Method and apparatus for the optical measurement of fluid flow
First Claim
1. A method for optically measuring the cyclic flow of a fluid containing stray particles comprising sensing the time the particles spend in transit through a test section between two light beams one of which is a fixed start beam and the other of which is a stop beam which rotates in oscillatory fashion in discrete angular steps around said fixed start beam as a center, dividing the flow cycle into a plurality of sections with respective measuring windows through which respective start and stop beams can pass, sensing the transit times and distribution of particles at each window by determining the sum of the particles passing the start beam as well as the sum of the particles subsequently passing the stop beam, and correlating the determined sums of the particles respectively passing the start and stop beams at each window to relate the same by electronic evaluation circuitry and provide indication of cyclic flow through the test section.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for optical measurement of fluid flow in which particles are injected into the fluid flow to permit accurate velocity measurements to be made thereof between two laser beams through measuring windows and to obtain a velocity profile. One beam is fixed and provides indication of start event, and the other beam is moved in discrete angular steps around the first beam in oscillatory fashion to provide indication of stop events. The sum of the particles passing the start beam and the sum of the particles subsequently passing the stop beam are correlated by electronic evaluation circuitry.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A method for optically measuring the cyclic flow of a fluid containing stray particles comprising sensing the time the particles spend in transit through a test section between two light beams one of which is a fixed start beam and the other of which is a stop beam which rotates in oscillatory fashion in discrete angular steps around said fixed start beam as a center, dividing the flow cycle into a plurality of sections with respective measuring windows through which respective start and stop beams can pass, sensing the transit times and distribution of particles at each window by determining the sum of the particles passing the start beam as well as the sum of the particles subsequently passing the stop beam, and correlating the determined sums of the particles respectively passing the start and stop beams at each window to relate the same by electronic evaluation circuitry and provide indication of cyclic flow through the test section.
- 3. Apparatus for optically measuring the cyclic flow of a fluid containing stray particles comprising means for producing first and second light beams, said first beam being a fixed start beam, said second beam being a stop beam rotating in oscillating fashion in discrete angular steps around said fixed beam as a center, a plurality of measuring windows through each of which two respective start and stop beams pass to illuminate particles in a cyclic fluid flow, means for optically measuring test data by sensing transit time and distribution of the particles in the fluid at each window by the respective start and stop beams, means for converting the optical signals into electrical signals, and electtrical circuit means including counter means and comparators equal in number to said windows and operatively associated therewith for producing output signals when the respective comparators receive signals equal in number to a pre-set minimum.
Specification