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US5055269A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Temperature limited catalytic gas detector apparatus

Assignee: SCOTT/BACHARACH INSTRUMENTS LLC
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Filing: 1989-03-06
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2009-03-06
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Abstract

Abstract A temperature limited catalytic gas detector includes a catalytic gas sensor in one branch of a Wheatstone bridge network. A power supply is connected through a voltage controlled regulator to the bridge network. An instrumentation amplifier measures electrical imbalances across the bridge network. A display is connected to the output of the instrumentation amplifier. The detector also includes a comparator which compares the output of the instrumentation amplifier with a predetermined limit signal and produces an output when the output of the instrumentation amplifier exceeds the limit voyage. The regulator is responsive to the output of the comparator to thereby reduce the power supply to the bridge network. The limit signal is equivalent to the output of the instrumentation amplifier when the gas sensor is at a particular high temperature. The arrangement prevents the gas sensor from operating at excessive operation temperatures.

Inventors

  • 👤 Perry A. Palumbo
  • 👤 Oscar Singleton
  • 👤 Louis G. Gaetano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/14; G01N27/16; G01N27/12; G01N27/122

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 183 words
A temperature limited catalytic gas detector comprising: a catalytic gas sensor containing an active element contained in a Wheatstone bridge network; a power supply connected through a control means to said bridge network; measurement means connected to said bridge network for measuring electrical imbalances across said bridge network which are developed as a particular gas contacts said gas sensor; display means connected to said measurement means for displaying the concentration of gas at said gas sensor; limit signal means for producing a fixed, predetermined limit signal; and comparison means connected to said measurement means and to said limit signal means for comparing an output of said measurement means with the fixed, predetermined limit signal and producing an output signal when the output of said measurement means exceeds said limit signal, and said control means is connected to the comparison means and responsive to the output of said comparison means to thereby reduce the power supplied to said bridge network, and cause said limit signal to be equivalent to the output of said measurement means when said gas sensor is at a particular temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 183 words
A temperature limited catalytic gas detector comprising: a catalytic gas sensor containing an active element contained in a Wheatstone bridge network; a power supply connected through a control means to said bridge network; measurement means connected to said bridge network for measuring electrical imbalances across said bridge network which are developed as a particular gas contacts said gas sensor; display means connected to said measurement means for displaying the concentration of gas at said gas sensor; limit signal means for producing a fixed, predetermined limit signal; and comparison means connected to said measurement means and to said limit signal means for comparing an output of said measurement means with the fixed, predetermined limit signal and producing an output signal when the output of said measurement means exceeds said limit signal, and said control means is connected to the comparison means and responsive to the output of said comparison means to thereby reduce the power supplied to said bridge network, and cause said limit signal to be equivalent to the output of said measurement means when said gas sensor is at a particular temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said active element is in series with a reference element in one branch of said bridge network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said measurement means is an instrumentation amplifier and said display means is a meter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said control means is a voltage controlled regulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said comparison means is an on/off comparator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The detector of claim 1 further containing a 4-20 milliampere transmitter connected between the measurement means and display means and connected to said bridge network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said limit signal means is a band gas reference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said limit signal means is a resistive network connected to a fixed voltage source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The detector of claim 1 further containing an alarm means connected to said comparison means for indicating when the temperature at said gas sensor exceeds said particular temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
The detector of claim 9 wherein said alarm means is a light emitting diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 164 words
A temperature limited gas detector apparatus comprising: a gas sensor contained in a detection circuit; a power supply connected through a control means to said detection circuit; means connected to said detection circuit for measuring electrical signals generated by said detection circuit as a particular gas contacts said gas sensor; display means connected to said measuring means; limit signal means for producing a fixed, predetermined limit signal; and comparison means connected to said measurement means and to said limit signal means for comparing an output of said measurement means with the fixed, predetermined limit signal and producing an output signal when the output of said measurement means exceeds said limit signal, and said control means is connected to the comparison means and responsive to the output of said comparison means to thereby reduce the power supplied to said detection circuit, and cause said limit signal to be equivalent to the output of said measuring means when said gas sensor is at a particular temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 164 words
A temperature limited gas detector apparatus comprising: a gas sensor contained in a detection circuit; a power supply connected through a control means to said detection circuit; means connected to said detection circuit for measuring electrical signals generated by said detection circuit as a particular gas contacts said gas sensor; display means connected to said measuring means; limit signal means for producing a fixed, predetermined limit signal; and comparison means connected to said measurement means and to said limit signal means for comparing an output of said measurement means with the fixed, predetermined limit signal and producing an output signal when the output of said measurement means exceeds said limit signal, and said control means is connected to the comparison means and responsive to the output of said comparison means to thereby reduce the power supplied to said detection circuit, and cause said limit signal to be equivalent to the output of said measuring means when said gas sensor is at a particular temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein said measuring means is an instrumentation amplifier and said display means is a meter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein said control means is a voltage controlled regulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein said comparison means is an on/off comparator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 25 words
The detector of claim 11 further containing a 4-20 milliampere transmitter connected between the measuring means and display means and connected to said detection circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein said limit signal means is a band gap reference.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
The detector of claim 11 wherein said limit signal means is a resistive network connected to a fixed voltage source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 28 words
The detector of claim 11 further containing an alarm means connected to said comparison means for indicating when the temperature at said gas sensor exceeds said particular temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
The detector of claim 18 wherein said alarm means is a light emitting diode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 184 words
A temperature limited catalytic gas detector comprising: a catalytic gas sensor containing an active element in series with a reference element in one branch of a Wheatstone bridge network; a power supply connected through a voltage controlled regulator to said bridge network; an instrumentation amplifier connected to said bridge network for measuring electrical imbalances across said bridge network; a display connected to said instrumentation amplifier and displaying the concentration of a gas contacting said gas sensor; limit signal means for producing a fixed, predetermined limit signal; and comparison means connected to said instrumentation amplifier and to said limit signal means for comparing an output of said instrumentation amplifier with the fixed, predetermined limit signal and producing an output signal when the output of said measurement means exceeds said limit signal, and said voltage controlled regulator is connected to the comparison means and responsive to the output of said comparison means to thereby reduce the power supplied to said bridge network, and cause said limit signal to be equivalent to the output of said instrumentation amplifier when said gas sensor is at a particular temperature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 184 words
A temperature limited catalytic gas detector comprising: a catalytic gas sensor containing an active element in series with a reference element in one branch of a Wheatstone bridge network; a power supply connected through a voltage controlled regulator to said bridge network; an instrumentation amplifier connected to said bridge network for measuring electrical imbalances across said bridge network; a display connected to said instrumentation amplifier and displaying the concentration of a gas contacting said gas sensor; limit signal means for producing a fixed, predetermined limit signal; and comparison means connected to said instrumentation amplifier and to said limit signal means for comparing an output of said instrumentation amplifier with the fixed, predetermined limit signal and producing an output signal when the output of said measurement means exceeds said limit signal, and said voltage controlled regulator is connected to the comparison means and responsive to the output of said comparison means to thereby reduce the power supplied to said bridge network, and cause said limit signal to be equivalent to the output of said instrumentation amplifier when said gas sensor is at a particular temperature.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-07 1995-04-08 1995-10-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-07 1999-04-08 1999-10-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-07 2003-04-08 2003-10-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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