Patent US3608869A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3608869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for blending liquid ingredients
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-28
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-05-28
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a system for automatically blending liquid ingredients which is useful to continuously or discontinuously provide blended products. A mixing vessel having an agitator is provided for blending the ingredients. Each of the liquid ingredients is admitted thereto in the form of a stream introduced at a uniform flow rate for a time interval proportional to the desired concentration in the product mixture of each respective ingredient. The individual time intervals of flow are kept small compared to the volume of the mixing vessel and are arranged sequentially so that ingredient segments of the product mixture are continuously added to the mixing vessel. The vessel is always maintained full by withdrawing the mixture at a rate equal to the rate at which the ingredients are added. Automatic time cycle control means and valves are provided so that the operating sequence can be rapidly performed and continuously repeated providing the capability of producing a continuous stream of the blended mixture. An output storage tank is provided which is fitted with a level controller which starts up and shuts down the blending system to meet varying output quantity demands of the blended products.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Woodle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:23
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/40; B01F23/49; B01F35/00; B01F35/80; B01F35/83; B01F35/833; G; G05; G05D; G05D11/00; G05D11/02; G05D11/13; G05D11/139; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S366/00; Y10S366/601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
388 words
A system for the automatic blending of a plurality of liquid ingredients from respective sources thereof to provide a mixture having predetermined desired concentrations therein of each of said liquid ingredients comprising: a. a mixing vessel including means for mixing said liquid ingredients therein to provide said mixture, and means for withdrawing a substantially continuous stream of the blended mixture from said mixing vessel; b. respective conduit means connected between each of a plurality of said sources of said liquid ingredients and said mixing vessel for carrying respective streams of each of said liquid ingredients from the respective ones of said sources to said mixing vessel, said conduit means providing each of said streams at substantially equal flow rates; c. automatically operable valve means mounted in each of said conduit means for selectively switching on and off each of said streams in response to respective control signals; d. a master time cycle control means having a respective control circuit means coupled to each of said automatically operable valve means for supplying said control signals to said valve means, said master time cycle control means being programmed to provide said control signals for actuating the respective valve means for opening each in turn for respective time intervals of flow of duration proportional to the respective desired concentration in said mixture of each said liquid ingredient, thereby depositing in said mixing vessel respective quantities of said liquid ingredients proportional to the respective desired concentrations thereof in said mixture timed to achieve the desired liquid mixture in said mixing vessel, said master time cycle control means providing said control signals in time sequence of operation such that said respective time intervals of flow of each of said respective streams substantially follow one another in time, said sequence of operation commencing with a first of said time intervals of flow of the first of said liquid ingredients and terminating with a last time interval of flow of the last of said liquid ingredients in said sequence, each of said liquid ingredients experiencing at least one time interval of flow during each operating cycle; and e. means sensitive to output quantity demands of said means for withdrawing said stream from said mixing vessel and coupled to said time cycle control for actuating the operating sequence thereof in response to such output quantity demands.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
388 words
A system for the automatic blending of a plurality of liquid ingredients from respective sources thereof to provide a mixture having predetermined desired concentrations therein of each of said liquid ingredients comprising: a. a mixing vessel including means for mixing said liquid ingredients therein to provide said mixture, and means for withdrawing a substantially continuous stream of the blended mixture from said mixing vessel; b. respective conduit means connected between each of a plurality of said sources of said liquid ingredients and said mixing vessel for carrying respective streams of each of said liquid ingredients from the respective ones of said sources to said mixing vessel, said conduit means providing each of said streams at substantially equal flow rates; c. automatically operable valve means mounted in each of said conduit means for selectively switching on and off each of said streams in response to respective control signals; d. a master time cycle control means having a respective control circuit means coupled to each of said automatically operable valve means for supplying said control signals to said valve means, said master time cycle control means being programmed to provide said control signals for actuating the respective valve means for opening each in turn for respective time intervals of flow of duration proportional to the respective desired concentration in said mixture of each said liquid ingredient, thereby depositing in said mixing vessel respective quantities of said liquid ingredients proportional to the respective desired concentrations thereof in said mixture timed to achieve the desired liquid mixture in said mixing vessel, said master time cycle control means providing said control signals in time sequence of operation such that said respective time intervals of flow of each of said respective streams substantially follow one another in time, said sequence of operation commencing with a first of said time intervals of flow of the first of said liquid ingredients and terminating with a last time interval of flow of the last of said liquid ingredients in said sequence, each of said liquid ingredients experiencing at least one time interval of flow during each operating cycle; and e. means sensitive to output quantity demands of said means for withdrawing said stream from said mixing vessel and coupled to said time cycle control for actuating the operating sequence thereof in response to such output quantity demands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for withdrawing said stream of the blended mixture froM said mixing vessel comprises a product withdrawal pump coupled to an exit opening of said mixing vessel for withdrawing therefrom said mixture, said pump having a control circuit coupled to said master time cycle control means and being responsive to a pump control signal provided by said master control means for causing said pump to operate substantially concurrent with said timed sequence of operation of said valve means for supplying said liquid ingredients to said mixing vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for withdrawing said stream of the blended mixture from said mixing vessel includes a temporary storage tank and means including a level controller responsive to the level of liquid in said storage tank and having output for providing a signal indicating the level of liquid in said tank and circuit means coupling the output of said level controller to said master time cycle control means for activating said master time cycle control means in response to a signal from said level controller to cause said master control means to activate said valve means for supplying said liquid ingredients to said mixing vessel in response to the level of the liquid in said temporary storage tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for withdrawing said stream of the blended mixture from said mixing vessel includes a temporary storage tank and means including a level controller responsive to the level of liquid in said storage tank and having output for providing a signal indicating the level of liquid in said tank and circuit means coupling the output of said level controller to said master time cycle control means for activating said master time cycle control means in response to a signal from said level controller to cause said master control means to activate said valve means for supplying said liquid ingredients to said mixing vessel in response to the level of the liquid in said temporary storage tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising circuit means coupled from said time cycle control means to the means for mixing said liquid ingredients in said mixing vessel and wherein said mixing means is responsive to a signal from said master control means for automatically turning said mixing means on and off in correlation with the introduction of said liquid ingredients into said mixing vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of circulation pumps respectively coupled to one of said sources of said liquid ingredients, said pumps being operatively positioned in said respective conduit means to provide a liquid circulation pressure in the respective streams from the respective sources of said liquid ingredients through said conduit to said mixing vessel, said pumps having control circuits coupled to said master control means over respective circuit paths and being responsive to signals supplied by said master control means for controlling the operation thereof in timed sequence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising circuit means coupled from said time cycle control means to the means for mixing said liquid ingredients in said mixing vessel and wherein said mixing means is responsive to a signal from said master control means for automatically turning said mixing means on and off in correlation with the introduction of said liquid ingredients into said mixing vessel.
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) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |