Rotating Cell Measurement Instrument with Internal Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

In continuous fluid measurement instruments, moving cleaning bodies obstruct the optical path, causing light blocking and frequent cleaning is required, especially in highly contaminated fluids, which disrupts continuous measurement.

Innovation Solution

A measurement instrument with a cylindrical cell that rotates, featuring external light sources and a detector for continuous fluid measurement, along with internal cleaning mechanisms that contact the cell walls without blocking the optical path, allowing for continuous light detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a moving cleaning body is provided in the cell to clean the inner wall, then the inner wall cleanliness is improved, but the optical path is blocked during measurement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinner wall cleanlinessVSAvoidlight blocking time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the cleaning body along the inner wall, the invention inverts the approach by rotating the entire cell about its central axis while keeping the cleaning body stationary. This allows the cleaning body to continuously contact and clean the inner peripheral surface without moving through the optical path, thus eliminating light blocking during measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the cleaning mechanism from a linear movement along the inner wall to a rotational movement of the entire cell in a different dimensional space. By rotating the cell about its central axis, the cleaning body maintains continuous contact with the inner surface without obstructing the optical path, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and measurement continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If cleaning frequency is increased for highly contaminated fluid, then the inner wall cleanliness is improved, but measurement continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinner wall cleanlinessVSAvoidmeasurement continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables continuous cleaning action by rotating the cell continuously or intermittently while the cleaning body remains stationary and continuously contacts the inner peripheral surface. This eliminates the need for periodic cleaning interruptions, as the cleaning action occurs continuously during measurement, maintaining both cleanliness and measurement continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating cell mechanism ensures that the cleaning body continuously contacts and cleans the inner surface before contamination can significantly degrade measurement quality. This preliminary and continuous cleaning action prevents the need for frequent high-frequency cleaning cycles that would disrupt measurement continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables continuous fluid measurement without light blocking, as the rotating cell maintains cleanliness of the inner surface without obstructing the optical path, improving measurement accuracy and reducing downtime.

Implementation Method 1

a first light source that is arranged outside the cell and irradiates the measurement fluid with first inspection light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

a second light source that is arranged outside the cell and at a position different from the first light source in a rotation direction of the cell, and irradiates the measurement fluid with second inspection light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Light

Implementation Method 3

a detector that is arranged outside the cell and detects transmitted light of the first inspection light transmitted through the measurement fluid and scattered light of the second inspection light scattered by the measurement fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250020577A1Measurement instrument, measurement device, measurement system, and measurement method

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 HORIBA ADVANCED TECHNO CO LTD

AI summary

A measurement instrument comprises a cylindrical cell that stores a measurement fluid, a drive mechanism that rotates the cell about a central axis, a first light source that is arranged outside the cell and irradiates the measurement fluid with first inspection light, a second light source that is arranged outside the cell and at a position different from the first light source in a rotation direction of the cell, and irradiates the measurement fluid with second inspection light, a detector that is arranged outside the cell and detects transmitted light of the first inspection light transmitted through the measurement fluid and scattered light of the second inspection light scattered by the measurement fluid, and a cleaning mechanism that is arranged inside the cell and comes into contact with and clean an inner peripheral surface of the cell.