Orientation device for a gas analyzer
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a gas analyzer. Because condensation can build-up in a filter of the gas analyzer, it needs to be purged from the analyzer so that accurate readings can be made. By having a orientation device built-in, the analyzer can be purged at the desired orientation so that, as much water, can be purged, as possible, to the designated outlet.
1. A gas analyzer having an orientating system comprising:
a housing having an inlet and outlet for exchanging a sample of gas;
a sensor located within the housing that senses at least one characteristic of the sample of gas;
a pump to circulate the sample of gas to said sensor and to said outlet;
a purge solenoid connected to said pump and to said outlet;
and an orientation determiner that determines the orientation of the analyzer;
wherein the gas analyzer is a handheld analyzer;
wherein the orientation determiner determines the orientation of the gas analyzer with respect to an axis that can be selected from a group consisting of x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, other axis, or a combination thereof; and wherein the purge solenoid operates to purge the analyzer of contaminant when the analyzer is in a certain orientation based on the orientation determined by the orientation determiner.
2. The orientation device of claim 1 , wherein the orientation determiner can be selected from a group consisting of a tilt switch, an accelerometer, a GPS, a magnetic sensitive device, other orientation device and a combination thereof.
3. The orientation device of claim 1 further comprising an alert member that is in communication with the orientation determiner.
4. The orientation device claim 3 , wherein the alert member can be selected from a group consisting of a visual display, an audible device, a tactile device, other alert devices and a combination thereof.
5. A method of purging a gas analyzer, comprising the steps of:
providing the gas analyzer of claim 1 ;
determining the orientation of the analyzer with respect to an axis with the orientation determiner; and
purging the analyzer when the analyzer is in a certain orientation.
6. The method of orientating of claim 5 further comprising preventing purging of the contaminant if the analyzer is not in the proper orientation.
7. The method of orientating of claim 5 , wherein the orientation determiner can be selected from a group consisting of a tilt switch, an accelerometer, a GPS, a magnetic sensitive device, other orientation device and a combination thereof.
8. A gas analyzer having an orientating system comprising:
a housing having an inlet and outlet for exchanging a sample of gas;
a sensor located within the housing that senses at least one characteristic of the sample of gas;
a pump to circulate the sample of gas to said sensor and to said outlet;
a purge solenoid connected to said pump and to said outlet;
a means for determining the orientation of the gas analyzer;
wherein the gas analyzer is a handheld analyzer;
wherein the means for determining the orientation of the gas analyzer with respect to an axis that can be selected from a group consisting of x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, other axis, or a combination thereof:; and
wherein the purge solenoid operates to purge the analyzer of contaminant when the analyzer is in a certain orientation based on the orientation determined by the orientation determiner.
9. The orientation system of claim 8 , wherein the means for determining orientation can be selected from a group consisting of a tilt switch means, an accelerometer means, a GPS means, a magnetic sensitive device means, other orientation device means and a combination thereof.
10. The orientation system of claim 8 further comprises an alert means that is in communication with the means for determining.
11. The orientation system of claim 8 further comprises an alert means that can alert an operator if the analyzer is not in the proper orientation for purging.
12. The orientation system of claim 10 , wherein the alert means can be selected from a group consisting of a visual display means, an audible device means, a tactile device means, other alert device means and a combination thereof.
13. The orientation system of claim 8 further comprising a controller means, wherein the controller means, the means for determining and the means for purging are in communication with each other.