Method and apparatus for providing a volume of a substance

US6098449A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Walter Knoblach · Forchheim, DE
• Klaus Franze · Nürnberg, DE
• Peter Jax · Hannover, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 1998
• Grant date: Aug 8, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/34
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A given volume of a test substance is provided into a monitoring line which is filled with a test medium (e.g. air). The line extends along a path for determining concentration profiles of certain substances along the path. For the purpose of transporting a column of test medium through the monitoring line, the pressure in the monitoring line is increased by switching on a pressure pump or, for the same purpose--in an alternative embodiment--the pressure is reduced by switching on a suction pump. A given metering volume of the test substance is automatically released in the monitoring line when the pressure goes beyond a given pressure threshold. The release of the given metering volume of the test substance, after it has been carried along the monitoring line by the column of test medium, results in a test peak for reference reading calibration in a sensor which responds to the test substance and which is connected to the monitoring line.