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Patent US4602989A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4602989A
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Method and apparatus for determining the zeta potential of colloidal particles
Assignee: Dorr Oliver Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-17
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Granted: 1986-07-29
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Expires: 2005-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the zeta potential of particles in a suspension comprising: a cell containing at least a portion of the suspension of particles; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in a cell; means for producing an electric field between the first and second electrodes, the electric field causing the particles to accelerate; means for converting a force, the force being generated by the acceleration of the particles, into electrical energy; and means for measuring the electrical energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph B. Culkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for determining the zeta potential of particles in a suspension comprising: inserting at least a portion of said suspension of particles into a cell, said cell having a first electrode and a second electrode; connecting said first and second electrodes to a power source for generating an electric field; accelerating said particles by said electric field; converting the force generated by the acceleration of said particles to electrical energy; and measuring said electrical energy by a detector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for determining the zeta potential of particles in a suspension comprising: inserting at least a portion of said suspension of particles into a cell, said cell having a first electrode and a second electrode; connecting said first and second electrodes to a power source for generating an electric field; accelerating said particles by said electric field; converting the force generated by the acceleration of said particles to electrical energy; and measuring said electrical energy by a detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said cell is inserted directly into a container or feed stream of said suspension of particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electrodes are positioned at opposite ends of said cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is generated by an unsteady driving voltage being applied to said first and second electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein said unsteady driving voltage is generated from a power oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said power oscillator applies an alternating voltage between said first and second electrodes of approximately 10 to 100 volts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein a power amplifier is disposed between said power oscillator and said electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said force generated by acceleration of said particles is transmitted to said cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein said force is transferred from said cell to a mechanical resonator which converts said force to electrical energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein said mechanical resonator is tuned to resonate at the same frequency as the unsteady driving voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said mechanical resonator is a piezoelectric force transducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said piezoelectric force transducer consists essentially of lead-zirconium-titanate and an electrically conductive support disc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detector for measuring the amplitude of said electrical energy is a synchronous demodulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein an amplifier is disposed between said synchronous demodulator and said means for converting the force to electrical energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein said amplifier is a FET input operational amplifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrical energy converted from said force is in the range of 10 -6 to 10 -12 watts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the output signal of said synchronous demodulator is directly proportional to the zeta potential of said particles in a suspension.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the voltage applied to said first and second electrodes from said power oscillator has a frequency in the range between 0-50 khz.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for determining the zeta potential of particles in a suspension comprising: a cell containing at least a portion of said suspension of particles; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in said cell; means for producing an electric field between said first and second electrodes, said electric field causing said particles to accelerate; means for converting a force, said force being generated by the acceleration of said particles, into electrical energy; and means for measuring said electrical energy.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for determining the zeta potential of particles in a suspension comprising: a cell containing at least a portion of said suspension of particles; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in said cell; means for producing an electric field between said first and second electrodes, said electric field causing said particles to accelerate; means for converting a force, said force being generated by the acceleration of said particles, into electrical energy; and means for measuring said electrical energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said cell is inserted directly into a container or feed stream of said suspension of particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said first and second electrodes are positioned at opposite ends of said cells.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said cell contains a portion of said suspension of particles in an amount sufficient to submerge both said first and second electrodes in said suspension of particles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said cell is a glass cylinder closed at one end and open at the other end.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said cell is closed at one end by means of an electrically conductive plate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said electrically conductive plate is also said first electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said electrically conductive plate consists essentially of stainless steel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said second electrode is positioned near said open end of said cell.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second electrode is an electrically conductive ring attached to the inner wall of said cell in contact with said suspension of particles.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said ring consists essentially of stainless steel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said means for producing an electric field is said first and second electrodes electrically connected to a power oscillator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said power oscillator applies an unsteady driving voltage to said first and second electrodes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said power oscillator applies an alternating voltage between said first and second electrodes of approximately 10 to 100 volts.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein a power amplifier is disposed between said power oscillator and said first and second electrodes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said force generated by acceleration of said particles is transmitted to said cell.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said means for converting said force into electrical energy is a mechanical resonator.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said mechanical resonator is a piezoelectric force transducer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said piezoelectric force transducer consists essentially of lead-zirconium-titanate and an electrically conductive support disc.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said mechanical resonator is disposed on a solid mass.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said force is transferred to said mechanical resonator via an electrically conductive cone, said cone disposed such that the pinnacle of said cone is in contact with said mechanical resonator and the base of said cone is in insulated contact with said cell.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said means for detecting said electrical energy is a synchronous demodulator.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said synchronous demodulator is connected to said means for converting said force to electrical energy.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein an amplifier is disposed between said synchronous demodulator and said means for converting said force to electrical energy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said amplifier is a FET input operational amplifier.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said electrical energy converted from said force is in the range of 10 -6 to 10 -12 watts.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the output of the signal of said synchronous demodulator is directly proportional to the zeta potential of said particles in suspension.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the voltage applied to said first and second electrodes from said power oscillator has a frequency in the range between 0-50 khz.
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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) | 1989-07-28 | 1990-01-27 | 1990-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-28 | 1994-01-27 | 1994-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-28 | 1998-01-27 | 1998-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |