Hand held gas analyzer

• US 20040062684A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Kochie, Robert, McGee, Phillip, Ribeiro, Durval S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,112,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/179228 Both nitrogen oxide and dioxide

Abstract

A lightweight and portable analyzer is provided. At least one component of the analyzer is made from a lightweight material, such as ABS. A manifold can have a plate and gas passages ultrasonically welded together. By having at least one component made from a lightweight material, the analyzer is lighter.

Claims

1. A portable analyzer, comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet for exchanging a sample of gas and has dimensions no greater than about 6.4 inches by 4.9 inches by 3.9 inches;

a manifold located within said housing that directs the sample of gas to at least one portion of the analyzer;

a sensor located within the housing that senses at least one characteristic of the sample of gas;

a pump to circulate the sample of gas to said sensor; and

a controller that controls the sensor and the pump.

2. The portable analyzer of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is made from a lightweight material.

3. The portable analyzer of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the manifold is made from the lightweight material, the lightweight material is selected from a group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, other lightweight materials and a combination thereof.

4. The portable analyzer of claim 1, wherein the manifold further comprises:

a plate that provides a platform for at least one analyzer component; and

a gas cap that provides at least one passage for the sample of gas, wherein the gas cap and the plate are ultrasonically welded.

5. The portable analyzer of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a CO₂ sensor, an O₂ sensor, a NOx sensor, other sensors and a combination thereof.

6. The portable analyzer of claim 1 further comprising:

a filter to filter out a contaminant from the gas sample;

a bench having a flow sensor and a pressure sensor;

an orientation device to determine the orientation of the analyzer;

at least one solenoid to direct the flow of the gas sample; and

a probe to provide the air sample to the analyzer,

wherein the controller controls the bench, the orientation device, and the at least one solenoid.

7. The portable analyzer of claim 6, wherein the analyzer weighs less than 2 pounds.

8. The portable analyzer of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is made from a polycarbonate.

9. A method of analyzing gas with an analyzer, comprising the steps of:

receiving a gas in a housing having an inlet and an outlet and having dimensions no greater than about 6.4 inches by 4.9 inches by 3.9 inches;

directing the gas from the inlet through a manifold;

pumping the gas from the manifold to a sensor; and

reading at least one characteristic of the gas.

10. The method of analyzing gas of claim 9, wherein the housing and the manifold are made from a lightweight material that is selected from a group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, other lightweight materials and a combination thereof.

11. The method of analyzing gas of claim 9, wherein the analyzer further comprises:

a filter to filter out a contaminant from the gas;

a bench having a flow sensor and a pressure sensor;

an orientation device to determine the orientation of the analyzer;

a pump to circulate the gas;

a controller that controls at least one component of the analyzer;

at least one solenoid to direct the flow of the gas; and

a probe to provide the gas sample to the analyzer.

12. The method of analyzing gas of claim 11, wherein component of the analyzer is selected from a group consisting the sensor, the bench, the flow sensor, the pressure sensor, the orientation device, the at least one solenoid, the probe, other component and a combination thereof.

13. The method of analyzing gas of claim 12, wherein the analyzer weighs less than 2 pounds.

14. An analyzing system, comprising:

means for containing having an inlet and an outlet and having dimensions no greater than about 6.4 inches by 4.9 inches by 3.9 inches;

means for directing a gas sample from an outside source to at least one portion of the analyzer;

means for sensing at least one characteristic of the gas sample; and

means for circulating the gas sample to at least one portion of the analyzer.

15. The analyzing system of claim 14 further comprising means for controlling the means for sensing and the means for circulating.

16. The analyzing system of claim 14, wherein the at least a portion of the means for directing and at least a portion of the means for containing are made from the lightweight material.

17. The analyzing system of claim 16, wherein the lightweight material is selected from a group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, other lightweight materials and a combination thereof.

18. The analyzing system of claim 14, wherein the means for directing further comprises:

a plate having at least one analyzer component thereon; and

a gas cap that provides at least one passage for the gas sample to travel in, wherein the gas cap and the plate are ultrasonically welded.

19. The analyzing system of claim 14, wherein the means for sensing is a sensor that is selected from a group consisting of a CO₂ sensor, an O₂ sensor, a NOx sensor, other sensors and a combination thereof.

20. The analyzing system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for filtering to filter out a contaminant from the gas sample;

means for supporting to support a flow sensor and a pressure sensor;

means for detecting an orientation of the analyzer;

means for gas control that controls the direction of gas flow; and

means for taking a sample,

wherein the means for controlling controls the means for supporting, the means for detecting the orientation and the means for gas control.

21. The analyzing system of claim 20, wherein the analyzing system weighs less than 2 pounds.

22. The analyzing system of claim 16, where at least a portion of the means for containing is made from a polycarbonate.

23. The analyzing system of claim 20, wherein the means for taking a sample is a probe that can take samples of gas and is in communication with the inlet.

24. The analyzing system of claim 20, wherein the means for supporting is communication with the flow sensor, the pressure sensor and the means for sensing.