EP0119353A2 — Apparatus and method for determining the consiste…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 81 words

Apparatus for measuring the percentage of solid particles in a suspension characterised by: a chamber for containing a suspension to be measured; a radiant energy source; means for diffusing radiant energy from said source and introducing the diffused energy into said chamber; first sensor means for sensing diffused energy in said chamber which is forward-scattered when a suspension is present therein; and second sensor means for sensing diffused energy in said chamber which is back-scattered when a suspension is present therein.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 81 words

Apparatus for measuring the percentage of solid particles in a suspension characterised by: a chamber for containing a suspension to be measured; a radiant energy source; means for diffusing radiant energy from said source and introducing the diffused energy into said chamber; first sensor means for sensing diffused energy in said chamber which is forward-scattered when a suspension is present therein; and second sensor means for sensing diffused energy in said chamber which is back-scattered when a suspension is present therein.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber is cylindrical and said first and second sensor means are mounted at diametrically opposed points along the circumference of said cylindrical chamber.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means coupled to said first and second sensor means for producing an indication of the percentage of solid particles in a suspension in said chamber based upon the relative magnitudes of forward-scattered and back-scattered energy.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiant energy source emits infra-red energy and said first and second sensors detect infra-red energy.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 145 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means coupled to said first and second sensor means for summing the outputs thereof at a predetermined ratio to produce a combined sensor output signal; comparator means for comparing said combined sensor output signal to a reference signal to produce a difference signal indicative of the difference in magnitude between said combined sensor output signal and said reference signal; variable power supply means coupled to said comparator means for providing a variable output controlled by said difference signal; means for coupling the output of said power supply means to said radiant energy source; and means for monitoring the power delivered to said radiant energy source by said power supply means, said monitoring means calibrated to provide an indication of the percentage of solid particles in a suspension in said chamber based on the magnitude of the monitored power.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said radiant energy source emits infra-red energy and said first and second sensors detect infra-red energy.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 117 words

Apparatus for measuring the consistency of a suspension, characterised by: a chamber for containing a suspension to be measured; radiant energy source means for producing radiant energy to be introduced into said chamber where said energy can be forward-scattered and back-scattered by a suspension; a first radiation sensor operative to sense forward-scattered energy from said chamber; a second radiation sensor operative to sense back-scattered energy from said chamber; and electronic control means coupled to said first and second radiation sensors and said radiant energy source means for controlling the magnitude of radiant energy produced by said radiant energy source means, said control means providing a first electric signal proportional to said magnitude which is indicative of consistency.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 117 words

Apparatus for measuring the consistency of a suspension, characterised by: a chamber for containing a suspension to be measured; radiant energy source means for producing radiant energy to be introduced into said chamber where said energy can be forward-scattered and back-scattered by a suspension; a first radiation sensor operative to sense forward-scattered energy from said chamber; a second radiation sensor operative to sense back-scattered energy from said chamber; and electronic control means coupled to said first and second radiation sensors and said radiant energy source means for controlling the magnitude of radiant energy produced by said radiant energy source means, said control means providing a first electric signal proportional to said magnitude which is indicative of consistency.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for diffusing said radiant energy prior to its introduction into said chamber.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising display means coupled to receive said first electric signal and calibrated for displaying the percent consistency of a suspension in said chamber.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said radiant energy source means emits energy along a predefined path and said chamber is a cylinder formed from a material which diffuses energy introduced therein by said radiant energy source means, and wherein said first and second radiation sensors are mounted along the axis of said predefined path at diametrically opposed points on the circumference of said cylinder.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said radiant energy source means emits infra-red radiation, said apparatus further comprising first and second optical filtering means operatively associated with said first and second radiation sensors respectively for rejecting energy of wavelengths shorter than a predetermined value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 106 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second radiation sensors produce second and third electric signals indicative of the magnitude of the forward-scattered and back-scattered energy respectively, and wherein said electronic control means comprises: means for summing said second and third electric signals at a predetermined ratio to produce a combined sensor output signal; means for comparing said combined sensor output signal to a reference signal to produce a difference signal; means for energizing said radiant energy source means; and means for coupling said difference signal to said energizing means to control the magnitude of radiant energy produced by said radiant energy source means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first electric signal is produced by said energizing means and is used to energize said radiant energy source means; and said apparatus further comprises display means coupled to receive said first electric signal and calibrated for displaying the percent consistency of a suspension in said chamber.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said summing means comprises means for converting said second and third electric signals to their logarithmic equivalents and means for adding the converted second and third signals at a ratio of 1:(1/π 3 ).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said radiant energy source means comprises a plurality of infra-red emitters symmetrically arranged in a circle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second radiation sensor is mounted in the center of said circle, and wherein said first and second radiation sensors defect infra-red energy.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 135 words

A method for determining the consistency of a suspension , the method being characterised by: directing diffused radiant energy from a source thereof toward a suspension to be measured; detecting a portion of said energy which is forward-scattered by said suspension; producing a first signal indicative of the magnitude of forward-scattered energy; detecting a portion of said energy which is back-scattered by said suspension; producing a second signal indicative of the magnitude of back-scattered energy; combining said first and second signals at a predetermined ratio to produce a feedback signal; and using said feedback signal to control the intensity of energy emitted from said source; whereby the intensity of energy emitted from said source is a function of the forward-scattered and back-scattered energy and is directly proportional to the consistency of the suspension being measured.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 135 words

A method for determining the consistency of a suspension , the method being characterised by: directing diffused radiant energy from a source thereof toward a suspension to be measured; detecting a portion of said energy which is forward-scattered by said suspension; producing a first signal indicative of the magnitude of forward-scattered energy; detecting a portion of said energy which is back-scattered by said suspension; producing a second signal indicative of the magnitude of back-scattered energy; combining said first and second signals at a predetermined ratio to produce a feedback signal; and using said feedback signal to control the intensity of energy emitted from said source; whereby the intensity of energy emitted from said source is a function of the forward-scattered and back-scattered energy and is directly proportional to the consistency of the suspension being measured.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined ratio at which said first signal is combined with said second signal is 1:(1/π 3 ).

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said diffused radiant energy is infra-red energy.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said source of diffused radiant energy is powered by an electric current and comprising the further step of: displaying the consistency of the measured suspension on an electric meter coupled to monitor the current supplied to said source.

Apparatus and method for determining the consistency of a suspension

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