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Pulsed flame analyzing method and detector apparatus for use therein

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-08-26
•
Granted: 1992-10-06
•
Expires: 2011-08-26
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Abstract

Abstract A pulsed flame method and apparatus for analyzing a sample, by introducing the sample into a combustible gas mixture, igniting the combustible gas mixture to produce a pulsed flame and detecting a characteristic of the resulting pulsed flame to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances in the sample.

Inventors

  • 👤 Aviv Amirav

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 15:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/626; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/62; G01N30/64; G01N30/68; G01N2030/685

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 57 words
A flame method of analyzing a sample by introducing the sample into a combustible gas mixture, igniting the combustible gas mixture to produce a flame, and detecting a characteristic of the resulting flame to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances in the sample, characterized in that said flame is a pulsed flame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 57 words
A flame method of analyzing a sample by introducing the sample into a combustible gas mixture, igniting the combustible gas mixture to produce a flame, and detecting a characteristic of the resulting flame to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances in the sample, characterized in that said flame is a pulsed flame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 66 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said sample and combustible gas mixture are continuously introduced into a flame chamber having a continuously energized igniter and having a volume which allows flame propagation in the chamber at a rate which, compared to the rate of introduction of the combustible gas mixture, causes the flame to self-terminate and then to reignite, to thereby produce said pulsed flame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the combustible gas mixture is fed under the control of pulsed-operated valve means, to thereby produce said pulsed flame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said combutible gas mixture is ignited by pulsed-energized igniter means, to thereby produce said pulsed flame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is charge carriers formed by said pulsed flame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is electromagnetic radiation emitted from said pulsed flame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is thermionic ions affected by said pulsed flame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is light induced fluorescence induced by said pulsed flame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is atomic absorption resulting from said pulsed flame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is ion formation in an ion mobility spectrometer by said pulsed flame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is the effect on plasma induced light emission by said pulsed flame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected characteristic is processed in the pulse mode coordinated with the pulses of said pulsed flame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the flame is selectively controlled to operate either according to a pulsed flame mode or according to a continuous flame mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein trapping and desorption of sample molecules is performed between the flame pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the durations of said flame pulses are from 40 microseconds to 40 milliseconds, and their frequency is up to 200 Hz.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said pulsed flame is pulsed periodically.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said pulsed flame is pulsed aperiodically.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 88 words
A flame based detector for use in analyzing a sample in order to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances therein, comprising: feeding means for feeding the sample into a combustible gas mixture, an igniter for igniting the combustible gas mixture to produce a flame, and a detector means for detecting a characteristic of the resulting flame to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances in the sample; characterized in that said apparatus includes control means for pulsing said flame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 88 words
A flame based detector for use in analyzing a sample in order to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances therein, comprising: feeding means for feeding the sample into a combustible gas mixture, an igniter for igniting the combustible gas mixture to produce a flame, and a detector means for detecting a characteristic of the resulting flame to determine the identity and/or concentration of one or more chemical substances in the sample; characterized in that said apparatus includes control means for pulsing said flame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 75 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, further including a flame chamber into which the combustible gas mixture, including the sample, is fed; said control means including means for continuously energizing said igniter, and means for controlling said feeding means to feed the combustible gas mixture into said flame chamber at a lower rate than the flame velocity such as to cause the flame to self-terminate, and then to reignite, to thereby produce said pulsed flame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means includes pulse-operated valves in said feeding means for feeding the combustible gas mixture in pulses, to thereby produce said pulsed flame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means includes means for energizing said igniter in pulses, to thereby produce said pulsed flame.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects charge carriers formed by said pulsed flame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects electromagnetic radiation emitted from said pulsed flame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects species generated by said pulsed flame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects thermionic ions affected by said pulsed flame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects light induced fluoresence induced by said pulsed flame.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said detector is one which detects atomic absorption resulting from said pulsed flame.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects ion formation by said pulsed flame in an ion mobility spectrometer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said detector is one which detects plasma induced light emission as affected by said pulsed flame.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the output of said detector is processed in the pulsed mode coordinated with the pulses of said pulsed flame.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means selectively controls the apparatus to operate either according to a pulsed flame mode or according to a continuous flame mode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means produces flame pulses having durations of from 40 microseconds to 40 milliseconds, with a frequency of up to 200 Hz.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means pulses said flame periodically.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means pulses said flame aperiodically.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3625614A Cited
US3740154A Cited

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