Patent ID: 6710878
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An in-line particulate detector comprising:a housing having an inner flow portion in flow communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, which housing is installed in-line between adjacent portions of a pipeline in a system and is removably disposable between the adjacent portions of the pipeline to permit a fuel flow from a fuel source through said inner flow portion to a fuel consumer; a laser diode light source disposed within said housing for emitting a light beam within said inner flow portion; a first photodiode disposed within said housing positioned opposite and substantially normal to said laser diode light source such that substantially full strength of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said first photodiode; a second photodiode disposed within said housing adjacent said first photodiode and offset from a normal unimpeded path between said laser diode and said first photodiode such that a baseline level of an unimpeded generated light beam is detected by said second photodiode; circuitry coupled to said first and second photodiodes to monitor the ratio of light intensities measured by said first and second photodiode to indicate the presence of particulate within an introduced fuel flow; and a control structure inputted into said circuitry to initiate a system control based on the ratio of light intensities.