Method and apparatus for segregating particulate matter

In connection with the separation of particles from a fluid medium and their segregation in accordance with particle size, the improvement comprising particle concentration, classification and recording apparatus for use with a magnet supplying an intense inhomogeneous field, said apparatus comprising:

• A. a substrate;
• 1. for positioning in said field;
• 2. for supporting fluid flow of said particle-containing fluid over a surface thereof and receiving particles from said fluid thereon;
• 3. providing a record of particles collected thereon and segregated according to particle size;
• B. a container holding precipitation-accelerating agent for mixing with said fluid to promote the separation of particles therefrom by said field when said fluid is flowed over said substrate;
• and
• C. tubing for transporting said fluid and said agent to said substrate.

Apparatus for monitoring selected characteristics of particles predominately of micron size or less and contained in a fluid medium, said apparatus comprising:

• A. means for supporting a substrate having a surface of sufficient length to receive the fluid medium for flow along an extended path thereon;
• B. means for applying said fluid to said substrate surface at a controlled rate for flow along said path;
• and
• C. means for establishing a force field having a force component directed toward the fluid-receiving surface for precipitating fluid-suspended particles onto said surface as they flow along said paths, the larger particles being precipitated first.

Apparatus for monitoring force-field-responsive particles contained in a fluid medium, said apparatus comprising:

• A. means for supporting a substrate having a surface of sufficient length to receive the fluid medium for flowing along an extended path thereon;
• B. means for applying said fluid to said substrate surface at a controlled rate for flow along said path;
• and
• C. means for establishing a force field having a force component directed toward the fluid-receiving surface for precipitating fluid-suspended particles onto said surface as they flow along said path, the particles which are more highly field-responsive being precipitated first.

A method of separating hyperfine particles in a fluid medium by segregating the particles as a function of their differing relative rates of motion in accordance with their force-field responsiveness while they are within the fluid medium, comprising the steps of:

• A. positioning a substrate within a force field having a component of relatively high intensity extending orthogonal to a flow-supporting surface of said substrate and attracting toward said surface particles adjacent said surface;
• B. flowing a particle-containing fluid medium along an extended path on said substrate surface having a predetermined beginning and end for allowing the particles within said fluid medium to interact with said field for causing individual particles in said fluid medium to respond to said field with differing rates of movement towards said substrate in accordance with their force-field responsiveness;
• C. providing a spacing between the beginning and end of said path which is sufficiently long relative to the flowing rate of said fluid medium that a significant amount of said particles will precipitate onto said substrate according to their relative force-field-responsiveness with the more responsive particles precipitating nearer the beginning of said path while the particles of lesser responsiveness precipitate nearer the end of said path, thereby providing a spacial distribution along said substrate of the particles precipitated from said fluid medium.

Apparatus for monitoring the relative rates of motion in response to an applied force field of force-field-responsive particles predominately of micron size or less and contained in a fluid medium, said apparatus comprising:

• A. means for supporting a substrate having a surface of sufficient length to receive the fluid medium for flow along an extended path thereon from a beginning point to an ending point;
• B. means for applying said fluid to said substrate surface at a controlled rate for flow along said path from said beginning point to said ending point;
• and
• C. means for establishing a force field having a force component directed toward the fluid-receiving surface for precipitating fluid-suspended particles onto said surface as they flow along said path, the particles which are more highly field-responsive being precipitated nearer to the beginning point of said path.

A method of segregating particles in accordance with the responsiveness of the particles to a force field, comprising the steps of:

• A. positioning a particle-displaying substrate within a force field having a component of relatively high intensity extending orthogonal to a flow-supporting surface of said substrate;
• B. placing said fluid in a container with a precipitating-accelerating agent to form a mixture therewith;
• C. drawing said fluid-and-agent mixture from said container through a tube inserted at one end in said container;
• D. directing the flow of said mixture from the other end of said tube onto said substrate;
• E. flowing said mixture along an extended path on said substrate surface for interaction with said force field, with particles in said mixture being moved by the force of said field so as to precipitate onto said substrate according to their force-field-responsiveness, the more responsive particles precipitating first.