Multicomponent photometer

• US 5,036,198 A
• Filed: 06/30/1989
• Issued: 07/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Berthold GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Spaeth, Tilmann
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US07/374,439
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 250/343, 250/339, 250/351, 250/373, 356/418, 356/51
• US Class Current: 250/343
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3129 Determining multicomponents by multiwavelength light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3174 Filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3518 Devices using gas filter correlation techniques; Devices using gas pressure modulation techniques

Abstract

A multicomponent photometer comprises a light source (10) emitting a continuum and from which a measuring light beam (12) originates. The measuring light beam (12) passes through a sample vessel (14) in which a sample gas can be introduced. A plurality of first gas vessels (26), which are filled with different gases looked for in the sample gas, and one or several second gas vessels (28), each of which is associated with at least one of the first gas vessels (26) and contains a reference gas, are located in a first filter wheel (22) and are optionally movable into the path of rays of the measuring light beam (12). One or several filters (32), each of which transmits only a limited spectral region about an absorption band of a gas contained in a first gas vessel (26) (blocking filter), are located in a second filter wheel (24) through which one of the filters (32) is optionally movable into the path of rays of the measuring light beam. The measuring light beam (12 ) is applied to a detector (36). The filter wheels (22,24) are controlled such that one and the same blocking filter (32) is arranged in the path of rays of the measuring light beam (12) in connection with the associated first gas filter (26) and in connection with the second gas filter (28) which is associated with this first gas filter (26).

Claims

1. Multicomponent photometer, comprising

(a) a light source (10) emitting a continuum and from which a measuring light beam (12) originates,

(b) a sample vessel (14) into which a sample gas can be introduced and through which the measuring light beam (12) passes,

(c) a plurality of first gas vessels (26) which are filled with different gases looked for in the sample gas,

(d) one or several second gas vessels (28), each of which is associated with at least one of the first gas vessels (26) and contains a reference gas,

(e) one or several filters (32), each of which transmits only a limited spectral region about an absorption band of a gas contained in a first gas vessel (26) (blocking filter),

(f) a detector (36) to which the measuring light beam (12) is applied, and

(g) switching means (20) which are arranged to optionally move into the path of rays of the measuring light beam (12) a first gas vessel (26) with an associated blocking filter (32) for providing a measuring path of rays, or a second gas vessel (28) with an associated blocking filter (32) for providing a reference path of rays,

characterized in that

(h) the switching means (20) comprise sample changing means formed by a first filter wheel (22), in which the first and the second gas vessels (26,28) are located as filters, for moving the first and the second gas vessels (26,28) into a stationary position in the path of rays of the measuring light beam (12) and filter changing means formed by a second filter wheel (24) separated therefrom for carrying the blocking filters (32) into a stationary position in the path of rays of the measuring light beam (12), and

(i) the vessel changing means (22) and the filter changing means (24) are controlled such that one and the same blocking filter (32) is arranged in the path of the rays of the measuring light beam (12) in connection with the associated first gas vessel (26) and in connection with the second gas vessel (28) which is associated with this first gas vessel (26).