US3653222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of freezing solution droplets and the like using immiscible refrigerants of differing densities
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-27
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-02-27
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure describes a system for the continuous formation of frozen droplets of an aqueous salt solution. The refrigerant consists of two or more immiscible liquids of substantially different densities. Liquid droplets are injected into the lower, denser medium in a region maintained slightly above the liquid''s freezing temperature. Heat is added to the lower medium and extracted from the upper medium at controlled rates. The droplets rise through the negative temperature gradient thus created in the lower medium, and through the turbulent interface between refrigerants. The frozen droplets are extracted from the surface of the upper medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene Blair Dunn
- 👤 Gerald James Masavage
- 👤 Harold Alfred Sauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:14
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/06; F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; F26; F26B; F26B5/00; F26B5/04; F26B5/06; F26B5/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
Method of freezing liquid droplets comprising injecting the droplets into a body of refrigerant, characterized in that the refrigerant comprises two mutually immiscible refrigerants of substantially differing densities, each refrigerant also being immiscible with, and more dense than, the liquid droplets, the droplets being injected into the denser refrigerant at a point where the temperature is slightly above the droplet freezing temperature said droplets after injection into the denser medium passing through the refrigerant of less density which is maintained below the droplet freezing temperature to freeze the droplets while passing there through.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method of claim 2 further characterized in that a temperature gradient is maintained in said body, varying from several degrees centigrade above the freezing temperature of the droplets at the injection point to substantially below said freezing temperature at the interface of the two refrigerants.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Method of claim 3 further characterized in that the densities of the refrigerants are chosen to promote interface turbulence with the application of a thermal gradient in said body, thus avoiding relatively quiescent, stagnant refrigerant layers at said interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Method of claim 3, further characterized in that the liquid droplets are a water solution of an ionizable material and one refrigerant is selected from each of groups A and B, where group A consists of trichloroethylene and 1, 2 dichloropropane, and group B consists of fluorocarbons selected from Freon structures having values of n from 1 to 5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method of claim 3, further characterized in that heat is applied to the denser refrigerant and extracted from the less dense refrigerant for control of said temperature gradient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method of claim 6, further characterized in that the density differential between said two refrigerants is in a range of from 0.30 to 0.50 grams/cc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method of claim 5 further characterized in that, for the region extending from the injection point to 2-3 inches above same, a negative temperature gradient in the range of 15*-20* C. per inch in maintained.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Method of claim 3, further characterized in that liquid droplets are a water solution of a nonionizable material and the refrigerants are selected, one from each of groups A and B, group A consisting of trichloroethylene and 1, 2 dichloropropane, and group B consisting of fluorocarbons selected from Freon structures having values n from 1 to 5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
Method of freezing liquid dispersions comprising injecting the liquid dispersion into the lower region of a body of immiscible refrigerant having a density greater than the liquid dispersion, characterized in that the refrigerant consists of a plurality of immiscible liquids each substantially differing in density, the liquid refrigerant in the region of injection being maintained at a temperature minimally above the freezing point of the liquid dispersion and the less dense refrigerants being maintained well below said point said droplets after injection into the denser medium passing through the refrigerant of less density which is maintained below the droplet freezing temperature to freeze the droplets while passing there through.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method of claim 10, characterized in that the liquid dispersion is a colloidal suspension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method of claim 10, characterized in that said refrigerant body comprises three liquids with the intermediate said liquid being maintained in a sharp negative temperature gradient by controlled exchange of heat with the adjoining two liquids.
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) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |