Patent · US Expired

Infrared leak detector

US7022993B1 · kind B1 · utility

29Cited by
11References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2004
Grant dateApr 4, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2201/0221
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Leak detector using infrared for identifying the presence and concentration of a selected gas. For detection, radiation from an infrared emitter penetrates the sample, which is analyzed spectrally, and results in a wave length-specific signal being generated at the output. By controlling the optical filter, the radiation is controlled at a selected wavelength, to ensure coverage of all selected compounds. For refrigerants, the selected wavelength can be between approximately 8 to approximately 10 microns. This wavelength obscures other signals, thus minimizing false alarms. The leak detector has a faster time with no adverse impacts on the accuracy of the compound being detected. To further minimize false alarms and to ensure that the emitter does not come in contact with the gas, an additional filter can be used. For refrigerant compounds, the filter can block out signals below approximately 6 microns. For detecting refrigerants, two filters can be used.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.