Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A chlorine gas analyzer comprising: A. a probe immersible in chlorinated water having chlorine as well as oxygen dissolved therein, said probe including a chamber having a port covered by a diffusing membrane permeable to dissolved chlorine and oxygen, an oxidizing metal counter electrode and a noble metal measuring electrode disposed in said chamber and an electrolyte filling said chamber to bridge said electrodes to form an electrochemical cell generating a microampere current which is a function of the dissolved gas diffusing through said membrane; and B. an external circuit coupled to said cell, said circuit including a load resistor connected in series with at least one diode to said electrodes, the diode being connected in the forward direction with respect to the current generated by said cell to produce a voltage drop thereacross which biases the cell to operate in its current limiting range in which the cell is substantially insensitive to dissolved oxygen whereby the voltage developed across the load resistor is proportional to the chlorine content of the water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A chlorine gas analyzer comprising: A. a probe immersible in chlorinated water having chlorine as well as oxygen dissolved therein, said probe including a chamber having a port covered by a diffusing membrane permeable to dissolved chlorine and oxygen, an oxidizing metal counter electrode and a noble metal measuring electrode disposed in said chamber and an electrolyte filling said chamber to bridge said electrodes to form an electrochemical cell generating a microampere current which is a function of the dissolved gas diffusing through said membrane; and B. an external circuit coupled to said cell, said circuit including a load resistor connected in series with at least one diode to said electrodes, the diode being connected in the forward direction with respect to the current generated by said cell to produce a voltage drop thereacross which biases the cell to operate in its current limiting range in which the cell is substantially insensitive to dissolved oxygen whereby the voltage developed across the load resistor is proportional to the chlorine content of the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An analyzer as set forth in claim 1 in which the diode is a Schottky diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An analyzer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said circuit includes a pair of Schottky diodes connected in series to produce a bias of about 0.4 volts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An analyzer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diode is a silicon pn junction diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An analyzer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said noble metal is platinum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An analyzer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said oxidizable metal is silver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An analyzer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte is a saturated solution of potassium bromide buffered to pH 4.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said membrane is of PTFE material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A probe as set forth in claim 1, further including means to nutate the probe in said water.