Measuring and testing – Liquid analysis or analysis of the suspension of solids in a... – Content or effect of a constituent of a liquid mixture
Patent
1984-04-11
1986-04-22
Levy, Stewart J.
Measuring and testing
Liquid analysis or analysis of the suspension of solids in a...
Content or effect of a constituent of a liquid mixture
G01N 1506
Patent
active
045833966
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for obtaining an indication of the quantity of non-soluble contaminant in a fluid. In the context of this specification the term "contaminant" is defined to include any undissolved substance present in a fluid whether or not its presence therein is intended.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many systems using fluids it is important to know the level of non-soluble contamination in the fluid, either because the contaminant will damage the system and/or because the presence of contaminant indicates wear or breakdown in the system. In other fluids it is desirable to maintain the level of particulate material therein at an approved or known value. Present methods of automatically monitoring the level of contaminant involve expensive and complicated equipment and in most cases the tests can only be performed by highly trained personnel. It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which can give an indication of such contamination in a simple and speedy manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From one aspect the invention relates to an apparatus for providing an indication of the level of contaminant in a fluid, comprising means for defining a fluid path along which the fluid may be caused to flow, a pervious barrier disposed across the fluid path so that the barrier will be progressively blocked by the contaminant as the fluid flows through the barrier, and monitoring means responsive to the rate of blocking of the barrier, thereby to provide an indication of the level of contaminant in the fluid.
The monitoring means may comprise flow rate control means adapted to maintain constant the flow of fluid supplied to the barrier, and pressure rate sensing means for sensing measurements representing the rate at which the pressure of the fluid upstream of the barrier rises. The pressure rate sensing means conveniently comprises timing means and pressure sensing means to sense the pressure of the fluid upstream of the barrier.
In one arrangement the timing means is adapted to indicate the elapse of a predetermined time period and the pressure sensing means senses the pressure of the fluid at the end of said elapsed time period. Alternatively the pressure sensing means is adapted to sense when the pressure of the fluid reaches a predetermined value, and the timing means measures the time taken for the pressure to reach said predetermined value.
In another arrangement the monitoring means comprises pressure control means adapted to maintain constant the pressure of fluid supplied to the barrier, and flow rate sensing means for sensing measurements representing the rate at which the flow rate of fluid through the barrier falls. The flow rate sensing means conveniently comprises timing means, and flow rate measuring means to measure the flow rate of the fluid through the barrier.
In this case the timing means is conveniently adapted to indicate the elapse of a predetermined time period, and the flow rate measuring means measures the flow rate of the fluid at the end of said elapsed time period. Alternatively the flow rate measuring means is adapted to detect when the flow rate of the fluid drops to a predetermined level, and the timing means measures the time taken for the flow rate to fall to said predetermined level.
In a preferred embodiment the provision of an indication completes a measurement cycle and the apparatus further comprises barrier renewal means for renewing the barrier at the end of each cycle. The barrier renewal means may reverse the flow in the fluid path for a sufficient time to back flush the barrier and then return the flow to its original direction whereafter a further measurement cycle can occur. In this case the barrier renewal means may flush the fluid path before initiating the further measurement cycle. Alternatively the barrier renewal means may reverse the flow in the fluid path to initiate a new measurement cycle at the reversal or a predetermined time thereafter.
A series of barriers may be provided on a carousel, a mova
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Bowns Desmond E.
Hunt Trevor M.
Levy Stewart J.
Ministry of Defence
Williams Hezron E.
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