Patents Assigned to Arizona Instruments
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Patent number: 6679103Abstract: A continuous flow moisture analyzer (20) determines moisture content in a liquid sample material (46). The moisture analyzer (20) includes an injection system (44) for delivering the liquid sample material (46) at a controlled rate. The injection system includes an injector tube (48). An evaporator (52) has a first end (50) for receiving the injector tube (48) and a second end (56). The injector tube (148) provides the liquid sample material (46) to the evaporator (52) at the first end (50). A carrier gas inlet (54) is in fluid communication with the second end (56) of the evaporator (52) for providing a carrier gas (58) to the evaporator (52) at the second end (56). The carrier gas (58) absorbs moisture from the liquid sample material (46) in the evaporator (52). A relative humidity sensor (78) in fluid communication with the evaporator (52) detects the moisture in the carrier gas (58).Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Arizona Instrument LLCInventor: William G. Sadler
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Patent number: 6675636Abstract: A continuous flow moisture analyzer (20) includes a coaxial needle (34) having first and second needle portions (36, 38). The first needle portion (36) receives a carrier gas (24) and expels the carrier gas (24) through an output orifice (60). The second needle portion (38) has an input orifice (62) for receiving the carrier gas (24) expelled from the output orifice (60). A housing (40) encloses the output orifice (60) and the input orifice (62) when the moisture analyzer (20) is in a standby mode to obtain a baseline moisture content of the carrier gas (24) within the moisture analyzer (20). A bottle (48) retains a sample material (50). When the analyzer (20) is in an active mode, the coaxial needle (34) penetrates a septum (52) of the bottle (48) to position the output and input orifices (60, 62) in the bottle (48). The carrier gas (24), expelled from the output orifice (60), absorbs moisture from the sample material (50) in the bottle (48).Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Arizona Instrument LLCInventor: William G. Sadler
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Patent number: 6561012Abstract: A continuous flow moisture analyzer (20) includes a coaxial needle (34) having first and second needle portions (36, 38). The first needle portion (36) receives a carrier gas (24) and expels the carrier gas (24) through an output orifice (60). The second needle portion (38) has an input orifice (62) for receiving the carrier gas (24) expelled from the output orifice (60). A housing (40) encloses the output orifice (60) and the input orifice (62) when the moisture analyzer (20) is in a standby mode to obtain a baseline moisture content of the carrier gas (24) within the moisture analyzer (20). A bottle (48) retains a sample material (50). When the analyzer (20) is in an active mode, the coaxial needle (34) penetrates a septum (52) of the bottle (48) to position the output and input orifices (60, 62) in the bottle (48). The carrier gas (24), expelled from the output orifice (60), absorbs moisture from the sample material (50) in the bottle (48).Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Arizona Instrument LLCInventor: William G. Sadler
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Patent number: 5983711Abstract: A temperature controlled gravimetric moisture analyzer (20) is used to control the temperature of a sample material (24) while determining moisture content of the sample material (24). The moisture analyzer (20) includes a thermally conductive sample holder (22) having an emissive surface (44). A high precision force balance (30) is coupled to the sample holder (22) for weighing the sample material (24). A heater (26) encloses the sample material. An air temperature sensor (38) is configured to produce an air temperature signal (54). An infrared temperature sensor is configured to detect infrared emissions from the emissive surface (44) to produce a sample temperature signal (60) representative of the temperature of the sample material (24). A controller receives the air and sample temperature signals (54, 60) and controls the heater (26) in response to the signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventors: William D. Pappas, Walfred R. Raisanen
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Patent number: 5939634Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus determines the fluid depth, volume, and temperature in a storage tank. A system description for monitoring an underground storage tank containing gasoline is described. The system determines the water's and gasoline's depth, volume, and temperature. The apparatus consists of a remote console, ultrasonic probe, and interconnecting cable. The remote console contains a display to report tank information and a computer to operate the probe. The probe consists of an ultrasonic transducer above the bottom of the probe facing upwards to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, vertically spaced reflectors and a temperature sensor to measure fluid temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1998Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventor: Glen A. Johnson
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Patent number: 5765433Abstract: Ultrasonic apparatus determines the fluid depth, volume, and temperature in a storage tank. A system description for monitoring an underground storage tank containing gasoline is described. The system determines the water's and gasoline's depth, volume, and temperature. The apparatus consists of a remote console, ultrasonic probe, and interconnecting cable. The remote console contains a display to report tank information and a computer to operate the probe. The probe consists of an ultrasonic transducer above the bottom of the probe facing upwards to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, vertically spaced reflectors and a temperature sensor to measure fluid temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1995Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventor: Glen A. Johnson
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Patent number: 5759493Abstract: A gas sensor for detecting the presence of a specified gas within a mixture includes a silicon substrate, a silicon nitride membrane supported by the substrate, a thin gold sensor trace deposited on the membrane, and a thin gold reference trace deposited on the membrane. A molybdenum adhesion layer is employed between the membrane and the gold traces. The electrical resistance of the sensor trace changes when the sensor trace adsorbs molecules of the gas. Solid state construction facilitates quick and efficient regeneration of the sensing capability of the gas sensor. The silicon nitride membrane and the molybdenum adhesion layer do not adversely affect the resistivity of the gold traces. An alternate gas sensor embodiment includes an integrally formed heater element.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1996Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventor: Walfred R. Raisanen
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Patent number: 5712421Abstract: Apparatus for determining the actual and proportional amounts of a volatile fluid in a test staple is described. The test staple is stored in a sealed container after being collected and kept in the sealed container through testing. The volatile fluid of interest is evolved from the test sample and a carrier gas transports the volatile fluid past a sensor. The sensor determined the relative amount of the volatile fluid of interest in the carrier gas. The flow rate of the carrier gas is precisely known and is predetermined. A microcomputer is utilized to predict with great accuracy the actual and proportional amount of the volatile fluid in the test sample.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventor: Walfred R. Raisanen
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Patent number: 5706857Abstract: A vent valve assembly is provided which will allow a probe for a gauging system to be added to underground fuel tanks which include a vapor recovery system. The support assembly replaces existing float valve assemblies and combines a valving structure with a support for a fuel system gauge probe. A gauging system may be easily and inexpensively added to existing underground fuel tanks with minimum disruption to the operation of the gas station.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1995Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Arizona Instruments Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Dowling, Jr., Donald C. Esperson, Robert F. Staab
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Patent number: 5594352Abstract: A circuit for use with an ultrasonic transducer utilized to measure depths of liquids in tanks is described.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1995Date of Patent: January 14, 1997Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventor: Glen A. Johnson
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Patent number: 5134080Abstract: A selected component of a fluid mixture, for example a reduced sulfur compound vapor in air, is detected by selectively adsorbing the component onto a conductive thin layer of material having a chemical affinity for such component and observing the resultant change of electrical resistivity of the layer. The sensitivity of the detector changes with accumulation of the component on the sensor. The accumulation of the component on the sensor is removed by oxidizing and evolving the component from the sensor to restore the sensor to a linear operating region. The accumulated component is preferably oxidized by reacting the component with ozone. The dynamic range of the sensor is increased by counteracting the tendency for the component to accumulate by continuously feeding back ozone to or controlling the temperature of the sensor so that the sensor operates in a linear region near null.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1990Date of Patent: July 28, 1992Assignee: Arizona Instrument Corp.Inventors: William E. Bell, John J. McNerney
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Patent number: 5087574Abstract: A selected component of a fluid mixture, for example a reduced sulfur compound vapor in air, is detected by selectively adsorbing the component onto a conductive thin layer of material having a chemical affinity for such component and observing the resultant change of electrical resistivity of the layer. The sensitivity of the detector changes with accumulation of the component on the sensor. The accumulation of the component on the sensor is removed by oxidizing and evolving the component from the sensor to restore the sensor to a linear operating region. The accumulated component is preferably oxidized by reacting the component with ozone. The dynamic range of the sensor is increased by counteracting the tendency for the component to accumulate by continuously feeding back ozone to or controlling the temperature of the sensor so that the sensor operates in a linear region near null.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1990Date of Patent: February 11, 1992Assignee: Arizona Instrument Corp.Inventors: William E. Bell, John J. McNerney
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Patent number: 5010021Abstract: A selected component of a fluid mixture, for example a reduced sulfur compound vapor in air, is detected by selectively adsorbing the component onto a conductive thin layer of material having a chemical affinity for such component and observing the resultant change of electrical resistivity of the layer. The sensitivity of the detector changes with accumulation of the component on the sensor. The accumulation of the component on the sensor is removed by oxidizing and evolving the component from the sensor to restore the sensor to a linear operating region. The accumulated component is preferably oxidized by reacting the component with ozone. The dynamic range of the sensor is increased by counteracting the tendency for the component to accumulate by continuously feeding back ozone to or controlling the temperature of the sensor so that the sensor operates in a linear region near null.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1988Date of Patent: April 23, 1991Assignee: Arizona Instrument Corp.Inventors: William E. Bell, John J. McNerney
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Patent number: 4838705Abstract: The apparatus determines the content by weight of a volatile fluid, such as water, in a sample under test where the volatile fluid is typically less than one-half percent by weight by heating the sample in a sealed chamber to evaporate the volatile fluid under test. The evaporated fluid is passed through a collector which senses and collects only the evaporated volatile fluid of interest which collection correspondingly increases the weight of the collector. Measuring the weight change of the collector and comparing it with the initial weight of the test sample provides a determination of the percent of the sensed volatile fluid in the test sample.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1987Date of Patent: June 13, 1989Assignee: Arizona Instrument CorporationInventors: Charles H. Byers, Jr., Terry L. Michl, Dennis E. Acord
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Patent number: 4724008Abstract: A selected component of a fluid mixture, for example a reduced sulfur compound vapor in air, is detected by selectively adsorbing the component onto a conductive thin layer of material having a chemical affinity for such component and observing the resultant change of electrical resistivity of the layer. The sensitivity of the detector changes with accumulation of the component on the sensor. The accumulation of the component on the sensor is removed by oxidizing and evolving the component from the sensor to restore the sensor to a linear operating region. The accumulated component is preferably oxidized by reacting the component with ozone. The dynamic range of the sensor is increased by counteracting the tendency for the component to accumulate by continuously feeding back ozone to or controlling the temperature of the sensor so that the sensor operates in a linear region near null.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1985Date of Patent: February 9, 1988Assignee: Arizona InstrumentsInventors: William E. Bell, John J. McNerney