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US3915570A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fluid contamination and change monitor method and apparatus
Assignee: Environment One Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-20
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1990-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An optical oil monitor that measures particle contamination in oil by passing light through an oil sample and picking up the light that is scattered at 90* by the particle contamination and measures chemical breakdown by the attenuation of the light passing substantially straight through the oil with a second sensor, all without errors caused by air bubbles and foaming. Errors due to bubbles or foam within the liquid sample are eliminated by first filtering out only the bubbles or foam prior to the light passing through the sample. Also, light may be passed through an unfiltered sample for comparison to obtain a differential signal correlated to the amount of foam or bubbles. Alternately a sample and a reference are passed between the light responsive sensors for error correction and calibration so that each sensor will have an output signal alternating between a sample signal and a reference signal. A control signal of the same frequency is provided in combination with a plurality of gates to separate the sample and reference signals. The samples and references are housed within a rotor provided with vanes so that it may be driven as a pump by a motor or be driven by fluid flow as a turbine.
Inventors
- 👤 George Frank Skala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N21/53; G01N21/532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
The method of monitoring a liquid, subject to foaming, for the presence of particle impurities generally of a size to freely pass through a predetermined minimum filter screen mesh and separately for the presence of foam, comprising the steps of: dividing the liquid to be monitored into at least a first moving stream and a second moving stream; filtering foam from the first stream while allowing the free passage of the particle contamination; monitoring the thus foam filtered first stream by passing a beam of light through the thus filtered first stream With its particle contamination and producing a first electrical signal from the effect the fluid particle contamination of the first stream has upon the beam of light; monitoring the unfiltered second stream of liquid by passing a beam of light through the unfiltered second stream with its foam and particle contamination, and producing a second electrical signal from the effect the particle and foam contamination of the second stream of liquid has upon the beam of light; producing a third electrical signal correlated to the effect of the liquid without any particle contamination and without any foam upon a beam of light; differentially comparing the first and second electrical signals to produce an output signal correlated to the amount of foam in the liquid; and differentially comparing the first and third electrical signals to produce an output signal correlated to the amount of particle contamination in the liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
The method of monitoring a liquid, subject to foaming, for the presence of particle impurities generally of a size to freely pass through a predetermined minimum filter screen mesh and separately for the presence of foam, comprising the steps of: dividing the liquid to be monitored into at least a first moving stream and a second moving stream; filtering foam from the first stream while allowing the free passage of the particle contamination; monitoring the thus foam filtered first stream by passing a beam of light through the thus filtered first stream With its particle contamination and producing a first electrical signal from the effect the fluid particle contamination of the first stream has upon the beam of light; monitoring the unfiltered second stream of liquid by passing a beam of light through the unfiltered second stream with its foam and particle contamination, and producing a second electrical signal from the effect the particle and foam contamination of the second stream of liquid has upon the beam of light; producing a third electrical signal correlated to the effect of the liquid without any particle contamination and without any foam upon a beam of light; differentially comparing the first and second electrical signals to produce an output signal correlated to the amount of foam in the liquid; and differentially comparing the first and third electrical signals to produce an output signal correlated to the amount of particle contamination in the liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of filtering foam, passes all particles of a size that will pass through a 105 mesh screen of 0.003 inch diameter wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second monitoring steps are conducted separately and alternately; and the step of producing a third electrical signal is conducted alternately with each of said steps of monitoring.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for separately testing the particle and foam impurities in a moving liquid by comparing it with a known reference material, comprising: means for dividing the liquid into a first stream and a separate second stream; first measuring means including a light source and a light responsive transducer for passing a beam of light through the first liquid stream with all of its particle and foam contamination for producing a first electrical signal correlated to the effect the liquid particle and foam contamination has upon the passed beam of light; second means including a light source and a light responsive transducer for passing a beam of light through the reference material and producing a second electrical signal correlated to the effect the reference material has upon the passed beam of light; means filtering only the foam from the second liquid stream and freely passing the particle contamination; and third measuring means including a light source and a light responsive transducer for passing a beam of light through the filtered second liquid stream and producing a third electrical signal correlated to the effect the liquid particle contamination has upon the passed beam of light; first comparison means producing a foam quantity indication signal from only the first and third electrical signals; and separate second comparison means producing a particle contamination indication signal from only the second and third electrical signals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for separately testing the particle and foam impurities in a moving liquid by comparing it with a known reference material, comprising: means for dividing the liquid into a first stream and a separate second stream; first measuring means including a light source and a light responsive transducer for passing a beam of light through the first liquid stream with all of its particle and foam contamination for producing a first electrical signal correlated to the effect the liquid particle and foam contamination has upon the passed beam of light; second means including a light source and a light responsive transducer for passing a beam of light through the reference material and producing a second electrical signal correlated to the effect the reference material has upon the passed beam of light; means filtering only the foam from the second liquid stream and freely passing the particle contamination; and third measuring means including a light source and a light responsive transducer for passing a beam of light through the filtered second liquid stream and producing a third electrical signal correlated to the effect the liquid particle contamination has upon the passed beam of light; first comparison means producing a foam quantity indication signal from only the first and third electrical signals; and separate second comparison means producing a particle contamination indication signal from only the second and third electrical signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said filtering means includes a screen of about 105 mesh constructed of 0.003 inch diameter stainless steel wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 4, wherein each of said first measuring means, second measuring means and third measuring means includes a common light responsive transducer having a single output electrical line and producing in said single electrical output line a repeat pattern of the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal, the third electrical signal, and the second electrical signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 6, wherein all of said measuring means for passing a beam of light includes a common light source, and said filtering means includes a screen of about 105 mesh constructed of 0.003 inch diameter stainless steel wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 4, wherein all of said measuring means for passing a beam of light include a common light source and a common light receiving transducer for converting the received light into the respective electrical signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |