Patent ID: 8189042

Claim:
A remote vision analysis system, comprising: a vessel containing a process liquid having gas bubbles or particles therein; a sparger extending within said vessel for releasing gas in the form of bubbles directly into the process liquid; an agitator located adjacent said sparger within said vessel; a probe having an elongate distal end extending within an interior of said vessel and a proximal end including a camera for recording images of the process liquid, gas bubbles or particles, or surfaces within said vessel thereby enabling in-situ observation of the process liquid, gas bubbles or particles, or surfaces within said vessel, said distal end having a lens through which images are recorded by said camera; a light source or light guide located in said distal end of said probe for projecting light into said process liquid within said vessel; a protective shroud for housing said probe and hermetically-sealing said probe from said process liquid within said vessel; a switch for automatically cutting off power from said light source or light guide when temperature within said shroud exceeds a pre-set temperature or for turning power to said light source or light guide on and off at pre-set intervals to limit heat generated by said light source or light guide; and a computer processor having image recognition and analysis software, said camera being interconnected to said processor for transferring said images in substantially real time to said processor for analysis by said software in substantially real time.