Light scattering particle analyzer

Claim 2

In a device for measuring colloidal particles in a fluid which includes an optical sensing chamber, means for producing a focused beam of light along an aXial path in said sensing chamber and through which a stream of said fluid is passed, and means for detecting and measuring the amount of light scattered by the particles suspended in said fluid stream passing said light beam, the improvement comprising, an intake conduit means for introducing a stream of said fluid into said device; a sample inlet nozzle communicating with said inlet conduit means and extending into said sensing chamber for passing a sample stream generally perpendicularly through said light beam; a by-pass conduit means communicating with said intake conduit means and by passing said sensing chamber; a sample outlet conduit means communicating with said sensing chamber through which said sample stream is discharged from said sensing chamber; an exhaust conduit means communicating with said by-pass conduit means and said sample outlet conduit means; and pump means in said exhaust conduit means for drawing an inlet stream of said fluid through said intake conduit means at a predetermined, relatively high volume flow rate, drawing a bypass stream comprising a major portion of said inlet stream through said by-pass conduit means, and drawing said sample stream comprising a minor portion of said inlet stream through said sample inlet nozzle into said sensing chamber and outwardly from said sensing chamber through sample outlet conduit means.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 including a flow measuring means for measuring the flow rate of said sample stream through said sample outlet conduit means.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1 including flow control means for adjusting the flow rate of said sample stream through said sample outlet conduit means.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1 including a flow dividing means located in the area where said flow inlet nozzle communicates with said intake conduit means and said by-pass conduit means communicates with said intake conduits means for directing a center portion of said inlet stream comprising said sample stream in substantially free jet impingement into said sample inlet nozzle and for directing the remaining portion of said inlet stream into said by-pass conduit means without substantially disturbing the flow of said center portion of said inlet stream.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 4 wherein said flow dividing means comprises a flow chamber and wherein said intake conduit means includes an outlet connected to one side of said flOw chamber, said sample inlet nozzle includes an inlet end portion extending through the opposite side of said chamber and disposed in axial alignment and concentrically with said intake conduit means out et, and said by-pass conduit means includes an inlet communicating with one side of said chamber and disposed below the inlet end of said sample inlet nozzle.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 1 including an inlet port in said sensing chamber for introducing a purging fluid into said sensing chamber and a filtering means located upstream of said inlet port and through which said purging fluid passes before entering said sensing chamber via said inlet port, the flow of said purging fluid being at a small fraction of the flow of said sample stream during normal operation of said device.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 6 including means for shutting off flow through said intake conduit so that, when said pump means is operating thereafter, the flow of said purging fluid into said sensing chamber through said filtering means is increased substantially and separate streams of said purging fluid is drawn from said sensing chamber through said sample outlet conduit and said sample inlet nozzle.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 7 wherein said filtering means includes an inlet which is open to the atmosphere.

Claim 10

In a device for measuring colloidal particles in a fluid which includes an optical sensing chamber, means for producing a focused beam of light along an axial path in said sensing chamber and through which a stream of said fluid is passed, and means for detecting and measuring the amount of light scattered by the particles suspended in said fluid stream passing said light beam, the improvement comprising, an intake conduit means for introducing a stream of said fluid into said device; a sample inlet nozzle communicating with said inlet conduit means and extending into said sensing chamber for passing a sample stream generally perpendicularly through said light beam; a by-pass conduit means communicating with said intake conduit means and by passing said sensing chamber; a sample outlet conduit means communicating with said sensing chamber through which said sample stream is discharged from said sensing chamber; an exhaust conduit means communicating with said by-pass conduit means and said sample outlet conduit means; pump means in said exhaust conduit means for drawing an inlet stream of said fluid through said intake conduit means at a predetermined, relatively high volume flow rate, drawing a by-pass stream comprising a major portion of said inlet stream through said by-pass conduit means, and drawing said sample stream comprising a minor portion of said inlet stream; a flow measuring means for measuring the flow rate of said sample stream through said sample outlet conduit means; and a flow dividing means located in the area where said flow inlet nozzle communicates with said intake conduit means and said by-pass conduit means communicates with said intake conduits means for directing a center portion of said inlet stream comprising said sample stream in substantially free jet impingement into said sample inlet nozzle and for directing the remaining portion of said inlet stream into said by-pass conduit means without substantially disturbing the flow of said center portion of said inlet stream.

Claim 11

In a device for measuring colloidal particles in a fluid which includes an optical sensing chamber, means for producing a focused beam of light along an axial path in said sensing chamber and through which a stream of said fluid is passed, and means for detecting and measuring the amount of light scattered by the particles suspended in said fluid stream passing said light beam, the improvement comprising, an intake conduit means for introducing a stream of said fluid into said device; a sample inlet nozzle communicating with said inlet conduit means and extending into said sensing chamber for passing a sample stream generally perpendicularly through said light beam; a by-pass conduit means communicating with said intake conduit means and by passing said sensing chamber; a sample outlet conduit means communicating with said sensing chamber through which said sample stream is discharged from said sensing chamber; an exhaust conduit means communicating with said by-pass conduit means and said sample outlet conduit means; pump means in said exhaust conduit means for drawing an inlet stream of said fluid through said intake conduit means at a predetermined, relatively high volume flow rate, drawing a by-pass stream comprising a major portion of said inlet stream through said by-pass conduit means, and drawing said sample stream comprising a minor portion of said inlet stream; a flow measuring means for measuring the flow rate of said sample stream through said sample outlet conduit means; and a flow dividing means located in the area where said flow inlet nozzle communicates with said intake conduit means and said by-pass conduit means communicates with said intake conduits means for directing a center portion of said inlet stream comprising said sample stream in substantially free jet impingement into said sample inlet nozzle and for directing the remaining portion of said inlet stream into said by-pass conduit means without substantially disturbing the flow of said center portion of said inlet stream.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 9 including an inlet port in said sensing chamber for introducing a purging fluid into said sensing chamber and filtering means located upstream of said inlet port and through which said purging fluid passes before entering said sensing chamber via said inlet port, the flow of said purging fluid being at a small fraction of the flow of said sample stream during normal operation of said device.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 10 including means for shutting off flow through said intake conduit so that, when said pump means is operating thereafter, the flow of said purging fluid into said sensing chamber through said filtering means is increased substantially and separate streams of said purging fluid is drawn from said sensing chamber through said sample outlet conduit and said sample inlet nozzle.