US4502341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature-actuated flow control device
Assignee: Elsag International BV
•
Filing: 1984-03-23
•
Granted: 1985-03-05
•
Expires: 2004-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A temperature-actuated flow control device has a fluid inlet connected to an exhaust line with a control chamber located therebetween. The control chamber has a free-floating bi-metallic circular element which is flexed in response to temperature changes between a first position stopping flow between the inlet and the exhaust line and a second position opening the flow therebetween. This flow control device, when adapted to a gas sampling system, allows the bi-metallic element remain in a first position at normal operating temperatures to permit the continuous sampling of the sample gas. Whenever the temperature falls below the dew point of the sample gas, the bi-metallic element returns to its second position to stop the sampling of sample gas by the system to prevent condensation in the system.
Inventors
- 👤 II George R. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/08; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/2247; G01N1/2258; G01N1/24; G01N2001/2261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A gas sampling device comprising: means defining a gas sampling chamber having a gas sensor in said chamber; a sample gas inlet connected into said gas sampling chamber; means for moving sample gas between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line including a switching chamber located therebetween, a bi-metallic element disposed in said switching chamber and being flexible and responsive to temperature change so that in a first flexed position it stops the flow between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line while allowing flow therebetween in a second flexed position; and wherein said switching chamber is larger than said bi-metallic element to make said element free-floating therein and has a pair of symmetrically located counterbored areas at opposite ends of said switching chamber to allow the symmetrical flow of fluid past said bi-metallic element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A gas sampling device comprising: means defining a gas sampling chamber having a gas sensor in said chamber; a sample gas inlet connected into said gas sampling chamber; means for moving sample gas between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line including a switching chamber located therebetween, a bi-metallic element disposed in said switching chamber and being flexible and responsive to temperature change so that in a first flexed position it stops the flow between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line while allowing flow therebetween in a second flexed position; and wherein said switching chamber is larger than said bi-metallic element to make said element free-floating therein and has a pair of symmetrically located counterbored areas at opposite ends of said switching chamber to allow the symmetrical flow of fluid past said bi-metallic element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gas sampling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bi-metallic element has a predetermined height and where the height of said switching element is greater than the height of said bi-metallic element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A gas sampling device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bi-metallic element is circular and wherein said switching chamber is also circular but having a radius larger than the radius of said bi-metallic element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A gas sampling device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said switching chamber has a centrally-located outlet port communicating with said fluid outlet and a tapered area inclined toward said outlet port to make said bi-metallic element self-centering with said outlet port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
A gas sampling device comprising: means defining a gas sampling chamber having a gas sensor in said chamber; a sample gas inlet connected into said gas sampling chamber; means for moving sample gas between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line including a switching chamber located therebetween, a bi-metallic element disposed in said switching chamber and being flexible and responsive to temperature change so that in a first flexed position it stops the flow between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line while allowing flow therebetween in a second flexed position; said switching chamber is larger than said bi-metallic element to make said element free-floating therein; and wherein said bi-metallic element has a predetermined height and the height of said switching chamber is greater than the height of said bi-metallic element, said bi-metallic element is circular along with said switching chamber with said chamber having a radius larger than the radius of said bi-metallic element and said switching chamber has a pair of counterbored areas formed at the extreme ends of a diameter of said switching chamber to allow the symmetrical flow of fluid past said bi-metallic element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
A gas sampling device comprising: means defining a gas sampling chamber having a gas sensor in said chamber; a sample gas inlet connected into said gas sampling chamber; means for moving sample gas between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line including a switching chamber located therebetween, a bi-metallic element disposed in said switching chamber and being flexible and responsive to temperature change so that in a first flexed position it stops the flow between said gas sampling chamber and said exhaust line while allowing flow therebetween in a second flexed position; said switching chamber is larger than said bi-metallic element to make said element free-floating therein; and wherein said bi-metallic element has a predetermined height and the height of said switching chamber is greater than the height of said bi-metallic element, said bi-metallic element is circular along with said switching chamber with said chamber having a radius larger than the radius of said bi-metallic element and said switching chamber has a pair of counterbored areas formed at the extreme ends of a diameter of said switching chamber to allow the symmetrical flow of fluid past said bi-metallic element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3709204A
Cited
US4441356A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-03-04 | 1988-09-03 | 1989-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-04 | 1992-09-03 | 1993-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-04 | 1996-09-03 | 1997-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |