Method and apparatus for the analysis of a dispersed phase capable of transmitting and focusing light

Claim 2

Apparatus for analysis of a dispersed phase capable of transmitting and focusing light contained in a continuous phase capable of transmitting light, comprising chamber means adapted to contain the dispersed phase and the continuous phase, a light source positioned to pass a wide beam of light through the chamber means, means associated with the light source to generate the light beam with a component of varying intensity, light sensing means adapted to detect differences in light intensity positioned to receive a portion of the light beam passed through the chamber means whereby the dispersed phase is passed through the beam of light to focus the beam of light onto the light sensing means to cause an increase in the intensity of the light beam striking the light sensing means to activate the light sensing means for each dispersed phase in the continuous phase.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensing means includes a light shield interposed between the light sensing means and the chamber means, said light shield having a narrow slit therein adapted to pass a portion of the light beam therethrough.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the light source includes a light shield having a wide slit therein adapted to define the beam of light.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the narrow slit is dimensioned to pass the beam of light therethrough having an intensity measurable less than the intensity of the beam focused by the dispersed phase.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensing means is positioned from the dispersed phase in the chamber means by a distance less than the focal length of the dispersed phase.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means associated with the light source includes means to energize the light source to provide light having a relatively constant intensity and means to energize the light source to provide light of varying intensity whereby the light beam is composed of the light of relatively constant intensity on which the light of varying intensity is superimposed.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means to energize the light source to provide light of varying intensity is means to generate light having sinusoidally varying intensity.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means to energize the light source to provide light of varying intensity is means to generate light having intensity varying as a square wave.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means to energize the light source to provide light of varying intensity is means to generate light having intensity varying as a sawtooth wave.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting dioide and the means associated with the light source includes means for providing a DC signal and means for providing a signal of varying intensity superimposed on the DC signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the signal of varying intensity is an encoded signal.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes means to amplify the signal from the light sensing means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 which includes filter means to subtract a signal of varying intensity corresponding to the light of varying intensity of the light beam to leave a signal corresponding to increases in intensity of the light striking the light sensing means and decreases in intensity of the light striking the light sensing means due to presence of opaque contaminants.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 which includes vibrator means adapted to pulse negative signals from the filter means to correct the number of increases in intensity of light during presence of contaminants in the continuous phase.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes first fiber optics means to conduct the light beam to the chamber means for transmission therethrough.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes second fiber optics means to conduct light transmitted through the chamber means to the light sensing means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for a dispersed phase capable of transmitting and focusing light contained in a continuous fluid phase capable of transmitting light comprising chamber means adapted to contain the dispersed phase contained in the continuous phase, a light source adapted to emit a beam of light, first fiber optics means to conduct the beam of light emitted from the light source to the chamber means for passage of the beam of light through the chamber means, light sensing means adapted to detect differences in light intensity, second fiber optics means positioned to receive the light beam passed through the chamber means and to conduct the light beam transmitted through the chamber means to the light sensing means whereby the dispersed phase is passed through the beam of light to focus the beam of light onto the light sensing means to cause an increase in light intensity of the light beam striking the light sensing means to activate the light sensing means for each dispersed phase in the continuous phase.

Claim 19

Apparatus for a dispersed phase capable of transmitting and focusing light contained in a continuous fluid phase capable of transmitting light comprising chamber means adapted to contain the dispersed phase contained in the continuous phase, a light source adapted to emit a beam of light, first fiber optics means to conduct the beam of light emitted from the light source to the chamber means for passage of the beam of light through the chamber means, light sensing means adapted to detect differences in light intensity, second fiber optics means positioned to receive the light beam passed through the chamber means and to conduct the light beam transmitted through the chamber means to the light sensing means whereby the dispersed phase is passed through the beam of light to focus the beam of light onto the light sensing means to cause an increase in light intensity of the light beam striking the light sensing means to activate the light sensing means for each dispersed phase in the continuous phase.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 which includes means associated with the light source to provide the light beam with a component of varying intensity.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode and the means associated with the light source includes means for providing a DC signal and means for providing a signal of varying intensity superimposed on the DC signal.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the signal of varying intensity is an encoded signal.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 which includes means to amplify the signal from the light sensing means.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 21 which includes filter means to subtract a signal of varying intensity corresponding to the light of varying intensity of the light beam to leave a signal corresponding to increases in intensity of the light striking the light sensing means and decreases in intensity of the light striking the light sensing means due to presence of opaque contaminants.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 22 which includes vibrator means adapted to pulse negative signal from the filter means to correct the number of increases in intensity of light during presence of contaminants in the continuous phase.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the first fiber optics means has a greater cross-sectional area than the second fiber optics means.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the second fiber optics means is dimensioned to pass the beam of light therethrough having an intensity measurably less than the intensity of the beam focused by the dispersed phase.

Claim 28

In an apparatus for the analysis of a dispersed phase capable of transmitting and focusing light in a continuous fluid phase which includes chamber means adapted to contain the dispersed phase contained in the continuous phase, a light source positioned to pass a wide beam of light through the chamber means, light sensing means adapted to detect differences in light intensity positioned to receive a portion of the light beam passed through the chamber means whereby the dispersed phase is passed through the beam of light to focus the beam of light onto the light sensing means to cause an increase in the intensity of the light beam striking the light sensing means, the improvement comprising at least one fiber optics means to conduct light between at least one of the light sensing means and the light source, and the chamber means.

Claim 29

In an apparatus for the analysis of a dispersed phase capable of transmitting and focusing light in a continuous fluid phase which includes chamber means adapted to contain the dispersed phase contained in the continuous phase, a light source positioned to pass a wide beam of light through the chamber means, light sensing means adapted to detect differences in light intensity positioned to receive a portion of the light beam passed through the chamber means whereby the dispersed phase is passed through the beam of light to focus the beam of light onto the light sensing means to cause an increase in the intensity of the light beam striking the light sensing means, the improvement comprising at least one fiber optics means to conduct light between at least one of the light sensing means and the light source, and the chamber means.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 26 which includes means associated with the light source to provide the light beam with a component of varying intensity.

Claim 33

A method as defined in claim 28 wherein the dispersed phase is a water-immiscible oil and the continuous phase is an aqueous medium immiscible with the oil.

Claim 34

A method as defined in claim 28 which includes the step of homogenizing the dispersed phase in the presence of the continuous phase to form discrete droplets of the dispersed phase in the continuous phase.

Claim 35

A method as defined in claim 30 wherein the homogenizing is carried out in the presence of a surfactant to promote the formation of droplets of the dispersed phase in the continuous phase.