Measuring and testing – Sampler – sample handling – etc. – With heating or cooling
Patent
1991-02-07
1993-05-25
Noland, Tom
Measuring and testing
Sampler, sample handling, etc.
With heating or cooling
7386434, 7386471, 73 232, G01N 102
Patent
active
052129918
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a portable and self-contained apparatus for analyzing in situ a liquid or solid substance which may in particular be in the form of surface deposits.
Generally, in the panoply of chemical weapons are included substances of very high toxicity, intended to be spread (for example from a bomb) in the form of fine droplets or fine particles spaced relatively to each other, simple contact of one of these droplets or these particles with the skin or a mucous membrane of an individual being possibly dangerous for this individual. The same goes for certain contaminants of industrial origin.
It is then important to be able to detect the existence of contaminated zones and rapidly determine the composition of the toxic substance, as well as the density with which the droplets or particles have been spread.
Now, at the present time, no self-contained portable apparatus exists, of small size, which makes it possible to obtain instantaneously all this information on the site, the solution envisaged consisting in taking samples and then sending them to a laboratory for analysis.
On the other hand, portable apparatus are at present produced for analyzing a gaseous composition for detecting the presence of and analyzing polluting or dangerous gases.
The invention proposes then filling the gap mentioned above by associating a portable gas composition analysis apparatus and a device for taking the sample and vaporizing the substance to be analyzed, it being understood that in this case the vapours produced by the sample taking device are used by the analysis apparatus as gas composition to be analyzed.
The problem which then arises concerns the design of a sample taking device for taking a sample of the substance to be analyzed then evaporating it so that the vapour released may be totally sucked in by the analysis apparatus.
To this problem is added the one due to the fact that these different operations must be carried out while avoiding any possibility of contamination which would lead to falsifying the analysis made subsequently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve these problems, the invention proposes a portable and self-contained apparatus for analyzing a substance in situ, this apparatus comprising a gas composition analysis device with which is associated a device for taking the sample on a support then vaporizing the substance taken by heating said support using heating means incorporated in said support, the analysis device being connected to the sample taking device so as to use the vapours produced by said heating as gas composition to be analyzed.
According to the invention, this apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a collecting enclosure whose internal volume is connected to suction means of the analysis device and in which said support is engaged during the vaporization phase, the support being outside this enclosure during the sample taking phase.
In the case where the substance to be analyzed is liquid or gaseous, the sample taking head may comprise a flexible tongue covered with an absorbent layer, said heating means then consisting of an electric heating resistance carried by the tongue. This electric heating resistance may be supplied with power from an electric energy source housed in said body and controlled by a switch actuated as a function of the relative position of the sample taking head and the enclosure.
Advantageously, said layer may be designed so as to selectively absorb and so concentrate the products which it is desired to reveal. It may, in particular, comprise a silica gel deposited on the surface and held in position by silicon.
Furthermore, in order to determine the total amount of a constituent of the liquid sample taken, the device of the invention may comprise integration means adapted for integrating in time the instantaneous values delivered by the analysis apparatus, these integration means being initialized at the time of actuation of said switch controlling the use of the heating means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE
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Bleuse Patrick
Guene Gilles
Heurtel Christian
Suzanne Pierre
Drucker William A.
Etat Francais
Noland Tom
Proengin S.A.
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