Variable path length spectrophotometric probe

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868571

O'Rourke, Patrick E ^[1]; McCarty, Jerry E ^[2]; Haggard, Ricky A ^[3]

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1. 157 Greenwood Dr., Martiney, GA 30907
2. 104 Recreation Dr., Aiken, SC 29803
3. 1144 Thornwood Drive, North Augusta, SC 29891

A compact, variable pathlength, fiber optic probe for spectrophotometric measurements of fluids in situ. The probe comprises a probe body with a shaft having a polished end penetrating one side of the probe, a pair of optic fibers, parallel and coterminous, entering the probe opposite the reflecting shaft, and a collimating lens to direct light from one of the fibers to the reflecting surface of the shaft and to direct the reflected light to the second optic fiber. The probe body has an inlet and an outlet port to allow the liquid to enter the probe body and pass between the lens and the reflecting surface of the shaft. A linear stepper motor is connected to the shaft to cause the shaft to advance toward or away from the lens in increments so that absorption measurements can be made at each of the incremental steps. The shaft is sealed to the probe body by a bellows seal to allow freedom of movement of the shaft and yet avoid leakage from the interior of the probe.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: O'Rourke; Patrick E. (157 Greenwood Dr., Martiney, GA 30907); McCarty; Jerry E. (104 Recreation Dr., Aiken, SC 29803); Haggard; Ricky A. (1144 Thornwood Drive, North Augusta, SC 29891)
• Patent Number(s): US 5168367
• OSTI ID: 868571
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

variable
path
length
spectrophotometric
probe
compact
pathlength
fiber
optic
measurements
fluids
situ
comprises
shaft
polished
penetrating
pair
fibers
parallel
coterminous
entering
opposite
reflecting
collimating
lens
direct
light
surface
reflected
inlet
outlet
allow
liquid
enter
pass
linear
stepper
motor
connected
advance
increments
absorption
incremental
steps
sealed
bellows
seal
freedom
movement
avoid
leakage
interior
collimating lens
spectrophotometric measurements
optic fiber
stepper motor
path length
fiber optic
reflecting surface
reflected light
optic fibers
optic probe
probe comprises
spectrophotometric probe
variable path
absorption measurement
bellows seal
/356/250/