Method and apparatus for the non-invasive determination of the characteristics of a segmented fluid stream
First Claim
1. In apparatus for the detection of the respective segments, and the respective segment interfaces, of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating fluid segments flowing in an optionally transparent conduit, said fluid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics, the improvements comprising, radiation energy source means disposed without said conduit and operable to irradiate the same and said flowing fluid stream, radiation energy detecting means disposed without said conduit and operable to detect the radiation energy from said source means which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream, and to output a signal indicative thereof, and means to process said output signal to indicate said fluid segments and said segment interfaces, respectively, wherein, said fluid segments comprise segments of liquids, and wherein the spectral content of said radiation energy is generally outside the radiation energy absorbance range of said liquids.
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Abstract
New and improved method and apparatus for the non-invasive detection of the respective segments and segment interfaces, and the non-invasive determination of the respective segment volumes, of a continuous segmented fluid stream flowing in a transparent conduit are disclosed and comprise means to irradiate the conduit and the flowing fluid stream with radiation energy of spectral content predetermined in accordance with the radiation energy absorbance and refraction characteristics of the fluid segments and the fluid segment-conduit interface, means to detect the radiation energy which is transmitted through the segments and conduit and provide signals indicative thereof, and signal processing means operatively associated with the detecting means and operable to process said signals and perform the stated functions in accordance therewith.
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Citations
26 Claims
- 1. In apparatus for the detection of the respective segments, and the respective segment interfaces, of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating fluid segments flowing in an optionally transparent conduit, said fluid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics, the improvements comprising, radiation energy source means disposed without said conduit and operable to irradiate the same and said flowing fluid stream, radiation energy detecting means disposed without said conduit and operable to detect the radiation energy from said source means which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream, and to output a signal indicative thereof, and means to process said output signal to indicate said fluid segments and said segment interfaces, respectively, wherein, said fluid segments comprise segments of liquids, and wherein the spectral content of said radiation energy is generally outside the radiation energy absorbance range of said liquids.
- 7. In apparatus for the determination of the respective liquid segment volumes of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating liquid and other fluid segments flowing in an optically transparent conduit, said liquid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics than said other fluid segments, the improvements comprising, radiation energy source means disposed without said conduit and operable to irradiate the same and said flowing fluid stream at spaced locations along said conduit, radiation energy detecting means disposed without said conduit and operable to detect the radiation energy from said source means which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream at said spaced locations, and to output signals indicative thereof, and means to process said output signals to determine said liquid segment volumes.
- 15. In a method for the detection of the respective segments, and the respective segment interfaces, of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating fluid segments flowing in an optically transparent conduit, said fluid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics and comprising liquid segments, the improvements comprising the steps of, irradiating said conduit and said flowing fluid stream with radiation energy having a spectral content which is generally outside the radiation energy absorbance range of said liquid segments, detecting the irradiating radiation energy which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream and providing a signal indicative thereof, and processing said signal to indicate said fluid segments and said segment interfaces, respectively.
- 19. In a method for the determination of the respective liquid segment volumes of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating liquid and other fluid segments flowing in an optically transparent conduit, said liquid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics than said other fluid segments, the improvements comprising the steps of, irradiating said conduit and said flowing fluid stream with radiation energy at spaced locations along said conduit, said radiation energy having a spectral content which is generally outside the radiation energy absorbance range of said liquid segments, detecting the irradiating radiation energy which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream at said spaced locations and providing signals indicative thereof, and processing said signals to determine said liquid segment volumes.
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24. In apparatus for the detection of the segments and segment interfaces, and for the determination of the liquid segment volumes, respectively, of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating liquid and other fluid segments flowing in an optically transparent conduit, said liquid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics than said other fluid segments, the improvements comprising, radiation energy source means disposed without said conduit and operable to irradiate the same and said flowing fluid stream at spaced locations along said conduit, radiation energy detecting means disposed without said conduit and operable to detect the radiation energy from said source means which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream at said spaced locations and to output signals indicative thereof, means to process said output signals to indicate said segments and said segment interfaces, respectively, and means to process said output signals to determine said liquid segment volumes.
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25. In a method for the detection of the segments and segment interfaces, and for the determination of the liquid segment volumes, respectively, of a continuous fluid stream which comprises alternating liquid and other fluid segments flowing in an optically transparent conduit, said liquid segments having different radiation energy absorbance and/or refraction characteristics than said other fluid segments, the improvements comprising the steps of, irradiating said conduit and said flowing fluid stream with radiation energy at spaced locations along said conduit, detecting the irradiating radiation energy which is transmitted through said conduit and said flowing fluid stream at said spaced locations and providing signals indicative thereof, and processing said signals to indicate said segments and segment interfaces and to determine said liquid segment volumes.
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26. In a method for determining thee volume of a discrete fluid segment flowing in a conduit in a continuous flowing stream, said fluid segment being disposed in said stream between two other fluid segments each defining an interface with said fluid segment, the improvements comprising the steps of measuring a first time period required for one of said interfaces to flow between two spaced locations along said conduit, measuring a second time period required for said fluid segment to flow between said spaced locations, and relating said first and second time periods to determine the volume of said fluid segment.
Specification