Method for measuring the velocity of a perturbed jetting fluid in an electrostatic particle sorting system
First Claim
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1. An electrostatic particle sorting system comprising:
- (a) flow means for establishing the flow of a continuous particle containing stream;
(b) perturbation means for perturbing said stream with at least a preselected frequency and amplitude to cause said stream to form a breakpoint at which said stream becomes a series of discrete droplets;
(c) stream surface sensing means for sensing at least the light scatter characteristic of said stream at a stream sensing point disposed above said breakpoint and at a preselected distance from said perturbation means; and
for producing a surface character output signal which is proportional thereto;
(d) marker signal means for selectively varying the perturbation caused by said perturbation means to create a marker signal in said stream; and
(e) marker signal detection means for monitoring said surface character output signal to detect the arrival of said marker signal at said stream sensing point.
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Abstract
A method for the measurement of fluid velocity and fluid flow rate is described which may be applied to a system in which fluid is caused to exit through an orifice to form a free jet. Optical as well as fluidic properties of the jetting fluids are used to determine the mean velocity of the jet between its point of exit from the orifice and at least a preselected detection point. From the mean velocity determination, the fluid flow rate may also be determined. A marker signal perturbation is applied to the jetting fluid at the orifice, and is detected downstream at a stream sensing point which is located a preselected distance from that orifice.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electrostatic particle sorting system comprising:
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(a) flow means for establishing the flow of a continuous particle containing stream; (b) perturbation means for perturbing said stream with at least a preselected frequency and amplitude to cause said stream to form a breakpoint at which said stream becomes a series of discrete droplets; (c) stream surface sensing means for sensing at least the light scatter characteristic of said stream at a stream sensing point disposed above said breakpoint and at a preselected distance from said perturbation means; and
for producing a surface character output signal which is proportional thereto;(d) marker signal means for selectively varying the perturbation caused by said perturbation means to create a marker signal in said stream; and (e) marker signal detection means for monitoring said surface character output signal to detect the arrival of said marker signal at said stream sensing point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrostatic particle sorting method comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing the flow of a continuous particle containing stream; (b) perturbing said stream with at least a preselected frequency and amplitude at a perturbation point defined therealong to cause said stream to form a breakpoint at which said stream becomes a series of discrete droplets; (c) sensing at least the light scatter character of said stream at a stream sensing point disposed above said breakpoint and at a preselected distance from said perturbation point, and generating a surface character output signal which is proportional to said light scatter character of said stream at said point; (d) selectively varying the perturbation caused at said perturbation point to create a marker signal in said stream; and (e) monitoring said surface character output signal to detect the arrival of said marker signal at said stream sensing point. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification