Method and apparatus for displaying particle sedimentation rates in liquids

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR

DISPLAYING PARTICLE SEDIMENTATION
RATES IN LIQUIDS

[76] Inventor: Paul-Henri Cinqualbre, 20, rue de la Ravinelle, 54000 Nancy, France

[21] Appl. No.: 743,596

[22] Filed: Jun. 11, 1985

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Jun. 13, 1984 [FR] France 8409360

[51] Int. CI.* G01N 33/48; G01N 21/51;

G06F 15/42

[52] U.S. CI 364/413; 356/442

[58] Field of Search 364/413; 356/441, 427,

356/246, 338-339, 442, 434, 428; 250/573

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Re. 27,866 1/1974 Adler 356/441

3,617,222 11/1971 Matte 356/427

3,830,969 8/1974 Hofstein 356/427

4,118,974 10/1978 Nozaki 356/39

4,252,438 2/1981 Haing 356/442

4,303,342 12/1981 Takahashi 356/427

4,325,910 4/1982 Jordan 356/434

4,528,159 7/1985 Liston 356/246

Primary Examiner—Jerry Smith
Assistant Examiner-Ga.il O. Hayes
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Erwin S. Teltscher

[57] ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for continuous display of a particle sedimentation rate in a liquid includes a rotary support device adapted to hold a plurality of light-transparent containers, and wherein each container holds a liquid. Any container may be selected to be observed so that at least a portion of the selected container may be observed from the exterior. A light source illuminates the selected container, and an image-forming device is arranged to form an image of the aforesaid portion of the selected container, and the liquid held therein. Video signals are created from the so-formed image, and a computer is arranged to process the video signals. A transmission conduit transmits the video signals from the image-forming device to the computer, and a display is provided for displaying the signals processed by the computer.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures