US6168645B1 — Safety system for gas purifier

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for safely purifying gases comprising: providing a source of unpurified gas; passing said unpurified gas through a first safety device capable of developing an alarm signal when certain gas contaminants within said first safety device are above a given concentration level over a period of time; passing said unpurified gas through a gas purification unit that includes a purification material to provide a purified gas, where said purification material exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to said certain gas contaminants; and passing said purified gas through a second safety device capable of developing an alarm signal when said certain gas contaminants within said second safety device are above said given concentration level over said period of time.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for safely purifying gases comprising: providing a source of unpurified gas; passing said unpurified gas through a first safety device capable of developing an alarm signal when certain gas contaminants within said first safety device are above a given concentration level over a period of time; passing said unpurified gas through a gas purification unit that includes a purification material to provide a purified gas, where said purification material exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to said certain gas contaminants; and passing said purified gas through a second safety device capable of developing an alarm signal when said certain gas contaminants within said second safety device are above said given concentration level over said period of time.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

A method for safely purifying gases as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of a first valve situated between said source of unpurified gas and said first safety device and a second valve situated between said gas purification unit and said second safety device is closed upon the generation of said alarm signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 146 words

A gas purification system with safety device comprising: a gas purification unit including an enclosure and a purification material disposed within said enclosure that exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to certain gas contaminants which may be present within said enclosure, said gas purification unit having an inlet coupled to an unpurified gas input line and an outlet coupled to a purified gas output line; a safety device coupled to one of said unpurified gas input line and said purified output line, where said safety device develops an alarm signal when gas contaminants within said safety device that are similar to said certain gas contaminants within said gas purification unit are above a given concentration level over a period of time; and wherein said safety device includes a detection material that is a getter material and a thermocouple for detecting a temperature of said getter material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 146 words

A gas purification system with safety device comprising: a gas purification unit including an enclosure and a purification material disposed within said enclosure that exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to certain gas contaminants which may be present within said enclosure, said gas purification unit having an inlet coupled to an unpurified gas input line and an outlet coupled to a purified gas output line; a safety device coupled to one of said unpurified gas input line and said purified output line, where said safety device develops an alarm signal when gas contaminants within said safety device that are similar to said certain gas contaminants within said gas purification unit are above a given concentration level over a period of time; and wherein said safety device includes a detection material that is a getter material and a thermocouple for detecting a temperature of said getter material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 3 wherein said getter material is a powder.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 3 wherein said getter material is applied to a substrate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 3 wherein said safety device includes a filament which can melt when said certain gas contaminants are above said predetermined concentration levels.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 6 wherein said filament is under tension.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 127 words

A gas purification system with safety device comprising: a gas purification unit including an enclosure and a purification material disposed within said enclosure that exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to certain gas contaminants which may be present within said enclosure, said gas purification unit having an inlet coupled to an unpurified gas input line and an outlet coupled to a purified gas output line; a first safety device coupled to said unpurified gas input line, wherein said safety device develops an alarm signal when gas contaminants within said safety device that are similar to said certain gas contaminants within said gas purification unit are above a given concentration level over a period of time; and a second safety device coupled to said purified gas output line.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 127 words

A gas purification system with safety device comprising: a gas purification unit including an enclosure and a purification material disposed within said enclosure that exhibits an exothermic reaction when exposed to certain gas contaminants which may be present within said enclosure, said gas purification unit having an inlet coupled to an unpurified gas input line and an outlet coupled to a purified gas output line; a first safety device coupled to said unpurified gas input line, wherein said safety device develops an alarm signal when gas contaminants within said safety device that are similar to said certain gas contaminants within said gas purification unit are above a given concentration level over a period of time; and a second safety device coupled to said purified gas output line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 wherein said safety device determines that said certain gas contaminants are present above a predetermined concentration level by an exothermic reaction between said certain gas contaminant and a detection material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 9 wherein said detection material is of the same type as said purification material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 wherein said first safety device is coupled in series with said unpurified gas input line and said second safety device is coupled in series with said purified output line.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 wherein said first safety device is coupled in parallel with said unpurified gas input line and said second safety device is coupled in parallel with said purified output line.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 wherein said first safety device is tapped into said unpurified gas input line and said second safety device is tapped into said purified output line.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 further comprising an automated valve which closes in response to said alarm signal to prevent gas from flowing into said gas purification unit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 wherein said first and second safety devices each include a detection material that is a getter material and each said safety device further includes a thermocouple for detecting the temperature of said getter material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 15 wherein said getter material is a powdered getter material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 15 wherein said getter material is applied to a substrate.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 34 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 8 wherein each said safety device includes a filament which can melt when said certain gas contaminants are above said predetermined concentration levels.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

A gas purification system with safety device as recited in claim 18 wherein aid filament is under tension.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-01-02	2004-07-03	2005-01-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-01-02	2008-07-03	2009-01-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-01-02	2012-07-03	2013-01-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Safety system for gas purifier

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