US3671018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bubble-blending particulate solids
Assignee: Union Carbide Corp
•
Filing: 1970-11-19
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-11-19
Abstract
Abstract Particulate solids such as normally solid polymer particles can be blended to achieve complete homogeneity in a storage vessel containing a volume up to about 10,000 cubic feet of resin by rapidly introducing gas bubbles at the base of the vessel. The gas is introduced through nozzles protruding from a plenum located at the bottom of the vessel with the nozzle orifices located parallel to the vessel walls adjacent to the plenum.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W Mckibben
- 👤 Robert C Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:44
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/40; B01F33/406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
a plenum centrally located at the bottom of said vessel arranged in registering relationship with the opening of said vessel;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
Device claimed in claim 1 wherein the storage vessel consists of a cylinder as the upper section super-imposed on a truncated cone serving as the lower section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
a plenum centrally located at the bottom of said vessel arranged in registering relationship with the opening of said vessel;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Device claimed in claim 2 wherein the cone is truncated in the vicinity of the vertex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
means for selectively closing the opening in said vessel;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
means for selectively closing the opening in said vessel;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
a source of pressurized gas communicating with said plenum;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
a source of pressurized gas communicating with said plenum;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Device claimed in claim 2 wherein the nozzles are about 1/2 inch to 4 inches in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device claimed in claim 2 wherein the nozzles are spaced at intervals of about 15* to 60* around the inner circumference of the truncated cone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
about 6 to about 26 nozzles having an internal diameter of about one-eighth inch to about one-half inch protruding from said plenum in communication with said pressured gas with from about 6 to 24 nozzles having their orifices oriented in an attitude parallel to those lower surfaces of said vessel adjacent to said plenum and with from 0 to about 2 nozzles having their orifices oriented in an attitude parallel to the central axis of said vertically oriented storage vessel; and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
about 6 to about 26 nozzles having an internal diameter of about one-eighth inch to about one-half inch protruding from said plenum in communication with said pressurized gas with from about 6 to 24 nozzles having their orifices oriented in an attitude parallel to those lower surfaces of said vessel adjacent to said plenum and with from 0 to about 2 nozzles having their orifices oriented in an attitude parallel to the central axis of said vertically oriented storage vessel; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
pressure means between said plenum and said source of pressurized gas which controls the velocity of gas passing through said nozzles in a continuous flow within a range of velocities sufficient to introduce gas bubbles into the mixture of solid particles in a random distribution, and b. passing gas from said gas source at ambient temperatures through the plenum nozzles at a velocity sufficient to cause bubbles of gas to rise through the mass of heterogeneous particles and to emerge from the top surface of said particles, until a homogeneous blend of said particles is obtained.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
pressure means between said plenum and said source of pressurized gas which controls the velocity of gas passing through said nozzles in a continuous flow within a range of velocities sufficient to introduce gas bubbles into the mixture of solid particles in a random distribution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method of converting a heterogeneous mixture of normally solid particles ranging in size from about 25 to 500 microns in diameter and having a density of about 10 to 50 pounds per cubic foot to a homogeneous mixture which comprises the steps of: a. containing said particles in a blending device comprising:
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method claimed in claim 6 wherein the storage vessel consists of a cylinder as the upper section super-imposed upon a truncated cone serving as the lower section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method claimed in claim 6 wherein the nozzles are about 1/2 inch to 4 inches in length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method claimed in claim 6 wherein the nozzles are spaced at intervals of about 15* to 60* around the inner circumference of the truncated cone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method claimed in claim 6 wherein the nozzles are symmetrically located on the plenum equidistant from one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method claimed in claim 6 wherein the gas is air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2292897A
Cited
US2723838A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |