Automated data collection system for fugitive emission sources

Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, and analyzing said gas sample with a gas analyzer that receives the gas sample and generates a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample, comprising:

• a gas probe fluidically coupled to the gas analyzer, said probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion;
• means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification code signal representative of the identification code;
• means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal;
• a display on which said concentration signal can be continuously displayed;
• a data terminal housing said scanning means, said display, and said storing means, said data terminal having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe, and said display and said scanning means being disposed on said data terminal so that said display is visible to a user while scanning the identification tag and while taking a sample when said probe is mounted to said data terminal in said operative orientation.

A collection system for monitoring fugitive emission sources, comprising:

• identification codes disposed at each fugitive emission source for identifying each fugitive emission source;
• a handheld data terminal including:
• a code reader for reading said identification codes and providing a
• signal representative thereof;
• a display for displaying information to a user;
• a memory for storing information;
• and
• data processing means coupled to said memory and said display for processing information based on one or more programs stored in said memory;
• an emission receiving probe for receiving fugitive emissions from the fugitive emission sources, said probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion;
• and
• an emissions analyzer coupled to said probe and said data terminal for analyzing fugitive emissions received by said probe and generating an emissions signal representative thereof,
• said data terminal having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe, and said display and said code reader being disposed on said data terminal so that said display is visible to a user while reading the identification code and while taking a sample when said probe is mounted to said data terminal in said operative orientation.

Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, and analyzing said gas sample with a gas analyzer that receives the gas sample and generates a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample, comprising:

• a gas probe fluidically coupled to the gas analyzer, said probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion;
• means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification code signal representative of the identification code;
• means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal;
• a data terminal housing said scanning means and said storing means and having a front mounting pad magnetically engageble with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting in response to a force applied to said probe.

Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, and analyzing said gas sample with a gas analyzer that receives the gas sample and generates a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample, comprising:

• a gas probe having a first end for receiving the gas sample and a second end fluidically coupleable to the gas analyzer and having a front mounting portion proximate to said first end and a rear mounting portion distal from said first end;
• means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification signal representative of the identification code;
• means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal;
• a data terminal housing said scanning means and said storing means having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe.