Gas analyzing
First Claim
1. Gas analyzing structure for use in simultaneously performing multiple gas anaylses comprisingframe means supporting a plurality of individual optical gas analysis assemblies located to dispose portions of each such assembly along an arcuate path,each such assembly of said plurality of assemblies including a single source of radiant energy, a single radiant energy detector having an electrical output, means for directing the radiant energy from the single source for passage along a sample gas and a reference gas path, and means for directing such radiant energy after passage along the reference gas and sample gas paths to the single detector for such radiant energy,means for predetermined cyclic interruption of radiant energy in the sample and reference gas paths of each such assembly including a single chopper disc rotatable about a fixed central axis located in predetermined positional relationship to the arcuate path disposition of gas analysis assemblies,the chopper disc including a plurality of windows predeterminedly spaced radially from the fixed central axis with a portion of the windows being spaced from the central axis a predetermined distance to permit passage of radiant energy in the sample gas path and a portion of the windows being spaced radially from the central axis to permit passage of radiant energy in the reference gas path of each optical gas analyzer assembly upon rotation of the chopper disc about the fixed central axis, andsaid radiant energy detector of each of said assemblies being adapted to be connected to circuitry for processing the electrical output of a detector.
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Abstract
Dual-beam comparison of gas absorption characteristics in which a single source and single detector of radiant energy and single chopper disc are used in sample gas and reference gas paths. Ambient atmosphere or gas directed through a sample gas chamber can be analyzed. Multiple gas analyses, of a plurality of gases or a plurality of constituents of a gas, can be performed simultaneously utilizing the single chopper disc with a plurality of optical gas assemblies. Each such assembly includes a single source of radiant energy, means for directing the radiant energy along sample and reference gas paths to a single detector for such radiant energy. The multiple units are mounted so that the single chopper disc cyclically interrupts radiant energy in the respective sample and reference gas paths in predetermined phase relationship. The combined sample gas and reference gas path response of the single detector for each gas analyzing unit is directed to phase-sensitive signal-separation circuit means. The single chopper disc is also used to generate phase reference signals for gating the phase-sensitive signal separation circuit means to produce a voltage output for the sample and reference gas paths, Vs and Vr, respectively. An automatic gain control function, to eliminate or minimize variations in source intensity, detector characteristics, and circuit components influencing both gas paths equally, is provided by electronic ratio circuit means or feedback circuit means.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Gas analyzing structure for use in simultaneously performing multiple gas anaylses comprising
frame means supporting a plurality of individual optical gas analysis assemblies located to dispose portions of each such assembly along an arcuate path, each such assembly of said plurality of assemblies including a single source of radiant energy, a single radiant energy detector having an electrical output, means for directing the radiant energy from the single source for passage along a sample gas and a reference gas path, and means for directing such radiant energy after passage along the reference gas and sample gas paths to the single detector for such radiant energy, means for predetermined cyclic interruption of radiant energy in the sample and reference gas paths of each such assembly including a single chopper disc rotatable about a fixed central axis located in predetermined positional relationship to the arcuate path disposition of gas analysis assemblies, the chopper disc including a plurality of windows predeterminedly spaced radially from the fixed central axis with a portion of the windows being spaced from the central axis a predetermined distance to permit passage of radiant energy in the sample gas path and a portion of the windows being spaced radially from the central axis to permit passage of radiant energy in the reference gas path of each optical gas analyzer assembly upon rotation of the chopper disc about the fixed central axis, and said radiant energy detector of each of said assemblies being adapted to be connected to circuitry for processing the electrical output of a detector.
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10. Gas analyzing apparatus providing sample and reference gas path comparison data comprising
single source means for radiant energy to be absorbed by the gas under analysis, means for directing such radiant energy from the single source means along a sample gas path and a reference gas path, chopper disc means located in the sample and reference gas paths providing predetermined cyclic interruption of radiant energy in each such path, synchronizing means cyclically actuated by the chopper disc means to generate electrical output in predetermined phase relationship with passage of radiant energy in the sample gas path and in the reference gas path, single detector means positioned to receive radiant energy from each such path after cyclic interruption and to generate electrical output responsive to the radiant energy passage along both the sample and reference gas paths, circuit means electrically connected to the single detector means, such circuit means including a separate electrical channel means for the sample gas path and for the reference gas path, each such separate electrical channel means including amplifier means, each such amplifier means having input juncture means and output juncture means, the circuit means electrically connected to the single detector means further including phase-sensitive circuit means for each electrical channel means, each such phase-sensitive circuit means including an electrical gating device actuated by the electrical output of the synchronizing means of its respective gas path in predetermined phase relationship to actuation of the gating device in the remaining gas path to gate signals from the detector means to the amplifier means along a predetermined path, each said gating device being connected to the input juncture means of its respective electrical channel amplifier means to define one electrical path from the detector means to such amplifier means, each such electrical channel means including an additional electrical path from the detector means to the input juncture means of its respective amplifier means such that each channel amplifier means operates responsively to sample and reference gas path signals with the result that the sample gas path electrical channel means combines sample path gating device signals and the additional electrical path signals at the channel amplifier means to effectively eliminate reference gas path detector output signals to produce a signal, Vs, indicative of the signal generated by the detector as a result of radiant energy passage along the sample gas path, and the reference gas path channel combines reference gas path gating device signals and the additional electrical path signals at its channel amplifier means to effectively eliminate sample gas path detector output signals to produce a signal, Vr, indicative of the signal generated by the detector as a result of radiant energy passing along the reference path, said Vs and Vr signal appearing at the output juncture means of the respective amplifier means, means connected to the output juncture means of the amplifier means for averaging respective Vs and Vr signals, and output circuit means for producing an output representative of a comparison of the passage of radiant energy through the reference gas and the sample gas paths.
Specification