Patent EP0254915A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0254915A2
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EP
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Method and apparatus for the production of a high temperature plastic light conduit
Assignee: Lumenyte International Corp
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Filing: 1987-07-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A plastic light conduit of cross-linked polymer material having good light transmitting characteristics, without voids or noticeable bubbles, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture and an apparatus, involving progressive heating of reactive monomer mixture in a tube which is submerged in a progressive reactor utilizing cold oil to maintain a cold, non-reacting zone, and hot water to create a hot zone that causes reaction, while simlutaneously carrying away the excess exothermic heat of reaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Jamshid Zarian (James) (Nmi)
- 👤 John A. Robbins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:22
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00663; B29D11/00711; B29C; B29C35/00; B29C35/007; B29C39/00; B29C39/22; B29C39/38; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02033; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29K; B29K2033/00; B29K2033/04; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0002; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2935; Y10T428/2964; Y10T428/2967; Y10T428/2969; Y10T428/2973; Y10T428/2975; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31935; Y10T428/31938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for carrying out a chemical progressively over a length of reactant, comprising: a. a tank having a longitudinal axis; c. means for maintaining a portion of said tank at a temperature that prevents the reactants from reacting thereby providing a cold zone; d. means for heating said tank and its contents progressively from one end to the other, thereby providing a hot zone; and e. means for controlling the temperatures in said cold zone and in said hot zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for carrying out a chemical progressively over a length of reactant, comprising: a. a tank having a longitudinal axis; c. means for maintaining a portion of said tank at a temperature that prevents the reactants from reacting thereby providing a cold zone; d. means for heating said tank and its contents progressively from one end to the other, thereby providing a hot zone; and e. means for controlling the temperatures in said cold zone and in said hot zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cold zone means is distributed throughout the length of said tank and said hot zone means is distributed throughout the length of said tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cold zone means and said hot zone means maintain separate hot and cold zones that move progressively up said tank in such a manner that the total combined volume of said cold zone and said hot zone is substantially equal to the total volume of said tank.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of operating a reactor for reacting chemicals progressively from one end of a lengthwise chemical container, such as a tube, wherein the reactor comprises a tank, means for creating and maintaining an inert cold zone, means for creating and maintaining a reaction-inducing hot zone, and means for controlling the temperature, size and location of said cold zone and said hot zone, comprising: a. filling said tank with cold fluid at a predetermined temperature, creating a cold zone; b. loading chemicals to be reacted into said tank; c. introducing hot fluid heated to a predetermined temperature into the bottom of said tank, wherein said hot fluid is more dense than said cold fluid; d. withdrawing a volume of cold fluid from the top of said tank simultaneously with the introduction of hot fluid at the bottom of said tank, with the volume of cold fluid being withdrawn substantially equal to the volume of said hot fluid being introduced; f. continuing steps c and d at a predetermined rate until all cold fluid has been withdrawn and replaced with hot fluid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of operating a reactor for reacting chemicals progressively from one end of a lengthwise chemical container, such as a tube, wherein the reactor comprises a tank, means for creating and maintaining an inert cold zone, means for creating and maintaining a reaction-inducing hot zone, and means for controlling the temperature, size and location of said cold zone and said hot zone, comprising: a. filling said tank with cold fluid at a predetermined temperature, creating a cold zone; b. loading chemicals to be reacted into said tank; c. introducing hot fluid heated to a predetermined temperature into the bottom of said tank, wherein said hot fluid is more dense than said cold fluid; d. withdrawing a volume of cold fluid from the top of said tank simultaneously with the introduction of hot fluid at the bottom of said tank, with the volume of cold fluid being withdrawn substantially equal to the volume of said hot fluid being introduced; f. continuing steps c and d at a predetermined rate until all cold fluid has been withdrawn and replaced with hot fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a. continuously circulating said cold fluid within said cold zone; and b. continuously circulating said hot fluid within said hot zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising the steps of: a. maintaining the predetermined temperature of said cold fluid throughout said process; and b. maintaining the predetermined temperature of said hot fluid throughout said process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cold fluid has a temperature of from about -10°C to about 0°C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said hot fluid has a temperature of from about 35°C to about 85°C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of pressurizing said tank to a pressure of from about 40 pounds per square inch to about 200 pounds per square inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the step of using a substantially inert gas to pressurize said tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising the step of using nitrogen to pressurize said tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of: a. increasing the temperature of said hot fluid after said tank is filled with said hot fluid; and b. continuing to circulate said hot fluid for an additional predetermined time until the products of reaction are cured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said increased temperature is in the range of from about 90°C to about 120°C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said additional predetermined time is from about 1 hour to about 4 hours.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of forming a light conduit of polymer or co-polymer material comprising: a. mixing a quantity of monomers; b. filling a tube with a mixture of monomers; and c. cooling said mixture filled tube to prevent polymerization; d. heating said tube progressively from one end to the other.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of forming a light conduit of polymer or co-polymer material comprising: a. mixing a quantity of monomers; b. filling a tube with a mixture of monomers; and c. cooling said mixture filled tube to prevent polymerization; d. heating said tube progressively from one end to the other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said monomers include at least one monomer selected from the group of multifunctional monomers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of mixing a quantity of a cross-linking agent with said monomers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said cross-linking agent is selected from the group of diallyl phthalate, 1,3-butylene dimethacrylate, and trimethylpropane trimethacrylate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of mixing a quantity of an initiator with said monomers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said initiator is selected from the group of efficient initiators.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of mixing a quantity of a chain transfer agent with said monomers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said chain transfer agent is selected from the group of mercaptans.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A composition of matter comprising the products of reaction resulting from mixing and heating: a. at least one monomer comprising from about 20 to 160 parts by volume; b. a cross-linking agent comprising from about 1 to about 80 parts by volume; c. a chain transfer agent consisting of from about 0.5 to 5 parts by volume.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
A composition of matter comprising the products of reaction resulting from mixing and heating: a. at least one monomer comprising from about 20 to 160 parts by volume; b. a cross-linking agent comprising from about 1 to about 80 parts by volume; c. a chain transfer agent consisting of from about 0.5 to 5 parts by volume.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition of matter in accordance with claim 23 wherein said monomer consists of about 50 to 80 parts of methyl methacrylate, and about 20 to 80 parts of n-butyl methacrylate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A composition of matter in accordance with claim 23 wherein said cross-linking agent consists of diallyl phthalate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition of matter in accordance with claim 23 wherein said chain transfer agent consists of a chain transfer agent selected from the group of mercaptans.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition of matter in accordance with claim 23 wherein said chain transfer agent consists of n-butyl mercaptan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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