Water trap and associated control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A water trap for a respiration gas analyzer, said water trap comprising:
- a tapered water separation chamber;
a sample inlet port connected to the water separation chamber;
a sample outlet port connected to the water separation chamber by a sample outlet conduit;
a water collection chamber connected to the water separation chamber;
a vacuum port connected to the water collection chamber by a vacuum conduit; and
at least one self-sealing filter disposed in at least one of the sample outlet conduit and the vacuum conduit, said self-sealing filter comprising a porous matrix having pores characterized by a pore size less than about 100 microns and means, disposed in the porous matrix, for rendering the porous matrix substantially non-porous when exposed to water, said pores forming the only flow path through the filter.
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Abstract
A water trap for a gas analyzer includes self-sealing filters formed of a porous polymer that includes a cellulose extract that causes the polymer to become impermeable on contact with water. The water trap in this way automatically protects the gas analyzer from liquid contamination. Preferably, the gas analyzer monitors a pressure parameter of a pneumatic line connected to the water trap and provides an indication that the water trap should be replaced in the event this pressure parameter indicates an abnormal operating condition.
59 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A water trap for a respiration gas analyzer, said water trap comprising:
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a tapered water separation chamber; a sample inlet port connected to the water separation chamber; a sample outlet port connected to the water separation chamber by a sample outlet conduit; a water collection chamber connected to the water separation chamber; a vacuum port connected to the water collection chamber by a vacuum conduit; and at least one self-sealing filter disposed in at least one of the sample outlet conduit and the vacuum conduit, said self-sealing filter comprising a porous matrix having pores characterized by a pore size less than about 100 microns and means, disposed in the porous matrix, for rendering the porous matrix substantially non-porous when exposed to water, said pores forming the only flow path through the filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a gas analyzer of the type comprising a sample cell, a water trap comprising a separation chamber interconnected with a water collection chamber, a low pressure source, and a conduit system comprising a first conduit for conducting a sample gas from an inlet line to the separation chamber, a second conduit for conducting the sample gas from the separation chamber, through the sample cell to the low pressure source, and a third conduit for conducting a gas from the water collection chamber to the low pressure source, the improvement comprising;
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means, included in the third conduit, for automatically sealing the third conduit upon contact with water; a pressure sensor coupled to the third conduit to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure parameter of a selected portion of the third conduit; means, responsive to the pressure signal, for detecting when the pressure signal is indicative of an abnormally low flow through the third conduit; and means, responsive to the detecting means, for indicating an abnormal condition when the detecting means detects the abnormally low flow; said sealing means comprising a self-sealing filter comprising a porous matrix having pores characterized by a pore size less than about 100 microns and means, disposed in the porous matrix, for rendering the porous matrix substantially non-porous when exposed to water, said pores forming the only flow path through the filter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification