US3780956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid level control for pulping apparatus
Assignee: Hobart Manfacturing Co
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Filing: 1971-09-28
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1991-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A liquid level control is provided for a pulping apparatus, wherein the pulping apparatus is of the type that is adapted to receive waste and other debris, along with water, for abrading or otherwise comminuting the waste in a water medium within the pulper, and then for discharging a slurry formed thereby, wherein the liquid level within the pulper must continuously or periodically be replaced. A closed-ended vertically disposed line is tapped into the lower end of the pulper, and adapted to receive liquid therein, with air being trapped at the upper end of the vertically disposed member. The trapped air is adapted for actuating a switch, which in turn actuates a valve or other suitable means for controlling the amount of water or other liquid to be supplied to the pulper. A pressure gauge may also be provided at the upper end of the closed-ended tubular member, in order to give a visual indication of the pressure of the trapped air. Also, a restricter may be provided between the lower end of the vertically disposed tubular member and the trapped air at the upper end that actuates the switch, for the purpose of retarding fluctuations, or providing a dampening effect with respect to fluctuations attendant to substantially instantaneous reductions in water level and/or pressure within the pulper.
Inventors
- 👤 Miller B Monroe
- 👤 W Buckman
- 👤 E Warner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L25/00; F16L25/02; B; B02; B02C; B02C18/00; B02C18/0084; B02C18/0092; B02C25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A pulping apparatus for use in waste disposal comprising a tank having solid waste and liquid inlet means for containing waste in a liquid medium therein, with an impeller located at a lower end of and inwardly of the tank for abrading or comminuting waste in liquid into a slurry form with discharge means being provided at the lower end of the tank for effecting a slurry discharge, with a pressure responsive means for sensing the amount of water in the tnak, said pressure responsive means comprising a generally vertically disposed tubular member closed against atmospheric pressure, with its lower end being communicatively connected to a lower inner portion of said tank, adapted for receiving liquid from said tank therein for a distance determined by the liquid pressure thereat which in turn is dependent upon the amount of liquid thereabove in the tank, with the upper end of said tubular member having an air pressure operative switch means connected therewith and being adapted to respond to the pressure of air trapped in said closed-ended tubular member by liquid received therein from said tank, said liquid inlet means having liquid delivery control means operatively connected therewith, with means operatively connecting said switch means and said liquid delivery control means in response to operation of said switch means, whereby liquid level control in the tank may be maintained, including a restricter means between the lower end of said vertically disposed tubular member, and said switch means, for dampening the effect of tank liquid level fluctuations beyond said restricter means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A pulping apparatus for use in waste disposal comprising a tank having solid waste and liquid inlet means for containing waste in a liquid medium therein, with an impeller located at a lower end of and inwardly of the tank for abrading or comminuting waste in liquid into a slurry form with discharge means being provided at the lower end of the tank for effecting a slurry discharge, with a pressure responsive means for sensing the amount of water in the tnak, said pressure responsive means comprising a generally vertically disposed tubular member closed against atmospheric pressure, with its lower end being communicatively connected to a lower inner portion of said tank, adapted for receiving liquid from said tank therein for a distance determined by the liquid pressure thereat which in turn is dependent upon the amount of liquid thereabove in the tank, with the upper end of said tubular member having an air pressure operative switch means connected therewith and being adapted to respond to the pressure of air trapped in said closed-ended tubular member by liquid received therein from said tank, said liquid inlet means having liquid delivery control means operatively connected therewith, with means operatively connecting said switch means and said liquid delivery control means in response to operation of said switch means, whereby liquid level control in the tank may be maintained, including a restricter means between the lower end of said vertically disposed tubular member, and said switch means, for dampening the effect of tank liquid level fluctuations beyond said restricter means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means are provided for rotating said impeller to create turbulence and for causing entrainment of air particles in liquid at the lower end of said tank in the vicinity of the connection thereof to the lower end of said tubular member for entry of entrained air into the vertically disposed tubular member through liquid in the tubular member to replace a portion of the liquid in the vertically disposed tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said air pressure operative switch means includes a flexible diaphragm, movable dependent upon air pressure in the upper end of said tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including a pressure gauge operatively connected to the upper end of said vertically disposed tubular member for indicating the numerical pressure differential thereof above atmospheric pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said restricter means is of the air-permeable porous metal type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid delivery control means comprises a valve in said liquid inlet means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said valve is solenoid operated, with the solenoid being actuable by said switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
