# US 7,743,641 B2 · Compact field-mountable gas chromatograph with a display screen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,641 B2 - Document ID: US7743641B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/515,079 - Filed: 2006-09-01 - Published: 2007-04-26 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-02 - Assignees: ABB AB - Inventors: Max A. Bailey; Vince B. Hadley; Jonathan W. Asher; Rodney Wayne Dilbeck; Anthony P. Walker; Steven Gene Lakey; Stephen P. Paetz; Brent E. Berry; Robert W. Rutledge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743641B2 ## CPC - G01N 30/88: Integrated analysis systems specially adapted therefor, not covered by a single one of the groups G01N30/04 - G01N30/86 - G01N 2030/0095: {Separation specially adapted for use outside laboratory, e.g. field sampling, portable equipments} - G01N 2030/025: {Gas chromatography} - G01N 2030/8804: {automated systems} - G01N 2030/8881: {Modular construction, specially adapted therefor} - Y10T 137/86558: Plural noncommunicating flow paths - Y10T 137/87265: Dividing into parallel flow paths with recombining - Y10T 137/87716: For valve having a flexible diaphragm valving member - Y10T 137/87764: Having fluid actuator - Y10T 137/87893: With fluid actuator - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention is directed to a gas chromatograph having a display screen. The gas chromatograph includes an explosion-proof housing and a transparent panel secured to the housing. The display screen is disposed in the housing and is visible through the transparent panel. A gas chromatograph (GC) assembly is disposed in the housing and includes a column for separating components of the gas and a detector for detecting the components of the gas. An electronics assembly is disposed in the housing and includes a microprocessor and memory. A graphical user interface (GUI) software application is stored in the memory and is executable by the microprocessor to display a plurality of windows on the display screen. The windows contain information about the operation of the gas chromatograph. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas chromatograph for analyzing gas, the gas chromatograph comprising: (a.) an explosion-proof housing defining a single enclosed volume, the housing being elongated and having a longitudinal axis extending through opposing first and second ends of the housing; (b.) a display screen disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing and visible from the exterior of the housing; (c.) a gas chromatograph (GC) assembly disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing, the GC assembly comprising: a separation device operable to separate components of the gas; a detector for detecting the components of the gas; and a sample injection valve operable to inject the gas into the separation device; and (d.) a sample selection valve operable to control flow of the gas to the sample injection valve, the sample selection valve being disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing; (e.) a transparent panel fastened to the housing at the first end, the display screen being visible through the transparent panel; wherein the housing comprises a body having an access opening formed therein and a cover removably disposed over the access opening, the cover forming the first end of the housing and the transparent panel being fastened to the cover; and wherein the GC assembly may be removed as a single unit from the housing through the access opening when the cover is removed from the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas chromatograph of claim 1, wherein the gas chromatograph is adapted for mounting to a stanchion having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the housing comprises a mount for mounting the gas chromatograph to the stanchion, the mount being adapted for attachment to the stanchion, whereby when the stanchion is attached to the mount, the longitudinal axis of the housing is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stanchion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gas chromatograph of claim 2, wherein the body is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas chromatograph of claim 1, wherein the separation device comprises at least one column wound into a coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gas chromatograph of claim 1, further comprising: an electronics assembly disposed in the housing and including a microprocessor, memory and a graphical user interface (GUI) software application stored in the memory and executable by the microprocessor to display a plurality of windows on the display screen, the windows containing information about the operation of the gas chromatograph. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas chromatograph of claim 1, wherein the gas chromatograph comprises a plurality of sample selection valves connected to gas inlet conduits and operable to selectively control the flow of gas from the inlet conduits to the sample injection valve, the sample selection valves being disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing. ### Claim 7 A gas chromatograph for analyzing gas, the gas chromatograph comprising: (a.) an explosion-proof housing defining a single enclosed volume; (b.) a display screen disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing and visible from the exterior of the housing; (c.) a gas chromatograph (GC) assembly disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing, the GC assembly comprising: a separation device operable to separate components of the gas; a detector for detecting the components of the gas; and a sample injection valve operable to inject the gas into the separation device; and (d.) a sample selection valve operable to control flow of the gas to the sample injection valve, the sample selection valve being disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing; and (e.) a transparent panel fastened to the housing at the first end, the display screen being visible through the transparent panel, wherein the transparent panel provides shielding against radio frequency interference and comprises one or more transparent conductive layers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gas chromatograph of claim 7, wherein the transparent panel provides at least 30 dB of attenuation for frequencies in a range between 1 and 10,000 MHz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The gas chromatograph of claim 7, wherein the transparent panel comprises at least one sheet of transparent material coated with at least one transparent conductive coating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The gas chromatograph of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a body having an access opening formed therein and a cover removably disposed over the access opening, the cover forming a first end of the housing and the transparent panel being fastened to the cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gas chromatograph of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the separation device extends beyond the plane of the access opening in the body so as to be disposed in the cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gas chromatograph of claim 11, wherein the GC assembly and the sample selection valve may be removed as a single unit from the housing through the access opening when the cover is removed from the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The gas chromatograph of claim 10 wherein the GC assembly may be removed as a single unit from the housing through the access opening when the cover is removed from the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The gas chromatograph of claim 7, further comprising: an electronics assembly disposed in the housing and including a microprocessor, memory and a graphical user interface (GUI) software application stored in the memory and executable by the microprocessor to display a plurality of windows on the display screen, the windows containing information about the operation of the gas chromatograph. ### Claim 15 A gas chromatograph for analyzing gas, the gas chromatograph comprising: (a.) an explosion-proof housing defining a single enclosed volume; (b.) a display screen disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing and visible from the exterior of the housing; (c.) a gas chromatograph (GC) assembly disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing, the GC assembly comprising: a separation device operable to separate components of the gas; a detector for detecting the components of the gas; and a sample injection valve operable to inject the gas into the separation device; and (d.) a sample selection valve operable to control flow of the gas to the sample injection valve, the sample selection valve being disposed in the single enclosed volume of the housing; (e.) a manifold to which the sample selection valve is mounted; and (f.) a double-walled enclosure disposed over the GC assembly and fastened to the manifold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gas chromatograph of claim 15, wherein the display screen is releasably mounted to the double-walled enclosure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The gas chromatograph of claim 16, further comprising: a first printed circuit board to which the display screen is mounted; a second printed circuit board secured to the first printed circuit board; and a mounting plated secured to the first and second printed circuit boards. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The gas chromatograph of claim 16, wherein the display screen is mounted to the double-walled enclosure by a clamping ring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The gas chromatograph of claim 16, wherein the double-walled enclosure comprises a Dewar flask.