Infrared leak detector
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable handheld infrared (IR) leak detector for refrigerant gas leaks, comprising in combination:
- a probe for being placed approximately 0.635 centimeters (approximately ¼
of an inch) adjacent to a suspected refrigerant gas leak sample that is suspected to being emitted from a single refrigerant pressurized gas leak source;
an infrared (IR) chamber attached to the probe;
an air pump adjacent to the IR chamber having a continuous sampling rate of at least approximately 100 cc/min, the air pump for drawing the refrigerant gas leak sample into the IR chamber;
a sensor adjacent to the IR chamber for detecting whether the suspected gas leak sample is being emitted from the single refrigerant gas leak source; and
a handheld housing for supporting the probe, the chamber, the air pump and the sensor so that the leak detector is portable and carryable in a single hand, wherein the leak detector detects a leak in the single refrigerant pressurized gas leak source without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Leak detector using infrared for identifying the presence and concentration of a selected gas. For detection, radiation from an infrared emitter penetrates the sample, which is analyzed spectrally, and results in a wave length-specific signal being generated at the output. By controlling the optical filter, the radiation is controlled at a selected wavelength, to ensure coverage of all selected compounds. For refrigerants, the selected wavelength can be between approximately 8 to approximately 10 microns. This wavelength obscures other signals, thus minimizing false alarms. The leak detector has a faster time with no adverse impacts on the accuracy of the compound being detected. To further minimize false alarms and to ensure that the emitter does not come in contact with the gas, an additional filter can be used. For refrigerant compounds, the filter can block out signals below approximately 6 microns. For detecting refrigerants, two filters can be used.
54 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A portable handheld infrared (IR) leak detector for refrigerant gas leaks, comprising in combination:
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a probe for being placed approximately 0.635 centimeters (approximately ¼
of an inch) adjacent to a suspected refrigerant gas leak sample that is suspected to being emitted from a single refrigerant pressurized gas leak source;an infrared (IR) chamber attached to the probe; an air pump adjacent to the IR chamber having a continuous sampling rate of at least approximately 100 cc/min, the air pump for drawing the refrigerant gas leak sample into the IR chamber; a sensor adjacent to the IR chamber for detecting whether the suspected gas leak sample is being emitted from the single refrigerant gas leak source; and a handheld housing for supporting the probe, the chamber, the air pump and the sensor so that the leak detector is portable and carryable in a single hand, wherein the leak detector detects a leak in the single refrigerant pressurized gas leak source without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector.
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2. A portable handheld infrared (IR) leak detector for detecting gas leaks, comprising:
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(a) an infrared (IR) sampling chamber having (ai) an infrared (IR) emitter for emitting IR energy; (aii) a first filter for blocking IR energy from approximately 6 microns down through the sampling chamber; (aiii) a second filter for allowing a selected IR energy range of approximately 8 to approximately 10 microns to pass through the sampling chamber; (aiv) a sensor for detecting resultant IR energy from the first filter and the second filter; and (b) a pump for pulling a sample gas from a single suspected gas leak that emanates from a single pressurized gas source through the sampling chamber; (c) a detector-sensor for detecting presence of selected gas constituents in the suspected gas leak from the sensor; and (d) a handheld housing for supporting the chamber, the pump and the detector-sensor, so that the leak detector is portable and is carryable in a single hand, wherein the leak detector detects if a leak exists in the single pressurized gas source without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A portable handheld infrared (IR) leak detector, comprising in combination:
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an elongated continuously cylindrical and detachable tubular needle probe extension attached to a housing for allowing the detector to take a gas sample that is being leaked from a single pressurized gas source located in tight spaces, the needle probe extension having an inlet opening adjacent to and not at a tip end of the needle probe extension; an infrared (IR) chamber having an IR emitter and sensor in the housing; and a pump in the housing for drawing the gas sample into the IR chamber, wherein the detector detects from the IR sensor whether a selected gas compound from the selected sample in the chamber constitutes a gas leak from the single pressurized gas source, and wherein the probe extension is attached to the housing and the housing is for supporting the chamber and the pump, the housing being portable and carryable in a single hand, wherein the detector detects a leak in the single pressurized gas source without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the detector.
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5. A portable handheld infrared (IR) leak detector, comprising in combination:
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an inlet port attached to a housing for allowing the detector to take a gas sample that is being leaked from a gas source; a gold plated and plastic infrared (IR) optical chamber in the housing having an IR emitter and sensor; and a pump for drawing the gas sample into the IR chamber, wherein the IR sensor detects whether a selected gas compound from the selected sample in the chamber constitutes a gas leak, the housing for supporting the chamber and the pump, the housing is portable and is carryable in a single hand, wherein the leak detector detects whether there is a leak from the gas source without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector.
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6. A portable handheld infrared (IR) gas leak detector, comprising in combination:
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an inlet port attached to a housing for allowing the detector to take a gas sample that is being leaked from a gas source; an infrared (IR) optical chamber in the housing having an IR emitter and sensor, wherein the IR sensor detects whether a selected gas compound from the selected sample in the chamber constitutes a gas leak; and an audio output to the detector for emitting an audio signal from a detected leak, the audio output having a zero control setting having a substantially constant approximately 1 Hz chirp signal, the audio output digitally shifting to a 2 Hz chirp rate upon detection of the gas leak, and the audio output increasing the chirp rate above approximately 2 Hz in proportion to size of the gas leak being detected, the inlet port attached to the housing, and the housing for supporting the chamber and the audio output, the housing being portable and carryable in a single hand, wherein the leak detector detects if the gas leak exists without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector.
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7. A portable handheld infrared (IR) gas leak detector, comprising in combination:
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an inlet port attached to a housing for allowing the detector to take a gas sample that is being leaked from a gas source; an infrared (IR) optical chamber in the housing having an IR emitter and sensor, wherein the IR sensor detects whether a selected gas compound from the selected sample in the chamber constitutes a gas leak; a signal detection accumulator in the detector with a forward biased detector circuit; and a zero circuit in the detector referenced to approximately a circuit ground instead of referenced between supply rails, the housing for supporting the attached inlet port, the chamber, the accumulator and the zero circuit, the leak detector being portable and carryable in a single hand, wherein the detector detects presence of the gas leak without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector.
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8. A portable handheld infrared (IR) gas leak detector, comprising:
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an infrared (IR) chamber; a port to draw a gas sample from a gas leak emission into the chamber; a sensor for detecting a compound from the sample in the chamber; and a handheld housing for supporting the chamber, the port and the sensor; and an alarm for indicating when a gas leak has been detected by the detector, the alarm being supported by the housing, the leak detector being portable and carryable in a single hand, wherein leak detector detects presence of a gas leak from the gas leak emission without introducing or mixing a secondary tracer within the leak detector.
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeTwin Rivers Engineering Incorporated
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Original AssigneeTwin Rivers Engineering Incorporated
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InventorsWilliams, William J. II, Dejong, Glenn A.
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Primary Examiner(s)Gabor, Otilia
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Application NumberUS10/899,182Time in Patent Office617 DaysField of Search250/343, 250/345, 250/338.5, 73/40, 73/407, 73/491, 73/492, 340/605, 340/539, 340/632, 340/491.6, 340/693.5, 340/635, 340/363US Class Current250/343CPC Class CodesG01M 3/047 with photo-electrical detec...G01N 21/11 Filling or emptying of cuve...G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. m...G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compac...
