Automated data collection system for fugitive emission sources
First Claim
1. Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, comprising:
- a gas probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion;
a gas analyzer coupled to said probe, said gas analyzer analyzing the gas sample received from said probe and generating a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample;
means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification code signal representative of the identification code;
means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal;
a display on which said concentration signal can be continuously displayed; and
a data terminal housing said scanning means, said display and said storing means, said data terminal having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad ad said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe, and said display and said scanning means being disposed on said data terminal so that said display is visible to a user while scanning the identification tag and while taking a sample when said probe is mounted to said data terminal in said operative orientation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Automated data collection system for fugitive emission sources includes a handheld data terminal formed as a single portable package or integral unit. The data terminal is connected to an organic vapor analyzer (OVA) and an emissions receiving probe. The data terminal includes a display, a keypad, a microprocessor, a memory, a barcode reader and an analog to digital (A/D) converter for converting the emissions signal received from the OVA to a digital representation. The data terminal facilitates immediate on-site repair by providing repair guidance or repair options to the inspector during the inspections process. Front and rear magnets detachably mount the probe to the data terminal. The probe'"'"'s rear magnet is recessed to matingly receive the unit'"'"'s projecting rear magnet.
129 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, comprising:
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a gas probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion; a gas analyzer coupled to said probe, said gas analyzer analyzing the gas sample received from said probe and generating a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample; means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification code signal representative of the identification code; means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal; a display on which said concentration signal can be continuously displayed; and a data terminal housing said scanning means, said display and said storing means, said data terminal having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad ad said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe, and said display and said scanning means being disposed on said data terminal so that said display is visible to a user while scanning the identification tag and while taking a sample when said probe is mounted to said data terminal in said operative orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, and analyzing said gas sample with a gas analyzer that receives the gas sample and generates a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample, comprising:
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a gas probe fluidically coupled to the gas analyzer, said probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion; means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification code signal representative of the identification code; means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal; a display on which said concentration signal can be continuously displayed; a data terminal housing said scanning means, said display, and said storing means, said data terminal having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe, and said display and said scanning means being disposed on said data terminal so that said display is visible to a user while scanning the identification tag and while taking a sample when said probe is mounted to said data terminal in said operative orientation.
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7. A collection system for monitoring fugitive emission sources, comprising:
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identification codes disposed at each fugitive emission source for identifying each fugitive emission source; a handheld data terminal including; a code reader for reading said identification codes and providing a signal representative thereof; a display for displaying information to a user; a memory for storing information; and data processing means coupled to said memory and said display for processing information based on one or more programs stored in said memory; an emission receiving probe for receiving fugitive emissions from the fugitive emission sources, said probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion; and an emissions analyzer coupled to said probe and said data terminal for analyzing fugitive emissions received by said probe and generating an emissions signal representative thereof, said data terminal having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe, and said display and said code reader being disposed on said data terminal so that said display is visible to a user while reading the identification code and while taking a sample when said probe is mounted to said data terminal in said operative orientation.
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8. Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, and analyzing said gas sample with a gas analyzer that receives the gas sample and generates a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample, comprising:
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a gas probe fluidically coupled to the gas analyzer, said probe having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion spaced from said front mounting portion; means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification code signal representative of the identification code; means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal; a data terminal housing said scanning means and said storing means and having a front mounting pad magnetically engageble with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting in response to a force applied to said probe. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for taking a gas sample at a release point tagged with an identification tag having a scannable identification code thereon, and analyzing said gas sample with a gas analyzer that receives the gas sample and generates a concentration signal representative of the concentration of a component of the gas sample, comprising:
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a gas probe having a first end for receiving the gas sample and a second end fluidically coupleable to the gas analyzer and having a front mounting portion proximate to said first end and a rear mounting portion distal from said first end; means for scanning the identification tag and providing an identification signal representative of the identification code; means for storing said identification code signal and said concentration signal; a data terminal housing said scanning means and said storing means having a front mounting pad selectively engageable with said front mounting portion and a rear mounting pad selectively engageable with said rear mounting portion, said probe being disposed in an operative orientation when said front mounting portion is engaged to said front mounting pad and said rear mounting portion is engaged to said rear mounting pad, and said front mounting portion disengaging from said front mounting pad preferentially to said rear mounting portion disengaging from said rear mounting pad in response to a force applied to said probe. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification