Method and apparatus for subsurface contaminant detection and measurement
AssigneeTufts University
InventorsWayne A. Chudyk, Jonathan E. Kenny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Subsurface contaminants are readily and inexpensively detected and measured by means of a test head positioned at the subsurface site and forming a protected test chamber for the liquids to be tested. The head encloses the end faces of fiber optic elements which carry radiation to the liquid sample from a test instrument located at the surface and which return radiation from the sample to the instrumentation. A connector positioned at the surface decouples the head from the instrumentation, so that the same instrumentation can service a larger number of test sites.
Claims11
A test head for detecting contaminants by means of optical radiation emitted from a sample, comprising:
- A. a channeled body for receiving and orienting in first and second channels thereof, respectively, a first fiber for reradiating a sample with fluorescence-inducing radiation transmitted through said fiber, and a second fiber for receiving fluorescent radiation emitted from said sample in response to irradiation, said channels positioning corresponding ends of said fibers in predetermined angular orientation with respect to each other, said body comprising first and second shoulders mateable with each other to enclose said fibers therein, at least one of said shoulders having the first and second channels formed therein and said channels being oriented at an acute angle to each other to provide a substantial overlap of radiation patterns associated with each of said first and second fibers;
- B. means forming a filter enclosing at least said fiber ends and defining with said body an enclosed chamber exposed to said fiber ends for receiving by infiltration through said filter a liquid sample for irradiation by a first of said fibers and re-radiation to a second of said fibers;
- and
- C. means for demountably coupling said test head to a radiation source and to a radiation measuring station.
A test head for detecting contaminants by means of optical radiation emitted from a sample, comprising:
- A. a channeled body for receiving and orienting in first and second channels thereof, respectively, a first fiber for reradiating a sample with fluorescence-inducing radiation transmitted through said fiber, and a second fiber for receiving fluorescent radiation emitted from said sample in response to irradiation, said channels positioning corresponding ends of said fibers in predetermined angular orientation with respect to each other, said body comprising first and second shoulders mateable with each other to enclose said fibers therein, at least one of said shoulders having the first and second channels formed therein and said channels being oriented at an acute angle to each other;
- B. means forming a filter enclosing at least said fiber ends and defining with said body an enclosed chamber exposed to said fiber ends for receiving by infilatration through said filter a liquid sample for irradiation by a first of said fibers and re-radiation to a second of said fibers;
- C. means for dedemountably coupling said test head to a radiation source and to a radiation measuring station;
- and
- D. said shoulders including a threaded portion on one end thereof for engagement with a coresponding threaded portion of said filter means.
Apparatus for monitoring subsurface liquids comprising:
- A. a cylindrical body having a threaded upper portion and a porous portion;
- B. cap means, having a threaded lower portion, first and second segments, and a first groove formed on one of the segments, for engaging the body to form a chamber therewith, and for accomodating and positioning a first fiber optic cable in a predetermined spatial orientation with respect to the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.