Device for measuring gas permeation

Claim 1

A two-cell apparatus for measuring gas permeability of membrane materials, comprising: a. a metallic block having at lest two substantially parallel outside surfaces; and a shallow first cavity formed in each of said surfaced; b. a pivotable clamping member having two clamp arms, each of said clamp arms being positionable over one of said shallow first cavities; and a locking screw threadably attached to each of said clamp arms; c. a pair of covers, each of said covers having a shallow second cavity therein sized to align with a shallow first cavity formed in one of said metallic block surfaces; each of said covers having means for engagement by one of said locking screws; d. means for clamping a membrane material between a cover and said metallic block, said membrane material forming a barrier between facing shallow first and second cavities; e. a plurality of passages in said metallic block and said covers, including i) a first set of passages having a first opening through a surface of said metallic block, and second openings into both of said shallow first cavities in said metallic block, and means for connecting said first opening to a first source of gas; ii) a second set of passages having a first opening through a surface of said metallic block, and second openings into both of said shallow second cavities in said covers, and means for connecting said first opening to a second source of gas; iii) a third set of passages having a first openings into both of said shallow first cavities in said metallic block, and second openings through a surface of said metallic block; iv) a fourth set of passages having first openings into both of said shallow second cavities in said covers, and second openings through a surface of said metallic block; f. means for connecting a gas detector to one of said second openings to said third or fourth set of passages; g. a fifth set of passages in said metallic block, said fifth set of passages having first and second openings through a surface of said metallic block; and h. means for connecting the first and second openings of said fifth set of passages to a source of heat transfer liquid.