System and method of evaluating or calibrating a bubble detector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for evaluating or calibrating a bubble detector, comprising:
- a conduit adapted to pass a flow material therethrough, wherein the conduit is configured for passing flow materials of different viscosities;
a pump operatively coupled to the conduit to pump the flow material through the conduit;
a bubble-forming device operatively coupled to the conduit, the bubble-forming device being adapted to introduce bubbles into the flow material passing through the conduit; and
a bubble detector to be evaluated positioned to examine the bubbles in the flow material passing through the conduit,wherein the bubble-forming device comprises;
a connecting device operatively coupled to the conduit;
a bubble-forming capillary adapted to be positioned within the connecting device in communication with the flow material passing through the conduit; and
a bubble-pumping device operatively coupled to the bubble-forming capillary, the bubble-pumping device adapted to deliver a bubble-forming material to the flow material in the conduit through the bubble-forming capillary to create bubbles in the flow material,wherein the capillary comprises;
a proximal portion operatively coupled to the bubble-pumping device and a distal portion slidably positioned within the connecting device.
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Abstract
A bubble detector utilizes an ultrasonic transducer to sample bubbles as they pass the transducer. The envelope of the return signal is analyzed to determine the volume of each sampled bubble. If the total volume of bubbles sampled within a certain period of time exceeds a desired maximum volume, the bubble detector may initiate a system shut down. A bubble detector can be evaluated or calibrated by introducing bubbles into a conduit, detecting the bubbles introduced into the conduit using visual inspection or a bubble detector of known resolution and comparing the results with the examination of a bubble detector under evaluation.
33 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for evaluating or calibrating a bubble detector, comprising:
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a conduit adapted to pass a flow material therethrough, wherein the conduit is configured for passing flow materials of different viscosities; a pump operatively coupled to the conduit to pump the flow material through the conduit; a bubble-forming device operatively coupled to the conduit, the bubble-forming device being adapted to introduce bubbles into the flow material passing through the conduit; and a bubble detector to be evaluated positioned to examine the bubbles in the flow material passing through the conduit, wherein the bubble-forming device comprises; a connecting device operatively coupled to the conduit; a bubble-forming capillary adapted to be positioned within the connecting device in communication with the flow material passing through the conduit; and a bubble-pumping device operatively coupled to the bubble-forming capillary, the bubble-pumping device adapted to deliver a bubble-forming material to the flow material in the conduit through the bubble-forming capillary to create bubbles in the flow material, wherein the capillary comprises; a proximal portion operatively coupled to the bubble-pumping device and a distal portion slidably positioned within the connecting device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for evaluating or calibrating a bubble detector, comprising:
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a conduit adapted to pass a flow material therethrough, wherein the conduit is configured for passing flow materials of different viscosities; a pump operatively coupled to the conduit to pump the flow material through the conduit; a bubble-forming device operatively coupled to the conduit, the bubble-forming device being adapted to introduce bubbles into the flow material passing through the conduit; and a bubble detector to be evaluated positioned to examine the bubbles in the flow material passing through the conduit, wherein the bubble-forming device comprises; a connecting device operatively coupled to the conduit; a bubble-forming capillary adapted to be positioned within the connecting device in communication with the flow material passing through the conduit; and a bubble-pumping device operatively coupled to the bubble-forming capillary, the bubble-pumping device adapted to deliver a bubble-forming material to the flow material in the conduit through the bubble-forming capillary to create bubbles in the flow material, wherein the bubble-pumping device comprises a syringe.
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12. A method of evaluating or calibrating a bubble detector comprising the acts of:
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(a) pumping a flow material through a conduit, wherein the conduit is configured for passing flow materials of different viscosities; (b) introducing bubbles into the flow material; (c) examining the bubbles in the flow material with a bubble detector under evaluation; and (d) detecting the bubbles in the flow material wherein the act (b) comprises the act of; using a capillary to inject bubbles into the flow material, wherein the act of using a capillary comprises the act of; slidably positioning the capillary within the flow material to adjust the size of the bubbles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification