voltage source of approximately 2,000 volts to the sensing surfaces and generating a high intensity electric field therebetween, periodically disconnecting the high voltage source from the sensing plate and switching the outputs of the sensing probes to a detection means, passing a gaseous test sample suspected of containing environmental borne contaminating particles and products through said free space when the high voltage source is disconnected, contacting said gaseous sample with said sensing surfaces and the high intensity electric field, said electric field polarizing said particles and gaseous product within the electric field to establish an opposing electric field and thereby generating an electric signal indicative of a changing electric field due to said high intensity field and said induced opposing electric field, amplifying said generated signal in said detection means by passing said signal through a high impedance amplifier and transmitting the amplified signal to an output means in said detection means for indicating the presence of said environmental particles and products.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
248 words
An environmental gaseous product sensing apparatus creating an electrical signal in the presence of environmental borne contaminating products including particles and gaseous products, comprising a first and second sensing plate means each having an extended exposed sensing surface and being closely spaced to define a free space between said exposed sensing surfaces, means for mounting of the plate means exposed to contact with the surrounding environment in which said contaminating products may arise, an electrical detection means having a high input impedance amplifier connected to said first and second plate means, means defining a high voltage charge source, a switch means connected to said detection means and to at least one of said plate means and to said charge source for creating a high voltage charge on said plate means and disconnecting the charged plate means from the source during connection to said detection means, said charge source creating an electric field having a high intensity of at least 1×10 5 V/M, said charge producing said high intensity electric field between said plate means with said source disconnected from said plate means, said field intensity inducing polarization of particles and gaseous products in said contaminating products between said plate means and within said field, said induced polarization of said products in said free spacing producing an opposing field and with said high intensity electric field producing a changing electric field and thereby producing a detectable electrical output at the detection means related to the environmental borne contaminating products.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
248 words
An environmental gaseous product sensing apparatus creating an electrical signal in the presence of environmental borne contaminating products including particles and gaseous products, comprising a first and second sensing plate means each having an extended exposed sensing surface and being closely spaced to define a free space between said exposed sensing surfaces, means for mounting of the plate means exposed to contact with the surrounding environment in which said contaminating products may arise, an electrical detection means having a high input impedance amplifier connected to said first and second plate means, means defining a high voltage charge source, a switch means connected to said detection means and to at least one of said plate means and to said charge source for creating a high voltage charge on said plate means and disconnecting the charged plate means from the source during connection to said detection means, said charge source creating an electric field having a high intensity of at least 1×10 5 V/M, said charge producing said high intensity electric field between said plate means with said source disconnected from said plate means, said field intensity inducing polarization of particles and gaseous products in said contaminating products between said plate means and within said field, said induced polarization of said products in said free spacing producing an opposing field and with said high intensity electric field producing a changing electric field and thereby producing a detectable electrical output at the detection means related to the environmental borne contaminating products.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said intensity is in a range of from substantially 2.6×10 5 V/M to the dielectric breakdown of the environment in said free space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said charge is selected to establish a field intensity of at least 5×10 5 V/M.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensing apparatus of claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said first plate means includes a dielectric layer on a surface exposed to said free space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said first plate means includes a base conductor mounted in spaced relation to the second plate means and having a dielectric material layer intimately attached to said base conductor, an outer capacitor conductor plate intimately attached to said dielectric layer, said outer capacitor conductor plate and said base plate being connected to said charge source and to said first output means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said capacitor conductor plate has a dielectric layer on a surface exposed to said free space.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said switch means includes first switch means connected between the plate means and the charge source and second switch means connected between the plate means and the detection means to alternately connect the charge source and the detection means to the plate means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of detecting environmental borne contaminating particles and products in a gaseous sample comprising, forming a free space defined by first and second sensing surfaces of first and second sensing probes, periodically applying a high voltage source to the sensing surfaces and generating a high intensity electric field having an intensity of at least 5×10 5 V/M within said free space between said sensing surfaces, periodically disconnecting the high voltage source from the sensing probes and switching the outputs of the sensing probes to a detection means, passing a gaseous test sample suspected of containing environmental borne contaminating particles and products through said free space when the high voltage source is disconnected from said sensing probes, contacting said gaseous sample with said sensing surfaces and the high intensity electric field, said electric field polarizing said particles and gaseous product within the electric field to establish an opposing electric field and thereby generating an electric signal indicative of a changing electric field due to said high intensity field and said induced opposing electric field, amplifying said generated signal in said detection means by passing said signal through a high impedance amplifier and transmitting the amplified signal to an output means for indicating the presence of said environmental particles and products.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of detecting environmental borne contaminating particles and products in a gaseous sample comprising, forming a free space defined by first and second sensing surfaces of first and second sensing probes, periodically applying a high voltage source to the sensing surfaces and generating a high intensity electric field having an intensity of at least 5×10 5 V/M within said free space between said sensing surfaces, periodically disconnecting the high voltage source from the sensing probes and switching the outputs of the sensing probes to a detection means, passing a gaseous test sample suspected of containing environmental borne contaminating particles and products through said free space when the high voltage source is disconnected from said sensing probes, contacting said gaseous sample with said sensing surfaces and the high intensity electric field, said electric field polarizing said particles and gaseous product within the electric field to establish an opposing electric field and thereby generating an electric signal indicative of a changing electric field due to said high intensity field and said induced opposing electric field, amplifying said generated signal in said detection means by passing said signal through a high impedance amplifier and transmitting the amplified signal to an output means for indicating the presence of said environmental particles and products.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said field intensity is at least 10×10 5 V/M.
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) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |