An Electronic Drop Counter

Abstract

A new variation of the drop counter has been constructed. It functions almost completely electronically. The following advantages have been gained: By the use of modern electronics it has been possible to produce a drop counter that gives, independent of the size of the flow, an accurate measurement of the time interval between two consecutive drops. The drop counter can be coupled to an electronic recorder and by this means a true recording can be made regardless of the size of the flow. The integration time can be selected in 10 stages by means of a simple switch. This renders possible recording of both extremely low flows and flows as high as the drop technique can permit. The integration time can be chosen freely during the course of an experiment so that maximal differences between adjacent flow levels are always obtained. It will be possible to develop the instrument further in the direction of a completely electronic, linear unit, where consideration is also taken of the variations in size of the drop with different flow levels.