EP0044730A2 — Two dimensional flow analyser

Claim 1

Independent Claim 91 words

Apparatus for analysing flowing fluid which contains light-reflecting particles characterised by comprising a light source (10); expansion means (14) to expand light from the source to provide a two-dimensional sheet of light (36), there being at least a component of the fluid flow in the plane of said sheet; sensing means (18) to sense light reflected by the particles; switch means (12) arranged so that the sensing means senses reflected light only intermittently; and control and calculating means (24) to calculate from the intermittently sensed light a property of the flow.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 91 words

Apparatus for analysing flowing fluid which contains light-reflecting particles characterised by comprising a light source (10); expansion means (14) to expand light from the source to provide a two-dimensional sheet of light (36), there being at least a component of the fluid flow in the plane of said sheet; sensing means (18) to sense light reflected by the particles; switch means (12) arranged so that the sensing means senses reflected light only intermittently; and control and calculating means (24) to calculate from the intermittently sensed light a property of the flow.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the switch means (12) is arranged to allow intermittent illumination of the flowing fluid, and the sensing means is a camera (18) which includes light receiving means in the form of a two-dimensional matrix.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus according to Claim 2 in which the camera (18) is arranged to receive light along a direction which makes an acute angle with the sheet of light (36).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 80 words

Apparatus according to Claim 3 in which there is further provided a focusing lens (16) between the sheet of light (36) and the camera (18); reciprocating means (30) which supports the focusing lens (16); and first signal generating means (24) arranged to provide a sweep signal to sweep the two-dimensional matrix along at least one direction and to reciprocate the lens in synchronism, whereby areas of the sheet of light are consecutively focused onto corresponding areas of the camera matrix.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus according to Claim 3 in which there is further provided a fixed focusing lens (16) between the sheet of light and the camera (18), and the camera is arranged so that the two-dimensional matrix forms an angle with the plane of the lens, whereby a substantial area of the sheet of light is focused onto the matrix.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus according to Claim 2 further comprising second signal generating means (24) arranged to provide a sweep signal to sweep individual points of the two-dimensional matrix in a first, line-by-line mode until a matrix point is reached which senses light reflected by a particle, and in a second, subsequent search mode in which adjacent matrix points are located which have sensed light reflected by said particle during at least two consecutive intermittent sensing periods.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 73 words

Apparatus for analysing a flowing fluid which contains light-reflecting particles characterised by comprising a laser source (10) and opto-acoustic modulator (12) and stop (20) which intermittently intercepts and allows passage of a beam of light from the laser; a cylindrical lens (14) which refracts said beam to form a two-dimensional sheet of light (36), there being at least a component of the fluid flow in the plane of said sheet; a television camera

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 73 words

Apparatus for analysing a flowing fluid which contains light-reflecting particles characterised by comprising a laser source (10) and opto-acoustic modulator (12) and stop (20) which intermittently intercepts and allows passage of a beam of light from the laser; a cylindrical lens (14) which refracts said beam to form a two-dimensional sheet of light (36), there being at least a component of the fluid flow in the plane of said sheet; a television camera

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

(18) arranged to receive light scattered at an acute angle from said sheet; and control and calculating means (24) arranged to calculate from the light received by the television camera a property of the flow.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

(18) arranged to receive light scattered at an acute angle from said sheet; and control and calculating means (24) arranged to calculate from the light received by the television camera a property of the flow.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 58 words

A method of analysing a flowing fluid which contains light-reflecting particles comprises illuminating said flowing fluid with a two-dimensional sheet of light, so that there is at least a component of said flow in the plane of the sheet; intermittently sensing light reflected by the particles; and from the intermittently sensed light calculating a property of the flow.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 58 words

A method of analysing a flowing fluid which contains light-reflecting particles comprises illuminating said flowing fluid with a two-dimensional sheet of light, so that there is at least a component of said flow in the plane of the sheet; intermittently sensing light reflected by the particles; and from the intermittently sensed light calculating a property of the flow.

Two dimensional flow analyser

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag