초록 ▼

A bubble detector/direction sensor for detecting the presence of liquid and gas in a stream of liquid and gas segments flowing through an elongated transparent tube and for sensing the direction of flow of the stream. The sensor has first and second light sources, first and second input fiber optic

A bubble detector/direction sensor for detecting the presence of liquid and gas in a stream of liquid and gas segments flowing through an elongated transparent tube and for sensing the direction of flow of the stream. The sensor has first and second light sources, first and second input fiber optic bundles, and first and second collection fiber optic bundles. The first and second input fiber optic bundles couple the first and second light sources to first and second sides of the tube, respectively, so that light passes through the tube. When the tube is filled with liquid, the light passing therethrough from each light source passes through first and second predetermined regions. When the tube is filled with gas, the light passing therethrough passes outside of the predetermined regions. The first and second collection fiber optic bundles are coupled to the second and first sides of the tube, respectively, outside of the predetermined regions. A circuit is provided for producing signals indicating the presence of liquid in the tube, the presence of gas in the tube, and the direction of flow of liquid and gas through the tube based upon the light received by the first and second collection fiber optic bundles.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid segment and a gas segment in a flowing stream of liquid and gas segments and a direction of flow, comprising:an elongated transparent tube having a longitudinal axis, a first side and a second side, the liquid and gas segments bei

[ We claim:] [1.] An apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid segment and a gas segment in a flowing stream of liquid and gas segments and a direction of flow, comprising:an elongated transparent tube having a longitudinal axis, a first side and a second side, the liquid and gas segments being flowable through said tube in at least one of a first direction and a second direction along said longitudinal axis;a first light source;a first input fiber optic bundle coupling said first light source to said first side of said tube so that light from said first light source passes through said tube into a first predetermined region in response to a liquid segment being present in the tube and outside of the first predetermined region in response to a gas segment being present in the tube;a first collection fiber optic bundle coupled to said second side of said tube and positioned outside said first predetermined region;a second light source;a second input fiber optic bundle coupling said second light source to said second side of said tube so that light from said second light source passes through said tube into a second predetermined region in a response to a liquid segment being present in the tube and outside of the second predetermined region in response to a gas segment being present in the tube;a second collection fiber optic bundle coupled to said first side of said tube and positioned outside said second predetermined region; anda circuit coupled to said first and second collection fiber optic bundles having a first output indicating a direction of flow of the stream through such tube and a second output indicating the presence of at least one of a liquid segment and a gas segment in the tube.