Particle sensing apparatus, method and flow direction collar therefor

Claim 2

In an apparatus for electrically sensing and sizing microscopic particles suspended in a fluid medium, the combination comprising means for containing the fluid medium and suspended particles to be sensed and sized, receiving means for receiving the fluid medium and particles subsequent to the sensing and sizing thereof, means defining an aperture interconnecting in fluid communication said containing means and said receiving means and through which said particles pass to be sensed and sized in the course of travel from said containing means to said receiving means, a flow straightening means associated with said receiving means and positioned at an inlet end for said aperture and having a bore substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture for directing the fluid medium and particles to flow in a direction substantially parallel to said axis means for electrically sensing the flow directed particles passing through said aperture and for taking size measurements of the particles, and means for securing said flow straightening means with said receiving means to cause all of the fluid medium to travel through said bore in said fluid straightening means before traveling through said aperture.

Claim 3

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a screen mounted in said bore for filtering particles which are too large to pass through said aperture.

Claim 4

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said bore of said flow straightening means is relatively elongated and has a diameter of at least about one one-half times the diameter of said aperture.

Claim 5

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said flow straightening means comprises a flow direction collar having a housing with a hollow chamber therein with an open top and in which said receiving means comprises a detection tube telescoped through said open top into said hollow chamber of said housing.

Claim 6

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said receiving means comprises a generally cylindrical tube, said flow straightening means is an attachment secured to said receiving means.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for electrically sensing and sizing microscopic particles suspended in a fluid medium, the combination comprising means for containing the fluid medium and suspended particles to be sensed and sized, receiving means for receiving the fluid medium and particles subsequent to the sensing and sizing thereof, means defining an aperture interconnecting in fluid communication said containing means and said receiving means and through which said particles pass to be sensed and sized in the course of travel from said containing means to said receiving means, a flow straightening means associated with said receiving means and positioned at an inlet end for said aperture and having a bore substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture for directing the fluid medium and particles to flow in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, means for electrically sensing the flow directed particles passing through said aperture and for taking size measurements of the particles, said flow straightening means comprising a flow direction collar having a housing with a hollow chamber therein with an open top, said receiving means comprising a detection tube telescoped through said open top into said hollow chamber of said housing, said flow directing bore comprising an inner cylindrical section formed in said housing of a diameter smaller than the diameter for a large outer cylindrical section formed in said housing.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for electrically sensing and sizing microscopic particles suspended in a fluid medium, the combination comprising means for containing the fluid medium and suspended particles to be sensed and sized, receiving means for receiving the fluid medium and particles subsequent to the sensing and sizing thereof, means defining an aperture interconnecting in fluid communication said containing means and said receiving means and through which said particles pass to be sensed and sized in the course of travel from said containing means to said receiving means, a flow straightening means associated with said receiving means and positioned at an inlet end for said aperture and having a bore substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture for directing the fluid medium and particles to flow in a direction substantially parallel to said axis, means for electrically sensing the flow directed particles passing through said aperture and for taking size measurements of the particles, said flow straightening means comprising a flow direction collar having a housing with a hollow chamber therein with an open top, said receiving means comprising a detection tube telescoped through said open top into said hollow chamber of said housing, said flow directing bore comprising an inner cylindrical section formed in said housing of a diameter smaller than the diameter for a large outer cylindrical section formed in said housing.

Claim 9

An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which a filter is disposed at said outer section to filter large particles and debris from the fluid medium flowing through said inner cylindrical section.

Claim 10

A flow direction collar for attachment to a detection tube of an electrical zone sensing apparatus having an aperture through which fluid and particles may pass to be sized or counted, said collar comprising, means for securing said collar to said detection tube, and means defining an elongated flow-directing bore on said collar for substantial alignment with a central axis for said aperture to cause fluid to be directed to flow in a direction parallel to said axis and to cause said particles to flow along paths substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture.

Claim 11

A flow direction collar for attachment to a detection tube of an electrical zone sensing apparatus having an aperture through which fluid and particles may pass to be sized or counted, said collar comprising, means for securing said collar to said detection tube, and means defining an elongated flow-directing bore on said collar for substantial alignment with a central axis for said aperture to cause fluid to be directed to flow in a direction parallel to said axis and to cause said particles to flow along paths substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture.

Claim 12

A flow direction collar for attachment to a detection tube of an electrical zone sensing apparatus having an aperture through which fluid an particles may pass to be sized or counted, said collar comprising, means for securing said collar to said detection tube, and means defining an elongated flow-directing bore on said collar for substantial alignment with a central axis for said aperture to cause fluid to be directed to flow in a direction parallel to said axis and to cause said particles to flow along paths substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture, said means for attachment to said detection tube comprising a housing having a opening therein to telescopingly receive a lower end of said detection tube, said flow directing bore also being formed in a side wall of said housing.

Claim 13

A flow direction collar for attachment to a detection tube of an electrical zone sensing apparatus having an aperture through which fluid an particles may pass to be sized or counted, said collar comprising, means for securing said collar to said detection tube, and means defining an elongated flow-directing bore on said collar for substantial alignment with a central axis for said aperture to cause fluid to be directed to flow in a direction parallel to said axis and to cause said particles to flow along paths substantially aligned with the axis of said aperture, said means for attachment to said detection tube comprising a housing having a opening therein to telescopingly receive a lower end of said detection tube, said flow directing bore also being formed in a side wall of said housing.

Claim 16

A method in accordance with claim 10 including a further step of filtering debris and particles from said liquid prior to movement through said flow directing collar.