Back to results
US 6,784,988 B2Granted
Apparatus and process for analyzing a stream of fluid
AssigneeHamilton Associates, Inc.
InventorsRajagopal Vijayakumar, Sylvain Dominique Masset
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An analyzing probe for insertion into numerous different environments to determine at least one characteristic of particulate matter suspended in a fluid stream of a test sample. Preferably, the analyzing probe includes a minimal amount of optical elements such as lenses that are subjected to the conditions of the environment of the fluid stream to be tested. Further, the analyzing probe is preferably designed so that it can be readily manufactured, operated and installed by relatively unskilled laborers.
Claims32
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing probe adapted to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing probe having a substantially tubular housing, said substantially tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said substantially tubular housing, at least a portion of said fluid passageway extends at a first angle to said longitudinal axis and between said exterior surface of said substantially tubular housing and said scattering chamber;
- (c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber, said at least one transmitting optical fiber having first and second ends, said second end being connected to a source;
- and,
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis, said at least one collecting optical fiber having first and second ends, said second end being connected to a detection device, said first end of said at least one collecting optical fiber being offset along said longitudinal axis from said first end of said at least one transmitting optical fiber.
2 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing probe adapted to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing probe having a substantially tubular housing, said substantially tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said substantially tubular housing, at least a portion of said fluid passageway extends at a first angle to said longitudinal axis and between said exterior surface of said substantially tubular housing and said scattering chamber;
- (c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis, and;
- (e) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers, said transmitting optical fibers are disposed at a second angle to said longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said plurality of transmitting optical fibers is directed to approximately the same point in said scattering chamber thereby obviating the need for a lens for focusing the electromagnetic radiation to approximately a single point.
2 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing probe adapted to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing probe including a housing having a longitudinal axis;
- (b) said analyzing probe further including a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber;
- (c) at least first and second transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber, said first and second transmitting optical fibers being disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said first and second transmitting optical fibers is directed to approximately the same point in said scattering chamber thereby obviating the need for a lens for focusing the electromagnetic radiation to approximately a single point;
- and,
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for colleting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis.
2 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into a hazardous environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a housing;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said housing;
- (c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis;
- and
- (e) a reflecting member disposed in said housing for redirecting electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said at least one transmitting optical fiber to said scattering chamber, said at least one transmitting optical fiber being disposed closer to said reflecting member than said at least one collecting optical fiber.
3 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into an environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member having a longitudinal axis, said analyzing member including a substantially tubular housing having first and second sections, said first section includes an inner member and an outer member, at least a portion of said inner member overlapping said outer member along said longitudinal axis;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being formed in one of said first and second sections of said housing;
- (c) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;
- and,
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for colleting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis.
2 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into an environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a substantially tubular housing having first and second sections, said first section includes an inner member and an outer member;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being formed in one of said first and second sections of said housing;
- (c) a plurality of transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis
- (e) said plurality of transmitting optical fibers extend in said first and second sections of said substantially tubular housing.
2 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing member adapted to be inserted into an environment to analyze a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a substantially tubular housing having first and second sections, said first section being detachably connected to said second section;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being formed in one of said first and second sections of said housing;
- (c) at least one transmitting optical fiber to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;
- and,
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for colleting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis.
2 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing a stream of fluid, comprising:
- (a) an analyzing member for analyzing a stream of fluid, said analyzing member including a housing;
- (b) a scattering chamber and a fluid passageway, said fluid passageway being in fluid communication with said scattering chamber to direct a stream of fluid to be tested into said scattering chamber, said scattering chamber being disposed in said housing;
- (c) first and second transmitting optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to said scattering chamber;
- (d) at least one collecting optical fiber for collecting electromagnetic radiation from said scattering chamber for analysis;
- and
- (e) a focusing member for focusing the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by said first and second optical fibers to a focal point, said focal point being located in said scattering chamber, said focal point further being removed from said first and second transmitting optical fibers and said collecting optical fiber.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.