US4553032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infrared energy gage
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1982-09-30
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Granted: 1985-11-12
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Expires: 2002-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Means and methods are provided for determining the energy content of a hydrocarbon fuel by infrared spectroscopy. The relationship between the energy content of the fuel and the number of carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds in the fuel is disclosed. This relationship is utilized to determine the energy content of the hydrocarbon fuel by measuring the concentration of such carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrocarbon bonds by infrared spectroscopy. A first embodiment irradiates a hydrocarbon fuel with infrared radiation of wavelengths at which specific carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds strongly absorb. A detector array and microprocessor process the data to compute the energy content of the fuel or rate of energy consumption by a device using the fuel. A second embodiment exposes the hydrocarbon fuel to infrared energy by using frustrated total internal reflection.
Inventors
- 👤 Saukwan Lo
- 👤 Richard J. Borken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/55; G01N21/552; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/35; G01N21/3577; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2829
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An infrared energy device for measuring the energy content of a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising: an infrared light source adapted to emit infrared light of incident intensity I o into said hydrocarbon fuel including wavelengths absorbed by the CH and C--C groups; means for detecting the absorbency of said infrared light by said groups; means for determining the concentration of said groups from the absorbency of said infrared light; and means for determining the energy content of said fuel from said concentrations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An infrared energy device for measuring the energy content of a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising: an infrared light source adapted to emit infrared light of incident intensity I o into said hydrocarbon fuel including wavelengths absorbed by the CH and C--C groups; means for detecting the absorbency of said infrared light by said groups; means for determining the concentration of said groups from the absorbency of said infrared light; and means for determining the energy content of said fuel from said concentrations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said means for determining the absorbency of said infrared light detects transmitted light intensity I at said wavelengths absorbed by said groups; said means for determining the concentration of said groups generates a molecular cross section σ for each of said groups at said wavelengths; and said means for determining energy content of said fuel utilizes the relationships: ##EQU1## where n'.sub.i =the concentration of group i bonds, d=optical pathlength in said fuel, I.sub.o (λ)=said infrared light's incident intensity at wavelength λ, I(λ)=said infrared light's transmitted intensity at wavelength λ, T=total energy per unit volume, E i =energy per mole associated with each group and N=Avogadro's number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said infrared energy source is adapted to emit infrared energy of at least one wave number from 1370 to 1390 cm -1 and at least one wave number from 2850 to 2960 cm -1 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 further including: means for detecting the rate of flow of said hydrocarbon fuel past said detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 further including: light guide means inserted in said fuel between said infrared light source and said detecting means, which is adapted to totally internally reflect said infrared light directed therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 1 further including means for confining at least a portion of said hydrocarbon fuel, and wherein said detecting means includes a plurality of infrared detectors positioned relative to said confining means so that the distribution of said selected groups in said confining means can be determined.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said fuel has a first optical index of refraction and said light guide means is a light pipe having a second optical index of refraction which is larger than said first optical index of refraction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said detecting means includes a plurality of dielectric, multilayered, thin film bandpass filters adapted to pass infrared light of said wavelengths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said detecting means futher includes a substrate which is substantially transparent to infrared radiation and a plurality of pyroelectric detectors adapted to be responsive to infrared radiation, wherein said bandpass filters are on one surface of said substrate with said detectors disposed on an opposite surface of said substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said pyroelectric detectors include polyvinylidene flouride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
An infrared energy device for measuring the energy content of a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising: an infrared light source adapted to emit infrared light of incident intensity I o into said hydrocarbon fuel including wavelengths absorbed by the C═C, C.tbd.C and benzene groups; means for detecting the absorbency of said infrared light by said groups; means for determining the concentration of said groups from the absorbency of said infrared light; and means for determining the energy content of said fuel from said concentrations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
An infrared energy device for measuring the energy content of a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising: an infrared light source adapted to emit infrared light of incident intensity I o into said hydrocarbon fuel including wavelengths absorbed by the C═C, C.tbd.C and benzene groups; means for detecting the absorbency of said infrared light by said groups; means for determining the concentration of said groups from the absorbency of said infrared light; and means for determining the energy content of said fuel from said concentrations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
The device of claim 11 wherein: said means for determining the absorbency of said infrared light detects transmitted light intensity I at said wavelengths absorbed by said groups; said means for determining the concentration of said groups generates a molecular cross section σ for each of said groups at said wavelengths; and said means for determining energy content of said fuel utilizes the relationships: ##EQU2## where n' i =the concentration of group i bonds, d=optical pathlength in said fuel, I o (λ)=said infrared light's incident intensity at wavelength λ, I(λ)=said infrared light's transmitted intensity at wavelength λ, T=total energy per unit volume E i =energy per mole associated with each group and N=Avogadro's number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said infrared energy source is adapted to emit infrared energy of at least one wave number from each of the following ranges: 960 to 980 cm -1 , 1490 to 1500 cm -1 and 2100 to 2140 cm -1 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 11 further including: means for detecting the rate of flow of said hydrocarbon fuel past said detecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 11 further including: light guide means inserted in said fuel between said infrared light source and said detecting means, said light guide means being adapted to totally internally reflect said infrared light directed along said light guide means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said fuel has a first optical index of refraction and said light guide means is a light pipe having a second optical index of refraction which is larger than said first optical index of refraction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 11 further including means for confining at least a portion of said hydrocarbon fuel, and wherein said detecting means includes a plurality of infrared detectors positioned relative to said confining means so that the distribution of said selected groups in said confining means can be determined.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said detecting means includes a plurality of dielectric, multilayered, thin film bandpass filters adapted to pass infrared light of said wavelengths.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said detecting means further includes a substrate which is substantially transparent to infrared radiation and a plurality of pyroelectric detectors adapted to be responsive to infrared radiation, wherein said bandpass filters are on one surface of said substrate and said detectors are disposed on an opposite surface of said substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 19 wherein said pyroelectric detectors include polyvinylidene flouride.
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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) | 1988-11-11 | 1989-05-13 | 1989-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-11 | 1993-05-13 | 1993-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-11 | 1997-05-13 | 1997-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |