Patent EP0167406A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0167406A2
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Particle separation
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
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Filing: 1985-07-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-07-05
Abstract
Abstract The separation of different types of particulate matter in a carrier liquid is obtained by using an ultrasonic standing wave relying on the different acoustic responses of the different particle types. By varying the acoustic energy propagation cyclically a more effective separation rate can be obtained, with a more readily attracted particle type being subjected to a further discrimination step in each cycle. The cyclical energy variation may be in the intensity of the standing wave, e.g. using suppression means (20), and/or the velocity of the standing wave relative to the liquid medium, e.g. using phase control means (32, 34).
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelius John Schram
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:48
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N13/00; B; B01; B01D; B01D15/00; B01D15/08; B01D15/26; B01D15/38; B01D15/3861; B01D15/3866; B01D21/00; B01D21/28; B01D21/283; B01D43/00; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/10; B03; B03B; B03B5/00; C12M; C12M47/00; C12M47/02; G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of separating different types of particles in which an ultrasonic standing wave is propagated in a liquid medium and there is-relative motion between the medium and the standing wave, the different types of particles being differently influenced by the acoustic energy of the standing wave and/or the Stokes or drag forces of the fluid medium, characterised in that the energy propagation is varied cyclically, whereby the different particle types are caused to move at different rates with respect to the standing wave and are thereby progressively separated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of separating different types of particles in which an ultrasonic standing wave is propagated in a liquid medium and there is-relative motion between the medium and the standing wave, the different types of particles being differently influenced by the acoustic energy of the standing wave and/or the Stokes or drag forces of the fluid medium, characterised in that the energy propagation is varied cyclically, whereby the different particle types are caused to move at different rates with respect to the standing wave and are thereby progressively separated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the standing wave is caused to move at a cyclically varying rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein substantially instantaneous phase changes are introduced between two acoustic energy outputs which interact to produce the moving standing wave, whereby to superimpose additional intermittent movements of a substantially continuous movement of the standing wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the standing wave is subjected to cycles of velocity variation in each of which the velocity is varied unidirectionally between a maximum and a minimum rate of movement for the standing wave.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the intensity of the standing wave is varied to effect said cyclical variation of the acoustic energy propagation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the standing wave is periodically suppressed and re-established.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
- A method according to claim 6 wherein said suppression and re-establishment of the standing wave is performed without disturbing the phase continuity of the electrical driving signals producing the acoustic energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for the separation of different types of particles in a liquid medium, comprising means for propagating an ultrasonic standing wave in the medium and for producing a relative movement between the medium and the standing wave, the apparatus also comprising means for varying cyclically the acoustic energy propagation in order that different types of particles having different responses to the acoustic energy of the standing wave and/or the Stokes or drag forces generated by the relative movement between the particles and the fluid medium are caused to move at different rates with respect to the standing wave and are thereby progressively separated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for the separation of different types of particles in a liquid medium, comprising means for propagating an ultrasonic standing wave in the medium and for producing a relative movement between the medium and the standing wave, the apparatus also comprising means for varying cyclically the acoustic energy propagation in order that different types of particles having different responses to the acoustic energy of the standing wave and/or the Stokes or drag forces generated by the relative movement between the particles and the fluid medium are caused to move at different rates with respect to the standing wave and are thereby progressively separated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising phase control means for providing phase changes between two ultrasonic energy outputs, the interaction of which produces said standing wave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein means are provided to produce a progressive change of velocity in the standing wave in said cyclical variation of the acoustic energy propagation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means for cyclically suppressing the standing wave while there is relative movement between it and the liquid medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11 comprising means for establishing a circulatory liquid flow through the standing wave.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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