Particle size distribution analysis

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring in said second section comprises independently measuring the concentration by volume of solids at a plurality of predetermined positions in said second section and said dividing step comprises dividing each of said measurements made in said second section by said measurement made in said first section.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3, wherein said step of measuring in the laminar flow measuring section comprises measuring at a plurality of predetermined positions the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream and said dividing step comprises dividing each of said measurements made in the laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in the turbulent flow measurement section, whereby a distribution of the sizes of the particles carried in the turbulent flow stream is obtained.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3, wherein said step of directing at least a representative sample through a turbulent flow measuring section and said step of directing at least a representative sample through a turbulent flow mixing section and immediately thereafter through a laminar flow measuring section comprise the single step of directing at lEast a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream through a turbulent flow combination mixing and measuring section and immediately thereafter through a laminar flow measuring section.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 wherein said step of measuring in the laminar flow measuring section comprises measuring at a plurality of predetermined positions the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream and said dividing step comprises dividing each of said measurements made in the laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in the turbulent flow measuring section, whereby a distribution of the sizes of the particles carried in the turbulent flow stream is obtained.

Claim 9

The method of claim 3 including the step of diluting the representative sample that is directed through the turbulent flow mixing section to maintain a constant concentration by volume of solids in the turbulent flow mixing section.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 including the steps of moving a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream through a turbulent flow control section in juxtaposition to the turbulent flow mixing secton, measuring in the turbulent flow control section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream, and controlling said step of diluting the representative sample in response to the measurement made in the control section.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 wherein said step of measuring in the laminar flow measuring section comprises measuring at a plurality of predetermined positions the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream and said dividing step comprises dividing each of said measurements made in the laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in the turbulent flow measuring section, whereby a distribution of the sizes of the particles carried in the turbulent flow stream is obtained.

Claim 12

Apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles having similar densities, generally uniformly carried in a flow stream in a first section and segregated in the flow stream in a second section by forces acting on the particles according to their respective volumes, comprising: means for measuring in said first section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; means for measuring at least at one predetermined position in said second section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; and means for dividing the measurement made in said second section by the measurement made in said first section, whereby the size distribution of the particles carried in the flow stream in said first section is obtained by division of the measurement made in said second section by the measurement made in said first section.

Claim 13

Apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles having similar densities, generally uniformly carried in a flow stream in a first section and segregated in the flow stream in a second section by forces acting on the particles according to their respective volumes, comprising: means for measuring in said first section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; means for measuring at least at one predetermined position in said second section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; and means for dividing the measurement made in said second section by the measurement made in said first section, whereby the size distribution of the particles carried in the flow stream in said first section is obtained by division of the measurement made in said second section by the measurement made in said first section.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for measuring in said second section comprises means for independently measuring the concentration by volume of solids at a plurality of predetermined positions in said second section and said means for dividing comprises means for dividing each of said measurements made in said second section by the measurement made in said first location.

Claim 15

Apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles having generally similar densities and carried in a flow stream of a fluid having a density different than that of the particles, comprising: means defining a turbulent flow measuring section through which at least a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream may be directed; means defining a turbulent flow mixing section and immediately thereafter a laminar flow measuring section in juxtaposition to said turbulent flow measuring section through which at least a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream may be directed; means for measuring in said turbulent flow measuring section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; means for measuring at least at one predetermined position in said laminar flow mEasuring section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; and means for dividing the measurement made in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section, whereby the size distribution of the particles carried in the flow stream is obtained by division of the measurement made in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section.

Claim 16

Apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles having generally similar densities and carried in a flow stream of a fluid having a density different than that of the particles, comprising: means defining a turbulent flow measuring section through which at least a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream may be directed; means defining a turbulent flow mixing section and immediately thereafter a laminar flow measuring section in juxtaposition to said turbulent flow measuring section through which at least a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream may be directed; means for measuring in said turbulent flow measuring section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; means for measuring at least at one predetermined position in said laminar flow mEasuring section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream; and means for dividing the measurement made in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section, whereby the size distribution of the particles carried in the flow stream is obtained by division of the measurement made in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for measuring in said laminar flow measuring section comprises means for measuring the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream at a plurality of predetermined positions in said laminar flow measuring section and said means for dividing measurements comprises means for independently dividing measurements made at each of said positions in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section, whereby a distribution of the sizes of the particles carried in the turbulent flow stream may be obtained.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means defining a turbulent flow measuring section and said means defining a turbulent flow mixing section comprise means defining a combined turbulent flow measuring and mixing section immediately prior to said laminar flow measuring section.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for measuring in said laminar flow section comprises means for measuring the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream at a plurality of predetermined positions in said laminar flow measuring section and said means for dividing measurements comprises means for independently dividing measurements made at each of said positions in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section, whereby a distribution of the sizes of the particles carried in the turbulent flow stream may be obtained.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 12 including means for diluting a representative sample that is directed through said turbulent flow mixing section to maintain a constant concentration by volume of solids in the turbulent flow mixing section.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 including means defining a turbulent flow control section through which a representative sample of the particle carrying flow stream may be directed, means for measuring in the turbulent flow control section the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream, and means for controlling said means for diluting the representative sample in response to measurements made in said control section.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for measuring in said laminar flow measuring section comprises means for measuring the concentration by volume of solids carried in the flow stream at a plurality of predetermined positions in said laminar flow measuring section and said means for dividing measurements comprises means for independently dividing measurements made at each of said position in said laminar flow measuring section by the measurement made in said turbulent flow measuring section, whereby a distribution of the sizes of the particles carried in the turbulent flow stream may be obtained.