Patent ID: 6055846
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A method of measuring the quantity of gas in a gas handling system comprising the steps of:(a) defining a gas containing chamber for receiving gas therein at a pressure determined by the gas handling system wherein the gas containing chamber has a fixed volume, and(i) said chamber is an elongate cylinder,(ii) placing an elongate, cylindrical, metal surface therein, and(iii) positioning a centered cooperative metal surface to define two spaced plates therein,(b) positioning said two spaced plates in said chamber to define a capacitor having a dielectric between the two plates wherein said chamber fills the space between the two plates with the gas to function as the capacitor dielectric; and(c) measuring the quantity of gas in the chamber by measuring the capacitance of the capacitor wherein capacitance is expressed as a quantity of gas in the chamber.