Patent ID: 7484399

Claim:
A system for testing the operation of a detection instrument, comprising: a first enclosure having at least two ports and containing fluid comprising a substance detectable in gas form by the instrument, said fluid being present in part as a vapor phase and in part as a liquid phase in equilibrium with one another, said first enclosure being interconnected with the instrument such that the fluid contained in the first enclosure can be dispensed to the instrument via at least one port of said first enclosure; a second enclosure having at least one port and containing either the same or a different fluid in gas form as compared with the first enclosure, said second enclosure being adapted for selective dispensing of a known or ascertainable mass of fluid contained therein via at least one port thereof, and being interconnected with said first enclosure such that said mass can be introduced into the volume within said first enclosure through at least one port thereof, thereby to displace a correlative mass of the vapor phase fluid contained in the first enclosure causing said correlative mass to be dispensed to said instrument; a valve in communicating relationship with said first enclosure and positioned such that, when the first enclosure is interconnected with said instrument, the valve is interposed between the interconnected first enclosure and instrument, which valve is capable of selectively permitting flow to said instrument of said vapor phase fluid dispensed from the first enclosure upon being displaced by said introduction of fluid from the second enclosure; a heating element in thermal contact with the second enclosure such that heat energy from said element is imparted to the contents of said enclosure; and a processor electrically connected to the heating element, which processor is capable of activating the heating element, and of deactivating the heating element a predetermined time after it activates said element.