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:
Jul. 06, 1982
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1980
Robert A Frosch, , US;
Lien C Yang, La Canada, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and device for detecting the presence of a substance having predetermined characteristics. More particularly, a device is disclosed wherein a discharge grid (20) is provided having a sufficiently high voltage potential across its grid electrodes (32 and 36) so that the substance having the predetermined characteristics will cause an electric spark discharge to occur between electrodes, the electric spark discharge altering the predetermined characteristics of the substance by oxidation and/or vaporization so that the substance is no longer detectable by an electric spark discharge. A means for counting the number of electric spark discharges is provided (96), a count providing an indication of the concentration of the substance having the predetermined characteristics. One embodiment disclosed detects longitudinally extending carbon fibers suspended in a gaseous medium (12). Another embodiment provides for the detection of carbon fibers (66) adhesively attached to a collection tape (68). The tape is positioned against the discharge grid (70) and a high voltage is periodically applied across the grid electrodes (71 and 72) until electric spark discharges no longer occur.