Conductivity cell for particle counting apparatus

Claim 2

For use in a system for counting particles suspended within a liquid, a conductivity cell comprising: a cell body having an input passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a supply of liquid to be analyzed, and an output passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a flow tube through which liquid flows for analysis; a support member having an apertured means with an aperture positioned in a surface thereof, said apertured means having opposed end faces defining a first end face and a second end face, said support member being removably disposed within said cell body with said aperture in alignment with said input passage, said support member having a passage formed in an end thereof and communicating between said aperture and the output passage of said cell body; a first electrode disposed within said input passage and confronting said first end face of said apertured means; a second electrode disposed within said output passage and confronting said second end face of said apertured means; said first and second electrodes being completely fixedly supported by and retained at said cell body, thereby enabling detachment of said support member and apertured means from said cell body without necessitating detachment of said first and second electrodes from said cell body; and means within said cell body for providing electrical connection from said first and second electrodes to respective terminals disposed on said cell body.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said support member is of elongated configuration and when disposed within said cell body has a portion which extends outwardly therefrom.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said elongated support member includes a marking for visual indication of alignment of said aperture with said input passage.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 including a vent passage within said cell body and communicating with said output passage at a position near said aperture.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cell body is of generally cylindrical configuration and said support member is also of generally cylindrical configuration and is disposed coaxially within said cell body.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 wherein sealing means are provided between said cell body and said support member and sealing means provided within said output passage for sealingly engaging a flow tube disposed therein.

Claim 8

For use in a system for counting particles suspended within a liquid, a conductivity cell comprising: a cell body having an input passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a supply of liquid to be analyzed, and an output passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a flow tube through which liquid flows for analysis; a support member havIng an apertured means with an aperture positioned in a surface thereof, said apertured means having opposed end faces defining a first end face and a second end face, said support member being removably disposed within said cell body with said aperture in alignment with said input passage, said support member having a passage formed in an end thereof and communicating between said aperture and the output passage of said cell body; said cell body being of generally cylindrical configuration and said support member is also of generally cylindrical configuration and is disposed coaxially within said cell body; said cylindrical support member including a passage coaxially disposed within an end thereof and having an inner end communicating with said second end face of said apertured means and an outer end communicating, when said support member is disposed within said cell body, with said output passage; a first electrode disposed within said input passage and confronting said first end face of said apertured means; a second electrode disposed within said output passage and confronting said second end face of said apertured means; and means within said cell body for providing electrical connection from said first and second electrodes to respective terminals disposed on said cell body.

Claim 9

For use in a system for counting particles suspended within a liquid, a conductivity cell comprising: a cell body having an input passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a supply of liquid to be analyzed, and an output passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a flow tube through which liquid flows for analysis; a support member havIng an apertured means with an aperture positioned in a surface thereof, said apertured means having opposed end faces defining a first end face and a second end face, said support member being removably disposed within said cell body with said aperture in alignment with said input passage, said support member having a passage formed in an end thereof and communicating between said aperture and the output passage of said cell body; said cell body being of generally cylindrical configuration and said support member is also of generally cylindrical configuration and is disposed coaxially within said cell body; said cylindrical support member including a passage coaxially disposed within an end thereof and having an inner end communicating with said second end face of said apertured means and an outer end communicating, when said support member is disposed within said cell body, with said output passage; a first electrode disposed within said input passage and confronting said first end face of said apertured means; a second electrode disposed within said output passage and confronting said second end face of said apertured means; and means within said cell body for providing electrical connection from said first and second electrodes to respective terminals disposed on said cell body.

Claim 10

For use in a system for counting particles suspended within a liquid, a conductivity cell comprising: a cell body having an input passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a supply of liquid to be analyzed, and an output passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a flow tube through which liquid flows for analysis; a support member having an apertured means with an aperture positioned in a surface thereof, said apertured means having opposed end faces defining a first end face and a second end face, said support member being removably disposed within said cell body with said aperture in alignment with said input passage, said support member having a passage formed in an end thereof and communicating between said aperture and the output passage of said cell body; said support member being of generally cylindrical configuration and disposed coaxially within said cell body; said cylindrical support member including a passage coaxially disposed within an end thereof and having an inner end communicating with said second end face of said apertured means and an outer end communicating, when said support member is disposed within said cell body, with said output passage; a first electrode disposed within said input passage and confronting said first end face of said apertured means; a second electrode disposed within said output passage and confronting said second end face of said apertured means; and means within said cell body for providing electrical connection from said first and second electrodes to respective terminals disposed on said cell body.

Claim 11

For use in a system for counting particles suspended within a liquid, a conductivity cell comprising: a cell body having an input passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a supply of liquid to be analyzed, and an output passage formed therein and adapted to be coupled to a flow tube through which liquid flows for analysis; a support member having an apertured means with an aperture positioned in a surface thereof, said apertured means having opposed end faces defining a first end face and a second end face, said support member being removably disposed within said cell body with said aperture in alignment with said input passage, said support member having a passage formed in an end thereof and communicating between said aperture and the output passage of said cell body; said support member being of generally cylindrical configuration and disposed coaxially within said cell body; said cylindrical support member including a passage coaxially disposed within an end thereof and having an inner end communicating with said second end face of said apertured means and an outer end communicating, when said support member is disposed within said cell body, with said output passage; a first electrode disposed within said input passage and confronting said first end face of said apertured means; a second electrode disposed within said output passage and confronting said second end face of said apertured means; and means within said cell body for providing electrical connection from said first and second electrodes to respective terminals disposed on said cell body.