Portable gas detector
A portable apparatus is provided for detecting the presence in a local atmosphere of gases that are hazardous to the health of humans and animals, the detector providing a warning to the operator of the apparatus of the presence of such gases.
1 . An apparatus for detecting the presence of a gas noxious to humans and animals in a local atmosphere comprising:
a housing having a handle portion and a wand portion extending therefrom,
a noxious gas sensor in said wand portion for determining the quantity of a noxious gas in a local atmosphere, the quantity of the noxious gas being in the range of greater than zero parts per million of noxious gas to greater than 10,000 parts per million of noxious gas in the local atmosphere,
a first noxious gas signal,
a second noxious gas signal,
a third noxious gas signal,
a battery for powering said apparatus, and
an off/on switch mounted on said housing for providing power from said batter to said detector and said first, second and third signals.
2 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first noxious gas signal is responsive to an amount of noxious gas of less than approximately 2000 ppm of noxious gas.
3 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second noxious gas signal is responsive to an amount of noxious gas of less than approximately 5000 ppm of noxious gas.
4 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third noxious gas signal is responsive to an amount of noxious gas of greater than approximately 5000 ppm of noxious gas.
5 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said noxious gas is methane.
6 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said noxious gas is natural gas.
7 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said noxious gas is butane.
8 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said noxious gas is propane.
9 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said noxious gas is acetylene.
10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said noxious gas is ethane.