Portable device for detecting UV light ionizable gas or vapor

Claim 1

A method of quantification of an ultraviolet light ionizable gas or vapor in a gas sample at substantially atmospheric air pressure comprising the steps of: (a) ionizing at least a part of any ultraviolet light ionizable gas or vapor present in the sample by irradiating said sample at substantially atmospheric pressure with a source of ultraviolet light; (b) passing the irradiated sample through a gap between two electrode units having a voltage applied across them; and (c) measuring the current caused by ionized gas or vapor being neutralized by the electrode units and relating that to presence or amount of the ionizable gas or vapor; wherein the ultraviolet light source is positioned relative to the electrode units such that ionization of the ionizable gas or vapor is substantially completed before the gas enters the gap between the electrode units and that at least a part of the irradiated gas or vapor passes through the gap to reach the outlet.

Claim 2

A method of quantification of an ultraviolet light ionizable gas or vapor in a gas sample at substantially atmospheric air pressure comprising the steps of: (a) ionizing at least a part of any ultraviolet light ionizable gas or vapor present in the sample by irradiating said sample at substantially atmospheric pressure with a source of ultraviolet light; (b) passing the irradiated sample through a gap between two electrode units having a voltage applied across them; and (c) measuring the current caused by ionized gas or vapor being neutralized by the electrode units and relating that to presence or amount of the ionizable gas or vapor; wherein the ultraviolet light source is positioned relative to the electrode units such that ionization of the ionizable gas or vapor is substantially completed before the gas enters the gap between the electrode units and that at least a part of the irradiated gas or vapor passes through the gap to reach the outlet.

Claim 3

A device for the detection of ultraviolet light ionizable gas or vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure, said device comprising: a conduit defining a gas flow passage having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; an ultraviolet light source mounted for irradiating a portion of the passage and for at least partially ionizing said UV light ionizable gas vapor in said passage; at least two electrodes mounted in a spaced fashion in the passage having coextensive portions facing each other; a voltage supply circuit connected to the electrodes such that at least one electrode is differently charged with respect to one other electrode; current measuring means sensitive to the effects of ions being neutralized upon the electrodes; and a gas flow induction means for drawings gas into said at least one inlet, through the irradiated portion of the passage at substantially atmospheric pressure, past the electrodes and out of said at least one outlet said at least two electrodes define a gap between differently charged electrode coextensive portions, said gap located substantially downstream of the irradiated portion of the passage such that at least part of the irradiated gas or vapor must pass through said gap to get to said one or more outlets, and the irradiation is not directed onto the electrodes from a downstream direction.

Claim 4

A device for the detection of ultraviolet light ionizable gas or vapor at substantially atmospheric pressure, said device comprising: a conduit defining a gas flow passage having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; an ultraviolet light source mounted for irradiating a portion of the passage and for at least partially ionizing said UV light ionizable gas vapor in said passage; at least two electrodes mounted in a spaced fashion in the passage having coextensive portions facing each other; a voltage supply circuit connected to the electrodes such that at least one electrode is differently charged with respect to one other electrode; current measuring means sensitive to the effects of ions being neutralized upon the electrodes; and a gas flow induction means for drawings gas into said at least one inlet, through the irradiated portion of the passage at substantially atmospheric pressure, past the electrodes and out of said at least one outlet said at least two electrodes define a gap between differently charged electrode coextensive portions, said gap located substantially downstream of the irradiated portion of the passage such that at least part of the irradiated gas or vapor must pass through said gap to get to said one or more outlets, and the irradiation is not directed onto the electrodes from a downstream direction.

Claim 19

A method of quantification of an UV light ionizable gas or vapor in atmospheric air, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a hand holdable portable ionizable gas or vapor detector device in a position where it can intake from, and return to, atmosphere a sample of air at substantially atmospheric pressure, said device including: a conduit, said conduit defining a gas flow passage, said passage having at least one inlet, said inlet being adapted to have direct access to atmosphere, said passage also having at least one output, said outlet being adapted to exhaust directly to atmosphere; an UV light source mounted such that in operation UV light traverses at least a portion of said passage at substantially right angles and so irradiates at least a portion of said passage; an outer cylindrical electrode and an inner cylindrical electrode, said outer and inner cylindrical electrodes being co-axially mounted in a spaced fashion in said passage downstream of said UV light source, said electrodes being positioned such that, in operation, UV light does not impinge thereon; a voltage supply circuit connected to said electrodes such that at least one electrode is differently charged relative to the other; current measuring means sensitive to the effects of ions being neutralized upon said electrode surfaces; and a gas flow induction means for drawing, at substantially atmospheric pressure, gas from atmosphere into said at least one inlet, through an irradiated portion of said passage, past said electrodes and out of said outlet to atmosphere; (b) passing the air through said conduit at substantially atmospheric pressure and directing said beam of UV light at substantially right angles across said conduit to ionize at least a sample of any UV light ionizable gas or vapor present in said air; (c) passing said ionized sample through a gap between said two spaced electrodes; and (d) measuring current caused by ionized gas or vapor being neutralized by said electrode units and relating said current to presence or amount of said ionizable gas or vapor.

Claim 20

A method of quantification of an UV light ionizable gas or vapor in atmospheric air, said method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a hand holdable portable ionizable gas or vapor detector device in a position where it can intake from, and return to, atmosphere a sample of air at substantially atmospheric pressure, said device including: a conduit, said conduit defining a gas flow passage, said passage having at least one inlet, said inlet being adapted to have direct access to atmosphere, said passage also having at least one output, said outlet being adapted to exhaust directly to atmosphere; an UV light source mounted such that in operation UV light traverses at least a portion of said passage at substantially right angles and so irradiates at least a portion of said passage; an outer cylindrical electrode and an inner cylindrical electrode, said outer and inner cylindrical electrodes being co-axially mounted in a spaced fashion in said passage downstream of said UV light source, said electrodes being positioned such that, in operation, UV light does not impinge thereon; a voltage supply circuit connected to said electrodes such that at least one electrode is differently charged relative to the other; current measuring means sensitive to the effects of ions being neutralized upon said electrode surfaces; and a gas flow induction means for drawing, at substantially atmospheric pressure, gas from atmosphere into said at least one inlet, through an irradiated portion of said passage, past said electrodes and out of said outlet to atmosphere; (b) passing the air through said conduit at substantially atmospheric pressure and directing said beam of UV light at substantially right angles across said conduit to ionize at least a sample of any UV light ionizable gas or vapor present in said air; (c) passing said ionized sample through a gap between said two spaced electrodes; and (d) measuring current caused by ionized gas or vapor being neutralized by said electrode units and relating said current to presence or amount of said ionizable gas or vapor.