Fluid or vapor diagnostic device
AssigneeSD Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsScott D. Wohlstein, Emil W. Ciurczak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device is provided which passes light of preselected wavelengths through a fluid, gas or vapor to be tested. The light is detected after it has passed through the fluid, gas or vapor. Upon detection, a voltage is created which is proportional in amplitude to the detected light strength for each wavelength of light. These voltages are compared to produce a ratio which represents the condition of the fluid, gas or vapor which is tested or the presence of an analyte of interest. When the ratio is outside of preselected boundaries, control signals are generated which may trigger alarms or otherwise respond to the condition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the presence of carbon gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is detected in gases or vapors.
Claims16
A non-destructive diagnostic device for continuously testing fluid, gas or vapor contained in a fluid, gas or vapor reservoir comprising:
- a) at least two light sources, each of said light sources emitting light at a different preselected wavelength, each of said light sources directing light into the fluid, gas or vapor reservoir;
- b) detectors for receiving light from each of said light sources after it has been directed through the reservoir, said detectors positioned a distance from said light sources thereby forming a gap through which the fluid or vapor may pass;
- c) means, connected to said detectors, for determining the absolute intensity of light from each of said light sources after the light has been directed through the fluid, gas or vapor in the reservoir and detected by said detectors;
- d) means for determining the ratio of absolute intensity of light detected by each of said detectors after the light has been directed through the fluid, gas or vapor;
- and,
- e) means, responsive to said means for determining, for creating a control signal indicating that said ratio is outside of a preselected limit.
A non-destructive diagnostic device for continuously testing, gases or vapors contained in a reservoir for carbon based gases, comprising:
- a) at least two light sources, each of said light sources emitting light at a different preselected wavelength, each of said light sources directing light through the gas or vapor;
- b) detectors for receiving light from each of said light sources after it has been directed through the gas or vapor in the reservoir, said detectors positioned a distance from said light sources thereby forming a gap through which the gas or vapor may pass;
- c) means for determining the absolute intensity of the light of the different wavelengths after the light has been detected;
- d) means for determining the ratio of the determined absolute intensities of the light;
- and,
- e) means for comparing the determined ratio to a preestablished ratio of absolute intensities of light to determine whether the determined ratio indicates that the condition of the sample is outside acceptable values.
A method for non-destructively and continuously testing a gas or vapor matrix for the presence of an analyte, the gas or vapor contained in a gas or vapor reservoir, the analyte being a carbon based gas taken from a group consisting of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) passing light of at least two different wavelengths through the reservoir of gases or vapors;
- b) detecting the light of the different wavelengths after the light has passed through the reservoir;
- c) determining the absolute intensity of the light of the different wavelengths after the light has been detected;
- d) determining the ratio of the determined absolute intensities of the light;
- and,
- e) comparing the determined ratio to a preestablished ratio of absolute intensities of the light to determine whether the determined ratio indicates that the analyte is present in the gas or vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.