Gas leak detector sensing tip with interior concentric bores and corona current generation

A gas leak detector apparatus as defined in claim I wherein said means for connecting said voltage supply circuit to said second electrode comprises:

• a conduit attached to said second end of said conductive housing;
• a high voltage wire provided in the interior of said conduit;
• and
• means for connecting said high voltage wire to said second electrode.

A gas leak detector apparatus having a sensing tip that operates on the corona principle, said sensing tip having a pair of electrodes across which a high voltage is provided to generate a corona current through said electrodes, said sensing tip comprising:

• a first electrode comprising a conductive housing having a first end having a gas inlet formed therein and a second end, said housing having a flow passage formed therein, said flow passage comprising:
• a first bore having a first diameter, said first bore being provided between said gas inlet and said second end of said conductive housing;
• and
• a second bore having a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter of said first bore:
• said second bore being provided between said first bore and said gas inlet formed in said conductive housing:
• a second electrode provided in the interior of said conductive housing, said second electrode having a tip being provided at a defined location with respect to said first bore formed in said conductive housing;
• a voltage supply circuit for generating a high voltage sufficient to cause a corona to be formed across said first and said second electrodes:
• and
• a conductive member that connects said voltage supply circuit to said second electrode so that said high voltage is provided to said second electrode to form a corona across said first and said second electrodes so that a corona current is induced to flow through said first and said second electrodes.

A gas leak detector apparatus having a sensing tip that operates on the corona principle, said sensing tip having a pair of electrodes across which a high voltage is provided to generate a corona current through said electrodes, said sensing tip comprising:

• a first electrode comprising a housing having a first end with a gas inlet formed therein and a second end, said housing having a unitary conductive portion in which a flow passage is formed, said flow passage comprising:
• a first bore formed in said unitary conductive portion, said first bore having a first diameter, said first bore being provided between said gas inlet and said second end of said conductive housing;
• and
• a second bore formed in said unitary conductive portion, said second bore having a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter of said first bore, said second bore being provided between said first bore and said gas inlet formed in said conductive housing, said second bore abutting said first bore to form an edge in the interior of said unitary conductive portion;
• a second electrode provided in the interior of said conductive housing, said second electrode having a tip, said tip of said second electrode being provided within said first bore formed in said unitary conductive portion of said housing;
• a voltage supply circuit for generating a high voltage sufficient to cause a corona to be formed across said first and said second electrodes;
• and
• a conductive member that connects said voltage supply circuit to said second electrode so that said high voltage is provided to said second electrode to form a corona across said first and said second electrodes so that a corona current is induced to flow through said first and said second electrodes.

A gas leak detector apparatus having a sensing tip that operates on the corona principle, said sensing tip having a pair of electrodes across which a high voltage is provided to generate a corona current through said electrodes, said sensing tip comprising:

• a first electrode comprising a housing having a first end with a gas inlet formed therein and a second end, said housing having a flow passage is formed, said flow passage comprising:
• a first bore having a first diameter, said first bore being provided between said gas inlet and said second end of said conductive housing;
• and
• a second bore having a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter of said first bore, said second bore being provided between said first bore and said gas inlet formed in said conductive housing, said second bore abutting said first bore to form an edge in the interior of said conductive housing;
• a second electrode provided in the interior of said conductive housing, said second electrode having a tip;
• a voltage supply circuit for generating a high voltage sufficient to cause a corona to be formed across said first and said second electrodes:
• and
• a conductive member that connects said voltage supply circuit to said second electrode so that said high voltage is provided to said second electrode to form a corona across said first and said second electrodes so that a corona current is induced to flow through said first and said second electrodes, said corona being formed between said second electrode and said edge in the interior of said housing to generate a relatively stable corona current that does not exhibit substantial magnitude changes in the absence of changes in gas concentration in the vicinity of said sensing tip.

A gas leak detector apparatus having a sensing tip that operates on the corona principle, said sensing tip having a pair of electrodes across which a high voltage is provided to generate a corona current through said electrodes, said sensing tip comprising:

• a first electrode comprising a conductive housing having a first end having a gas inlet formed therein and a second end, said housing having a flow passage formed therein, said flow passage comprising:
• a first bore having a first diameter, said first bore being provided between said gas inlet and said second end of said conductive housing;
• and
• a second bore having a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter of said first bore, said second bore being provided between said first bore and said gas inlet fondled in said conductive housing;
• a second electrode provided in the interior of said conductive housing, said second electrode having a tip being provided at a defined location with respect to said first bore formed in said conductive housing;
• a voltage supply circuit for generating a high voltage sufficient to cause a corona to be formed across said first and said second electrodes;
• and
• a conductive member that connects said voltage supply circuit to said second electrode so that said high voltage is provided to said second electrode to form a corona across said first and said second electrodes so that a corona current is induced to flow through said first and said second electrodes, the relatively small diameter of said second bore preventing the presence of external objects in the vicinity of said sensing tip from substantially affecting the corona generated within said sensing tip.