US3811822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the expansion of expandable resin beads
Assignee: Artisan Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for the production of low-density expandable resin beads, which apparatus comprises: a vessel to contain the beads; an inlet to introduce beads to be expanded into the interior of the vessel; an outlet to discharge from the vessel the beads after expansion to the desired density; means to rotate the vessel and to move the beads in a path from the inlet to the outlet of the vessel; and means to heat the beads while in the vessel from one state to another desired expansion state. Baffles are spaced apart from the interior wall of the vessel, and the baffles which are in the path of the beads are adapted to control the residence time of the beads as they move from the inlet to the outlet and of the vessel, and to maintain the beads as they move from the inlet to the outlet in a substantially uniform condition of expansion.
Inventors
- 👤 E Cherenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:20
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/34; B29C44/3461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
In a process for the expansion of expandable polymeric bead material from one state to another state of greater expansion in an apparatus which comprises in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed vessel having an interior wall surface, the wall surface substantially free of structural impediments; b. an inlet to introduce beads to be expanded into the interior of the vessel; c. an outlet to remove expanded beads from the interior of the vessel after expansion to the desired density; d. means to rotate the vessel about its axis; e. means to heat the beads while in the vessel from one expandable state to a desiRed expanded state; and f. a plurality of paddle-like baffle elements, each baffle element adapted to rotate in a circumferential path with the axial rotation of the vessel, the baffle elements spaced apart from the interior wall surface of the vessel, the baffle elements generally positioned to present the paddle-like surface of the baffle elements toward or away from the flow path of the resin beads as they move through the interior of the vessel from the inlet to the outlet, whereby polymeric bead material to be expanded in the apparatus moves in a flow path from the inlet to the outlet of the vessel, and is expanded progressively in such flow path by heat while the vessel is rotating, the improvement which comprises: moving the polymeric bead material to be expanded substantially unimpeded along the interior wall surface of the vessel while the vessel is rotating; and moving the expanded polymeric bead material past the rotating paddle-like surface of the baffle elements as the bead material moves and is expanded progressively to the desired state of expansion from the inlet to the outlet of the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
In a process for the expansion of expandable polymeric bead material from one state to another state of greater expansion in an apparatus which comprises in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed vessel having an interior wall surface, the wall surface substantially free of structural impediments; b. an inlet to introduce beads to be expanded into the interior of the vessel; c. an outlet to remove expanded beads from the interior of the vessel after expansion to the desired density; d. means to rotate the vessel about its axis; e. means to heat the beads while in the vessel from one expandable state to a desiRed expanded state; and f. a plurality of paddle-like baffle elements, each baffle element adapted to rotate in a circumferential path with the axial rotation of the vessel, the baffle elements spaced apart from the interior wall surface of the vessel, the baffle elements generally positioned to present the paddle-like surface of the baffle elements toward or away from the flow path of the resin beads as they move through the interior of the vessel from the inlet to the outlet, whereby polymeric bead material to be expanded in the apparatus moves in a flow path from the inlet to the outlet of the vessel, and is expanded progressively in such flow path by heat while the vessel is rotating, the improvement which comprises: moving the polymeric bead material to be expanded substantially unimpeded along the interior wall surface of the vessel while the vessel is rotating; and moving the expanded polymeric bead material past the rotating paddle-like surface of the baffle elements as the bead material moves and is expanded progressively to the desired state of expansion from the inlet to the outlet of the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 which includes: adjusting the position of the surface of the paddle elements to control the residence time of the bead material in the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 which includes: introducing steam into the interior of the vessel to heat the beads to the desired state of expansion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a chute at the outlet end of the vessel, the chute extending diagonally and upwardly into the flow path of the expanded bead material at the outlet of the vessel, and wherein the process includes: removing expanded bead material from the interior of the vessel by extending the chute into the flow path of the expanded material within the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes the baffle elements arranged in a series of separate planes within the vessel, the planes generally perpendicular to the axis of the vessel and the flow path of the bead material, the process which includes: positioning the surface of the paddle elements in each plane to retard the advancement of the bead material in the inlet half of the vessel, and to enhance the advancement of the bead material in the second outlet half of the vessel, and moving the bead material past the series of planes in the flow path of the bead material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes the baffle elements arranged in a series of separate planes within the vessel, the planes generally perpendicular to the axis of the vessel and the flow path of the bead material, the process which includes: positioning the surface of the paddle elements in one plane with respect to the axis of the vessel differently from the surface of the paddle elements of the following plane to control the residence time of the bead material within the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 which includes: positioning the paddle-like surface of the baffle elements at an angle from about 30* to 60* from the plane perpendicular to the axis of the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of radially extending thin rod elements, one end of the rod elements secured to the interior wall of the vessel, and the baffle elements secured to the other end of the rod elements, and wherein the vessel is cylindrical and the interior wall surface free of any structure other than the rod-like elements, which process includes: moving the bead material to be expanded along the interior wall surface of the vessel free of impediments other than the rod elements, and past the surface of the paddle elements secured to the rod elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 which includes employing as the bead material an expandable polystyrene bead material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 1 which includes expanding the bead material as it moves from the inlEt to the outlet of the vessel from a density of about 30 to 50 pounds per cubic feet to from about 0.5 to 1 pound per cubic feet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 which includes storing the beads expanded in the vessel, and, thereafter, heating the beads to expand them to a lower density.
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) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |