US3849196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic cleaning of resin
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1972-08-17
•
Granted: 1974-11-19
•
Expires: 1992-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of cleaning contaminated resins for reuse comprises establishing a countercurrent flow between the contaminated resin and a carrier fluid for carrying the removed contamination from the resin and applying ultrasonic energy to the countercurrent flow with the countercurrent flow being conducted so that a region of turbulence is achieved where the ultrasonic energy is applied. A cleaning apparatus has means for introducing a contaminated resin and means for introducing a carrier fluid to a treatment zone in a countercurrent flow, means for collecting cleaned resin from the treatment zone, means for removing the carrier fluid from the treatment zone, and ultrasonic energy means for applying an ultrasonic energy field to the countercurrent flow in the treatment zone.
Inventors
- 👤 J Halloway
- 👤 G Petersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:07
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J47/00; B01J47/02; B01J47/06; B01J49/00; B01J49/60; B08; B08B; B08B3/00; B08B3/04; B08B3/10; B08B3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A METHOD OF CLEANING CONTAMINATED ION EXCHANGE RESINS COMPRISING THE STEP OF A. INTRODUCING THE ION EXCHANGE RESIN AND A CARRIER FLUID TO A TREATMENT ZONE IN A COUNTERCURRENT FLOW SO THAT A TURBULENT CONDITION RESULTS IN THE TREATMENT ZONE AND A HYDRAULIC CLASSIFICATION OF THE RESIN PARTICLES IS ACHIEVED, B. SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING THE ULTRASONIC ENERGY ACROSS THE TREATMENT ZONE TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINATION FROM THE RESIN, C. COLLECTING THE CLEANED RESIN IN THE TREATMENT ZONE, D. REMOVING THE CARRIER FLUID CARRYING THE CONTAMINATION REMOVED FROM THE RESIN FROM THE TREATMENT ZONE AND E. EDUCTING THE CLEANED RESIN FROM THE TREATMENT ZONE IN A FLUID MEDIUM.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A METHOD OF CLEANING CONTAMINATED ION EXCHANGE RESINS COMPRISING THE STEP OF A. INTRODUCING THE ION EXCHANGE RESIN AND A CARRIER FLUID TO A TREATMENT ZONE IN A COUNTERCURRENT FLOW SO THAT A TURBULENT CONDITION RESULTS IN THE TREATMENT ZONE AND A HYDRAULIC CLASSIFICATION OF THE RESIN PARTICLES IS ACHIEVED, B. SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING THE ULTRASONIC ENERGY ACROSS THE TREATMENT ZONE TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINATION FROM THE RESIN, C. COLLECTING THE CLEANED RESIN IN THE TREATMENT ZONE, D. REMOVING THE CARRIER FLUID CARRYING THE CONTAMINATION REMOVED FROM THE RESIN FROM THE TREATMENT ZONE AND E. EDUCTING THE CLEANED RESIN FROM THE TREATMENT ZONE IN A FLUID MEDIUM.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of cleaning contaminated resin comprising the steps of a. continuously introducing a carrier fluid to a treatment zone, b. countercurrently contacting the contaminated resin and the carrier fluid in the treatment zone, c. controlling the countercurrent contacting of the resin and the carrier fluid to separAte particles of the resin sufficient to fluidize temporarily the particles in the carrier fluid in the treatment zone and achieve a hydraulic classification of the resin particles, d. applying ultrasonic energy to the treatment zone simultaneously with step (c) to remove the contamination from the resin giving a clean resin with the carrier fluid containing the contamination removed from the resin, e. removing the carrier fluid containing the contamination from the treatment zone, f. collecting the cleaned resin in one portion of the treatment zone to recover the particles temporarily fluidized in the treatment zone, and g. educting the cleaned resin from the treatment zone in a fluid medium.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of cleaning contaminated resin comprising the steps of a. continuously introducing a carrier fluid to a treatment zone, b. countercurrently contacting the contaminated resin and the carrier fluid in the treatment zone, c. controlling the countercurrent contacting of the resin and the carrier fluid to separAte particles of the resin sufficient to fluidize temporarily the particles in the carrier fluid in the treatment zone and achieve a hydraulic classification of the resin particles, d. applying ultrasonic energy to the treatment zone simultaneously with step (c) to remove the contamination from the resin giving a clean resin with the carrier fluid containing the contamination removed from the resin, e. removing the carrier fluid containing the contamination from the treatment zone, f. collecting the cleaned resin in one portion of the treatment zone to recover the particles temporarily fluidized in the treatment zone, and g. educting the cleaned resin from the treatment zone in a fluid medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 in which the ultrasonic energy is applied in the range of 18,000 to 50,000 cycles per second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 in which the carrier fluid is water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 in which the carrier fluid is water containing a water soluble alcohol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 in which the carrier fluid is water containing acetone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 where the resin to be cleaned is given multiple passes through the treatment zone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2973312A
Cited
GB824831A
Cited
US3222221A
Cited
US3235488A
Cited
US3398090A
Cited
US3723180A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |