US3731647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for processing containers
Assignee: Oxy Metal Finishing Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for simultaneously treating and conveying container-like workpieces in which the workpieces are introduced and entrained in aligned orientation in a confined stream of a selected treating fluid and are subsequently extracted therefrom and whereafter, if desired, the workpieces are successively introduced into separate succeeding confined streams of alternative selected treating fluids to effect a multiple stage treatment thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 L Mimbiole
- 👤 C Clark
- 👤 J Neumann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:12
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05C; B05C3/00; B05C3/02; B05C3/09; B05C3/10; B65; B65G; B65G49/00; B65G49/02; B65G49/04; B65G49/0409; B65G49/0436; B65G49/0495; C; C23; C23F; C23F1/00; C23F1/08; C23G; C23G3/00; C25; C25D; C25D17/00; C25D17/16; C25D17/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for treating elongated containerlike workpieces comprising an elongated conduit having a cross-sectional size to receive a workpiece in guided clearance relationship with respect to the inner surface of said conduit, nozzle means for introducing a treating fluid into said conduit in a direction angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of said conduit to impart a helical flow pattern to said fluid and to form a centrally extending vortex along at least a portion of the length of said conduit, means for introducing a workpiece into said conduit in longitudinally-oriented relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of said conduit for entrainment in said fluid and rotation thereby and conveyance therealong substantially in response to the flow of said fluid through said conduit, said fluid performing a treatment on a workpiece during the course of its travel through said conduit, and disengaging means for extracting a workpiece from said conduit and said treating fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for treating elongated containerlike workpieces comprising an elongated conduit having a cross-sectional size to receive a workpiece in guided clearance relationship with respect to the inner surface of said conduit, nozzle means for introducing a treating fluid into said conduit in a direction angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of said conduit to impart a helical flow pattern to said fluid and to form a centrally extending vortex along at least a portion of the length of said conduit, means for introducing a workpiece into said conduit in longitudinally-oriented relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of said conduit for entrainment in said fluid and rotation thereby and conveyance therealong substantially in response to the flow of said fluid through said conduit, said fluid performing a treatment on a workpiece during the course of its travel through said conduit, and disengaging means for extracting a workpiece from said conduit and said treating fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means for recirculating at least a portion of said treating fluid through said conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said conduit is formed with an inlet and with an outlet longitudinally spaced from said inlet for introducing said fluid into said conduit and for discharging said fluid from said conduit, respectively; said inlet and said outlet located remotely from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said conduit is formed with an inlet and an outlet longitudinally-spaced therealong for introducing said fluid into said conduit and for discharging said fluid from said conduit, respectively; said conduit having a configuration wherein said inlet and said outlet are disposed substantially contiguous to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of conduits each having an inlet and an outlet and individual means for introducing a separate treating fluid to each individual conduit, said conduits arranged to effect a successive treatment and conveyance of a workpiece through said conduits in an ordered sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said nozzle means for introducing said treating fluid into said conduit includes means for introducing said fluid at a plurality of locations along the length of said conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduit is formed with means along at least a portion of the interior surface thereof for imparting a controlled flow pattern to said treating fluid traveling therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduit includes means along at least a portion of the interior surface thereof for imparting a helical flow pattern to at least a portion of said fluid traveling therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduit is formed with a return bend for conducting said treating fluid and a workpiece through said conduit and wherein said means for introducing a workpiece and said disengaging means are located proximately to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is formed with arcuate convolutions therealong.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one portion of said conduit is disposed in vertically spaced relationship relative to a second portiOn of said conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is disposed underground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for introducing a workpiece into said conduit comprises an inductor including a tube having its outlet ends disposed in communication with said conduit and nozzle means for introducing at least a portion of said treating fluid in the form of a high pressure spiral stream through said tube effecting the drawing of a workpiece into said tube for entrainment in said fluid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said disengaging means comprises an outlet formed in said conduit and foraminous extension means disposed in communication with said outlet for maintaining a workpiece in guided travel upon emergence from the outlet of said conduit and enabling escape of said treating fluid therethrough and separation from a workpiece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said treating fluid is a liquid for performing a chemical treatment on a workpiece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a reservoir for said treating fluid and pumping means for recirculating said fluid from said reservoir through said conduit and back to said reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a reservoir for storing said treating fluid for transfer therefrom to said conduit and back to said reservoir, and replenishing means associated with said reservoir for maintaining the composition of said treating fluid within a preselected range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the length of said conduit and the longitudinal velocity of said treating fluid are correlated to provide a predetermined residence time of a workpiece in said conduit to provide the prescribed duration of treatment thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including control means for controlling the velocity of said treating fluid passing through said conduit for providing a preselected residence time of a workpiece in said conduit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means for maintaining the temperature of said treating fluid within a preselected range.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said treating fluid is a gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5, further including propelling means for advancing a workpiece from the outlet of one said conduit to the inlet of the next said conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5, further including control means for regulating the longitudinal velocity of said treating fluid in each of said conduits to maintain the velocity of said treating fluid at least equal to or greater than the velocity of the treating fluid in a preceding conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which a workpiece consists of an aluminum container which is conveyed through each said conduit for providing a chemical conversion coating on the surfaces thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said individual conduits are arranged so as to provide a sequential cleaning treatment, rinse treatment, chromate conversion coating treatment and final rinse treatment of the aluminum container employing an aqueous cleaning solution, aqueous rinsing solution, aqueous chromate coating solution and aqueous rinse solution as a separate treating fluid in each said conduit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |