US3936666A — Apparatus for measuring a particle size dividing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 249 words

An apparatus for ascertaining that particle size above and below which size predetermined fractions of one of the total mass and number of the system are respectively included, said particle size being the dividing size between fractions, which comprises: A. signal producing means including: i. means for moving a representative sample of a particulate system suspended in a fluid medium relative to a sensing device responsive to movement of individual particles to produce electrical changes in said sensing means proportional to the respective sizes of particles; and ii. means for producing electrical pulses as a result of such changes, the respective electrical pulses being proportional in amplitude to the size of the respective particles producing the changes; B. means for generating first representative electrical quantities respectively proportional to the amplitude of said electrical pulses; C. means for generating second constant representative electrical quantities in response to said electrical pulses; D. means for separating said representative electrical quantities into two categories on the basis of the size of the particles respectively producing the same, the first category comprising all quantities greater than a measuring level, and the second category comprising all quantities less than the measuring level, said measuring level being calibrated to be proportional to particle size; E. means for accumulating one of said first and second representative electrical quantities; F. means for adjusting the measuring level to produce a desired relationship between categories such that accumulated representative quantities are indicative of said relationship and identifies said dividing size.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 249 words

An apparatus for ascertaining that particle size above and below which size predetermined fractions of one of the total mass and number of the system are respectively included, said particle size being the dividing size between fractions, which comprises: A. signal producing means including: i. means for moving a representative sample of a particulate system suspended in a fluid medium relative to a sensing device responsive to movement of individual particles to produce electrical changes in said sensing means proportional to the respective sizes of particles; and ii. means for producing electrical pulses as a result of such changes, the respective electrical pulses being proportional in amplitude to the size of the respective particles producing the changes; B. means for generating first representative electrical quantities respectively proportional to the amplitude of said electrical pulses; C. means for generating second constant representative electrical quantities in response to said electrical pulses; D. means for separating said representative electrical quantities into two categories on the basis of the size of the particles respectively producing the same, the first category comprising all quantities greater than a measuring level, and the second category comprising all quantities less than the measuring level, said measuring level being calibrated to be proportional to particle size; E. means for accumulating one of said first and second representative electrical quantities; F. means for adjusting the measuring level to produce a desired relationship between categories such that accumulated representative quantities are indicative of said relationship and identifies said dividing size.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting the measuring level comprise feedback circuit means coupling said accumulating mean to said separating means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating means includes comparison means operative to establish a variable threshold level varying in accordance with said accumulated electrical quantities, and further operative to separate said representative electrical quantities into said first category in response to electrical pulses greater than said threshold and into said second category in response to electrical pulses less than said threshold.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said accumulating means includes means for summing said representative electrical quantities.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said summing means includes integrator means for developing an integration signal in response to said representative electrical quantities coupled thereto, said integration signal calibrated to identify said dividing size.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first generating means includes circuit means operative in response to said electrical pulses to produce electrical quantities having a fixed duration and variable amplitude which varies in accordance with said pulse amplitudes.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said representative electrical quantities are currents.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first category of currents are of one polarity and said second are of another polarity.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second generating means includes circuit means operative in response to said electrical pulses to produce electrical quantities having a fixed amplitude and duration.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said representative electrical quantities are currents.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first category of currents are of one polarity and said second are of another polarity.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 178 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second generating means include first circuit means operative in response to said electrical pulses to produce first pulses having fixed duration and, second circuit means operative in response to said electrical pulses to produce first electrical signals having an amplitude which varies in accordance with said electrical pulse amplitudes, current generation means, means for selectively coupling said first circuit means to said current generation means and both said first and second circuit means to said current generation means, said current generation means operative in response to said first pulses being coupled thereto to develop currents of fixed amplitude and duration and operative in response to said first pulses and first electrical signals coupled thereto to develop currents of fixed duration and variable amplitude, said current generating means being further coupled to said separating means and operative in response to separation into said first category to develop said currents having one polarity and operative in response to separation into said second category to develop said currents having an opposite polarity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said selective coupling means includes switch means operative in a first position to couple a reference potential to said current generation means and operative in a second position to couple said second circuit means to said current generation means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 240 words

In a particle study apparatus wherein electrical pulses are produced in response to passage of particles in suspension through a sensing device, and wherein the electrical pulses are proportional in amplitude to the size and therefore mass of the respective particles, a system for ascertaining that particle size above and below which size predetermined fractions of one the total mass and number of the particles are respectively included, said particle size being the dividing size between fractions, which comprises: A. first means for generating first representative electrical quantities in response to said electrical pulses respectively proportional to the amplitudes of said electrical pulses whereby said quantities are mass related; B. second means for generating second constant representative electrical quantities in response to said electrical pulses; C. selection means for selecting one of the said first and second means; D. means for separating said representative electrical quantities into two categories on the basis of the size of the particles producing the same, the first category comprising all quantities greater than a measuring level and the second category comprising all quantities less than the measuring level, said measuring level being calibrated to be related to particle size; E. means for accumulating the selected one of said first and second representative electrical quantities; F. means for adjusting the measuring level to produce a desired relationship between categories such that said accumulated representative quantities are indicative of said relationship and defines said dividing size.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 240 words

In a particle study apparatus wherein electrical pulses are produced in response to passage of particles in suspension through a sensing device, and wherein the electrical pulses are proportional in amplitude to the size and therefore mass of the respective particles, a system for ascertaining that particle size above and below which size predetermined fractions of one the total mass and number of the particles are respectively included, said particle size being the dividing size between fractions, which comprises: A. first means for generating first representative electrical quantities in response to said electrical pulses respectively proportional to the amplitudes of said electrical pulses whereby said quantities are mass related; B. second means for generating second constant representative electrical quantities in response to said electrical pulses; C. selection means for selecting one of the said first and second means; D. means for separating said representative electrical quantities into two categories on the basis of the size of the particles producing the same, the first category comprising all quantities greater than a measuring level and the second category comprising all quantities less than the measuring level, said measuring level being calibrated to be related to particle size; E. means for accumulating the selected one of said first and second representative electrical quantities; F. means for adjusting the measuring level to produce a desired relationship between categories such that said accumulated representative quantities are indicative of said relationship and defines said dividing size.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second generating means include, first circuit means operative in response to said electrical pulses to produce first pulses having fixed duration, said first generating means include said first circuit means and second circuit means operative in response to said electrical pulses to produce first electrical signals having amplitudes which vary in accordance with said pulse amplitudes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 87 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first and second generating means include signal generating means coupled to said first circuit means and to said second circuit means through said selection means, said selection means being operative to a first position for inhibiting passage of said first electrical signals to said signal generating means whereby said signal generating means develops said second electrical quantities, and to a second position for allowing passage of said first electrical signals whereby said signal generating means develops said first electrical quantities.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said selection means is coupled to a reference signal said selection means being operative in said first position to couple said reference signal to said signal generating means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said signal generating means is a programmable current source and said first and second electrical quantities are currents.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said signal generating means is coupled to said separating means and operative in response to separation into said first category to develop said electrical quantities to polarity and operative in response to separation into said second category to develop said electrical quantities having opposite polarity.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said signal generating means is a programmable current source and said first and second electrical quantities are currents.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said selection means include a switch operable at least between a first and second position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-02-02	1979-08-04	1980-02-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-02-02	1983-08-04	1984-02-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-02-02	1987-08-04	1988-02-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for measuring a particle size dividing one of the mass or particle number of a particulate system into predetermined fractions

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