US5616872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Particle size and charge measurement in multi-component colloids
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1994-06-07
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Granted: 1997-04-01
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Expires: 2014-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and device is disclosed for determining the distribution of charge and size in a colloidal system. The arrangement disclosed is adapted to measure these characteristics in an inhomogeneous colloid. A colloid is subjected to a steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension, and to either a unsteady mechanical force or an unsteady electrical force, and the resulting electrical or acoustic effects sensed. Monitoring these characteristics over time and subsequent calculation allows the determination of charge and size distribution, for each species present.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. O'Brien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/14; G01N15/00; G01N15/02; G01N15/0266; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N29/02; G01N29/032; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/024; G01N2291/02416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium comprising: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle size and charge distributions for the particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium comprising: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle size and charge distributions for the particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating step includes determining the contribution to the measured response from each group of particles having the same motion under the influence of the at least one steady or slowly varying force, and calculating the particle size distribution from the determined contribution of each group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the steady force in the subjecting step is gravity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the steady force in the subjecting step is gravity.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium, said particles belonging to at least two different species, comprising the steps of: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle size and charge distributions for each species.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium, said particles belonging to at least two different species, comprising the steps of: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle size and charge distributions for each species.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the calculating step includes determining the contribution to the measured response from each group of particles having the same motion under the influence of the at least one steady or slowly varying force, and calculating the particle size distribution from the determined contribution of each group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the steady force in the subjecting step is gravity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the steady force in the subjecting step is gravity.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
163 words
A device for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium, said particles belonging to at least two different species, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sample of a suspension for measurement; means for subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; means for accelerating the particles in the suspension by applying at least one of an unsteady electric field which results in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles, and an unsteady mechanical force which results in an electrical response being generated by the particles; sensor means for measuring the generated response; means for monitoring the charge in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and processing means for calculating the particle size and charge distributions for each species.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
163 words
A device for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium, said particles belonging to at least two different species, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sample of a suspension for measurement; means for subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; means for accelerating the particles in the suspension by applying at least one of an unsteady electric field which results in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles, and an unsteady mechanical force which results in an electrical response being generated by the particles; sensor means for measuring the generated response; means for monitoring the charge in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and processing means for calculating the particle size and charge distributions for each species.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said processing means is adapted to determine the contribution to the measured response from each group of particles having the same motion under the influence of the at least one steady or slowly varying force, and to calculate the particle size distribution from the determined contribution of each group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the means for subjecting comprises an arrangement in which the particles sediment under gravity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the means for subjecting comprises an arrangement in which the particles sediment under gravity.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sample of a suspension for measurement; means for subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; means for accelerating the particles in the suspension by applying at least one of an unsteady electric field which results in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles, and an unsteady mechanical force which results in an electrical response being generated by the particles; sensor means for measuring the generated response; means for monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and processing means for calculating the particle size and charge distributions for the particles.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for determining the particle charge and size distributions of particles suspended in a liquid medium, comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sample of a suspension for measurement; means for subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius or charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; means for accelerating the particles in the suspension by applying at least one of an unsteady electric field which results in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles, and an unsteady mechanical force which results in an electrical response being generated by the particles; sensor means for measuring the generated response; means for monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and processing means for calculating the particle size and charge distributions for the particles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein said processing means is adapted to determine the contribution to the measured response from each group of particles having the same motion under the influence of the at least one steady or slowly varying force, and to calculate the particle size distribution from the determined contribution of each group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the means for subjecting comprises an arrangement in which the particles sediment under gravity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein the means for subjecting comprises an arrangement in which the particles sediment under gravity.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for determining the particle charge distribution of particles suspended in a liquid medium comprising: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady, or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle charge distribution for the particles.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for determining the particle charge distribution of particles suspended in a liquid medium comprising: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady, or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their charge and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle charge distribution for the particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the steady force in the subjecting step is gravity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the particles in the liquid medium belong to at least two different species and the particle charge distribution is calculated for each species.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for determining the particle size distribution of particles suspended in a liquid medium comprising: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle size distribution for the particles.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for determining the particle size distribution of particles suspended in a liquid medium comprising: subjecting the suspension to at least one steady or slowly varying force which moves the particles at a rate that depends on their radius and thereby sets up spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; applying at least one of an unsteady electric field and an unsteady mechanical force to the suspension to accelerate the particles, the application of an unsteady electric field resulting in an acoustic wave response being generated by the particles and the application of an unsteady mechanical force resulting in an electrical response being generated by the particles; measuring the generated response; monitoring the change in these measurements with time due to the evolution of the spatial inhomogeneities in the suspension; and calculating the particle size distribution for the particles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the calculating step includes determining the contribution to the measured response from each group of particles having the same motion under the influence of the at least one steady or slowly varying force, and calculating the particle size distribution from the determined contribution of each group.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the steady force in the subjecting step is gravity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the particles in the liquid medium belong to at least two different species and the particle size distribution is calculated for each species.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-31 | 2000-09-30 | 2001-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-31 | 2004-09-30 | 2005-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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