Emissions testing equipment support

• US 5,488,875 A
• Filed: 08/29/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bob A. Adair
• Original Assignee: Bob A. Adair
• Inventors: Adair, Bob A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ashraf, Nashmiya
• Application Number:
  US08/298,352
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 73/863.82, 73/863.81, 73/866.5, 73/863.83, 73/863.84, 73/863.85
• US Class Current: 73/863.82
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2258 in a stack or chimney
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces

Abstract

An emissions testing equipment support includes a probe carrier movable on a walkway and which carries an emissions sampling probe supported for movement along a probe guide for insertion into and removal from a monitoring port. The elevation of the probe guide is adjustable to permit raising and lowering of the probe to align the probe with the monitoring port. In one embodiment, the probe carrier is an upright rack having inverted u-shaped end sections which carry a probe guide rail and an emissions sample support tray.

Claims

1. An emissions testing equipment support apparatus for use in combination with an elongated emissions sampling probe for monitoring emissions in a stack, the stack having at least one monitoring port through which the emissions sampling probe may be inserted to obtain emissions samples within the stack, the monitoring port being accessible from a base or walkway, the apparatus comprising:

a probe carrier adapted for movement in contact with the walkway and relative to the walkway;

an elongated probe guide coupled to the probe carrier and movable with the probe carrier as the probe carrier is moved relative to the walkway;

a probe guide coupler hanging down from the probe guide so as to be movable along the length of the probe guide; and

an emissions sampling probe carried by the probe guide coupler beneath the probe guide, whereby the emissions sampling probe is movable along the probe guide with the probe guide coupler toward and away from the at least one monitoring port when the probe carrier is in a first position relative to the at least one monitoring port.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the probe guide coupled is coupled to the emissions sampling probe at a location where the emissions sampling probe is balanced so as to minimize pivoting forces exerted by the emissions sampling probe on the probe guide coupler.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the probe carrier comprises an upright rack with supporting wheels for rolling the probe carrier in any direction on the walkway.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 including an elevation adjustment mount positioned to suspend the probe guide from the probe carrier for raising and lowering the probe guide to adjust the elevation of the emissions sampling probe relative to the at least one monitoring port.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 including an elevation adjustment mount positioned to suspend the probe guide from the probe carrier for raising and lowering the probe guide to adjust the elevation of the emissions sample probe relative to the at least one monitoring port.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 in which the probe guide has first and second end portions, the elevation adjustment mount comprises first and second turnbuckles coupling respective first and second end portions of the probe guide to the rack.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 including a horizontal level indicator mounted to the probe guide, the horizontal level indicator providing an indication of the positioning of the probe guide in a horizontal plane.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 including a horizontal level indicator mounted to the probe guide, the horizontal level indicator providing an indication of the positioning of the probe guide in a horizontal plane.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a probe support mounted to the probe guide for engaging a section of the emissions sampling probe during movement of the emissions sampling probe.

9. An emissions testing equipment support apparatus for use in combination with an elongated emissions sampling probe for monitoring emissions in a stack, the stack having at least one monitoring port through which the emissions sampling probe may be inserted to obtain emissions samples within the stack, the monitoring port being accessible from a base or walkway, the apparatus comprising:

a probe carrier for positioning on the walkway, the probe carrier being adapted for movement on the walkway;

an elongated probe guide coupled to the probe carrier;

an emissions sampling probe carried by the probe guide for movement along the probe guide toward and away from the at least one monitoring port when the probe carrier is in a first position relative to the at least one monitoring port; and

an emissions sample support tray mounted to the probe carrier.

10. An emissions testing equipment support apparatus for use in combination with an elongated emissions sampling probe for monitoring emissions in a stack, the stack having at least one monitoring port through which the emissions sampling probe may be inserted to obtain emissions samples within the stack, the monitoring port being accessible from a base or walkway, the apparatus comprising:

a probe carrier adapted for movement in contact with the walkway and relative to the walkway;

an elongated probe guide coupled to the probe carrier and movable with the probe carrier as the probe carrier is moved relative to the walkway;

a probe guide coupler supported by the probe guide so as to be movable along the length of the probe guide; and

an emissions sampling,probe carried by the probe guide coupler, whereby the emissions sampling probe is movable along the probe guide with the probe guide coupler toward and away from the at least one monitoring port when the probe carrier is in a first position relative to the at least one monitoring port;

the probe carrier comprising an upright rack with supporting wheels for rolling the probe carrier in any direction on the walkway;

an elevation adjustment mount positioned to suspend the probe guide from the probe carrier for raising and lowering the probe guide to adjust the elevation of the emissions sample probe relative to the at least one monitoring port;

the probe guide having first and second end portions, the elevation adjustment mount comprises first and second turnbuckles coupling respective first and second end portions of the probe guide to the rack;

a level indicator mounted to the probe guide, the level indicator providing an indication of the positioning of the probe guide in a horizontal plane; and

an emissions sample support tray mounted to the probe carrier.

