Vehicle emissions testing system

• US 5,753,185 A
• Filed: 04/23/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: California Analytical Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: California Analytical Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Neti, Radhakrishna Murty, Mathews, Loren T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyon, Harold Y.
• Application Number:
  US08/636,562
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 73/23.2, 73/23.31, 422/83, 422/86, 422/94, 436/137
• US Class Current: 422/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2264 with dilution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0014 by eliminating a gas by a chemical reaction G01N33/0013; a chemical reaction taking place or a gas being eliminated in one or more analysing channels G01N33/0024
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0016 by regulating a physical variable, e.g. pressure or temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/208339 Fuel/air mixture or exhaust gas analysis

Abstract

There is provided an emission testing system which maintains system integrity and which can be manufactured at less cost than current standard emission testing systems. The system includes a sampling unit for collecting emissions from a vehicle and diluting the collected emissions with background ambient air as required and means for drawing a proportional test sample from the bulk air/emission mixture. The analyzer is a single unit which includes a reaction cell for chemiluminescence reactions and a combustion cell for flame ionization analysis. In addition the system includes a common sample conditioning for the test sample prior to splitting the test sample for chemiluminescence and flame ionization analysis.

Claims

1. In an emission testing system including means for collecting vehicle emissions, means for drawing a test sample of said collected vehicle emission for the determination of pollutant components, and analyzer means for determining said pollutant components, the improvement comprising:

said analyzer means consisting of a single unit including a housing in which is disposed a chemiluminescence reaction cell and a flame ionization detection cell;

common means for conditioning said test sample to lower the moisture content thereof prior to said conditioned test sample reaching said analyzer means;

common means for controlling the flow rate and pressure of said conditioned test sample; and

splitter means for dividing said conditioned test sample to provide uniform conditioned sample flow to said chemiluminescence reaction cell and said flame ionization detection cell.

2. The emission testing system of claim 1 wherein pressure in said chemiluminescence reaction cell is at least ambient.

3. The emission testing system of claim 1 wherein pressure in said chemiluminescence reaction cell is substantially equal to pressure in said flame ionization detection cell.

4. The emission testing system of claim 1 further including means for recording and displaying the signal output from said chemiluminescence reaction cell and said flame ionization detection cell, said means including amplification circuitry having an operational amplifier and associated circuitry for amplifying said output signals from each of said flame ionization detection cell and said chemiluminescence reaction cell, said flame ionization detection cell including a collector for ionized sample, said collector being coupled directly to a corresponding operational amplifier and said chemiluminescence reaction cell including a photo detector, said photo detector being coupled directly to a corresponding operational amplifier.

5. The emission testing system of claim 1 wherein said common means for controlling the flow rate and pressure of said conditioned test sample consists of a flow restricter in a line carrying said test sample to said analyzer means, said flow restrictor being located in said line between said dryer and said analyzer means thereby to control the pressure and flow rate of said conditioned sample to said analyzer.