US3790347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for remote handling of materials
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1971-12-30
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-12-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for remote handling of materials. A closed housing is provided with first and second containers and first and second reservoirs for holding materials to be mixed. The materials are transferable from the reservoirs to the first container; in which they are mixed. The mixed materials are then conveyed from the first container to the second container preferably by dumping the mixed materials into a funnel positioned over the second container. The second container is then moved to a second position for analysis of the mixed materials. For example, the materials may be ignited and the flame analyzed. Access, such as a sight port, is provided in the housing at the analysis position. The device provides a simple and inexpensive apparatus for safely mixing a pyrophoric material such as barium metal and an oxidizer such as molybdenum trioxide which together form a thermite type mixture that burns to produce a large quantity of heat and light.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fletcher
- 👤 R Kimball
- 👤 D Hodder
- 👤 W Wrinkle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:27
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L99/00; G; G21; G21F; G21F7/00; G21F7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for controlling the atmosphere in said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said atmosphere controlling means comprises means for evacuating said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes access means adjacent said material analysis position for access to said position from outside said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said housing is opaque and wherein said access means comprises a transparent sight port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said transparent sight port comprises a rotatable transparent member adjacent the housing and means for rotating said member for maintaining visibility of said material handling position by moving clean portions of said transparent member into an optical path through said sight port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including chute means interposed between said first container and said second container when said second container is positioned in said material receiving position, the discharge opening of said chute means being positioned adjacent an opening in said second container for conveying material into said second container and the entry opening of said chute means being positioned below said first container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for agitating said chute means to facilitate transfer of said first and second materials to said second container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said chute means is positioned to contact said second container when said second container is positioned in said material receiving position and wherein said agitating means comprises means for vibrating said second container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said chute means contacts said first container when said first container is positioned in said material discharging position whereby the agitation imparted to said chute means is also imparted to said first containEr.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said chute mean comprises a funnel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first container is moveable from a material receiving position for receiving materials from said first and second reservoirs to a material discharging position wherein said material is discharged to said material transferring means, and wherein said apparatus includes means for moving said first container from said material receiving position to said material discharging position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first container is further moveable from said material discharging position to said material receiving position, and said apparatus includes means for moving said first container from said material discharging position to said material receiving position, and means for moving said material transferring means from a material transferring position between said first and second containers to a remote position spaced from said second container a distance sufficient to permit said second container to be moved from said material receiving position to said material analysis position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said first container is cylindrical and is vertically oriented in said material receiving position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first container is mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to its longitudinal axis, and wherein said means for moving said first container between said material receiving position and said material discharging position and for further moving said second container between said material discharging position and said material receiving position comprise means for moving said first container about said transverse axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said first container is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and is moveable about said transverse axis to a material mixing position wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined at an acute angle of from 20* to 70* with respect to the vertical, said apparatus including means for moving said first container from said material receiving position to said material mixing position and means for rotating said first container about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means for moving said first container from said material receiving position to said material mixing position comprises means for moving said first container about said transverse axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means for moving said material transferring means comprises a bail secured to said material transferring means and said first container includes a bail engaging member adapted to engage said bail on motion of said first container from said material discharging position to said material receiving position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second reservoir means comprise first and second receptacles positioned within said first container, said apparatus further including means for discharging the contents from said first and second receptacles into said first container.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said receptacles comprise inverted cup-shaped members, the cups releasably secured to the bottom of said first container, said material discharging means comprising means for moving said cup members vertically with respect to the bottom wall of said first container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing is opaque, said housing including means for visually observing mixing of said first and second materials in said first container.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a fixed support member, said second container being moveable from said material receiving position on one side of said fixed support member to said material analysis position on the other side of said fixed support member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said fixed suPport member extends substantially across the inside of said housing, said member including an aperture to accommodate the movement of said second container between said material receiving position and said material analysis position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said second container is pivotally mounted for motion through said aperture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means to ignite the materials within said second container when said second container is positioned at said material analysis position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 further including spectrograph means to analyze the ignition of said materials.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |