US5457528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Identification and quantificaation of refrigerants
Assignee: HITEK HARDWARE Inc
•
Filing: 1993-03-29
•
Granted: 1995-10-10
•
Expires: 2013-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for identifying a refrigerant by determining the spectrum of the refrigerant in the absence of a sensing reagent and converting the spectrum into an indicium of the type of refrigerant.
Inventors
- 👤 Reginald Tobias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/35; G01N21/359; G01N21/3504; G01N21/3577
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of identifying a refrigerant of unknown type which comprises the steps consisting of: (a) determining the spectrum of the refrigerant; and (b) converting a multiplicity of readings of said spectrum into an indicium identifying the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of identifying a refrigerant of unknown type which comprises the steps consisting of: (a) determining the spectrum of the refrigerant; and (b) converting a multiplicity of readings of said spectrum into an indicium identifying the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the determination of said spectrum is of optical spectral absorption intensity at a specific and selected wave length, and said optical spectral absorption intensity of said refrigerant is converted into an indicium of the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 for identifying and quantification of a refrigerant mixture wherein optical spectral absorption intensities are determined for the constituents of said mixture and said intensities are converted into indicia of the types of refrigerants and their percentages in said mixture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said refrigerant is in a vapor phase and applied to a spectrophotometer which illuminates said refrigerant with optical radiation in order to obtain an absorption spectrum of said refrigerant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the vapor of said refrigerant is condensed in said spectrophotometer by the momentary withdrawal of heat energy therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein selected intensities of said absorption spectrum are determined at different wave lengths and used to provide an indicium of the refrigerant associated with said spectrum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein indicia of different refrigerant components are processed to provide an identification and quantification of said components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein contaminants are preliminarily separated from said refrigerants and their volume determined by visual or other means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said contaminants are subjected to spectrometric analysis to identify said contaminants.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 8 wherein specific refrigerants or refrigerant mixtures are identified in weight-mixture ratios as low as 99/1 and contaminant concentrations are determined in the range of from 10 to 500 ppm for water and up to 25% for oil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for identifying a refrigerant unknown type which comprises: (a) means for determining the optical spectral absorption intensity of the refrigerant at a specific and selected wave length; and (b) means for converting the measured optical spectral absorption intensity of said unknown type of refrigerant into an indicium of the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for identifying a refrigerant unknown type which comprises: (a) means for determining the optical spectral absorption intensity of the refrigerant at a specific and selected wave length; and (b) means for converting the measured optical spectral absorption intensity of said unknown type of refrigerant into an indicium of the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 for identifying and quantification of a refrigerant mixture, further including means for determining optical spectral absorption intensities for the constituents of said mixture and said intensities are converted into indicia of the types of refrigerants and their percentages in said mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said refrigerant is in a vapor phase and the determining means comprises a spectrophotometer which illuminates said refrigerant with optical radiation in order to obtain an absorption spectrum of said refrigerant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including means for condensing the vapor of said refrigerant in said spectrometer by the momentary withdrawal of heat energy therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including means for determining selected intensities of said absorption spectrum at different wave lengths to provide an indicium of the refrigerant associated with said spectrum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including means for processing indicia of different refrigerant components to provide identification and quantification of said components.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including means for preliminarily separating contaminants from said refrigerant and measuring the relative volume of said refrigerant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including means for subjecting said contaminants to spectrographic analysis to identify said contaminants and the extent of their concentration in said refrigerant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein the subjecting means comprises means for identifying refrigerant mixtures in weight-mixture ratios as low as 99/1 and identifying contaminant concentrations in the range of from 10 to 500 ppm for water and 0-25% for oil.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
69 words
The method of fabricating a system for identifying a refrigerant of unknown type which comprises: (a) providing means for determining the optical spectral absorption intensity of the refrigerant in the absence of a sensing reagent at a specific and selected wave length; and (b) providing means for converting the said optical spectral absorption intensity of said refrigerant of unknown type into an indicium of the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
69 words
The method of fabricating a system for identifying a refrigerant of unknown type which comprises: (a) providing means for determining the optical spectral absorption intensity of the refrigerant in the absence of a sensing reagent at a specific and selected wave length; and (b) providing means for converting the said optical spectral absorption intensity of said refrigerant of unknown type into an indicium of the type of said refrigerant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 20 for qualifying and quantizing a refrigerant mixture wherein means are provided for determining optical spectral absorption intensities for the constituents of said mixture and said intensities are converted into indicia of the types of refrigerants and their percentages in said mixture.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-09 | 1999-04-10 | 1999-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-09 | 2003-04-10 | 2003-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-09 | 2007-04-10 | 2007-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |