Method and apparatus for measuring density profiles in microscopic tube flow
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in determining the density profile of a flowing concentrated suspension test fluid, said apparatus comprising:
- a transparent capillary tube;
means for flowing said concentrated suspsension test fluid vertically downward through said capillary tube;
light microscope means for transmitting light through said capillary tube and said flowing concentrated suspension test fluid in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the flow direction of said concentrated suspension test fluid, said microscope means comprising an array of photodiodes and means for focusing on said array an image of the concentrated suspension test fluid flowing through said capillary tube and said transmitted light;
wherein said array of photodiodes is a horizontal linear array which extends to a greater length than the horizontal dimension of said test fluid image focused on said array; and
data acquisition and display means responsive to said photodiodes for displaying density profile information for said concentrated suspension test fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Particle distribution in a fluid flowing through a microscopic tube is achieved by flowing the fluid vertically-downward through a transparent capillary tube and passing light through the flowing fluid. A linear array of photodiodes responds to light passing through the fluid by registering a series of signals representing the linear projection of particles passing through the plane defined by the light source and the photodiode array. The fluid is supplied from a reservoir which can be selectively pressurized by a gas to control the egress flow rate of fluid. A syringe serves as the egress path from the reservoir and a rotatable stirring rod is disposed in the syringe to stir the egressing fluid. The syringe feeds a disposable assembly which includes a hypodermic needle feeding the capillary tube which is mounted between a microscope slide and cover in the path of the sensing light.
41 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in determining the density profile of a flowing concentrated suspension test fluid, said apparatus comprising:
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a transparent capillary tube; means for flowing said concentrated suspsension test fluid vertically downward through said capillary tube; light microscope means for transmitting light through said capillary tube and said flowing concentrated suspension test fluid in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the flow direction of said concentrated suspension test fluid, said microscope means comprising an array of photodiodes and means for focusing on said array an image of the concentrated suspension test fluid flowing through said capillary tube and said transmitted light; wherein said array of photodiodes is a horizontal linear array which extends to a greater length than the horizontal dimension of said test fluid image focused on said array; and data acquisition and display means responsive to said photodiodes for displaying density profile information for said concentrated suspension test fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for use in determining the density profile of a flowing concentrated suspension test fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
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flowing the concentrated suspension test fluid vertically-downward through a transparent capillary tube; passing light through the capillary tube and the flowing concentrated suspension test fluid in a direction perpendicular to the concentrated suspension test fluid flow through said capillary tube; imaging the concentrated suspension test fluid which flows through the capillary tube and through the passing light onto a horizontally extending linear array of photodiodes having a greater horizontal array length than the horizontal dimension of the image of the concentrated suspension test fluid at said array; and acquiring and displaying density profile information for said concentrated suspension test fluid from said array of photodiodes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification