Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of testing hose samples to determine the permeability thereof to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage, each hose sample including a tubular body with open ends, an interior volume, and an exterior surface, comprising the steps of: (a) sealing the open ends of the hose sample tubular body; (b) covering the tubular body with a flexible generally sulfur-containing gas-impervious material, to define a gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas-impervious material; (c) introducing fluid carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, or combinations thereof, into the interior volume of the tubular body, and allowing the sealed tubular body to stand for at least about twenty four hours; and then (d) after about twenty four hours or more, evaluating the content of gas in the gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas impervious material to see if any of the gas in the gas volume is from fluid introduced in step (c); and comprising the further steps, prior to step (c), of (e) introducing methyl alcohol into the hose sample interior volume, (f) allowing the alcohol to stand in the hose sample for at least about twenty four hours, and then (g) emptying the alcohol from the hose sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of testing hose samples to determine the permeability thereof to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage, each hose sample including a tubular body with open ends, an interior volume, and an exterior surface, comprising the steps of: (a) sealing the open ends of the hose sample tubular body; (b) covering the tubular body with a flexible generally sulfur-containing gas-impervious material, to define a gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas-impervious material; (c) introducing fluid carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, or combinations thereof, into the interior volume of the tubular body, and allowing the sealed tubular body to stand for at least about twenty four hours; and then (d) after about twenty four hours or more, evaluating the content of gas in the gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas impervious material to see if any of the gas in the gas volume is from fluid introduced in step (c); and comprising the further steps, prior to step (c), of (e) introducing methyl alcohol into the hose sample interior volume, (f) allowing the alcohol to stand in the hose sample for at least about twenty four hours, and then (g) emptying the alcohol from the hose sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (d) is repeated several times until fluid introduced in step (c) is detected in the gas volume, or the hose sample is considered to be substantially impermeable to the fluid introduced in step (c) and therefore has passed the test.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein each time step (d) is practiced using a detector tube and evacuating pump and by making a slit in the gas-impervious material just large enough for an end of a detector tube to be inserted into the gas volume, hooking up the detector tube to the evacuating pump, and operating the pump to draw gas from the gas volume into the detector tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein each time step (d) is completed there are the further steps of withdrawing the detector tube from the slit, and sealing the slit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein step (c) is practiced to introduce at least a significant quantity of carbon disulfide, and the detector tube detects carbon disulfide; and wherein step (d) is practiced to detect carbon disulfide in the gas volume, and wherein the step of sealing the slit is practiced by covering it with gas-impervious self-adhesive tape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (d) is practiced by allowing the sealed hose sample to stand for about three-six days at ambient conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein each time step (d) is practiced by allowing the sealed hose sample to stand for about three-six days at ambient conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the hose sample is about twelve inches in length, and wherein about one pint of methyl alcohol is introduced into and then removed from the hose sample interior volume prior to step (c).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (d) is repeated several times until fluid introduced in step (c) is detected in the gas volume, or the hose sample is considered to be substantially impervious to the fluid introduced in step (c) and therefore has passed the test.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein each time step (d) is practiced using a detector tube and evacuating pump and by making a slit in the gas-impervious material just large enough for an end of a detector tube to be inserted into the gas volume, hooking up the detector tube to the evacuating pump, and operating the pump to draw gas from the gas volume into the detector tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 10 wherein each time step (d) is completed there are the further steps of withdrawing the detector tube from the slit, and sealing the slit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein step (c) is practiced to introduce at least a significant quantity of carbon disulfide, and the detector tube detects carbon disulfide; and wherein step (d) is practiced to detect carbon disulfide in the gas volume.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the step of sealing the slit is practiced by covering it with gas-impervious self-adhesive tape, and wherein step (b) is practiced using nylon film as the generally gas-impervious material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (c) is practiced by introducing into the hose sample interior volume about 1.0 ml or less of a liquid having a ratio-by-volume of about two parts carbon disulfide, and about one part each dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of testing hose samples to determine the permeability thereof to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage, each hose sample including a tubular body with open ends, an interior volume, and an exterior surface, comprises the steps of: (a) sealing the open ends of the hose sample; (b) introducing methyl alcohol into the hose sample interior volume and allowing it to stand in the hose sample for at least about twenty four hours, and then emptying the alcohol from the hose sample; (c) introducing fluid which comprises or produces noxious sulfur-containing gases into the hose sample interior volume and allowing the fluid containing hose sample to stand for at least about twenty four hours; and then (d) after about twenty four hours or more determining whether or not any sulfur-containing gas from the fluid introduced in step (c) has passed through the hose tubular body.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of testing hose samples to determine the permeability thereof to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage, each hose sample including a tubular body with open ends, an interior volume, and an exterior surface, comprises the steps of: (a) sealing the open ends of the hose sample; (b) introducing methyl alcohol into the hose sample interior volume and allowing it to stand in the hose sample for at least about twenty four hours, and then emptying the alcohol from the hose sample; (c) introducing fluid which comprises or produces noxious sulfur-containing gases into the hose sample interior volume and allowing the fluid containing hose sample to stand for at least about twenty four hours; and then (d) after about twenty four hours or more determining whether or not any sulfur-containing gas from the fluid introduced in step (c) has passed through the hose tubular body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 15 wherein step (c) is practiced by introducing into the hose sample interior volume gas or liquid having a ratio-by-volume of about two parts carbon disulfide, and about one part each dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of testing hose samples to determine the permeability thereof to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage, each hose sample including a tubular body with open ends, an interior volume, and an exterior surface, comprising the steps of: (a) sealing the open ends of the hose sample tubular body; (b) covering the tubular body with a flexible generally sulfur-containing gas-impervious material, to define a gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas-impervious material; (c) introducing fluid carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, or combinations thereof, into the interior volume of the tubular body, and allowing the sealed tubular body to stand for at least about twenty four hours by introducing into the hose sample interior volume gas or liquid having a ratio-by-volume of about two parts carbon disulfide, and about one part each dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide; and then (d) after about twenty four hours or more, evaluating the content of gas in the gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas impervious material to see if any of the gas in the gas volume is from fluid introduced in step (c).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of testing hose samples to determine the permeability thereof to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage, each hose sample including a tubular body with open ends, an interior volume, and an exterior surface, comprising the steps of: (a) sealing the open ends of the hose sample tubular body; (b) covering the tubular body with a flexible generally sulfur-containing gas-impervious material, to define a gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas-impervious material; (c) introducing fluid carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, or combinations thereof, into the interior volume of the tubular body, and allowing the sealed tubular body to stand for at least about twenty four hours by introducing into the hose sample interior volume gas or liquid having a ratio-by-volume of about two parts carbon disulfide, and about one part each dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide; and then (d) after about twenty four hours or more, evaluating the content of gas in the gas volume between the exterior surface of the tubular body and the gas impervious material to see if any of the gas in the gas volume is from fluid introduced in step (c).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 17 comprising the further step (e) of testing the sealed tubular body for leaks between steps (a) and (b).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 18 comprising the further steps of introducing methyl alcohol into the hose sample interior volume, allowing the alcohol to stand in the hose sample for at least about twenty four hours, and then emptying the alcohol from the hose sample.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 19 wherein step (d) is practiced by allowing the sealed hose sample to stand for about three-six days at ambient conditions.