Electronic particle study apparatus with fluid circulating system

Claim 3

The system as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second vessels comprise a pair of open-ended, superposed tubular members of insulating material and holder means interposed sealably between the tubular members, and said holder means including, a conical central portion having an opening in the center thereof and aperture carrying means sealingly engaged to said central portion within said opening and sealing means establishing a sealed juncture between both said vessels and said holder means.

Claim 4

The system as claimed in claim 1 in which the collector means comprises a filter.

Claim 5

The system as claimed in claim 1 and agitator means in said first vessel for dispersing particulate sample in the fluid body therein.

Claim 6

The system as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a third vessel of tubular configuration, block means for supporting said third vessel concentrically arranged relative to the second vessel, means establishing a sealed engagement of said block means with the second and third vessels, said block means having at least a pair of axial passages therethrough communicating between said second and third vessels, said block means having a recess formed therein and opening to said third vessel and conical abutment means formed within said recess, the apex of said abutment means arranged coaxial with said third vessel and with the passageways opening at the base thereof whereby fluid passing through said passageways travels along the abutment to the apex so that said drip chamber is defined by said block means and the interior of said third vessel, conduit means leading from said drip chamber to said fluid electrolyte recirculating system, and valve means interposed in said last mentioned conduit means.

Claim 7

The system as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a third vessel of tubular configuration, means for supporting said third vessel concentrically arranged relative to the second vessel and sealing means for establishing a sealed engagement between said first and second vessels and said holder means and valve means between said fluid supply and fluid recirculating systems and said second and third vessels.

Claim 8

The system as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a third vessel, means for sealably supporting said second and third vessels coaxially superposed one relative to the other and a separator sealably disposed between the second and third vessels, at least a pair of axial passageways formed in said separator to establish the only path for communication between the second and third vessels, said separator having a conical formation arranged concentric with said third vessel and said passageways opening to the base of said formation, the apex of said formation disposed within said third vessel coaxial therewith and conduit means at the base of said third vessel leading from the interior thereof to said fluid recirculating system, and valve means interposed within said last mentioned conduit means.

Claim 9

The system as claimed in claim 5 in which there is a vacuum trap interposed between said drip chamber and said fluid recirculating system as a part thereof.

Claim 10

The system as claimed in claim 5 in which there is a cleaning probe means coupled between said third vessel and a movable member capable of being placed in communication with the interior of the first vessel and valve means disposed between said third vessel and said movable member.

Claim 11

The system as claimed in claim 8 and means sealably but releasably coupling the first, second and said third vessels one to the others.

Claim 12

The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said last mentioned means comprises clamp means.

Claim 13

The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said first vessel is covered and a positive displacement pump is disposed between the vessel and said fluid supply system.

Claim 14

The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first vessel is covered and a positive displacement pump is interposed between the first vessel and said fluid supply system and a sample aspirator is interposed between the source of fluid electrolyte and said pump.

Claim 15

The system as claimed in claim 13 in which said cover of the first vessel comprises a tap from an exterior source of particles and only a portion of said source particles enter the first vessel.

Claim 16

The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said tap has a chamber communicating to said source by way of a pipe having inlet and outlet ports and a delivery port therebetween communicating to said chamber, and aperture means interposed between said chamber and the interior of the first vessel.

Claim 17

The system as claimed in claim 10 where the fluid supply system includes a source of filtered air under pressure and first and second conduit means arranged respectively between said source of filtered air and the second vessel, and said source of filtered air and said fluid supply system.

Claim 18

The system as claimed in claim 16 in which said fluid supply system includes ported storage means for storing fluid electrolyte, fluid inlet means leading from the second vessel to said storage means, air inlet means leading from said source of filtered air to said storage means and fluid outlet means leading from said storage means to said pump means and a fluid reservoir interposed between said pump means and the first vessel, and said collector means comprises a filter interposed between said first vessel and said fluid reservoir, the relative levels within said fluid reservoir and the first vessel arranged at the same level.

Claim 19

An electronic particle study apparatus for use in monitoring particles of nature incapable of being retained in fluid suspension and recovery of the said particles comprising; means defining first and second chambers having first and second fluid bodies respectively therein, scanning aperture means disposed between said first and second chambers defining the only path of communication between said fluid bodies, electrical circuit means for establishing an electrical path through said aperture means whereby signals are generated by the passage of particles through said aperture means, signal monitoring means capable of receiving said signals, fresh fluid circulation means for introducing fresh filtered fluid to one of said chambers and including, a source of fresh fluid, first conduit means leading from said source to said one chamber, pump means interposed in said first conduit means between said source and said one chamber, filter means interposed in said first conduit means between said pump means and said one chamber and fluid flow control valve means in said conduit means, fluid return means for returning fluid from said other chamber to said source and including second conduit means leading from said other chamber to said source, trap means interposed in said second conduit means and a regulated vacuum supply coupled to said trap means, and second fluid flow control valve means fluid flow in said second conduit means, and a drip chamber interposed between the other of the chambers and the fluid return means electrically isolating said other chamber from said fluid return means.

Claim 20

An electronic particle study apparatus for use in monitoring particles of nature incapable of being retained in fluid suspension and recovery of the said particles comprising; means defining first and second chambers having first and second fluid bodies respectively therein, scanning aperture means disposed between said first and second chambers defining the only path of communication between said fluid bodies, electrical circuit means for establishing an electrical path through said aperture means whereby signals are generated by the passage of particles through said aperture means, signal monitoring means capable of receiving said signals, fresh fluid circulation means for introducing fresh filtered fluid to one of said chambers and including, a source of fresh fluid, first conduit means leading from said source to said one chamber, pump means interposed in said first conduit means between said source and said one chamber, filter means interposed in said first conduit means between said pump means and said one chamber and fluid flow control valve means in said conduit means, fluid return means for returning fluid from said other chamber to said source and including second conduit means leading from said other chamber to said source, trap means interposed in said second conduit means and a regulated vacuum supply coupled to said trap means, and second fluid flow control valve means fluid flow in said second conduit means, and a drip chamber interposed between the other of the chambers and the fluid return means electrically isolating said other chamber from said fluid return means.

Claim 21

The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 in which said drip chamber comprises an open top vessel sealably engaged with said second chamber and having a drain at the lower portion thereof, cover means disposed between the open top and the second chamber, said cover means including at least one axial passageway formed therethrough, a tapered formation extending into said vessel, the apex thereof being coaxial with said vessel and the passageway opening to the base of said formation whereby fluid leaving the second vessel by way of said passageway travels along said tapered formation to the apex for release into said vessel in the form of discrete drops.

Claim 22

The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 in which said drip chamber is placed between said second chamber and said trip means and third fluid flow control valve means is interposed therebetween.

Claim 23

The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 and a source of filtered air, fourth conduit means between said source of filtered air and said drip chamber and fourth fluid flow control valve means associated with said fourth conduit means.

Claim 24

The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 and a fluid transfer system coupled between said drip chamber and cleaning probe means selectively introduced and withdrawn from said first chamber establishing flow therebetween during filling of said chambers and drip chamber.

Claim 25

The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 and secondary fluid conduit means leading between the source of fresh fluid and said trap means and a positive displacement pump disposed in said secondary fluid conduit means for leading fluid from the trap means to said fresh fluid source for circulation through said filter means.

Claim 26

In an electronic particle study apparatus of the type including first and second vessels, a scanning aperture means between said vessels to establish the sole communication path therebetween, each vessel having a fluid body electrically insulated one from the other except through the aperture means, means establishing an electric current through the aperture, means for detecting signals generated by passage of particles through the aperture from one vessel to the other, a suspension of particles in a fluid electrolyte medium being passed from a source of said suspension through said aperture means from the first vessel to the second vessel; the improvement comprising: a fluid electrolyte supply system including a source of fluid electrolyte, for continuously supplying fluid electrolyte from the source thereof to one of the vessels, a fluid electrolyte recirculating system for recirculating fluid electrolyte from the other of the vessels to the source of fluid electrolyte, a drip chamber interposed between said other of the vessels and said fluid recirculating system isolating the vessels electrically from said fluid supply and recirculating systems; pump means operable to move fluid electrolyte through said fluid supply and recirculating systems, and means interposed within one of said fluid supply and recirculating systems for complete recovery of the total particles examined.

Claim 27

In an electronic particle study apparatus of the type including first and second vessels, a scanning aperture means between said vessels to establish the sole communication path therebetween, each vessel having a fluid body electrically insulated one from the other except through the aperture means, means establishing an electric current through the aperture, means for detecting signals generated by passage of particles through the aperture from one vessel to the other, a suspension of particles in a fluid electrolyte medium being passed from a source of said suspension through said aperture means from the first vessel to the second vessel; the improvement comprising: a fluid electrolyte supply system including a source of fluid electrolyte, for continuously supplying fluid electrolyte from the source thereof to one of the vessels, a fluid electrolyte recirculating system for recirculating fluid electrolyte from the other of the vessels to the source of fluid electrolyte, a drip chamber interposed between said other of the vessels and said fluid recirculating system isolating the vessels electrically from said fluid supply and recirculating systems; pump means operable to move fluid electrolyte through said fluid supply and recirculating systems, and means interposed within one of said fluid supply and recirculating systems for complete recovery of the total particles examined.