12. An emissions testing equipment support apparatus for use in monitoring emissions in a stack, the stack having plural monitoring ports through which an elongated emissions sampling probe may be inserted to obtain emissions samples at locations within the stack, the monitoring ports being accessible from a base or walkway, the apparatus comprising:

an upright rack movable on the walkway;

a probe guide mounted to an upper portion of the rack, a probe coupler hanging down from and movably mounted to the probe guide and adapted to support an emissions sampling probe beneath the probe guide for movement relative to the rack into and out of the stack monitoring ports;

whereby following the obtaining of emissions samples at one stack monitoring port, the emissions sampling probe may be moved relative to the rack and out of the one stack monitoring port, the upright rack may be moved to position the probe for insertion into another of the stack monitoring ports, and the emissions sampling probe may be moved relative to the rack and into another of the stack monitoring ports.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 including an elevation adjustment mount which couples the probe guide to the rack for raising and lowering the probe guide to adjust the elevation of the emissions sampling probe relative to the monitoring ports.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which the probe guide has first and second end portions, the elevation adjustment mount comprises first and second turnbuckles coupling respective first and second end portions of the probe guide to the rack.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 including a level indicator mounted to the probe guide, the level indicator providing an indication of the positioning of the probe guide in a horizontal plane.

16. An emissions testing equipment support apparatus for use in monitoring emissions in a stack, the stack having plural monitoring ports through which an elongated emissions sampling probe may be inserted to obtain emissions samples at locations within the stack, the monitoring ports being accessible from a base or walkway, the apparatus comprising:

an upright rack movable on the walkway;

a probe guide mounted to an upper portion of the rack, a probe coupler movably mounted to the probe guide and adapted to support an emissions sampling probe beneath the probe guide for movement relative to the rack into and out of the stack monitoring ports;

whereby following the obtaining of emissions samples at one stack monitoring port, the emissions sampling probe may be moved relative to the rack and out of the one stack monitoring port, the upright rack may be moved to position the probe for insertion into another of the stack monitoring ports, and the emissions sampling probe may be moved relative to the rack and into another of the stack monitoring ports;

an elevation adjustment mount which couples the probe guide to the rack for raising and lowering the probe guide to adjust the elevation of the emissions sampling probe relative to the one monitoring port;

the probe guide having first and second end portions, the elevation adjustment mount comprising first and second turnbuckles coupling respective first and second end portions of the probe guide to the rack;

a level indicator mounted to the probe guide, the level indicator providing an indication of the positioning of the probe guide in a horizontal plane; and

an emissions sample support tray mounted to the rack.

17. An emissions testing equipment support apparatus for use in combination with an elongated emissions sampling probe for monitoring emissions in a stack, the stack having plural monitoring ports through which the emissions sampling probe may be inserted to obtain emissions samples within the stack, the monitoring ports being accessible from a base or walkway, the apparatus comprising:

a probe carrier comprising first and second spaced apart upright inverted u-shaped end pieces and plural cross pieces interconnecting the end pieces to provide a rigid probe support frame, the frame including support wheels rotatably mounted thereto for supporting the frame for rolling on the walkway;

an elongated probe guide rail;

first and second spaced apart adjustable length supports coupling the probe guide rail to an upper section of each end piece for supporting the probe guide rail on the frame in a generally horizontal plane, whereby adjustment of the length of the adjustable length supports varies the elevation of the probe guide rail;

a probe guide coupler movably coupled to the probe guide rail for movement along at least a portion of the length of the probe guide rail; and

an elongated emissions probe mounted by the probe guide coupler to the probe guide rail, whereby the elongated emissions probe is movable with the movement of the probe guide coupler into and out of the stack monitoring ports.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 in which the first and second adjustable length supports each comprise a respective turnbuckle.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 in which the first and second adjustable length supports each comprise a respective bolt.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17 including an emissions sample support tray mounted to the frame.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17 in which the probe guide coupler includes guide rollers for rolling along the probe guide rail during movement of the probe guide coupler, the probe guide coupler supporting the emissions sampling probe below the guide rollers.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17 including a probe support mounted to the probe guide rail in a position to engage and guide a section of the probe during movement of the probe.