Measuring and testing – Instrument proving or calibrating – Gas or liquid analyzer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-05-29
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Instrument proving or calibrating
Gas or liquid analyzer
C073S019020, C073S019050, C073S023230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237392
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for gas detection, particularly to an inspection apparatus which can repeatedly supply a target gas in different concentration to gas detectors for testing the performance and accuracy of the gas detectors during a shorter period and can reduce the amount of gas required.
2. Related Prior art
The known system for examining the accuracy or performance of a gas detector is performed in an open environment. In such a method, a standard gas is first mixed with a diluting gas in a blending reservoir at a proper proportion and then is continuously sent through a gas detector to be inspected so as to serve as a testing gas to the gas detector.
In such an inspection apparatus, the environment around the gas detector is an open one and thus is unstable and uncontrollable due to its ease change with the changes of the atmosphere, such as pressure or the like. Moreover, while changes the concentration of the standard gas to inspect the action of the gas detector under different gas concentration, the gas required to reach the equilibrium of that concentration is approximately ten times more than the volume of the blending reservoir. Including the amount of the gas required to perform the test within a period of time, the total amount of gas consumption will be approximately twenty times more than the volume of reservoir. Thus, it is not only a waste of standard gas and diluting gas, but also a waste of time. Furthermore, releasing the tested gas to atmosphere could create an air pollution problem. It is specially harmful in the case that such a testing gas is toxic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an inspection apparatus for the gas detector which can save both the gas required and the time spent, and achieve the goal for environment protection.
The other object of this invention is to provide an inspection apparatus for the gas detector which can ensure the accuracy of the gas detector.
It is a yet another object of this invention to provide an inspection apparatus for the gas detector which can be automatically controlled to obtain the effectiveness mentioned above.
To achieve the objects mentioned above, the inspection apparatus for gas detectors in accordance with this invention comprises an open-feasibly air-tight testing reservoir, in which a gas detector to be tested can be positioned; an air-tight dispensing reservoir for mixing and preparing the gas to be tested; a vacuum device for making the testing and the dispensing reservoirs reach the vacuum situation; a gas supply means for supplying at least a standard gas and a diluting gas to the dispensing reservoir; and a controlling means for controlling the dispensation of said gases to said reservoirs and transfer of said gases between said reservoirs such that the execution of mixing the gases and the detection of the gas detectors are substantially simultaneous.
For another object mentioned above, the inspection apparatus for gas detectors according to this invention further comprises a standard gas detector for monitoring, simultaneously with the gas detectors to be tested, the gas existing in the testing reservoir so as to double check the accuracy of the gas detectors to be tested.
For yet another object mentioned above, the inspection apparatus for the gas detector according to this invention is characterized in that the control means can be connected to a computer so that the operations of the valves, the vacuum device and the gas supply means, as well as the data acquisition can be automatically controlled under the whole inspection procedure.
According to one aspect of this invention, since the test of the gas detectors is under a sealed space, the testing gas required can be minimized and the environment for testing can remain stable.
According to another aspect of this invention, since the testing gas can be retrieved by means of the vacuum device and thus the air pollution can be prevented especially in the case that the testing gas is toxic.
According to yet another aspect of this invention, due to a provision of the two gas reservoirs, the dispensing reservoir could be used to prepare the standard testing gas at a new concentration when the testing reservoir is provided to perform the testing of the gas detectors and thus the time for inspecting the gas detectors is minimized.
According to a further aspect of this invention, by using a computer to control each of the electrically-actuated valves respectively allocated between each reservoirs and devices, an automatic operation for inspecting the gas detectors is available.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5528923 (1996-06-01), Ledez et al.
patent: 5663488 (1997-09-01), Wang et al.
Lin Yao Min
Yu Gu-Sheng
Industrial Technology Research Institute
Kenyon & Kenyon
Williams Hezron
Wilson Katina
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