Patent ID: 6111263
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A bubble detector comprising a conduit (1) through which a first fluid having a first refractive index is intended to flow, a light source (3) that directs a light beam (4; 41, 42) through a transparent conduit wall-part (12) and through the conduit cavity and out through a second transparent conduit wall-part, and a detector means (5; 51, 52, 53) which is adapted to receive the light beam (4, 41) when the beam has passed through the conduit and the first fluid therein, characterized in that the two mutually opposite transparent wall-parts (12, 11) of the conduit (1) that are trans-illuminated by the light beam are essentially planar and parallel; in that the light source (3) is adapted to direct the light beam (4) at an oblique angle (.alpha.) to the proximal transparent conduit wall-part (12) so that the light beam is broken into different paths (41, 42) depending on whether the beam passes the first fluid or a second conduit-conducted fluid having another refractive index, such as a bubble; in that the detector means (5; 53; 51, 52) is adapted to be impinged upon by the light beam (4, 42) exiting from the conduit (1) irrespective of the refractive indexes of the fluids; and in that the detector means (5; 53; 51, 52) is adapted to deliver an output signal that depends on the position of impingement of the light beam (41, 42) on the detector means, so as to enable the occurrence of bubbles in the first fluid to be identified.