286 words
A pulping apparatus for use in forming solid material and liquid into a slurry, said apparatus comprising tank means for holding tHe solid material and a liquid medium therein, conduit means for conducting liquid medium to said tank means, valve means for controlling the flow of liquid medium through said conduit means to said tank means, impeller means for promoting the formation of a slurry of the solid material and liquid medium in said tank means, and detector means for detecting variations in the amount of the liquid medium in said tank means, said detector means including upwardly extending tube means for receiving liquid medium from said tank means in a lower portion of said tube means and for holding gas in an upper portion of said tube means at a pressure which varies as a function of variations in the amount of liquid medium in said tank means, said tube means having a lower end connected in fluid communication with the interior of said tank means and a closed upper end, sensor means for sensing a change in the pressure of the gas at a sensing location in the upper portion of said tube means for initiating operation of said valve means in response to a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location to thereby vary the amount of liquid medium in said tank means, and restricter means disposed in the upper portion of said tube means between an upper surface of the liquid medium in said tube means and said sensing location for dampening the effect of transient variations in the level of the liquid medium in said tank means on the pressure of the gas at said sensing location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
286 words
A pulping apparatus for use in forming solid material and liquid into a slurry, said apparatus comprising tank means for holding tHe solid material and a liquid medium therein, conduit means for conducting liquid medium to said tank means, valve means for controlling the flow of liquid medium through said conduit means to said tank means, impeller means for promoting the formation of a slurry of the solid material and liquid medium in said tank means, and detector means for detecting variations in the amount of the liquid medium in said tank means, said detector means including upwardly extending tube means for receiving liquid medium from said tank means in a lower portion of said tube means and for holding gas in an upper portion of said tube means at a pressure which varies as a function of variations in the amount of liquid medium in said tank means, said tube means having a lower end connected in fluid communication with the interior of said tank means and a closed upper end, sensor means for sensing a change in the pressure of the gas at a sensing location in the upper portion of said tube means for initiating operation of said valve means in response to a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location to thereby vary the amount of liquid medium in said tank means, and restricter means disposed in the upper portion of said tube means between an upper surface of the liquid medium in said tube means and said sensing location for dampening the effect of transient variations in the level of the liquid medium in said tank means on the pressure of the gas at said sensing location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
247 words
A pulping apparatus for use in forming solid material and liquid into a slurry, said apparatus comprising tank means for holding the solid material and a liquid medium therein, conduit means for conducting liquid medium to said tank means, valve means for controlling the flow of liquid medium through said conduit means to said tank means, impeller means for promoting the formation of a slurry of the solid material and liquid medium in said tank means, and detector means for detecting variations in the amount of the liquid medium in said tank means, said detector means including an upwardly extending tube having a lower end connected in fluid communication with the interior of said tank means and an upper portion, sensor means connected with the upper portion of said tube for detecting a change in the level of the liquid medium in the lower portion of said tube and for initiating operation of said valve means in response to a variation in the level of the liquid medium in the lower portion of said tube to thereby vary the amount of liquid medium in said tank means, and restricter means disposed in the upper portion of said tube between an upper surface of the liquid medium in said tube and said sensor means for dampening the effect of transient variations in the level of the liquid medium in said tank means on the gas medium in the upper portion of said tube adjacent to said sensor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
A pulping apparatus for use in forming solid material and liquid into a slurry, said apparatus comprising tank means for holding the solid material and a liquid medium therein, conduit means for conducting liquid medium to said tank means, valve means for controlling the flow of liquid medium through said conduit means to said tank means, impeller means for promoting the formation of a slurry of the solid material and liquid medium in said tank means, and detector means for detecting variations in the amount of the liquid medium in said tank means, said detector means including an upwardly extending tube having a lower end connected in fluid communication with the interior of said tank means and an upper portion, sensor means connected with the upper portion of said tube for detecting a change in the level of the liquid medium in the lower portion of said tube and for initiating operation of said valve means in response to a variation in the level of the liquid medium in the lower portion of said tube to thereby vary the amount of liquid medium in said tank means, and restricter means disposed in the upper portion of said tube between an upper surface of the liquid medium in said tube and said sensor means for dampening the effect of transient variations in the level of the liquid medium in said tank means on the gas medium in the upper portion of said tube adjacent to said sensor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |