The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 26, 1978
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1974
Edgar Berkey, Murrysville, PA (US);
William H Reed, III, Monroeville, PA (US);
William M Hickam, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A sensor for detecting the presence of thermally ionizable particles and vapors is disclosed. The sensor comprises an ionizer for supplying sufficient heat to thermally ionize the particles to be detected. The ionized particles are then caused to flow between the ionizer and an anode by impressing an electrical potential between the ionizer and the anode. The magnitude of the ion current is indicative of the concentration of the particles of vapors to be detected. The sensor is particularly useful in detecting alkali vapors and other particles, for example sodium, which may be easily thermally ionized. In most applications it is contemplated that the sensor will serve as a detector for alkali vapors and particles present in a gaseous atmosphere. Specifically it will serve as a detector for locating leaks in components of the fast breeder nuclear reactor system which employs sodium as a heat exchanger fluid.