Patent ID: 6526808
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A method for generating smoke for use at a volatile, potentially explosive environment, comprising the steps of:locating a supply of flammable fluid within a closed smoke producing chamber, said closed smoke producing chamber having a gas inlet to receive a supply of non-combustible nitrogen gas under pressure and a smoke outlet to permit smoke to exit said closed smoke producing chamber; locating a heating element within said closed smoke producing chamber so as to extend in spaced alignment with said supply of fluid; supplying said non-combustible nitrogen gas under pressure to said closed smoke producing chamber via said gas inlet for blowing a mixture of said non-combustible nitrogen gas and said supply of flammable fluid against said heating element; energizing said heating element for vaporizing into smoke said mixture of non-combustible nitrogen gas and said flammable fluid that is blown against said heating element, said non-combustible nitrogen gas preventing dieseling within said closed chamber and the possibility of an explosion at the volatile, potentially explosive environment at which the smoke will be used; and removing said smoke from said smoke producing chamber to the volatile potentially explosive environment via said smoke outlet.