Patent ID: 6784429
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring at least one property of a liquid at or below the surface of the liquid comprising:a) a housing having a forward end; b) at least one probe assembly contained within the housing, said at least one probe assembly comprising means for introducing an inert gas into the housing, a conduit for channeling the inert gas to the forward end of the housing and means for providing a stable volume of the inert gas between an open area of the forward end of the housing and the liquid including pressure control means for automatically maintaining the stable volume of the inert gas at the forward end of the housing at a pressure sufficient to keep the liquid from entering the forward end of the housing and the probe assembly, and means for moving the at least one probe assembly to any depth or angle in said liquid while maintaining the stable volume of inert gas; c) a radiation beam assembly comprising means for generating a beam of radiation sufficient to vaporize a portion of the liquid into a detectable species, means for transmitting the radiation beam through the forward end of the housing to the interface of the liquid and the stable volume of inert gas; and d) detection means for receiving the detectable species and for detecting from said detectable species at least one property of the liquid.