US3564264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for counting particles in a flowing fluid
Assignee: ERDCO ENG CORP
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Filing: 1968-12-19
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Granted: 1971-02-16
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Expires: 1988-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A fluid having the particles to be detected suspended therein is introduced into a tube. The tube has a capillary section through which the flow is laminar in the absence of a particle and which changes to a turbulent flow as a particle traverses the section. Immediately downstream of the section is a flow characteristic detector to indicate whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. In one embodiment the detector is a vane which is pushed sideways by the laminar flow exiting from the section to open an electrical switch and which returns to switch closed position in the presence of turbulent flow. In a second embodiment the detector is a vane which is moved away from the capillary section by laminar flow but which returns toward the section in the presence of turbulent flow. The position of the latter vane is determined by reflecting light angularly therefrom toward a light receiving position with the light present at the receiving position being measured with the measurement being a function of the vane position.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard F Karuhn
- 👤 Anatoli Brushenko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/08; G06M1/10; G06M1/101; G01N2015/1024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A particle counter for detecting particles dispersed in a fluid and for use with a device for creating a pressure differential, said counter including: a fluid flow tube adapted to be connected to said device to result in a fluid flow through said tube from a high pressure end to a low pressure end with said fluid in which particles are dispersed being introduced into the high pressure end for flow to the low pressure end, said tube having a portion intermediate its ends defining a laminar flow passageway means for said fluid which flow changes to turbulent flow when a particle traverses said passageway means; and flow detector means in said tube adjacent the downstream end of said passageway means, said detector means having a first state when the flow is laminar and a second state when the flow is turbulent whereby the presence or absence of a particle moving through said passageway means can be determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A particle counter for detecting particles dispersed in a fluid and for use with a device for creating a pressure differential, said counter including: a fluid flow tube adapted to be connected to said device to result in a fluid flow through said tube from a high pressure end to a low pressure end with said fluid in which particles are dispersed being introduced into the high pressure end for flow to the low pressure end, said tube having a portion intermediate its ends defining a laminar flow passageway means for said fluid which flow changes to turbulent flow when a particle traverses said passageway means; and flow detector means in said tube adjacent the downstream end of said passageway means, said detector means having a first state when the flow is laminar and a second state when the flow is turbulent whereby the presence or absence of a particle moving through said passageway means can be determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A counter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detector means includes a movably mounted vane intersecting the longitudinal axis of said passageway means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A counter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said vane is angularly positioned with rEspect to said axis and said detector means includes a reed fixed at one end and secured to the vane at the other end to serve as the movable mounting for said vane, said reed being positioned generally parallel to said axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A counter as set forth in claim 3, wherein said detector means includes a pair of electrical contacts, one of which is attached to said reed and the other is fixedly mounted in juxtaposition to said one, said reed and contacts being downstream of said vane, said contacts being open when the detector means is in said first state and closed when the detector means is in said second state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A counter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said detector means includes a fixed mounting having a part spaced to one side of said axis and downstream of said portion, said vane being movably connected to said part and being resiliently urged in the upstream direction, said vane extending generally transverse to said axis whereby when said flow is laminar said vane will be moved in the downstream direction against said urging to a displaced position and when said flow is turbulent said vane will be upstream of said displaced position, and position detecting means associated with said vane to determine when the vane is in said displaced position and when it is in said upstream position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A counter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said position detecting means includes a light reflective surface on a face of said vane, means at a first point to shine light on said surface at an angle whereby the light reflected to a second point at one side of said first point has one magnitude when said vane is in the displaced position and a second magnitude when the vane is in said upstream position, and means at said second point to detect the magnitude of light at said point light and produce electrical signals indicative thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A counter as set forth in claim 6, wherein the light is conducted to and from said points by light conducting fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A counter as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fibers have ends adjacent said surface, said ends being approximately parallel to said surface, means at the other end of the fibers of the light shining means to introduce light into those fibers at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
A counter as set forth in claim 8, wherein the fibers of the light shining means are interspersed with the fibers of the light detection means, said surface being positioned so that it is close to said adjacent ends when said vane is in the displaced position and spaced farther away from said adjacent ends when said vane is in the upstream position, and including means to stop said reflective surface a short distance away from said adjacent ends when said vane is in the displaced position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A counter as set forth in claim 9, wherein said detecting means produces an electrical signal which, within a predetermined range, is of a magnitude that is a function of the distance between said reflective surface and said points and includes indicator means to sensibly indicate the magnitude of the electrical signal and stop means to limit the minimum distance between said reflective surface and said points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A counter as set forth in claim 10, wherein said position detecting means comprises: a hollow rod positioned downstream of the vane, parallel to said axis and with one end of the rod downstream from the downstream face of vane; a carrier extending through said end of the rod, said carrier having an end externally of said rod and a second end inside said rod, said external end being affixed to said vane; diaphragm means secured to said carrier and said rod, extending transversely to said axis and resiliently supporting said rod with respect to said rod; means secured to said second end of said rod and defining said reflective surface; and said fibers being attached to said rod and extending therewithin and with said ends of the fibers being adjacent said reflective surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A countEr as set forth in claim 8, wherein said position detecting means comprises: a hollow rod positioned downstream of the vane, parallel to said axis and with one end of the rod downstream from the downstream face of vane; a carrier extending through said end of the rid, said carrier having an end externally of said rod and a second end inside said rod, said external end being affixed to said vane; diaphragm means secured to said carrier and said rod, extending transversely to said axis and resiliently supporting said rod with respect to said rod; means secured to said second end of said rod and defining said reflective surface; and said fibers being attached to said rod and extending therewithin and with said ends of the fibers being adjacent said reflective surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
A particle counting apparatus including: a vacuum pump having an intake and a discharge; a tube having two ends with one end connected to said pump intake, said tube having a capillary section intermediate said ends and being otherwise substantially larger in cross section than said capillary section, the other end of the tube defining an air intake, and ''''whereby the air flow through the capillary section changes from a first character which exists in the absence of a particle therein to a second character which exists in the presence of a particle therein'''' and flow character responsive means positioned in said tube immediately downstream of the capillary section to dt detect the character of the air flow at the downstream end of said section, said responsive means having a first state when the air flow is in the first character and a second state when the air flow is in the second character.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A particle counting apparatus including: a vacuum pump having an intake and a discharge; a tube having two ends with one end connected to said pump intake, said tube having a capillary section intermediate said ends and being otherwise substantially larger in cross section than said capillary section, the other end of the tube defining an air intake, and ''''whereby the air flow through the capillary section changes from a first character which exists in the absence of a particle therein to a second character which exists in the presence of a particle therein'''' and flow character responsive means positioned in said tube immediately downstream of the capillary section to dt detect the character of the air flow at the downstream end of said section, said responsive means having a first state when the air flow is in the first character and a second state when the air flow is in the second character.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 and including a recirculation line connecting said two ends and extending through said vacuum pump to return a portion of the air from said one end to the other end, and particle filter means in said recirculation line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said capillary section has an internal diameter of between about 0.5 and 3 millimeters, and the tube, upstream of said section, forms a smooth transition from the cross-sectional size of the capillary section to said larger cross-sectional size of the tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |