Domtar Inc.

Noranda Inc.

Other

National Research Council of Canada

Canada Wire and Cable Limited

Alcatel Canada Wire Inc.

Frank W. Hintze

John M. Lucas

John M Lucas

Serge Gracovetsky

Mohamad Sabsabi

Frank Kitzinger

John G Peacey

Vladimir M Labuc

Albert Pelletier

Rene Heon

Gregory A Wint

René Héon

Ren&eacute; H&eacute;on

Ephraim Rosenblum

Frank W Hintze

Raman Nayar

René Heon

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for use with Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) systems that can be applied to the real time analysis of molten materials or liquid. Since it is difficult to prepare a surface representative of the bulk when dealing with high temperature molten material, the invention, in one aspect, uses a forced gas flow through a tube insertable inside the molten material to generate a bubble. The inner surface of the bubble is a representative of the composition of the material. LIBS performed on such a surface produces an accurate real time analysis of material, even when other processing of material, e.g., copper smelting, etc., is being conducted.

Method and apparatus for molten material analysis by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

A method and apparatus for spectrochemical analysis of liquids, including molten metals, using laser-induced plasma spectroscopy. The apparatus preferably comprises a high power pulsed laser focused on the surface of a liquid stream flowing in a measurement cell, and an optical spectrometer-detector assembly, which receives, detects and analyzes the radiation emitted by the high temperature plasma thereby excited. The measurement cell, and optional pump, establish laminar flow of the liquid flow, thereby permitting the laser to repeatedly sample a fresh un-perturbed surface, while also ensuring that bubbles formed in the liquid are removed from the focal volume Preferably, a blower prevents aerosols and matter ejected from the sample responsive to the incident energy from interacting with subsequent laser pulses, and from accumulating on the optic.

Method and apparatus for in-process liquid analysis by laser induced plasma spectroscopy

A method and apparatus for spectrochemical analysis of liquids, including molten materials, using laser-induced plasma spectroscopy. The apparatus preferably comprises a high power pulsed laser focused on the surface of a liquid stream flowing in a measurement cell, and an optical spectrometer-detector assembly, which receives, detects and analyzes the radiation emitted by the high temperature plasma thereby excited. The measurement cell, and optional pump, establish a steady flow of liquid, thereby permitting the laser to repeatedly sample a fresh unperturbed surface, representative of the liquid volume, while also ensuring that bubbles and waves formed in the liquid are removed from the focal volume. Gas (usually air) blown above the liquid prevents aerosols and matter ejected from the sample responsive to the incident energy from interacting with subsequent laser pulses, and from accumulating on the optics.

The present invention is concerned with a moisture sensor for measuring the moisture content of particulate material like ore concentrates. The sensor comprises a body having one end to be buried within the bulk of the particulate material and the other end coupled to a force transducer. The force transducer itself is coupled to display means, so that when a conveyor containing the ore concentrate is in operation, a signal is generated from the force transducer and displayed as a result of the drag force exerted by the particulate material on the body. The moisture content may therefore be determined either by means of a calibration chart, or by the output of a calibration computer.

Moisture sensor for ore concentrates and other perticulate materials

A cable insulation eccentricity and diameter monitor comprises a revolving structure mounted coaxially with the cable, a finely collimated source of gamma particles mounted on such revolving structure for generating a beam of gamma particles, a radiation detector fixed to the revolving structure for detecting the gamma particles scattered from such beam by the cable and for generating pulses the amplitude of which is dependent on the energy of the scattered gamma particles reaching the detector, first drive means for moving the source of gamma particles so as to direct the beam at predetermined target positions corresponding to probable conductor and cable/atmosphere boundaries of the cable along a first axis perpendicular to the axis of the cable, second drive means for repositioning the revolving structure to move the source of gamma particles and the radiation detector to a position around the cable so as to direct the beam at target positions corresponding to probable conductor and cable/atmosphere boundaries along a second axis perpendicular to the axis of the cable, a pulse height analyzer responsive to the detector for detecting and counting the pulses produced by the detector within a preset range of pulse height, and a computer responsive to the output of the pulse height analyzer and to test data stored in its memory for operating the first and second drive means to find the actual location of such boundaries and for computing insulation eccentricity and diameter of the cable from such findings.

Cable insulation eccentricity and diameter monitor

An apparatus for measuring bath temperature of metallurgical furnaces through a tuyere is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a periscope adapted to be inserted into a tuyere, a fiber optic cable having one end connected to the periscope for receiving radiation entering the tuyere from the bath of a furnace, and a two wavelength pyrometer connected to the other end of the fiber optic cable for analysing the radiations transmitted through the fiber optic cable to provide an indication of the temperature of the bath.

Tuyere pyrometer

A calibrator for calibrating optical sensors that contact a moving web comprising, a rotating disc mounted on an oscillated platform and in a position to be contacted by the contacting part of the optical sensor. The disc is rotated and oscillated back and forth so that the point of contact of the optical sensor changes relative to the surface of the disc back and forth along substantially spiral paths.

Roughness sensor calibration

A blackening sensor analyses a signal generated by the detection of scattered light reflected from a succession of small illuminated areas on the surface of a web to determine the degree of skewness of the amplitude distribution of the generated signal from a normal distribution, thereby to provide an indication of the degree of blackening.

Blackening sensor

The degree of graininess or grainy edges of a traveling web may be discriminated utilizing the present invention which relates to a method and apparatus for generating a topographic signal by sensing scattered light from instantaneously illuminated areas of less than 1 mm in diameter on the surface of the web, processing at least a significant amount of said signal representative of topographic features of the web of selected lengths in the direction of travel of said web of at least 1.5 mm to determine the amount of such features of said selected length, said selected lengths contributing significantly to the graininess of the web, and thereby providing an indication of the graininess of said web.

Graininess sensor

A sensing element having a face adapted to contact the surface of a travelling web or sheet of paper, said face formed into a convex surface that substantially is in the form of a single base segment of a sphere having a radius between 35 and 10 mm. The surface of the web is pressed against the face so that the area of contact between the surface and the face has a minimum dimension of 2 mm. In the preferred application of the present invention the element is as an optical window in an optical sensing device wherein light is passed through the window in a direction and is reflected to sensors positioned on the same side of the window as the light source.

Sensor contact

A surface sensor utilizing a light source for projecting light onto a travelling surface and thereby illuminate a limited area of said surface is combined with at least two angularly spaced sensors and arranged to detect light reflected. Signals are generated in accordance with the amount of light received and these signals are processed to obtain at least one of (a) an indication of topographical surface characteristics of the web surface while suppressing the effects of changes in reflectivity of the surface and (b) indication of the change in reflectivity while suppressing the effects of topography of the surface.

Surface sensor

The invention is concerned with measuring 'on-line' the surface roughness of a moving sheet material, e.g. a paper web. The method comprises illuminating the moving web, preferably at a low angle, suitably collecting the light reflected from the moving web and processing the light by means of a sensitive photo-electrical system. The electrical signals thus obtained are divided into an AC and a DC component, the components are separately measured and their ratio used as an index of roughness. An apparatus for carrying out roughness measurements on a moving paper web, e.g. on a paper machine, is described.

Growing community of inventors

Montreal, Canada

John M Lucas