Method and an apparatus for the detection of a tagging material in fluids
First Claim
1. An apparatus for real time identification of tagged working/functional fluids comprising a main fluid travelling conduit connecting a fluid entry port of an equipment/machine to the apparatus, an attachment section connecting the apparatus to the equipment/machine, an optical measurement section, and a smart unit which is adapted to determine the identity of a working/functional fluid, comprising:
- a) a splitting region inside the main fluid travelling conduit, splitting the main fluid travelling conduit into at least two partial conduits including at least one measurement conduit and at least one further alternate conduit for flowing the working/functional fluid, and a unifying region where the at least one measurement conduit and the at least one further alternate conduit are unified into the main fluid travelling conduit;
b) a directing means to direct a tagging material to the at least one measurement conduit by generating electromagnetic force or electrostatic force; and
c) a tagging material concentrator section located in the vicinity of the at least one measurement conduit comprising a magnetic or dielectrophoretic concentrator to employ a magnetic field or an electric field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a real time identification method of working/functional fluid products including a specified tagging material and an apparatus which is first capturing and then identifying the tagging material using a concentrator and an optical detector, simultaneously transferring the reading to a smart unit and finally releasing the tagging material.
82 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for real time identification of tagged working/functional fluids comprising a main fluid travelling conduit connecting a fluid entry port of an equipment/machine to the apparatus, an attachment section connecting the apparatus to the equipment/machine, an optical measurement section, and a smart unit which is adapted to determine the identity of a working/functional fluid, comprising:
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a) a splitting region inside the main fluid travelling conduit, splitting the main fluid travelling conduit into at least two partial conduits including at least one measurement conduit and at least one further alternate conduit for flowing the working/functional fluid, and a unifying region where the at least one measurement conduit and the at least one further alternate conduit are unified into the main fluid travelling conduit; b) a directing means to direct a tagging material to the at least one measurement conduit by generating electromagnetic force or electrostatic force; and c) a tagging material concentrator section located in the vicinity of the at least one measurement conduit comprising a magnetic or dielectrophoretic concentrator to employ a magnetic field or an electric field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for real time identification of working/functional fluids used in equipment and machines, comprising the steps of:
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a) adding a tagging material comprising a concentrator material coupled with a light-emitting material to a working/functional fluid; b) filling the working/functional fluid by passing through a main fluid travelling conduit from a fluid entry port of an equipment/machine, wherein the main fluid travelling conduit splits into at least two partial conduits including at least one measurement conduit and at least one further alternate conduit for flowing the working/functional fluid; c) directing the tagging material to the at least one measurement conduit by a directing means which generates electromagnetic force or electrostatic force; d) capturing the tagging material at a tagging material concentrator section comprising a magnetic or dielectrophoretic concentrator which employs a magnetic field or an electric field to increase the concentration of the tagging material; e) illuminating the tagging material with at least one light source to excite the light-emitting material; f) detecting the light emitted from the light-emitting material using at least one photodetector, wherein the light emitted from the light-emitting material provides a unique code, and wherein the unique code becomes a registration number of the working/functional fluid; g) transferring the registration number to a smart unit for the determination of the identity of the working/functional fluid; and h) releasing the tagging material, captured at the tagging material concentrator section, into the working/functional fluid. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification