Measurement Includes Temperature Change Of The Material Being Analyzed (e.g., Calorimetry, Etc.) Patents (Class 436/147)
  • Patent number: 4994394
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a thermal shock probe, such a thermal shock probe and application of this method to the control of a heat pump. The method of using a thermal shock probe formed of a thermocouple associated with a heating element, is characterized in that it is used for monitoring, in a solid-gas reactor (1,2), the chemical reaction between a porous mixture and a gas by applying a heat flux variation and processing the response of the thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Oms, Jacques Prosdocimi, Maurice Comtat
  • Patent number: 4992380
    Abstract: The performance of a treating agent added to a body of water employed in a cooling tower is continuously monitored by real-time analysis of a spectral or chemical characteristic of an inert tracer proportioned to the treating agent, said characteristic being indicative of tracer concentration, and converted to a voltage analog. The voltage analog is compared to a monitor value representing par performance and if performance is nonstandard (nonpar) a signal is generated which alters the output of a pump which feeds the dosage of treating agent containing proportioned tracer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Barbara E. Moriarty, James J. Hickey, Wayne H. Hoy, John E. Hoots, Donald A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4971764
    Abstract: The venting mechanism for discharging steam from a sterilizing chamber has a variable effective orifice area controllable in response to decreasing pressure. The throughput of the venting mechanism increases as the pressure decreases, thereby compressing the venting stage of a sterilization cycle without increasing the loss of liquid inherently experienced in sterilizing liquid loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: MDT Corporation
    Inventor: Donald W. Albright
  • Patent number: 4971451
    Abstract: A heat-generating element and a fluid temperature measuring element are immersed in a molten or gelled fluid sample to measure continuously both temperature .SIGMA.w of the said heat-generating element and fluid temperature .THETA..infin. during the cooling or heating of the fluid sample at one or several constant cooling or heating rates. An abrupt change in .THETA.w-.THETA..infin. value is detected to obtain the practical gel-point temperature of a characteristic gel-point temperature, which is defined as the extrapolated gel-point temperature at a cooling or heating rate of zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoshige Hori, Kensuke Itoh
  • Patent number: 4963499
    Abstract: A calorimeter for measuring the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of chemical reactions, microbial fermentations, and other processes of industrial importance is described. The present invention also relates to a method of operation of this apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Gerald W. Stockton, Dale H. Chidester, Susan J. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 4962043
    Abstract: A simplified detection implement for use in the biological or chemical tests such as medical, pharmaceutical, microbiological, enzymological or analytical tests comprising an adhesive sheet (1) having an adhesion material layer (4), the adhesion sheet (1) also having an area "a" in an optimal shape and an area "b" in an optimal shape with a folding line (6) at the border of areas "a" and "b"; a small test material (3) adhered to the adhesion material layer (4) and being placed approximately at the center of area "a" of the adhesive sheet (1); and a peelable protection sheet (2) covering the surface of the adhesion material layer (4) and having an opening (5) big enough to expose the whole surface of the small test material (3) as well as being so positioned to expose the small test material (3) when areas "a" and "b" are overlapped by folding the adhesive sheet (1) at the folding line (6), and when areas "a" and "b" being overlapped the majority or part of area "a" of the adhesive sheet (1) acts as the adhesi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignees: Showa Yakuhin Kako Co., Ltd, Nitto Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moriharu Nagase, Mutsumi Shibuya, Kuniaki Asami, Katsuo Matsumoto, Hikaru Teranishi, Sukeo Saito
  • Patent number: 4906581
    Abstract: A method for non-destructive testing for approximation of oxygen transmission in hollow fiber blood oxygenators or the like is provided which method includes passing a first fluid at a predetermined temperature and volume flow rate through the hollows of the fibers and a second fluid at a second predetermined input temperature and volume flow rate across the outside of the fibers and measuring the heat rise or fall of the fluids and comparing the results with standards for a given blood oxygenator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Minntech Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Baker, Louis C. Cosentino, LeRoy J. Fischbach, Robert T. Hall, II, Anatol M. Hnojewyj, Scott R. Vagle, Perry L. Blackshear, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4849500
    Abstract: Polyamide compositions which contain as part of their repeat structure a reactive diacetylene groups are disclosed. The cross-polymerized products of these polyamides are thermochromic polydiacetylene compounds. The compositions of the present invention do not exhibit a hysteresis effect during temperature cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael F. Rubner
  • Patent number: 4783317
    Abstract: To regulate and monitor material concentrations, e.g., sodium chlorite or hydrogen peroxide, measuring cells are employed in which these substances are reacted to completion with another substance, e.g., sulfur dioxide, in an exothermal reaction. The resulting temperature rise is then a measure for the concentration. A simple measuring cell includes a pipe section provided at both ends with mounting devices for mounting in the delivery line conveying the reaction medium. There is mounted in this pipe section a U-shaped pipe section which is open at both ends and has a smaller diameter, and whose two arms extend into the pipe section with a larger diameter. The center section of, and parallel to, is located outside of the larger pipe and is provided with a thermal insulation, a supply line for the reacting substance, and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Kuerzinger, Peter Wachendoerfer
  • Patent number: 4767601
    Abstract: To regulate and monitor material concentrations, e.g., sodium chlorite or hydrogen peroxide, measuring cells are used in which these substances react to completion with another substance, e.g, sulfur dioxide, in an exothermal reaction. The resulting temperature rise is then a measure of the concentration. A measuring cell comprises a pipe section provided at both ends with mounting devices for installation in the delivery line transporting the reaction medium. Within this pipe section there is positioned axially a smaller diameter pipe section which is open at both ends, into one open end of which projects the supply line for the reacting substance and at the other end of which a temperature sensor is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellshaft
    Inventors: Karl Kuerzinger, Peter Wachendoerfer
  • Patent number: 4758519
    Abstract: A method for continuously analysing total gaseous mercury in a mercury compound-containing gas, characterized in that the gas is treated with a reducing agent to reduce the mercury compound in the gas to metal mercury prior to the measurement of the total gaseous mercury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Environmental Technical Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shozo Nakao, Ichiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 4755355
    Abstract: An oxygen detector for detecting the presence of trace levels of oxygen in an anaerobic environment consisting of a sample chamber wherein a sample from the anaerobic environment is exposed to a catalyst, such as palladium, which promotes the exothermic chemical reaction of oxygen with hydrogen. The presence of oxygen will cause such reaction to occur on the catalyst and the consequent generation of heat. A thermistor which is in thermal proximity to the catalyst detects this heat and provides a signal. The sampling chamber is enclosed by an enclosure which serves to volumetrically and thermally confine the sample during the measurement thereby enabling small levels of exothermic heat of reaction to be detected. Entrance to the sampling chamber is through a membrane which is permeable to lower molecular weight gases such as oxygen and hydrogen which thus enables diffusion of the anaerobic atmosphere into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Coy Laboratory Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Coy, Roy A. Waycaster
  • Patent number: 4743557
    Abstract: A composition having regulated occurrence of opacity and clarity at selected temperatures; method of making and using such a composition to create a temperature-indicating device by filling the composition in a suitable container of transparent material and having a background in the form of a color, a letter or a number i.e., in order to be able to visually interpret the difference between opacity and clarity. A reversible indicating device is made which can show if the upper or lower limits of a pre-set temperature interval has been exceeded or fallen below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Inventors: Maj-Britt I. Tiru, Mandayam O. Tiru
  • Patent number: 4677244
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manipulating the temperature and pressure of the hydrocarbon phase in an acid settler vessel associated with a catalytic alkylation process and apparatus, wherein the hydrocarbon phase in the acid settler vessel is regulated by controlling the amount of rerun catalyst stream entering the hydrocarbon phase of the acid settler vessel. In response to a detected temperature or pressure of the hydrocarbon phase above a set point, the flow of rerun catalyst stream to the hydrocarbon phase of the acid settler vessel is decreased. This decrease in flow to the hydrocarbon phase may be accompanied by an increase in flow of rerun catalyst vapor to the catalyst phase of the acid settler vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Henry K. Hachmuth, Keith W. Hovis
  • Patent number: 4675161
    Abstract: An indicator comprising azo dye(s), epoxy compound(s) and a separating membrane can be utilized for detection of the completion of thermal sterilization treatment in the medical field and also for thermal inspection in such various fields as testing, instrumentation and the like. The indicator can be used also for detection of the completion of alkylene oxide gas sterilization treatment by ethylene oxide gas or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Sakata Shokai, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harumi Hashimoto, Isamu Hirano
  • Patent number: 4670404
    Abstract: Micro-scale chemical process simulation apparatus is disclosed which is useful for design of full-scale processes and associated equipment as well as emergency relief systems. A thin-walled vessel for receiving a quantity of the material to be evaluated is supportd within and thermally insulated from the walls of a surrounding containment unit. A guard heater is provided around the vessel and temperature thermocouples and pressure transducers are strategically located to monitor the temperature conditions existing in the material in the vessel as well as the pressure within the vessel and the containment unit respectively. Fluid may be selectively introduced into or exhausted from the containment unit to maintain a required pressure balance between the interior of the vessel and that of the containment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Fike Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Swift, Hans K. Fauske
  • Patent number: 4663297
    Abstract: Temperature programmed spectroscopy wherein particles of a substrate under investigation are attached in a non-overlapping manner to a heating filament. The temperature of the filament is increased in a controlled manner, thus increasing the temperature of the attached substrate particles as well. An instrument for analyzing the gases is a mass spectrometer. Gases desorbed from the particles can be studied according to this technique, or the nature of heterogeneous catalytic chemical reactions of a gaseous atmosphere on the particles' surface may alternatively be detected and studied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventors: John T. Yates, Jr., Gregory L. Griffin, Maya Kiskinova
  • Patent number: 4614721
    Abstract: A catalytic calorimeter measures the heat value of a gas and includes a chamber for receiving gas and air. A catalyst within the chamber causes the combustion of the gas and air, while a first thermocouple provides a signal indicating the temperature of the gas and air prior to combustion. A second thermocouple indicates the temperature of the catalyst, which is heated by an electrical resistance heater. A first temperature controller is connected to the second thermocouple and the heater for maintaining the catalyst at a predetermined temperature. A heat sink within the chamber absorbs heat from the products of the combustion of the gas and a third thermocouple indicates the temperature of the heat sink. A Peltier effect thermoelectric cooler is provided to remove heat from the heat sink. A second temperature controller connected to the third thermocouple and the cooler maintains the heat sink at a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Rocwell
    Inventor: Ira B. Goldberg
  • Patent number: 4613482
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the heating value of a fuel gas stream of variable composition utilizes a housing of high thermal conductivity defining a small volume combustion chamber, and filled with a bed of highly thermally conductive particles surrounding an electrical-resistance heater. The heater maintains the internal temperature of the chamber above the combustion point of the fuel gas, to totally combust the enclosed sample. The bed of particles transmits the heating effects of the combustion to the housing. A temperature sensor attached to the housing communicates with a feedback controller which acts to maintain the housing temperature constant, by appropriately adjusting the electrical energy supplied to the heater. Means are provided to correlate changes in the electrical energy to the heating content of the fuel sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: The Foxboro Company
    Inventor: M. Charles Cheney
  • Patent number: 4551425
    Abstract: A pyroelectric substrate is provided with a heater and at least one set of electrodes for sensing charge redistributions due to changes in the substrate temperature. In a preferred embodiment, there are two interdigitated electrodes, one coated with an absorber/desorber material. The heater pulsatingly raises the temperature of the substrate past the desorption temperature of a fluid of interest. If the fluid was exposed to the absorber/desorber material prior to heating, a portion of the fluid will have been absorbed. When the substrate reaches the desorption temperature, additional heat pulses will not increase the substrate temperature significantly until the fluid has desorbed. Thus, heat used in changing state does not raise the substrate temperature and, lacking a temperature change, reduces the charge redistribution sensed by the electrode coated with the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventor: Jay N. Zemel
  • Patent number: 4545690
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for indicating the temperature of the environment into which a reaction vessel may be placed is provided by a container holding a thermally efficient fluid. The container has an identical external configuration substantially identical to the reaction vessel and is adapted to be positioned within the environment in place of the reaction vessel. A temperature sensor in thermal communication with the thermally efficient fluid provides an electrical parameter indicating the temperature of such fluid and thus the environment of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Zysman, Malbone W. Greene
  • Patent number: 4533640
    Abstract: An adjustable accumulated thermal exposure indicator device, and method of use, for affixing to and indicating deterioration of perishable goods and the like, comprising (1) a reactant yielding material that reacts via one or more steps at a rate depending on time, temperature, and pH to provide an amine and (2) an indicator that reacts at a time, temperature, concentration and pH dependent rate with the amine to produce a visible reaction that is indicative of the expiration of a predetermined time-temperature history related to the useful life of the goods to which the device is affixed. Also provided is a device or article that is responsive to accumulated thermal exposure for the controlled release of immobilized alcohols and amines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Inventor: Jules A. Shafer
  • Patent number: 4518566
    Abstract: A measuring device for determining the concentration of an absorbable component in a gaseous mixture includes a vertically oriented tubular housing, a vertical hollow tube positioned within the housing and having a heat conducting wall and an open mouth at its upper end; a stub connected to the lower end of the vertical tube for passing a stream of liquid absorbent upwardly through the vertical tube so as to form a free surface area above the mouth of the tube, the liquid absorbent overflowing along the outside of the hollow tube; a stub connected to the housing at a point above the upper end of the vertical tube therein for passing a flow of gaseous mixture past the free surface of the absorbent; a first temperature sensor within the vertical tube adjacent the mouth thereof and covered by the liquid absorbent flowing out of the mouth of the tube; and a second temperature sensor located within the housing to measure the temperature of the gaseous mixture immediately before it contacts the liquid absorbent at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Inventor: Ansgar C. H. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 4491633
    Abstract: A qualification method which enables a fast, exact and numerical determination of puzzoulana-properties of solid materials and thus a short evaluation of said solid materials from the point of view of industrial usability.According to this method the puzzoulana-properties and activity of solid materials can be defined by a single figure as a result of their chemical and physical properties. The material to be analyzed is brought together with fluoride ions in an acidic medium in a system having constant heat capacity and the change of the heat quantity is measured and evaluated in the initial, suitable linear, phase of the resulting reaction. The time function of the change of the heat quantity of the system is converted into a change of voltage and the rise of this curve is determined advantageously in the linear section. Advantageously the change of the heat quantity of the system is measured within less than 30 seconds, favorably at about the 20th second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Energiagazdalkodasi Intezet
    Inventors: Istvan Sajo, Gyorgy Vamos, Miklos rmossy, Barbara Sipos nee Kaveczka, Eva Zemplen nee Papp, Eva Borsovszky, Laszlo Barta
  • Patent number: 4440162
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is an indicator for monitoring the capacity of a CO.sub.2 absorbent to absorb CO.sub.2. The indicator is typically used in association with a closed circuit breathing apparatus, including a container for a CO.sub.2 absorbent. The indicator comprises temperature sensing means immersed in the absorbent, a temperature to voltage converter for converting a sensed temperature reading to an electrical voltage signal, temperature trend processing means for processing said electrical voltage signal into a selected electrical output signal characteristic of a temperature trend; and display means for converting said selected electrical output signal to a predetermined visual display indicative of the capacity of the CO.sub.2 absorbent to absorb CO.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada
    Inventors: Richard B. H. Sewell, Lannie K. Yee, Robert W. Chappell
  • Patent number: 4424990
    Abstract: This invention provides novel thermochromic compositions which exhibit distinct color changes at temperatures in the range of about 165.degree. C. to about 240.degree. C. The compositions comprise basic copper carbonate and a sulfur compound. Paint formulations containing these novel thermochromic compositions or complexes of copper and sulfur-containing organic acids are also provided. The compositions are useful with heat-recoverable memory metal couplings to prevent overheating of the couplings during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. White, Tamar G. Gen
  • Patent number: 4407963
    Abstract: A small stream of an absorbent material is exposed to a gas flow of which the concentration of a given component is to be determined. Heat is released during the resulting absorption process, and the stream of absorbent material will exhibit an overtemperature in relation to the surrounding gas flow. An indication of the concentration of the absorbed component is provided by the overtemperature.The temperature of the stream of absorbent material is adjusted before it comes into contact with the gas flow in such a way that the quantity of heat which is released during the absorption process will be transferred in its entirety to the surrounding gas flow by convection.This method makes possible the precise and continuous determination of the concentration, which is insensitive to variations in temperature and pressure and to changes in the speed of the gas flow past the point of measurement and in the magnitude of the stream of absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Inventor: Ansgar C. H. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 4389217
    Abstract: A recording device is described, useful as an integrated time-temperature or radiation-dosage history indicator. The device contains a substrate having deposited thereon at least two indicating units, one being unreacted and representing zero time of exposure and the other unit being pre-reacted. Each unit is comprised of an acetylenic compound containing at least one --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- group, capable of reacting by 1,4-addition polymerization thereby forming an end-point color after an irreversible, progressive color change upon thermal annealing or exposure to actinic radiation. The end-point color represents an integrated time-temperature history of thermal annealing or radiation-dosage history. Each unit is constructed such that the time required to form the end-point color by thermal annealing at a given temperature or for a known thermal history, or exposure to actinic radiation at a given average radiation dosage rate, is predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Ray H. Baughman, Gordhanbhai N. Patel, Granville G. Miller
  • Patent number: 4384980
    Abstract: A composition is described comprising at least two co-crystallized acetylenic compounds, of different chemical structures, each containing at least one --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- group and substituents selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, urethane and alcohol radicals, at least one of the compounds capable of ungergoing a contrasting color change upon exposure to actinic radiation or thermal annealing, wherein the composition exhibits a substantially different thermogram than the sum of thermograms of the individual components as obtained by differential scanning alorimetry.A device is also described useful for measuring the time-temperature or radiation-dosage history of an article comprising a substrate having deposited thereon the described composition.A process is also described for producing the composition of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Gordhanbhai N. Patel
  • Patent number: 4382830
    Abstract: Method of constructing pneumatic tire where at least one of its elements is comprised of a heat-curable rubber composition, an improvement in which such composition is identified with a releasably attached identification tag containing an information-providing ink composition thereon, wherein the ink composition contains a heat activatable blowing agent. The invention further relates to the heat-curable rubber composition so-identified and also to the identification tag itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Alan E. Cohn