Orientation device for a gas analyzer

• US 20040063209A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: McGee, Phillip, Kochie, Rob
• Granted Patent: US 7,402,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/245 Fans
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0037 for NOx
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0047 for organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25875 Gaseous sample or with change of physical state

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a gas analyzer. Because condensation can build-up in a filter of the gas analyzer, it needs to be purged from the analyzer so that accurate readings can be made. By having a orientation device built-in, the analyzer can be purged at the desired orientation so that, as much water, can be purged, as possible, to the designated outlet.

Claims

1. An orientation device for an analyzer, comprising:

an orientation determiner that determines the orientation of the analyzer; and

a purge portion that purges the analyzer of contaminant when the analyzer is in a certain orientation, said purge function being in communication with the orientation determiner.

2. The orientation device of claim 1, wherein the orientation determiner determines the orientation of the analyzer based on an axis that can be selected from a group consisting of x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, other axis, and a combination thereof.

3. The orientation device of claim 1, wherein the orientation determiner controls when the analyzer can purge the contaminant based on the orientation of the analyzer.

4. The orientation device of claim 1, wherein the orientation determiner can be selected from a group consisting of a tilt switch, an accelerometer, a GPS, a magnetic sensitive device, other orientation device and a combination thereof.

5. The orientation device of claim 1 further comprising an alert member that is in communication with the orientation determiner.

6. The orientation device of claim 5, wherein the alert member can be selected from a group consisting of a visual display, an audible device, a tactile device, other alert devices and a combination thereof.

7. The orientation device of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is a gas analyzer.

8. A method of orienting an analyzer, comprising the steps of:

determining the orientation of the analyzer; and

purging the analyzer when the analyzer is in a certain orientation.

9. The method of orientating of claim 8 further comprising preventing purging of the contaminant if the analyzer is not in the proper orientation.

10. The method of orientating of claim 8, wherein the orientation determiner can be selected from a group consisting of a tilt switch, an accelerometer, a GPS, a magnetic sensitive device, other orientation device and a combination thereof.

11. The method of orientating of claim 8, wherein the orientation determiner determines the orientation of the analyzer based on an axis that can be selected from a group consisting of x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, other axis, and a combination thereof.

12. An orientating system for an analyzer, comprising:

a means for determining an orientation of the analyzer; and

a means for purging a contaminant from the analyzer when the analyzer is in a certain orientation, wherein the means for purging and the means for determining are in communication with each other.

13. The orientation system of claim 12, wherein the means for determining the orientation determines the orientation of the analyzer based on an axis that can be selected from a group consisting of x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, other axis, and a combination thereof.

14. The orientation system of claim 12, wherein the means for determining controls the means for purging so that purging occurs when the analyzer is in the proper orientation.

15. The orientation system of claim 12, wherein the means for determining orientation can be selected from a group consisting of a tilt switch means, an accelerometer means, a GPS means, a magnetic sensitive device means, other orientation device means and a combination thereof.

16. The orientation system of claim 12 further comprises an alert means that is in communication with the means for determining.

17. The orientation system of claim 12 further comprises an alert means that can alert an operator if the analyzer is not in the proper orientation for purging.

18. The orientation system of claim 16, wherein the alert means can be selected from a group consisting of a visual display means, an audible device means, a tactile device means, other alert device means and a combination thereof.

19. The orientation system of claim 12, wherein the analyzer is a gas analyzer.

20. The orientation system of claim 12 further comprising a controller means, wherein the controller means, the means for determining and the means for purging are in communication with each other.

21. An orientation device for an analyzer, comprising:

an orientation determiner that determines the orientation of the analyzer so that the analyzer can be in the proper orientation for purging of a contaminant.