Abstract Microparticle separation by ultrasonic screening in both batch and continuous operations and structure for accomplishing such operations. In the batch operation, particles to be cleaned and separated in accordance with their size are placed in a filter screen container, and the filter screen container is immersed in a water bath which is vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency so that the filter screen is maintained in a clean condition and the particles are scrubbed clean so as to pass readily through the filter screen under pressure. In the continuous microparticle separation operation, material is fed into a first chamber in which a vibrated water bath is maintained by water jets directed toward a vibrated filter screen separating a container into a first and second chamber. Filtered material and a portion of the water bath are withdrawn from the second chamber, and the rest of the water along with the residue of the material to be filtered are withdrawn from the first chamber. In both the batch and continuous methods, the water bath and/or filter medium are vibrated at between fifteen and sixty thousand hertz.
Inventors
👤 H Dietert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-28 23:42
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03B; B03B5/00; B03B5/02; B03B5/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
Structure for microparticle separation by ultrasonic screening under a pressure head in a batch operation comprising a first and a second water bath chamber defined by an outer container and a microparticle screen inner container positioned within the outer container having a bottom which is spaced from the bottom of the outer container with the inner container positioned within the outer container, a cross shaped member positioned on the bottom of the outer container on which the inner container is positioned to facilitate circulation of the water bath through the bottom of the inner container, means for producing a water bath flowing from the first of the chambers into the second chamber through the screen and out of the second chamber continuously, means for maintaining a pressure head in the first chamber during microparticle separation and means for vibrating the water bath at an ultrasonic frequency including a source of alternating electrical power, a vibrator connected to the source of electrical power for actuation thereby and connected to the bottom of the outer container to produce ultrasonic vibration thereof on actuation whereby a portion of the microparticles to be separated placed in the water bath in the one chamber all of which are of a size to pass through the screen are moved with the flow of the water bath through the screen and into the second chamber, and means for discharging the water bath and portion of the microparticles from the structure for microparticle separation including an overflow nozzle positioned adjacent the top of the outer container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
Structure for microparticle separation by ultrasonic screening under a pressure head in a batch operation comprising a first and a second water bath chamber defined by an outer container and a microparticle screen inner container positioned within the outer container having a bottom which is spaced from the bottom of the outer container with the inner container positioned within the outer container, a cross shaped member positioned on the bottom of the outer container on which the inner container is positioned to facilitate circulation of the water bath through the bottom of the inner container, means for producing a water bath flowing from the first of the chambers into the second chamber through the screen and out of the second chamber continuously, means for maintaining a pressure head in the first chamber during microparticle separation and means for vibrating the water bath at an ultrasonic frequency including a source of alternating electrical power, a vibrator connected to the source of electrical power for actuation thereby and connected to the bottom of the outer container to produce ultrasonic vibration thereof on actuation whereby a portion of the microparticles to be separated placed in the water bath in the one chamber all of which are of a size to pass through the screen are moved with the flow of the water bath through the screen and into the second chamber, and means for discharging the water bath and portion of the microparticles from the structure for microparticle separation including an overflow nozzle positioned adjacent the top of the outer container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
257 words
Structure for microparticle separation by ultrasonic screening under a pressure head in a continuous operation comprising a first water bath chamber for continually receiving microparticles placed therein and a second water bath chamber which chambers are formed by a container separated by a screen, means for producing a water bath flowing from the first of the chambers into the second chamber through the screen and out of the second chamber continuously, means for maintaining a pressure head in the first chamber during microparticle separation comprising water jets extending into the bottom of the first chamber, deflection means in the first chamber for deflecting the microparticles placed therein toward the screen in conjunction with the water jets, means for vibrating the water bath at an ultrasonic frequency comprising a source of alternating electrical power, vibrators positioned in the surface of the container parallel to the screen in contact with the water bath connected to the power source for providing vibrations at ultrasonic frequency on actuation whereby a portion of the microparticles to be separated placed in the water bath all of a size to pass through the screen are moved with the flow of the water bath through the screen and into the second chamber, and means for discharging the water bath and portion of the microparticles from the structure for microparticle separation including a drain for withdrawing part of the water bath from the first chamber and a drain for withdrawing the remainder of the water bath and the portion of the microparticles from the second chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
257 words
Structure for microparticle separation by ultrasonic screening under a pressure head in a continuous operation comprising a first water bath chamber for continually receiving microparticles placed therein and a second water bath chamber which chambers are formed by a container separated by a screen, means for producing a water bath flowing from the first of the chambers into the second chamber through the screen and out of the second chamber continuously, means for maintaining a pressure head in the first chamber during microparticle separation comprising water jets extending into the bottom of the first chamber, deflection means in the first chamber for deflecting the microparticles placed therein toward the screen in conjunction with the water jets, means for vibrating the water bath at an ultrasonic frequency comprising a source of alternating electrical power, vibrators positioned in the surface of the container parallel to the screen in contact with the water bath connected to the power source for providing vibrations at ultrasonic frequency on actuation whereby a portion of the microparticles to be separated placed in the water bath all of a size to pass through the screen are moved with the flow of the water bath through the screen and into the second chamber, and means for discharging the water bath and portion of the microparticles from the structure for microparticle separation including a drain for withdrawing part of the water bath from the first chamber and a drain for withdrawing the remainder of the water bath and the portion of the microparticles from the second chamber.