Patent US3590916A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3590916A
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US
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Thin film apparatus
Assignee: Luwa Ltd
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Filing: 1969-03-21
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-03-21
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of fluent or flowable materials in a treatment compartment. A treatment member serves to spread or distribute the material to be treated in the form of a thin film upon the treatment wall of the treatment compartment. According to an important aspect of the invention, the treatment member comprises at least one spreader element for the material to be treated. Drive means serve to impart relative movement between the treatment member and the treatment wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold Mutzenberg
- 👤 Fritz Widmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:47
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D1/22; B01D1/222; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/076; Y10S165/078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of flowable material, comprising means providing a treatment compartment, a material inlet means and a material outlet means below said inlet means provided for said treatment compartment, wall means provided for said treatment compartment, said wall means being at least partially constructed as treatment wall means for the delivery or removal of heat, or both, a treatment member extending in close proximity to the region of said treatment wall means for spreading the material to be treated in the form of a substantially uniform thin film over said treatment wall means, said treatment member incorporating at least one spreader element for the material, said spreader element possessing a substantially ring-shaped configuration and being constructed as a closed ring member possessing a contact surface, said spreader element further including a conical wall portion directed towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, said conical wall portion thereof together with said treatment wall means forming an acute angle directed towards said material outlet means, and means for imparting relative movement between said treatment member and said treatment wall means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means providing said treatment compartment is formed and at least partially bounded by two substantially coaxially arranged cylinders, said wall means being defined by the outer wall of the inner situated cylinder, such outer wall forming said treatment wall means, means providing vapor withdrawal compartment means between said treatment member and the inner wall of the outer cylinder, said relative movement-imparting means displacing said treatment member axially with respect to said coaxially arranged cylinders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said spreader element possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and is constructed as a slotted ring member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said spreader element possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and is constructed as a slotted ring member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said conical wall portion widens in a direction towards said material inlet means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said spreader element is arranged substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of said treatment compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conical wall portion thereof together with said treatment wall means forming an acute angle directed towards said material outlet means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 8, whErein said conical wall portion of said spreader element cooperates with said treatment wall means to provide a partially bounded compartment serving as a collecting chamber for the material to be treated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the edge of said spreader element neighboring the apex of said acute angle is constructed as a curved contact surface means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said treatment wall means and a portion of said spreader element adjacent said contact surface means bounds a substantially ring-shaped throughflow opening, said through-flow opening in cross section being substantially nozzle shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said relative movement-imparting means incorporating a drive shaft operably associated with said spreader elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, further including lengthwise extending band means for operably interconnecting said spreader elements with one another, radial web means for securing said lengthwise extending band means with said drive shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, further including lengthwise extending band means for operably interconnecting said spreader elements with one another in groups, attachment hub means for securing said groups of spreader elements to said drive shaft, radially extending web means for connecting said attachment hub means with said groups of spreader elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said spreader elements includes a substantially conical wall portion, a substantially ring-shaped thickened portion means secured to the underside of each conical wall portion of said spreader elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each spreader element incorporates a substantially cylindrical closure portion, an upwardly substantially conically tapering wall portion, and a successive substantially cylindrical wall portion connecting with said cylindrical closure portion of each spreader element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including a further likewise conically tapering wall portion which cooperates with said upward conically tapering wall portion to form an annular compartment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said cylindrical wall portions is provided at its free edge with collecting groove means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein two neighboring spreader elements form a droplet separator means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said annular compartment provides return flow channel means for separated droplets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each spreader element possesses a conical wall portion widening in a direction towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, the upper free edge of said cylindrical closure portion of each spreader element being inwardly offset and said cylindrical closure portion being further provided with opening means, said conically widening wall portion of each spreader element possessing a collecting edge means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each spreader element includes a contact surface, said means for imparting relative movement displacing said treatment member up and down relative to said treatment compartment, said relative movement-imparting means additionally superimposing a rotational movement upon said up-and-down movement of said treatment member, with said contact surface of said spreader element extending in the direction of said rotational movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |