US4603707A — Purge block for gas systems

Claim 1

Independent Claim 93 words

An apparatus comprising: first, second, third, and fourth port means; fluid conducting means for interconnecting said port means; said first and second port means serving as fluid inlet ports and said third or fourth port means serving as fluid outlet ports; and said conducting means interconnecting said first and second ports comprising flow sensing means for detecting which of said first and second ports is at a higher pressure than the other said conducting means also interconnecting said second and third ports, said third and fourth ports, and said first and fourth ports.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 93 words

An apparatus comprising: first, second, third, and fourth port means; fluid conducting means for interconnecting said port means; said first and second port means serving as fluid inlet ports and said third or fourth port means serving as fluid outlet ports; and said conducting means interconnecting said first and second ports comprising flow sensing means for detecting which of said first and second ports is at a higher pressure than the other said conducting means also interconnecting said second and third ports, said third and fourth ports, and said first and fourth ports.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid conducting means comprises four segments for interconnecting said four port means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said four segments has a predetermined fixed impedance means to fluid flow.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the impedance of each segment is different from the others.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 102 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first segment interconnects said first and second port means and comprises said detecting means, the second segment interconnects said second and third port means, the third segment interconnects said third and fourth port means, and the fourth segment interconnects said fourth and first port means, wherein the impedance of the third segment is greater than the impedance of the first segment, the impedance of the first segment is greater than the impedance of the second segment, and the impedance of the second segment is greater than the impedance of the fourth segment.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 122 words

A purge block apparatus comprising: a block of material defining first, second, third, and fourth chambers and passageways therebetween; said first and second chambers each being connected by a first passageway, said third chamber being coupled to said fourth chamber by a second passageway, said fourth chamber being coupled to said first chamber by a third passageway, and said second chamber being coupled to said first chamber by a fourth passageway; and fluid pressure sensing means interposed in the passageway connecting said first and second chambers, wherein the impedance to fluid flow of the passageways connecting said chambers is chosen so that improper fluid flow through said passageways causes a pressure drop across said sensing means in excess of a predetermined amount.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 122 words

A purge block apparatus comprising: a block of material defining first, second, third, and fourth chambers and passageways therebetween; said first and second chambers each being connected by a first passageway, said third chamber being coupled to said fourth chamber by a second passageway, said fourth chamber being coupled to said first chamber by a third passageway, and said second chamber being coupled to said first chamber by a fourth passageway; and fluid pressure sensing means interposed in the passageway connecting said first and second chambers, wherein the impedance to fluid flow of the passageways connecting said chambers is chosen so that improper fluid flow through said passageways causes a pressure drop across said sensing means in excess of a predetermined amount.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fluid pressure sensing means comprises means for indicating which of said first and second chambers is subject to the greater pressure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pressure sensing means indicates when the second chamber is subject to a pressure greater than the pressure in the first chamber by a predetermined amount.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the passageway connecting said third and fourth chambers incudes impedance means having a greater impedance to fluid flow than the sensing means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said sensing means comprises: a sense chamber having first and second ends, a moveable mass, located at one end of said chamber, partially filling the cross-sectional area of said chamber; and means, located proximate said sense chamber, for detecting the location of said mass within said sense chamber.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said one end is connected to said second chamber and said other end is connected to said first chamber.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said mass comprises a magnet and wherein said means for detecting the location of said mass comprises a magnetically actuated switch.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sensing means further comprises: means for resiliently urging said mass toward said one end.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 79 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the passageway connecting the second and third chambers has impedance means wherein the impedance to fluid flow of the sensing means is greater than the impedance to fluid flow of the passageway connecting said second and third chambers, and the impedance to fluid flow of the passageway connecting said second and third chambers is greater than the impedance to fluid flow of the passageway connecting the first and fourth chambers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein at least one of said passageways comprises constricting means for determining the impedance to fluid flow thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said constricting means comprises an insert having a through bore of predetermined diameter.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 or 16 and further comprising: valve means in said second chamber for controlling fluid flow from said second chamber to said first and third chambers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 108 words

A purge block for use in a gas system comprising: first, second, third and fourth ports located on the purge block; a first passage connecting the first and second ports and having a chamber therein; a second passage connecting the first and third ports; a third passage connecting the third and fourth ports; a fourth passage connecting the second and fourth ports; a moveable mass located at one end of the chamber for moving toward the other end of the chamber when the difference in pressure at the first port and the second port reaches a predetermined level; and means for sensing the location of the moveable mass.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 108 words

A purge block for use in a gas system comprising: first, second, third and fourth ports located on the purge block; a first passage connecting the first and second ports and having a chamber therein; a second passage connecting the first and third ports; a third passage connecting the third and fourth ports; a fourth passage connecting the second and fourth ports; a moveable mass located at one end of the chamber for moving toward the other end of the chamber when the difference in pressure at the first port and the second port reaches a predetermined level; and means for sensing the location of the moveable mass.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said mass comprises a magnet and wherein said means for sensing the location of said mass comprises a magnetically actuated switch.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first passage is characterized by an impedance to fluid flow which is greater than that of said second passage.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising: means for resiliently urging said moveable mass toward said one end.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-08-04	1990-02-03	1990-08-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-08-04	1994-02-03	1994-08-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-08-04	1998-02-03	1998-08-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Purge block for gas systems

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