US3614607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Particle counting apparatus
Assignee: Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
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Filing: 1969-03-17
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1989-03-17
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium the electrical conductivity of which is different from that of the particles. A quantity of this fluid medium containing the suspended particles is delivered by a conveying system from a container or the like through an electrical resistance measuring path. Each particle upon passing through the electrical resistance measuring path causes a change in the resistance of such measuring path which is dependent upon the size of the particles. According to an important aspect of the invention, an electrode support means is mounted in sealing fashion upon or at an exchangeable measuring tube and there is exchangeably mounted at such electrode support means a measurement path support member providing at least one such electrical resistance measuring path.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Schoen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/1031; G01N15/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a counting apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different from that of the particles, comprising measuring tube means for confining a quantity of the fluid medium containing the particles, a measuring head detachably supported at one open end of said measuring tube means so as to enclose said open end, said measuring head comprising electrode-support means mounted in sealing fashion at the region of said one end of said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means providing at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, a pair of electrodes supported entirely by said electrode-support means, connecting wire means extending from said pair of electrodes and penetrating through said electrodesupport means whereby the electrodes and their connecting wire means are unitary with the detachable head and removable as a unit therewith, said measuring path support member being detachably mounted at said electrode-support means for replacement by another measuring path support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a counting apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different from that of the particles, comprising measuring tube means for confining a quantity of the fluid medium containing the particles, a measuring head detachably supported at one open end of said measuring tube means so as to enclose said open end, said measuring head comprising electrode-support means mounted in sealing fashion at the region of said one end of said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means providing at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, a pair of electrodes supported entirely by said electrode-support means, connecting wire means extending from said pair of electrodes and penetrating through said electrodesupport means whereby the electrodes and their connecting wire means are unitary with the detachable head and removable as a unit therewith, said measuring path support member being detachably mounted at said electrode-support means for replacement by another measuring path support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a counting apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different from that of the particles, comprising measuring tube means for the fluid medium containing the particles, a measuring head mounted at one open end region of said measuring tube means and encircling said one open end region, said measuring head incorporating electrode-support means mounted at said one open end region of said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means providing at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, said means providing said electrical resistance measuring path defining at least one throughflow passageway for the fluid medium from one side to the opposite side thereof, a pair of electrodes carried entirely by said electrode-support means and mounted substantially at opposite sides of said electrical resistance measuring path, connecting wire means extending from said pair of electrodes and penetrating through said electrode-support means, said measuring tube means whereby the electrodes and their connecting wire means are unitary with the measuring head and removable as a unit therewith, said electrode-support means and said measuring path support member comprising separate elements, said measuring path support member being detachably insertably mounted at said electorde-support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a counting apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different from that of the particles, comprising measuring tube means for the fluid medium containing the particles, a measuring head mounted at one open end region of said measuring tube means and encircling said one open end region, said measuring head incorporating electrode-support means mounted at said one open end region of said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means providing at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, said means providing said electrical resistance measuring path defining at least one throughflow passageway for the fluid medium from one side to the opposite side thereof, a pair of electrodes carried entirely by said electrode-support means and mounted substantially at opposite sides of said electrical resistance measuring path, connecting wire means extending from said pair of electrodes and penetrating through said electrode-support means, said measuring tube means whereby the electrodes and their connecting wire means are unitary with the measuring head and removable as a unit therewith, said electrode-support means and said measuring path support member comprising separate elements, said measuring path support member being detachably insertably mounted at said electorde-support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A counting apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including supply means for the fluid medium containing the suspended particles, means for conveying the fluid medium with the suspended particles from said supply means through said electrical resistance measuring path into said measuring tube means, and means for controlling the quantity of fluid medium received in said measuring tube means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A counting apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said controlling means incorporates a volume metering device and mechanism responsive to said volume metering device for controlling operation of said conveying means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A counting apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said measuring path support member is provided with a number of electrical resistance measuring paths each of which can be selectively brought into its operable position by appropriate displacement of said measuring path support member.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
335 words
An apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different than that of the particles, comprising supply means for the fluid medium containing the suspended particles, measuring tube means having one open end communicating with said supply means for receiving fluid medium from said supply means, measuring head means detachably carried by said one open end of said measuring tube means, said measuring head means incorporating electrode-support means mounted at said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means providing at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, said electrical resistance measuring path means forming at least one throughflow passageway for the transfer of said fluid medium from one side to the opposite side thereof and in the direction of said one open end of said measuring tube means, a pair of electrodes supported entirely by said electrode-support means, each of said pair of electrodes being mounted at said electrode-support means for cooperation with one given side of said electrical resistance measuring path means for monitoring the particles suspended in the fluid medium which flow through said passageway thereof, connecting wire means extending from said pair of electrodes and penetrating through said electrode-supporrt means whereby the electrodes and their connecting wire means are unitary with the detachable head and removable as a unit therewith, said measuring path support member being removably mounted at said electrode-support means of said measuring head means, said measuring tube means, said electrode-support means and said measuring path support member comprising separate interfitting elements, conveying means for delivering fluid medium together with the suspended particles from said supply means through said throughflow passageway of said electrical resistance measuring path into said measuring tube means, whereby each particle upon passing through said electrical resistance measuring path causes a change in the resistance of said measuring path which is dependent upon the size of the particles, and volume metering means for controlling the quantity of fluid medium passing into said measuring tube means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
335 words
An apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different than that of the particles, comprising supply means for the fluid medium containing the suspended particles, measuring tube means having one open end communicating with said supply means for receiving fluid medium from said supply means, measuring head means detachably carried by said one open end of said measuring tube means, said measuring head means incorporating electrode-support means mounted at said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means providing at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, said electrical resistance measuring path means forming at least one throughflow passageway for the transfer of said fluid medium from one side to the opposite side thereof and in the direction of said one open end of said measuring tube means, a pair of electrodes supported entirely by said electrode-support means, each of said pair of electrodes being mounted at said electrode-support means for cooperation with one given side of said electrical resistance measuring path means for monitoring the particles suspended in the fluid medium which flow through said passageway thereof, connecting wire means extending from said pair of electrodes and penetrating through said electrode-supporrt means whereby the electrodes and their connecting wire means are unitary with the detachable head and removable as a unit therewith, said measuring path support member being removably mounted at said electrode-support means of said measuring head means, said measuring tube means, said electrode-support means and said measuring path support member comprising separate interfitting elements, conveying means for delivering fluid medium together with the suspended particles from said supply means through said throughflow passageway of said electrical resistance measuring path into said measuring tube means, whereby each particle upon passing through said electrical resistance measuring path causes a change in the resistance of said measuring path which is dependent upon the size of the particles, and volume metering means for controlling the quantity of fluid medium passing into said measuring tube means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 6, wherein said measuring path support member possesses means providing a plurality of electrical resistance measuring paths which can be selectively brought into their respective working position through displacement of said measuring path support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 7, wherein said plurality of electrical resistance measuring paths are the same size.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 7, wherein said plurality of electrical resistance measuring paths are different in size from one another.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
303 words
An apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different than that of the particles, comprising supply means for the fluid medium containing the suspended particles, measuring tube means having one open end communicating with said supply means for receiving fluid medium from said supply means, mEasuring head means detachably carried by said one open end of said measuring tube means, said measuring head means incorporating electrode-support means mounted at said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means provided at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, said means providing said electrical resistance measuring path forming at least one throughflow passageway for the transfer of said fluid medium from one side to the opposite side thereof and in the direction of said one open end of said measuring tube means, a pair of electrodes supported by said electrode-support means, each of said pair of electrodes being mounted at said electrode-support means for cooperation with one given side of said electrical resistance measuring path means for monitoring the particles suspended in the fluid medium which flow through said passageway thereof, said measuring path support member being removably mounted at said electrode-support means of said measuring head means, conveying means for delivering fluid medium together with the suspended particles from said supply means through said throughflow passageway of said electrical resistance measuring path into said measuring tube means, whereby each particle upon passing through said electrical resistance measuring path causes a change in the resistance of said measuring path which is dependent upon the size of the particles, and volume metering means for controlling the quantity of fluid medium passing into said measuring tube means, and at least one gas inlet means disposed between said electrical resistance measuring path and said volume metering means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
303 words
An apparatus for counting particles suspended in a fluid medium, the electrical conductivity of which is different than that of the particles, comprising supply means for the fluid medium containing the suspended particles, measuring tube means having one open end communicating with said supply means for receiving fluid medium from said supply means, mEasuring head means detachably carried by said one open end of said measuring tube means, said measuring head means incorporating electrode-support means mounted at said measuring tube means and a measuring path support member possessing means provided at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path, said means providing said electrical resistance measuring path forming at least one throughflow passageway for the transfer of said fluid medium from one side to the opposite side thereof and in the direction of said one open end of said measuring tube means, a pair of electrodes supported by said electrode-support means, each of said pair of electrodes being mounted at said electrode-support means for cooperation with one given side of said electrical resistance measuring path means for monitoring the particles suspended in the fluid medium which flow through said passageway thereof, said measuring path support member being removably mounted at said electrode-support means of said measuring head means, conveying means for delivering fluid medium together with the suspended particles from said supply means through said throughflow passageway of said electrical resistance measuring path into said measuring tube means, whereby each particle upon passing through said electrical resistance measuring path causes a change in the resistance of said measuring path which is dependent upon the size of the particles, and volume metering means for controlling the quantity of fluid medium passing into said measuring tube means, and at least one gas inlet means disposed between said electrical resistance measuring path and said volume metering means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one gas inlet means is provided at said measuring path support member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 6, wherein said volume metering means incorporates an optical-electrical volume metering device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 12, wherein said conveying means for said fluid medium containing the suspended particles is constructed to operate continuously in one direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 6, wherein said electrode-support means and said measuring path support member are formed of a substantially rubber-elastic chemically inert material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 6, wherein said means providing said at least one predetermined electrical resistance measuring path embodies a crystal member equipped with a calibrated bore defining said throughflow passageway and which is mounted at said measuring path support member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus for counting particles as defined in claim 6, further including a number of separate measuring path support members which can be detachably and removably mounted at said electrode-support means and each of which is provided with means providing at least one electrical resistance measuring path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |