US3769176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for microbial fermentation in a zero gravity environment
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-17
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract The growth of micro-organisms, including cells, molds, yeasts, bacteria and the like, under conditions of substantially zero gravity, is accomplished in a closed system maintained within a space vehicle in orbital flight including mechanisms for supplying oxygen of an optimum bubble size range and number density of bubbles, to a suitable culture medium, continuously dialyzing the culture medium of the micro-organism suspension against an excess of fresh culture medium to remove metabolites and replenish nutrients, supplying additional growth medium to the culture as needed, and recovering desired products of the fermentation, including, for example, enzymes, steroids and pharmaceuticals.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hise
- 👤 R Jordan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:35
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/40; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/06; C12M27/00; C12M29/00; C12M29/04; C12M29/06; C12M29/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein: said fermenter means comprises a generally cylindrical fermenter tank; and said semi-permeable membrane means for removing carbon dioxide comprises a coaxially extending membrane positioned within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter tank and slightly spaced from the inner wall thereof to provide a narrow cylindrical passage for the accumulation of carbon dioxide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a micro-organism reservoir and means for supplying microorganisms from said micro-organism reservoir to said fermenter means; and a growth substrate supply reservoir and means for supplying growth substrate from said growth substrate supply reservoir to said fermenter means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing oxygen into the interior of said fermenter means comprises: at least one capillary oxygen sparger positioned within the interior of said fermenter means for supplying oxygen to said fermenter means in the form of fine bubbles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fermenter means comprises: a generally cylindrical fermenter tank operable to contain a liquid culture suspension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for providing circulation comprises: at least two paddle wheel agitator means coaxially positioned within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter tank for providing circulation of a liquid culture suspension within said fermenter tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein: said first dialysis means comprises dialysis tubes positioned within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel; and said second dialysis means comprises dialysis tubes positioned within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein: said first and second dialysis tubes are positioned to be generally longitudinally extending within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel in a back and forth posture to provide a large area transfer surface within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein: said generally longitudinally extending first dialysis tubes connected to said nutrient supply reservoir are alternately interspaced with said generally longitudinally extending second dialysis tubes connected to said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 and wherein: said means for providing circulation includes at least two paddle wheel agitators coaxially positioned within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter tank; and said first and second dialysis tubes extend geneRally longitudinally about the periphery of said paddle wheel agitators whereby the liquid culture suspension within said fermenter vessel is freely circulated around said first and second dialysis tubes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
293 words
Apparatus for conducting the propagation and growth of micro-organisms in a substantially zero gravity environment and for the recovery of fermentation products therefrom comprising: a. a generally cylindrical fermenter tank operable to contain a liquid culture suspension; b. paddle wheel agitator means coaxially longitudinally extending within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter tank for providing circulation of a liquid culture suspension within said fermenter tank; c. a nutrient supply reservoir; d. nutrient supply dialysis tubes longitudinally extending within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel in a back and forth posture and adjacent to and about the outer periphery of said longitudinally extending paddle wheel agitator means to provide a large area transfer surface within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel; e. means connecting said nutrient supply dialysis tubes to said nutrient supply reservoir; f. means connected to said means connecting said dialysis tubes to said nutrient supply reservoir for circulating a nutrient between said nutrient supply reservoir and said nutrient supply dialysis tubes; g. a reservoir for accumulating metabolic products; h. metabolic products dialysis tubes connected to said fermenter tank; i. means connecting said metabolic products dialysis tubes to said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products; j. means connected to said means connecting said metabolic products dialysis tubes to said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products for conveying a fluid between said metabolic products dialysis tubes and said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products; k. means connected to said fermenter tank for introducing oxygen into the interior of said fermenter tank; l. means connected to said fermenter tank for removing carbon dioxide gas produced during a fermentation process; and m. a vessel connected to said cylindrical fermenter tank for removing and collecting micro-organism cells and fermentation products from said fermenter tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein: said metabolic products dialysis tubes connected to said fermenter tank, longitudinally extend within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter tank for accumulating metabolic products and being alternately spaced in a back and forth posture within the interior of the cylindrical fermenter tank with said nutrient supply dialysis tubes and being positioned about the periphery of said paddle wheel agitator means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
295 words
Apparatus for conducting the propagation and growth of micro-organisms in a substantially zero gravity environment and for the recovery of fermentation products therefrom comprising: a. a generally cylindrical fermenter tank operable to contain a liquid culture suspension; b. paddle wheel agitator means coaxially longitudinally extending within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter tank for providing circulation of a liquid culture suspension within said fermenter tank; c. a reservoir for accumulating metabolic products; d. metabolic products dialysis tubes longitudinally extending within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel in a back and forth posture and adjacent to and about the outer periphery of said longitudinally extending paddle wheel agitator means to provide a large area transfer surface within the interior of said generally cylindrical fermenter vessel; e. means connecting said metabolic products dialysis tubes to said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products; f. means connected to said means connecting said metabolic products dialysis tubes to said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products for circulating a fLuid between said reservoir for accumulating metabolic products and said metabolic products dialysis tubes; g. a nutrient supply reservoir; h. nutrient supply dialysis tubes connected to said fermenter tank; i. means connecting said nutrient supply dialysis tubes to said nutrient supply reservoir; j. means connected to said means connecting said nutrient supply dialysis tubes to said nutrient supply reservoir for conveying a nutrient between said nutrient supply reservoir and said nutrient supply dialysis tubes; k. means connected to said fermenter tank for introducing oxygen into the interior of said fermenter tank; l. means connected to said fermenter tank for removing carbon dioxide gas produced during a fermentation process; and m. a vessel connected to said cylindrical fermenter tank for removing and collecting micro-organism cells and fermentation products from said fermenter tank.
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) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |