Fiber optic probe
US5351322A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/359
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a system for measuring moisture content of powder, such as powdered milk while the powder is being dried, the powder is contained in a fluidized bed and a fiber optic probe is inserted through the wall of the container of said bed to be immersed in the fluidized bed. The fluidized bed continuously scrubs the outer surface of the probe window and prevents it from being coated with the powder. Near infrared light is transmitted through a cable optic fiber and said probe to irradiate the powder in said fluidized bed and is reflected back from the powder into said probe and transmitted by said fiber optic cable to a spectroscopic analyzing instrument. The fiber optic probe includes a sapphire rod having a back surface abutting the end of the fiber optic cable and an angled front surface. The front of the probe is closed by a quartz window spaced from the angled front surface of the sapphire rod and held in position by an inwardly directed flange on the outer tubular casing of the fiber optic probe. The front window is provided with an outwardly directed flange and an O-ring is sandwiched between the flange on the window and the inwardly directed flange on the distal end of the probe…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.