US3879667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and methods for detecting physical parameters
Assignee: Graviner Colnbrook Ltd
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Filing: 1971-12-16
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1991-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Two electrodes made of material having the same equilibrium oxygen partial pressure are mounted to be heated to different temperatures by a flame whose presence is to be detected. It is found that a detectable electrical potential difference is generated between the electrodes when the flame is present. Instead, the electrodes can be made of material having different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures and in such a case can be mounted to be heated to the same temperature by the flame. In another embodiment, the two electrodes of material having different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures are mounted in a chamber subjected to ionising radiations, and the potential difference is dependent on the oxygen partial pressure in the chamber and the temperature therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Nigel P Kraty
- 👤 Robert E Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/64; G08; G08B; G08B17/00; G08B17/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
In a method of detecting a physical parameter by sensing for an electrical potential generated in dependence thereon, the steps of selecting two electrode materials such that over each of the materials a predetermined gas has a different equilibrium partial pressure when the materials are at the same temperature, mounting two electrodes closely adjacent but separated from each other, the electrodes being respectively made of the two selected materials, establishing an electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different gaseous partial pressures at the two electrodes, and sensing a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes in dependence on said parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a method of detecting a physical parameter by sensing for an electrical potential generated in dependence thereon, the steps of selecting two electrode materials such that over each of the materials a predetermined gas has a different equilibrium partial pressure when the materials are at the same temperature, mounting two electrodes closely adjacent but separated from each other, the electrodes being respectively made of the two selected materials, establishing an electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different gaseous partial pressures at the two electrodes, and sensing a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes in dependence on said parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a method of detecting a physical parameter by sensing for an electrical potential generated in dependence thereon, the steps of selecting two electrode materials such that over each of the materials a predetermined gas has a different equilibrium partial pressure when the materials are at the same temperature, mounting two electrodes closely adjacent but separated from each other, the electrodes being respectively made of the two selected materials, establishing an electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different gaseous partial pressures at the two electrodes, and sensing a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes in dependence on said parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a method of detecting a physical parameter by sensing for an electrical potential generated in dependence thereon, the steps of selecting two electrode materials such that over each of the materials a predetermined gas has a different equilibrium partial pressure when the materials are at the same temperature, mounting two electrodes closely adjacent but separated from each other, the electrodes being respectively made of the two selected materials, establishing an electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different gaseous partial pressures at the two electrodes, and sensing a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes in dependence on said parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a method according to claim 1, in which the electrodes are made of different oxidisable materials and have different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures over them in oxygen-containing atmosphere when at the same temperature, and said step of establishing said electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different partial pressures at the electrodes includes the step of accentuating the difference in equilibrium oxygen partial pressures by holding the electrodes at different temperatures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a method according to claim 2, in which said physical parameter is a flame whose presence both establishes the electrolyte between the electrodes and holds the different partial pressures at the electrodes and in which the level of said potential difference indicates whether the flame is present.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a method of detecting a physical parameter by sensing for an electrical potential generated in dependence thereon, the steps of selecting two different oxidisable electrode materials which have different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures in an oxygen-containing atmosphere when at the same temperature, mounting two electrodes closely adjacent but separated from each other, the electrodes being respectively made of the two said selected electrode materials, establishing an electrolyte between the electrodes, establishing an oxygen-containing atmosphere at the electrodes, and holding the electrodes at substantially the same temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a method of detecting a physical parameter by sensing for an electrical potential generated in dependence thereon, the steps of selecting two different oxidisable electrode materials which have different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures in an oxygen-containing atmosphere when at the same temperature, mounting two electrodes closely adjacent but separated from each other, the electrodes being respectively made of the two said selected electrode materials, establishing an electrolyte between the electrodes, establishing an oxygen-containing atmosphere at the electrodes, and holding the electrodes at substantially the same temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a method according to claim 4, in which said physical parameter is a flame whose presence establishes the electrolyte between the electrodes and establishes said oxygen-containing atmosphere at the electrodes, and in which the level of said potential difference indicates whether the flame is present.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a method according to claim 3, including the step of subjecting the area between the electrodes to ionising radiations so as to develop a potential difference between the electrodes in the absence of the said flame, which potential difference is lower in magnitude than that appearing at the electrodes in the presence of the flame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a method according to claim 1, in which the two electrodes are made of different oxidisable materials and have different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures over them in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, and said step of establishing, the electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different gaseous partial pressures at the two electrodes comprises the step of establishing an ionised gaseous medium between the two electrodes whose oxygen partial pressure is altered by changes in said parameter which thus alters the difference between the oxygen partial pressures at the two electrodes and said potential difference accordingly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a method according to claim 7, including the step of varying the strength of radiations ionising the said gaseous medium, and monitoring the change if any in the potential difference whereby to identify a gas in the gaseous medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a method according to claim 1, in which the two electRodes are made of different oxidisable materials and different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures exist over them in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, said step of establishing the electrolyte between the electrodes and holding different gaseous partial pressures at the electrodes comprises the step of establishing an ionised oxygen-containing gaseous medium between the electrodes, and said step of sensing a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes in dependence on the parameter comprises the step of sensing changes in the value of said potential difference in response to changes in the ambient temperature of the electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a method according to claim 1, the steps of: applying an externally generated potential difference to the electrodes with polarity opposite to that of the potential difference appearing therebetween, and then removing the externally generated potential difference before detecting the potential difference appearing between the electrodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus responsive to a parameter of a gaseous medium, comprising a chamber for receiving the gaseous medium, a pair of electrodes arranged to have different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures over them, means mounting the electrodes in the chamber, means for injecting ionising radiations into the chamber, and high input impedance detecting circuitry for detecting a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus responsive to a parameter of a gaseous medium, comprising a chamber for receiving the gaseous medium, a pair of electrodes arranged to have different equilibrium oxygen partial pressures over them, means mounting the electrodes in the chamber, means for injecting ionising radiations into the chamber, and high input impedance detecting circuitry for detecting a self-generated electrical potential difference appearing between the electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, in which the electrodes are made of different oxidisable material, whereby the said potential difference is dependent on the oxygen partial pressure in the gaseous medium between the electrodes and on the ambient temperature of the gaseous medium and the electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, in which the electrodes are made of the same oxidisable material, and including means for maintaining a substantially constant temperature difference between the two electrodes, whereby the said potential difference is dependent on the oxygen partial pressure in the gaseous medium between the electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, including means for varying the strength of the ionising radiations whereby the resultant variation in the said potential difference is dependent on the identity of a gas present in the gaseous medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |