Patent USH454H successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
USH454H
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chemical agent leak detector and a method of using the same
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1986-11-17
•
Granted: 1988-04-05
•
Expires: 2006-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of detecting leaks within artillery shells, bombs and other munitions is disclosed which involves the permanent in situ insertion within the munition cavity of an electrically resistive surface which varies in resistance with the adsorption thereon of leaking chemical vapors. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the electrically resistive surface is serially connected with an identical surface with an inert coating and the voltage drops across both the coated and uncoated surfaces are measured. Thereby, any changes in the resistance of the exposed surface due to factors other than adsorption thereon of leaking gases, e.g., temperature changes, are appropriately offset.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Sickenberger
- 👤 Richard P. Marcou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/16; F; F42; F42B; F42B35/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A chemical vapor leak detector which comprises: an electric current source, selectively connected to feed a current through an exposed electrically conductive surface of a known resistance capable of adsorbing thereon said chemical vapor, wherein the resistance of said electrically conductive surface varies in a known manner with the amount of chemical vapor adsorbed thereon, and wherein said resistance variation is capable of measurement by observing voltage drop across said electrically conductive surface when said current is selectively fed therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A chemical vapor leak detector which comprises: an electric current source, selectively connected to feed a current through an exposed electrically conductive surface of a known resistance capable of adsorbing thereon said chemical vapor, wherein the resistance of said electrically conductive surface varies in a known manner with the amount of chemical vapor adsorbed thereon, and wherein said resistance variation is capable of measurement by observing voltage drop across said electrically conductive surface when said current is selectively fed therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive surface is in the shape of the curvilinear portion of a cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive surface comprises of carbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method of measuring chemical leakage which comprises the steps of: (a) inserting the chemical vapor leak detector of claim 1 within an area of suspected chemical contamination; (b) adsorbing any contaminating chemical vapors present in said area of suspected chemical contamination to a point of equilibrium; and (c) measuring any resulting change in electrical resistance of the chemical vapor leak detector by the application of a direct current therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the area of suspected chemical contamination is a cavity inside a chemical munition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of freeing the electrically conductive surface of the chemical vapor leak detector of claim 1 of any adsorbed chemical vapors which comprises the step of applying an alternating current thereacross.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A chemical vapor leak detector which comprises an exposed first electrically conductive surface of a known resistance in electrical contact with a second identical electrically conductive surface of identical area separated from said chemical vapor by being disposed within a protective envelope wherein the resistance of said first electrically conductive surface varies in a known manner with the amount of chemical vapor adsorbed thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A chemical vapor leak detector which comprises an exposed first electrically conductive surface of a known resistance in electrical contact with a second identical electrically conductive surface of identical area separated from said chemical vapor by being disposed within a protective envelope wherein the resistance of said first electrically conductive surface varies in a known manner with the amount of chemical vapor adsorbed thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 wherein said electrically conductive surfaces are identical in shape to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 8 wherein the shape of the electrically conductive surfaces is the curvilinear portion of a cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 wherein said electrically conductive surfaces comprises of carbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 wherein the protective envelope comprises a ceramic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 11 wherein the ceramic material comprises glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 wherein the protective envelope comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 13 wherein the polymeric material comprises Teflon® plastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 wherein the electrical contact comprises a metallic sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The chemical vapor leak detector of claim 15 wherein the metallic sleeve is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver and aluminum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring chemical leakage which comprises the steps of: (a) inserting the chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 within an area of suspected chemical contamination; (b) adsorbing onto the exposed electrically conductive surface any contaminating chemical vapors present in said area of suspected chemical contamination to a point of equilibrium; and (c) measuring any resulting differential in electrial resistance between the exposed electrically conductive surface and the electrically conductive surface disposed within a protective envelope by the application of a direct current sequentially across the exposed electrically conductive surface, the electrical contact and the electrically conductive surface disposed within a protective envelope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the area of suspected chemical contamination is a cavity inside chemical munitions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of freeing the exposed electrically conductive surface of the chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 of any adsorbed chemical vapors which comprises the step of applying an alternating current sequentially across the exposed electrically conductive surface, the electrical contact and the electrically conductive surface disposed within a protective envelope.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of freeing the exposed electrically conductive surface of the chemical vapor leak detector of claim 7 of any adsorbed chemical vapors which comprises the step of applying an alternating current therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-05 | 1991-10-05 | 1992-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-05 | 1995-10-05 | 1996-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-05 | 1999-10-05 | 2000-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |