Method and Apparatus for Orienting and Measuring Fibrous Particles

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to method and apparatus for measuring fibrous paticles, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for measuring fibrous particles through asymmetric scattering of a radiation beam as a result of passing oriented fibers through the beam, and a preferred method and apparatus for providing orientation of the fibrous particles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Measurement of particle characteristics as a function of the scattering of light is, per se, known. For instance, Freedman U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,705,771 and 3,785,735 issued Dec. 12, 1972 and Jan. 15, 1974, respectively, discloses the concept of utilizing fluid dynamics to narrow a sample liquid stream by enclosing it in a laminar flow stream. However, aspect ratio is not a concern of the Freedman patents. Accordingly, these prior patents are not pertinent to measurement of fibrous particles.

The Gravet U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,315, issued Sept. 10, 1974, discloses a concept of utilizing concentric, conical sheets of radiation to measure the size and nonspherical characteristic of particles. Eccentricity of particles is determined by the rather complicated and step wise utilization of polarized radiation.

The present invention, which provides a heretofore unavailable improvement over previous fibrous particle measuring devices and method, comprises a method and apparatus for, as a function of asymmetric scattering of light by oriented particles, providing signal outputs indicative of the size of a particle and the aspect ratio of the particle. The method and apparatus preferably employs a conduit of decreasing cross section to longitudinally orient the fibrous particles carried in a compressible fluid, means to conduct the oriented fibrous particles through a beam of radiation, and means to measure the scattering and direction thereof to provide the desired data.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for concurrently measuring the size and aspect ratio of fibrous particles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for longitudinally orienting fibrous particles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for utilizing asymmetric scattering of radiation to measure and characterize the size and aspect ratio of fibrous particles.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for continuous, high speed sampling and measuring of fibrous particles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing data indicative of the size and aspect ratio of fibrous particles, such data being in appropriate form for storage in a data recorder.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the Drawing

FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of a fibrous particle measurement apparatus in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a sensor in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a preferred sensor in accord with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a simplified representation of the sensor of FIG. 2 in conjunction with the typical associated readout circuitry;

FIG. 5 is a sectioned view of a particle orienter device in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a simplified representation of the scattering pattern of a particle of equal length and width in a beam of radiation;

FIG. 7 is a simplified representation of the scattering pattern of a particle having a somewhat greater length than width in a beam of radiation; and

FIG. 8 is a simplified representation of the scattering pattern of a greatly elongated particle in a beam of radiation.

Turning now to the drawings, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures, apparatus for measuring fibrous particles is illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally designated by reference numeral 10. As will be more fully described hereinafter, fibrous particle measuring apparatus 10 utilizes radiation source 12 to generate beam of radiation 13. Fluid pump 15 is connected to inlet 16 through gap 17 to particle orienter 18. Particle orienter 18 is thus positioned adjacent radiation beam 13 with particle orienter 18 positioned adjacent to and transverse to radiation beam 13. Accordingly, fluid pump 15 induces flow of a stream of particles 19 through radiation beam 13 at gap 17. Enclosure 21 is provided to protect the device and preclude disruptive air currents from influencing particles 19. Sensor 20 is positioned to intercept radiation beam 13 and is connected by signal conductors 22 and 24 to readout means 25.

The nature of sensor 20 will be more readily understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, sensor 20 is divided into three areas of significance. X-coordinate sensor areas 27 and y-coordinate sensor areas 28 are independently sensitive to scattered radiation to generate signals as a function of the radiation falling thereon. Center area 29, which preferably corresponds substantially to the area struck by undisturbed radiation beam 13, is essentially inactive.

A preferred embodiment of sensor 20 is illustrated in FIG. 3. Essentially, the embodiment of FIG. 3 is functionally identical to that of FIG. 2 with regard to x-coordinate sensor areas 27, y-coordinate sensor areas 28 and center area 29. However, between x-coordinate sensor areas 27 and y-coordinate sensor areas 28, inactive intermediate areas 30 are provided. Scattered radiation falling on inactive intermediate areas 30 can be associated with scattered radiation falling primarily either in x-coordinate sensor areas 27 or y-coordinate sensor areas 28. Thus, by effectively blanking out intermediate areas 30, sensor 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is more sensitive to the aspect ratio of particle 19 being measured.

The specific operation of sensor 20 will be more readily understood with reference to FIG. 4, whereat it is illustrated that x-coordinate sensor areas 27 are connected by signal conductors 22 to both a signal ratioing readout 32 and a signal adding readout 34 which constitutes a preferred readout 25, although, of course, either signal ratioing readout 32 or signal adding readout 34 provides worthwhile data. As will be discussed in more detail below, the ratio of the scattered radiation falling on x-coordinate sensor areas 27 relative the amount of scattered radiation falling on y-coordinate sensor areas 28 is a function of the aspect ratio of the particle 19 producing the radiation scattering. Accordingly, the ratio of signals from areas 27 relative to areas 28, as indicated or recorded on signal ratioing readout 32, is a function of the aspect ratio of a given particle 19, i.e., the particle length to width ratio. Also, the total amount of radiation falling on areas 27 and 28 is a function of the size of a given particle 19. Thus, signal adding readout 34, which adds the signals provided through signal conductor 22 and signal conductor 24, indicates or records a signal which is indicative of the overall size of a given particle.

The function of particle orienter 18 will be more readily understood with reference to FIG. 5. As illustrated, particle orienter 18 includes a throat section 36. Of decreasing cross section and, for purposes of illustration, an approach section 38 of constant cross section. Fluid flow through the throat section 38 is relatively slow with particles 19 being randomly oriented. However, as the fluid flow moves through throat section 36 of decreasing cross section, the average velocity of the fluid increases. Accordingly, as shown, the point rate of flow at points across the cross section of throat section 36 becomes markedly different, i.e., increase substantially from points adjacent the wall relative to points at the center portion as shown in the velocity profiles A, B, and C. As is well known, this is a result of drag upon a fluid induced by the wall and the fluid and accordingly moves more slowly adjacent the wall and more rapidly towards the center with the flow rate essentially defining a number of streamlines across the cross section. As this becomes more pronounced, a particle oriented transverse to the flow tends to align with the direction of flow. Once the particle is aligned with the direction of flow, it will lie substantially in a common single streamline where the rotating torque is zero. Accordingly, particles 19 are oriented from a random distribution in approach section 38 to an orientation aligned with the direction of flow in throat section 36. Thus, as particles 19 exit throat section 36, and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, intersect radiation beam 13, particles 19 are aligned in a position transverse to the direction of radiation beam 13.

Finally, with reference to FIGS. 6 through 8, the illustrations show that the scattering pattern is quite sensitive to changes in the aspect ratio of a particle. For instance, in FIG. 6, particle 19 is of substantially equal length and width. Thus, when positioned in radiation beam 13, a scattering pattern 40 having substantially equal x and y axis scattering is established. However, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the particle 19 is somewhat longer than wider, scattering pattern 40 is such that substantially more radiation is scattered in the x-coordinate domain than in the y-coordinate domain. Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when the particle 19 extends entirely through radiation beam 13, i.e., functionally an infinite length relative to radiation beam 13, scattering pattern 40 is such that the scattered radiation is entirely in the x-coordinate domain.

Summarily, the present invention provides for concurrent determination of the size and aspect ratio of a fibrous particle. This is accomplished by orienting the particle relative to a beam of radiation and, while passing the particle through the beam of radiation, measuring the scattered radiation in the longitudinal direction of the particle and in the direction transverse to that direction. The total scattered radiation and the ratio of the radiation scattered in each direction, respectively, provides the desired determinations. On yet another level, the invention provides for a unique means for aligning fibrous particles by entraining the particles in a compressible fluid flow and conducting the fluid through a conduit of decreasing cross sectional area. This means of orientation is particularly advantageous in that the particles are aligned substantially with the direction of flow.

Although only limited embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is anticipated that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that such changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.