US3662604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Atmospheric sampling devices
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1970-10-15
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An atmosphere sampling chamber is disposed within a container. The chamber has an inlet communicating with the atmosphere to be sampled and an outlet communicating with an analysis device such as a gas chromatograph. The annulus in the container adjacent the outer walls of the chamber contains a fluid medium for pressurizing the chamber to exhaust its contents through the outlet. In one embodiment, the chamber is a gas-impervious bellows which is exhausted by feeding gas to the container. In another embodiment, the chamber is formed of a hydrogen-permeable palladium alloy tube and the fluid medium is an electrolyte capable of transporting an ionic species of hydrogen. When the tube is electrolytically connected to a counter electrode in a first evacuation polarity mode, the tube is exhausted and, sample is charged into the tube. In the reverse polarity mode, hydrogen is generated through the tube wall and acts as a purging gas and carrier gas to discharge the sample and sweep the sample through the gas chromatograph column and detector.
Inventors
- 👤 James E Lovelock
- 👤 Peter G Simmonds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for sampling an atmosphere comprising in combination: wall means defining a sample chamber having a sample inlet and a sample outlet, at least a portion of said chamber walls being formed of a material selectively permeable to a fluid when heated; means for heating said wall portion to a temperature at which the wall portion becomes permeable to said fluid; container means surrounding said chamber defining a compartment for receiving said fluid; a source of said fluid for pressurizing the chamber to exhaust the contents thereof when said fluid is in contact with said wall and when said outlet is open; and valve means in said inlet and outlet for selectively communicating said inlet with said atmosphere and said outlet with an analysis instrument.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for sampling an atmosphere comprising in combination: wall means defining a sample chamber having a sample inlet and a sample outlet, at least a portion of said chamber walls being formed of a material selectively permeable to a fluid when heated; means for heating said wall portion to a temperature at which the wall portion becomes permeable to said fluid; container means surrounding said chamber defining a compartment for receiving said fluid; a source of said fluid for pressurizing the chamber to exhaust the contents thereof when said fluid is in contact with said wall and when said outlet is open; and valve means in said inlet and outlet for selectively communicating said inlet with said atmosphere and said outlet with an analysis instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 1 in which said walls form a gas-impervious, compressible and extensible bellows defining a sample chamber therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 2 in which said source of fluid comprises a source of high pressure gas and valve means between said source and said container for selectively feeding said gas to said compartment to compress said bellows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1 in which said fluid is hydrogen gas and said material comprises palladium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device according to claim 4 in which said fluid is an electrolyte capable of electrolytically associating and dissociating hydrogen and is received in said compartment in contact with said wall portion and said device further includes an electrode film received within said compartment in contact with said electrolyte, a source of potential and conductor means connecting said potential source to said electrode and said wall portion to form a hydrogen generation electrolytic cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 5 further including a polarity reversing means interposed in said conductor means for operating said cell in a hydrogen evacuation mode for withdrawing the hydrogen from said chamber through said wall portion into said electrolyte.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 6 further including a hydrogen collection chamber disposed between said wall portion and said sample chamber and wherein the wall of said collection chamber facing said sample chamber includes a palladium containing film and further including means for selectively heating said film to a hydrogen permeable temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 5 in which said material comprises an alloy of palladium containing 10-30% silver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 9 in which said electrolyte comprises a Group I metal hydroxide containing 10-35 percent water.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
155 words
A method Of collecting a sample of an atmosphere comprising the steps of: disposing a portion of a tubular element having an inlet and an outlet within a body of electrolyte, said element having a wall portion selectively permeable to gas when heated and said electrolyte being capable of associating and dissociating said gas; disposing an electrode in said electrolyte; connecting said electrode and wall portion to a potential source to generate said gas from said electrolyte through said wall portion with said inlet open to flush said element with said gas; closing said inlet, reversing the polarity to said cell and evacuating said gas from said element through said wall portion into said electrolyte; communicating said outlet with an analytical instrument, opening said outlet; and connecting said electrode and wall portion to said source in a gas generation mode to generate hydrogen through said wall portion and flush said collected sample into said instrument.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
155 words
A method Of collecting a sample of an atmosphere comprising the steps of: disposing a portion of a tubular element having an inlet and an outlet within a body of electrolyte, said element having a wall portion selectively permeable to gas when heated and said electrolyte being capable of associating and dissociating said gas; disposing an electrode in said electrolyte; connecting said electrode and wall portion to a potential source to generate said gas from said electrolyte through said wall portion with said inlet open to flush said element with said gas; closing said inlet, reversing the polarity to said cell and evacuating said gas from said element through said wall portion into said electrolyte; communicating said outlet with an analytical instrument, opening said outlet; and connecting said electrode and wall portion to said source in a gas generation mode to generate hydrogen through said wall portion and flush said collected sample into said instrument.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE106781C
Cited
FR1208347A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |