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Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha

Frederick R Reich

Charles L Mohr

Errol V Allen

Methods and apparatus for determining the relative proportions of intermixed constituents of a multiphase fluid system. The constituents for which relative proportions are being measured must have measurably different electrical permittivities. The systems use at least one electrically conductive probe having two conductors which are spaced apart and capable of receiving the fluid system therebetween. Time domain reflectometers present a stimulating time varying electrical signal to the probes and receive and measure reflected signals generated at impedance changes in the transmission line and probe. The probe transit time and/or associated average probe velocity provide a measure of the fluid system conditions which can be compared to predetermined values corresponding to various relative proportions of the intermixed constituents. A measure of the relative portions of the constituents is thus provided. The variability of individual probe transit velocity data can be measured, analyzed and used to measure fluid system turbulence. Relevant data can also be interpolated, extrapolated and integrated to provide profiling of the fluid system conditions and a means of total system inventory of the constituents.

Methods and apparatus for time domain reflectometry determination of

In general, used beer, alcoholic drink or medical bottles are collected to be used again. Such used returnable bottles often have defects such as dust and contaminant or cracks, and they must be removed from the bottles before or after the bottle cleaning process. This invention positively satisfies such a requirement. The electro-optic inspection system according to this invention uses a polarized, scanned optical beam and an array of polaroid optical detectors and a logic signal processing system thereby to securely detect the defects on the transparent or semitransparent containers.

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Richland, WA, United States of America

Frederick R Reich