Bubble detector and method of use thereof
US6622542B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/02466
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A bubble detector utilizes an ultrasonic transducer to sample bubbles as they pass the transducer. The envelope of the return signal is analyzed to determine the volume of each sampled bubble. If the total volume of bubbles sampled within a certain period of time exceeds a desired maximum volume, the bubble detector may initiate a system shut down. A bubble detector can be evaluated or calibrated by introducing bubbles into a conduit, detecting the bubbles introduced into the conduit using visual inspection or a bubble detector of known resolution and comparing the results with the examination of a bubble detector under evaluation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.