US4433982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Input head of a measuring or identification system for chemical agents
Assignee: Bruker Daltonics GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1981-03-10
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Granted: 1984-02-28
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Expires: 2001-03-10
Abstract
Abstract An input head for an active system for identifying and detecting chemical agents has a heated membrane directly exposed to a solid surface containing the agents to be detected. The chemical agents diffuse and traverse through the membrane and exit the rear membrane surface in a vaporized state. The membrane can be successively rinsed with a gas or used as a contact membrane as a first stage of a membrane separator acting as a direct admission system in a mass spectrometer. The input head provides a detection probe or sample admission system in which organic compounds that are likely to diffuse can be qualitatively and quantitatively detected in a sensitive and rapid procedure. The membrane of the input head is relatively thin but mechanically stable so that it may be brought into direct contact with contaminated solid surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernhard Odernheimer
- 👤 Johannes H. Kremer
- 👤 Klaus O. Kranich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N1/22; G01N1/28; G01N1/38; G01N2001/381; G01N2001/383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An input head for a system for actively detecting the presence of chemical agents, said input head comprising: a thin membrane adapted to be brought into direct contact with a solid surface containing chemical agents, said membrane being formed from a mechanically stable material which when brought into contact with said solid surface causes said chemical agents to be detected to selectively dissolve and to diffuse through said membrane and exit therefrom in a vaporized state, said membrane including a chemically inert fabric which adequately withstands thermal stresses and mechanical stresses resulting from direct contact with the solid surface, said fabric being thinly and uniformly coated without gaps with a polymerizable paste, means for directly heating said thin membrane, means for supplying a carrier gas proximate to the portion of said thin membrane through which said chemical agents exit in said vaporized state for transporting said vaporized chemical agents diffusing through said thin membrane, and a sample line in fluid communication with said carrier gas for receiving said carrier gas and said vaporized chemical agents being transported therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An input head for a system for actively detecting the presence of chemical agents, said input head comprising: a thin membrane adapted to be brought into direct contact with a solid surface containing chemical agents, said membrane being formed from a mechanically stable material which when brought into contact with said solid surface causes said chemical agents to be detected to selectively dissolve and to diffuse through said membrane and exit therefrom in a vaporized state, said membrane including a chemically inert fabric which adequately withstands thermal stresses and mechanical stresses resulting from direct contact with the solid surface, said fabric being thinly and uniformly coated without gaps with a polymerizable paste, means for directly heating said thin membrane, means for supplying a carrier gas proximate to the portion of said thin membrane through which said chemical agents exit in said vaporized state for transporting said vaporized chemical agents diffusing through said thin membrane, and a sample line in fluid communication with said carrier gas for receiving said carrier gas and said vaporized chemical agents being transported therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The input head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sample line is located proximate to said means for heating said membrane such that said sample line is also heated by said means for heating said membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The input head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sample line has an outlet coupled to means for detecting said chemical agents.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The input head as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for detecting is a mass spectrometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The input head as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for detecting is a gas chromotography detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The input head as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for detecting is a test capillary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Input head according to claim 1 further including means for connecting said sample line to an adsorption tube (11) for sampling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Input head according to claim 1 including means for adjusting the temperature of said membrane and said sample line to the gas chromatographic behavior of the chemical agent to be detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Input head according to claim 1 wherein said sample line (5) is formed from a chemically inert material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Input head according to claim 9 wherein said chemically inert material is quartz.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The input head as claimed in claim 9 wherein said chemically inert material is pure nickel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Input head according to claim 1 wherein the sample line is an uncoated capillary (5).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Input head according to claim 1 wherein the sample line is a coated capillary column.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Input head according to claim 1 wherein the sample line is a packed chromatographic column.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Input head according to claim 1 wherein said input head is adapted to be used as a gas chromatographic inlet system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
An input head for a system for actively detecting the presence of chemical agents, said input head comprising: a thin membrane adapted to be brought into direct contact with a solid surface containing chemical agents, said membrane being formed from a mechanically stable material which when brought into contact with said solid surface causes said chemical agents to selectively dissolve and to diffuse through said membrane and exit therefrom in a vaporized state, said membrane including a chemically inert fabric which adequately withstands thermal stresses and mechanical stresses resulting from direct contact with the solid surface, said fabric being thinly and uniformly coated without gaps with a polymerizable paste, means for directly heating said thin membrane, means for coupling said thin membrane to a membrane separator having a high vacuum mass spectrometer, said membrane being a direct inlet into said mass spectrometer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
142 words
An input head for a system for actively detecting the presence of chemical agents, said input head comprising: a thin membrane adapted to be brought into direct contact with a solid surface containing chemical agents, said membrane being formed from a mechanically stable material which when brought into contact with said solid surface causes said chemical agents to selectively dissolve and to diffuse through said membrane and exit therefrom in a vaporized state, said membrane including a chemically inert fabric which adequately withstands thermal stresses and mechanical stresses resulting from direct contact with the solid surface, said fabric being thinly and uniformly coated without gaps with a polymerizable paste, means for directly heating said thin membrane, means for coupling said thin membrane to a membrane separator having a high vacuum mass spectrometer, said membrane being a direct inlet into said mass spectrometer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Input head according to claims 1 or 16, wherein said fabric is a metal fabric, 50 to 200 μm thick.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
Input head according to claim 17, wherein said metal fabric is a braided nickel fabric.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
Input head according to claims 1 or 16, wherein said polymerizable paste is a dymethylsilicone paste.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
Input head according to claims 1 or 16 wherein said input head is adapted to be used as a detection probe for the mobile detection of organic substances, which are present on solid surfaces and within thin layers of substances.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
Input head according to claims 1 or 16 wherein said fabric is a metal fabric, 50 to 200 μm thick, and said polymerizable paste is a dymethylsilicone paste.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
Input head according to claim 21 wherein said metal fabric is a braided nickel fabric.
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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) | 1987-02-27 | 1987-08-29 | 1988-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-27 | 1991-08-29 | 1992-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-27 | 1995-08-29 | 1996-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |