US3913384A — Water quality determination apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for determining amounts of matter in a liquid to be examined, which amounts serve as indices of the characteristics of the examined liquid, said apparatus comprising: a. sensing means comprising a housing having a flow path for passage of the liquid to be examined therethrough and a sensor element accommodated in said housing and adapted to be immersed together with said housing in the liquid to detect said amounts of matter, said sensor element having a sensing surface positioned parallel to the flow direction of the liquid passing through the housing for contact with said liquid, the output of said sensor element being adapted to be indicated by an indicating means; and b. means for moving said liquid along said flow path including means disposed in said housing downstream of said sensing surface for introducing a medium into said liquid downstream of said sensing surface to advance the liquid along said flow path.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for determining amounts of matter in a liquid to be examined, which amounts serve as indices of the characteristics of the examined liquid, said apparatus comprising: a. sensing means comprising a housing having a flow path for passage of the liquid to be examined therethrough and a sensor element accommodated in said housing and adapted to be immersed together with said housing in the liquid to detect said amounts of matter, said sensor element having a sensing surface positioned parallel to the flow direction of the liquid passing through the housing for contact with said liquid, the output of said sensor element being adapted to be indicated by an indicating means; and b. means for moving said liquid along said flow path including means disposed in said housing downstream of said sensing surface for introducing a medium into said liquid downstream of said sensing surface to advance the liquid along said flow path.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving the liquid along the flow path comprises an air compressor and a pipe connected to the compressor for conveying compressed air therefrom, said means for introducing medium into the liquid downstream of the sensing surface including outlet means coupled to said pipe and disposed in said housing downstream of said sensor element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing has an inlet and an outlet for said liquid, said outlet means being disposed in said housing between said inlet and outlet.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 75 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said housing has a lower end with said inlet thereat, and a cap mounted on a lower end of said housing, said cap being spaced from and covering the lower end of the housing, said cap having a side wall concentrically surrounding the housing to form a clearance space between the side wall of the cap and the housing to permit passage of the liquid therethrough into the housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said sensor element extends axially and substantially centrally in the housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said housing has an inner wall surface, said sensor element being mounted in said housinG such that said sensing face of said sensor element is disposed in alignment with the inner wall surface of the housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said housing around said sensor element includes a portion having a smaller inner diameter than the portion of said housing situated upstream and downstream of said sensor element.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 88 words

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said housing has an internal passage leading to said outlet, said housing including a throat portion having a reduced inner diameter and a diffuser portion increasing progressively in inner diameter toward said outlet, said outlet means comprising a nozzle on said pipe for introducing fluid into the housing at a predetermined rate to move said liquid through said housing, said nozzle being disposed adjacent said throat portion and having an open end positioned upstream of an in alignment with said throat portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a directional control rudder externally secured on said housing to align the flow direction of said liquid passing through the housing with that of the liquid outside the housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means for moving said liquid comprises air bubble producing means comprising an air compressor and a pipe, said means for introducing the medium into the liquid in the housing comprising outlet means coupled to said pipe for passing compressed air from said air compressor into said housing downstream of said sensor element.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said outlet means is constituted by a plurality of smal holes in said pipe, and a discharge conduit at the outlet end of the housing extending above the level of the liquid outside the housing for discharging liquid together with air bubbles therein.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said housing has a substantially annular cavity downstream of said sensor element and an inner wall bounding said cavity and being provided with a plurality of holes, said pipe being in communication with said cavity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 83 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for generating pressure waves in the liquid in said sensing means at a predetermined time to clean said sensor element, said means for moving the liquid comprising a conduit connecting the said sensing means and a source of liquid to be examined, and a pump disposed in said conduit for circulating liquid through said conduit and said housing, said pressure wave generating means comprising means for varying the lift of said pump at predetermined times.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said housing includes a reduced throat portion and a diffuser portion having an inner diameter progressively increasing in the downstream direction, said means for introducing medium into said liquid including a nozzle on said pipe adjacent the inlet of said throat portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 160 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving said liquid comprises a source of compressed gas, a first pipe means for passing compressed gas from said source into the housing of said sensing means downstream of said sensor element, said first pipe means having an end disposed in said housing, said means for introducing medium into the liquid being constituted by a plurality of holes in said end of the first pipe means, a liquid discharging conduit connected to said housing at the downstream end thereof and projecting into ambient air above the level of said liquid outside the housing, and means for generating pressure waves in said housing comprising a first valve disposed in said first pipe means for abruptly changing the flow of compressed air through said pipe means and a second valve disposed in said discharging conduit and adapted to close the discharging conduit when said first valve is operated to increase the air flow.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said means for moving said liquid within said housing comprises a pump, and a conduit means coupled to said pump and Having a flexible portion, said pump being adapted to circulate the liquid through said conduit means, said pressure generating means including means for applying an external pressure on the flexible portion of said conduit means to vary the sectional area of the flexible portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 80 words

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means of said pressure generating means comprises fixed and movable members embracing said conduit means therebetween, a biasing spring disposed between said two members to normally maintain the flexible portion of the conduit means in a noncompressed condition, a cam member for moving said movable member toward said fixed member against the force of said biasing spring to vary the sectional area of said flexible portion, and means for rotating said cam member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 94 words

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means of said pressure generating means comprises a fixed member, a movable member pivotally connected at one end thereof to said fixed member, said fixed and movable members embracing said conduit means therebetween, a cam member for exerting a force on the other end of said movable member to compress the flexible portion of the conduit means, means for rotating said cam member and means for stopping said movable member at a predetermined position when said movable member is not under the pressure of the cam member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means of said pressure generating means comprises a fixed member supporting said conduit means, a movable member, said fixed and movable members embracing said conduit means therebetween, a solenoid magnet connected to said movable member and adapted, when energized, to move the member toward the fixed member to vary the sectional area of the flexible portion of said conduit means, and a biasing spring for maintaining the movable member in such a position as not to compress said flexible portion when said solenoid magnet is de-energized.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 159 words

Apparatus for determining amounts of matter in a liquid to be examined which amounts serve as indices of the characteristics of said liquid, said apparatus having means for indicating the detected amounts, said apparatus comprising sensing means comprising a housing adapted to pass said liquid therethrough and a sensor element accommodated in said housing and immersed together with said housing in said liquid to detect said amounts of matter, said sensor element having a sensing face disposed parallel to the direction of flow of the liquid passing through said housing for contact with the liquid, said sensor element having an output adapted to be indicated by said indicating means, means for generating pressure waves in said liquid in said housing at a predetermined time to clean said sensor element of matter adhered thereto due to the use of said sensor element in the liquid, and means for moving said liquid relative to the sensor element at a predetermined rate.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 159 words

Apparatus for determining amounts of matter in a liquid to be examined which amounts serve as indices of the characteristics of said liquid, said apparatus having means for indicating the detected amounts, said apparatus comprising sensing means comprising a housing adapted to pass said liquid therethrough and a sensor element accommodated in said housing and immersed together with said housing in said liquid to detect said amounts of matter, said sensor element having a sensing face disposed parallel to the direction of flow of the liquid passing through said housing for contact with the liquid, said sensor element having an output adapted to be indicated by said indicating means, means for generating pressure waves in said liquid in said housing at a predetermined time to clean said sensor element of matter adhered thereto due to the use of said sensor element in the liquid, and means for moving said liquid relative to the sensor element at a predetermined rate.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said pressure wave generating means includes a piston in said housing and means for actuating said piston including a rotatable disc, and a rod pivotally connected at one end thereof to said disc at an eccentric location thereon and pivotally connected at the other end to said piston.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 66 words

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said pressure wave generating means includes a bellows connected to and sealing one end of said housing, and means for extending and contracting said bellows to generate pressure waves comprising a rotatable disc, and a rod connected at one end thereof to one end of said bellows and at the other end of said disc at an eccentric location thereon.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 65 words

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said means for moving the test liquid comprises a conduit communicating with said liquid within said sensing means, and a pump coupled to said conduit for circulating said liquid through said conduit, the interior of said housing, and source of said liquid, said pressure generating means comprising means for Varying the lift of said pump at a desired time.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 181 words

Apparatus for determining amounts of matter in a liquid to be examined which amounts serve as indices of the characteristics of said test liquid, said apparatus comprising: a. sensing means comprising a housing for passage of said liquid therethrough and a sensor element in said housing and immersed together with said housing in said liquid to detect said amount of matter, said sensor element having a sensing face disposed parallel to the flow direction of the liquid passing through the housing for contact by said liquid, b. means for moving said liquid relative to the sensor element at a predetermined rate, c. means for blowing a predetermined gas against said sensor element, d. switching-over means for actuating alternately said means for moving said liquid within said sensing means and said gas blowing means, e. means for indicating output of said sensor element, and f. mean for compensating for the output from said sensor element so that any deviation between a reference value and an output provides by the sensor element when said gas is blown against the sensor element is nullified.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 181 words

Apparatus for determining amounts of matter in a liquid to be examined which amounts serve as indices of the characteristics of said test liquid, said apparatus comprising: a. sensing means comprising a housing for passage of said liquid therethrough and a sensor element in said housing and immersed together with said housing in said liquid to detect said amount of matter, said sensor element having a sensing face disposed parallel to the flow direction of the liquid passing through the housing for contact by said liquid, b. means for moving said liquid relative to the sensor element at a predetermined rate, c. means for blowing a predetermined gas against said sensor element, d. switching-over means for actuating alternately said means for moving said liquid within said sensing means and said gas blowing means, e. means for indicating output of said sensor element, and f. mean for compensating for the output from said sensor element so that any deviation between a reference value and an output provides by the sensor element when said gas is blown against the sensor element is nullified.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus according to claim 24 whrein said means for moving the liquid comprises a conduit connecting the interior of said housing with an external source of said liquid, and a pump disposed in said conduit for moving said liquid through the conduit, said gas blowing means comprising an air compressor and a conduit for directing compressed air from said air compressor to said sensor element, saiid switching-over means comprising switch-over valves disposed in said liquid conduit and said compressed air conduit, respectively and a timer for selectively controlling the operation of said valves.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 73 words

Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said compensating means comprises a servomechanism means adapted to provide a movement of an amount corresponding to any deviation between said reference value and the output of the sensor element when said gas is blown against said sensor element, and an adjustment means secured to said servomechanism means for concurrent movement therewith to conform the magnitude of the output of the sensor element with said reference value.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus according to claim 24 comprising means for directing clean liquid against said sensor element to scour the sensor element of contaminants adhered thereto.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-20	1979-04-21	1979-10-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-20	1983-04-21	1983-10-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-20	1987-04-21	1987-10-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Water quality determination apparatus

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