In-line particulate detector
First Claim
1. An in-line particulate detector comprising:
- a housing having an inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, which housing is installed in-line between adjacent portions of a pipeline in a system and is removably disposable between the adjacent portions of the pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through said inner flow portion to a fuel consumer;
a laser diode light source disposed within said housing for emitting a light beam within said inner flow portion;
a first photodiode disposed within said housing positioned opposite and substantially normal to said laser diode light source such that substantially full strength of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said first photodiode;
a second photodiode disposed within said housing adjacent said first photodiode and offset from a normal unimpeded path between said laser diode and said first photodiode such that a baseline level of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said second photodiode;
circuitry coupled to said first and second photodiodes to monitor the ratio of light intensities measured by said first and second photodiode to indicate the presence of particulate within an introduced fuel flow; and
a control structure inputted into said circuitry to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-line particulate detector comprises a housing having an inner flow portion. The housing Is disposed between adjacent portions of pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through the inner flow portion to a fuel consumer. A light source is positioned within the housing for emitting a light beam within the inner flow portion. A first photodetector is positioned within the housing to detect the full strength of the light beam. A second photodetector is positioned within the housing to detect low, baseline levels of the light beam. Circuitry is coupled to first and second photodetectors to monitor the ratio of light intensities. When a fuel containing particulates is introduced, the light beam is scattered and the intensity measured by the second photodetector will increase and the intensity measured by the first photodetector will decrease.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An in-line particulate detector comprising:
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a housing having an inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, which housing is installed in-line between adjacent portions of a pipeline in a system and is removably disposable between the adjacent portions of the pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through said inner flow portion to a fuel consumer;
a laser diode light source disposed within said housing for emitting a light beam within said inner flow portion;
a first photodiode disposed within said housing positioned opposite and substantially normal to said laser diode light source such that substantially full strength of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said first photodiode;
a second photodiode disposed within said housing adjacent said first photodiode and offset from a normal unimpeded path between said laser diode and said first photodiode such that a baseline level of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said second photodiode;
circuitry coupled to said first and second photodiodes to monitor the ratio of light intensities measured by said first and second photodiode to indicate the presence of particulate within an introduced fuel flow; and
a control structure inputted into said circuitry to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An in-line particulate detector comprising;
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a housing having an inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlets, which housing is installed in-line between adjacent portions of a pipeline in a system and is removably disposable between the adjacent portions of the pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through said inner flow portion to a fuel consumer;
a laser diode light source disposed within said housing for emitting a light beam within said inner flow portion;
a first photodiode disposed within said housing positioned opposite and substantially normal to said diode light source such that substantially full strength of an unimpeded ed generated light beam is detected by said first photodiode;
a second photodiode disposed within said housing adjacent said first photodiode and offset from a normal unimpeded path between said laser diode and said first photodiode such that a baseline level of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said second photodiode;
circuitry coupled to said first and second photodiode to monitor the ratio of light intensities measured by said first and second photodiodes to indicate the presence of particulate within an introduced fuel flow;
a control structure inputted into said circuitry to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities; and
at least one remote unit for transmitting signals generated from said first and second photodiodes;
a central station; and
a communications link. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An in-line particulate detector comprising:
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a housing having an inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, which housing is installed in-line between adjacent portions of a pipeline in a system and is removably disposable between the adjacent portions of the pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through said inner flow portion to a fuel consumer;
a means for emitting a light beam within said inner flow portion;
a first means for detecting substantially full strength of an unimpeded light beam generated by said means for emitting;
a second means offset from a normal unimpeded path between said light emitting means and said first means for detecting a baseline level of unimpeded light beam generated by said means for emitting;
a means for comparing the light intensities detected by said first and second means for detecting, to determine the presence of particulate within an introduced flow; and
a control means for receiving from said comparing means a signal to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An in-line particulate detector comprising:
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a housing having an inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
which housing is installed in-line between adjacent portions of a pipeline in a system and is removably disposable between the adjacent portions of the pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through said inner flow portion to a fuel consumer;
a laser diode light source disposed within said housing for emitting a light beam within said inner flow portion;
a first photodiode disposed within said housing positioned opposite and substantially normal to said laser diode light source such that substantially full strength of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said first photodiode;
a second photodiode disposed within said housing adjacent said first photodiode and offset from a normal unimpeded path between said laser diode and said first photodiode such that a baseline level of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said second photodiode;
circuitry coupled to said first and second photodiode to monitor the ratio of light intensities measured by said first and second photodiodes to indicate the presence of particulate within an introduced flow; and
a control structure inputted into said circuitry to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities.
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27. An in-line particulate detector for insertion within a pipeline, said detector comprising:
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a laser diode light source to be disposed within said pipeline for emitting a light beam within an inner flow portion of said pipeline, the inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a first photodiode to be disposed within said pipeline positioned opposite and substantially normal to said laser diode light source such that substantially full strength of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said first photodiode;
a second photodiode to be disposed within said pipeline adjacent said first photodiode and offset from a normal unimpeded path between said laser diode and said first photodiode such that a baseline level of unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said second photodiode;
circuitry coupled to said first and second photodiode to monitor the ratio of light intensities measured by said first and second photodiodes to indicate the presence of particulate within an introduced flow; and
a control structure inputted into said circuitry to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities.
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Specification