US 12,222,271 B2
Droplet sensors for fuel systems
Davis B. Moravec, Burnsville, MN (US); Daryl L. Quam, Bloomington, MN (US); Cullen E. Hall, Chaska, MN (US); Brian R. Tucker, Farmington, MN (US); and Andrew J. Dallas, Lakeville, MN (US)
Assigned to Donaldson Company, Inc., Bloomington, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/059,189
Filed by Donaldson Company, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
PCT Filed May 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/034809
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 25, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/232305, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/678,806, filed on May 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0223154 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 15/0205 (2024.01); F02M 37/26 (2019.01); F02M 37/32 (2019.01); G01F 1/74 (2006.01); G01F 23/292 (2006.01); G01N 15/06 (2024.01); G01N 33/28 (2006.01); G01N 15/075 (2024.01)
CPC G01N 15/0205 (2013.01) [F02M 37/26 (2019.01); F02M 37/32 (2019.01); G01F 1/74 (2013.01); G01F 23/292 (2013.01); G01N 15/06 (2013.01); G01N 33/28 (2013.01); G01N 15/075 (2024.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a microfluidic channel configured to receive a flow of a first fluid and a second fluid dispersed in the first fluid, wherein the second fluid has a different composition than the first fluid;
a light source configured to direct a light beam in a frequency band along a path through the microfluidic channel, wherein the frequency band is selected to have a higher absorbance by the second fluid than by the first fluid;
an aperture element defining a light aperture positioned in the path of the light beam from the light source;
a light detector positioned to receive the light beam in a sensing area after passing through the microfluidic channel and the light aperture, the light detector configured to provide a signal representing an amount of light in the frequency band that remains after passing through the microfluidic channel; and
a controller operably coupled to the light detector and configured to determine whether the second fluid is in droplet form based on the signal,
wherein the microfluidic channel is in parallel fluid communication with a main flow of a vehicle engine fuel line.