Particle analyzing apparatus and method of moving particles in suspension through such apparatus

Claim 2

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein a suspension of particles is caused to be moved during a counting interval through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; and fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture for a time period, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a substantially constant level of vacuum during said counting interval, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having an axis of symmetry and an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means, said constant force means having a vertical axis of symmetry, whereby the same quantity of said suspension is drawn through said aperture during each counting interval.

Claim 3

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bellows means has a low spring rate.

Claim 4

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for permitting said said source of vacuum to generate vacuum by allowing said constant force means to move at least substantially freely under the force of gravity at least substantially the entirety of said time period that said vacuum is being generated, whereby sliding friction is at least substantially eliminated in said generating of said vacuum.

Claim 5

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for permitting said source of vacuum to generate a vacuum only when said axis of symmetry of said bellows means is in at least a substantially vertical position.

Claim 6

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for permitting said source of vacuum to generate said vacuum by releasing said constant force means only when said vertical axis of symmetry of said constant force means is at least in a substantially vertical position.

Claim 7

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein particles in suspension are caused to be moved through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a substantially constant level of vacuum, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means; and actuation means, connected to aid fluid connection means, adapted and arranged for causing said constant force means to move said bellows means effective to provide that said substantially constant level of said vacuum is repeatably generated with high precision.

Claim 8

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein particles in suspension are caused to be moved through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a substantially constant level of vacuum, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means; and actuation means, connected to aid fluid connection means, adapted and arranged for causing said constant force means to move said bellows means effective to provide that said substantially constant level of said vacuum is repeatably generated with high precision.

Claim 9

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein particles in suspension are caused to be moved through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture for a time period, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a substantially constant level of vacuum, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having a reactive force, an axis of symmetry and an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means, said constant force means having a vertical axis of symmetry; and actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for causing said constant force means to move said bellows means effectively permitting said source of vacuum to generate said vacuum by allowing said constant force means to move at least substantially freely under the force of gravity during at least substantially the entirety of said time period that said vacuum is being generated, whereby sliding friction is at least substantially eliminated in said generating of said vacuum.

Claim 10

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein particles in suspension are caused to be moved through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture for a time period, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a substantially constant level of vacuum, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having a reactive force, an axis of symmetry and an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means, said constant force means having a vertical axis of symmetry; and actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for causing said constant force means to move said bellows means effectively permitting said source of vacuum to generate said vacuum by allowing said constant force means to move at least substantially freely under the force of gravity during at least substantially the entirety of said time period that said vacuum is being generated, whereby sliding friction is at least substantially eliminated in said generating of said vacuum.

Claim 11

The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said actuation means permits said source of vacuum to generate said vacuum by releasing said constant force means only when said vertical axis of symmetry of said constant force means is at least in a substantially vertical position.

Claim 12

The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said actuation means permits said source of vacuum to generate a vacuum only when said axis of symmetry of said bellows means is in at least a substantially vertical position.

Claim 13

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein particles in suspension are caused to be moved through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a vacuum, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having an axis of symmetry and an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means, said constant force means having a vertical axis of symmetry; and actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for permitting said source of vacuum to generate said vacuum by releasing said constant force means only when said vertical axis of symmetry of said constant force means is in at least in a substantially vertical position.

Claim 14

A particle analyzing apparatus comprising: a particle counting device wherein particles in suspension are caused to be moved through an aperture, said aperture having an effective electrical impedance which is changed with the passage of each particle therethrough; fluid connection means connected to said particle counting device for drawing a quantity of said suspension through said aperture, said fluid connection means including a source of vacuum for generating a vacuum, said source of vacuum comprising: bellows means having an axis of symmetry and an end, and constant force means connected to said end of said bellows means, said constant force means having a vertical axis of symmetry; and actuation means, connected to said fluid connection means, for permitting said source of vacuum to generate said vacuum by releasing said constant force means only when said vertical axis of symmetry of said constant force means is in at least in a substantially vertical position.