Patent ID: 7100441

Claim:
A bubbler comprising: a metallic vessel having an outer wall and an internal cavity, the metal vessel constituting a first electrode; an outlet extending through the outer wall of the vessel, the outlet being adapted and configured to allow gas to pass from the internal cavity of the vessel to an environment external to the vessel; a conduit extending through the outer wall of the vessel and into the internal cavity of the vessel, the conduit being adapted and configured to allow a gas to be pumped into the internal cavity of the vessel; at least one metallic probe, the probe having a sealing end from which the probe extends within the internal cavity of the vessel, and at least a portion of the probe within the internal cavity of the vessel constituting a second electrode, the sealing end of the probe being hermetically sealed to the vessel via a metal-to-glass-to-metal seal, at least a portion of the probe within the internal cavity of the vessel being devoid of any glass extending therearound, the first and second electrodes being spaced from each other in a manner such that the first and second electrodes together form part of a capacitor; a power source operatively connected to the capacitor; and a capacitance meter operatively connected to the capacitor.