US3853478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solute metering apparatus
Assignee: Pactide Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-22
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1992-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for and method of feeding a solute into a stream of solvent at an accurately predetermined and variable rate. A solute such as an acid for treating water to prevent scale formation is disposed in a container in solid form. The interior of the container communicates with a supply of heated and deaerated distilland via a conduit blocked by a predetermined variable area microporous membrane. The heated and deaerated distilland is circulated in contact with one side of the membrane and diffuses therethrough whereby the solute dissolves therein to form a concentrated aqueous acid solution. The concentrated acid solution is permitted to diffuse back through the membrane and mix with the distilland to control the pH thereof. The solute concentration within the acid solution in the container is maintained generally constant and means are provided for indicating a change in solute concentration.
Inventors
- 👤 F Rodgers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:49
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D3/00; B01D3/02; B01J; B01J4/00; B01J4/02; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/685; C02F1/688; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A SOLUTE INTO A SOLVENT, INCLUDING SOLVENT HOLDING MEANS; SOLUTE HOLDING MEANS; MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING LIQUID BETWEEN SAID HOLDING MEANS, MEMBRANE MEANS HAVING MICROSCOPIC THROUGH PORES DISPOSED IN CLOSING RELATION ACROSS SAID COMMUNICATING MEANS SUCH THAT IT MAY CONTACT SAID SOLVENT ON ONE SIDE AND A SOLUTION OF SAID SOLUTE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, SAID MEMBRANE PORES BEING FILLED WITH A LIQUID INCLUDING SAID SOLVENT FOR PERMITTING SAID SOLVENT AND SAID SOLUTE SOLUTIN TO DIFFUSE THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE, AND MEANS FOR VARYING THE AREA OF SAID MEMBRANE MEANS THAT MAY BE BROUGHT IN CONTACT WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SOLUTE SOLUTION AND SOLVENT TO VARY THE RATE OF DIFFUSION OF A SOLUTION OF SAID SOLUTE THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE MEANS; SAID AREA VARYING MEANS INCLUDES FRANGIBLE MEANS FOR SHEILDING A PREDETERMINED AREA OF MEMBRANE SURFACE FROM SAID SOLVENT, WHEREBY SAID FRANGIBLE SHEILDING MEANS MAY BE BROKEN OPEN TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED CHANGE IN THE RATE AT WHICH SAID SOLUTE SOLUTION MAY BE FED TO SAID SOLVENT HOLDING MEANS, SAID FRANGIBLE MEANS FOR SHEILDING INCLUIDNG A PLURALITY OF NIPPLE-LIKE STRUCTURES EACH HAVING A SEALED END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SOLVENT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SOLUTION OF SAID SOLUTE VIA SAID MEMBRANE MEANS, WHEREBY SAID SOLVENT AND SAID SOLUTE SOLUTION MAY DIFFUSE THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE MEANS AT A CONTROLLED RATE AS A FUNCTION OF THE NUMBER OF SEALED NIPPLE-LIKE ENDS WHICH ARE OPENED.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A SOLUTE INTO A SOLVENT, INCLUDING SOLVENT HOLDING MEANS; SOLUTE HOLDING MEANS; MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING LIQUID BETWEEN SAID HOLDING MEANS, MEMBRANE MEANS HAVING MICROSCOPIC THROUGH PORES DISPOSED IN CLOSING RELATION ACROSS SAID COMMUNICATING MEANS SUCH THAT IT MAY CONTACT SAID SOLVENT ON ONE SIDE AND A SOLUTION OF SAID SOLUTE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, SAID MEMBRANE PORES BEING FILLED WITH A LIQUID INCLUDING SAID SOLVENT FOR PERMITTING SAID SOLVENT AND SAID SOLUTE SOLUTIN TO DIFFUSE THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE, AND MEANS FOR VARYING THE AREA OF SAID MEMBRANE MEANS THAT MAY BE BROUGHT IN CONTACT WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SOLUTE SOLUTION AND SOLVENT TO VARY THE RATE OF DIFFUSION OF A SOLUTION OF SAID SOLUTE THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE MEANS; SAID AREA VARYING MEANS INCLUDES FRANGIBLE MEANS FOR SHEILDING A PREDETERMINED AREA OF MEMBRANE SURFACE FROM SAID SOLVENT, WHEREBY SAID FRANGIBLE SHEILDING MEANS MAY BE BROKEN OPEN TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED CHANGE IN THE RATE AT WHICH SAID SOLUTE SOLUTION MAY BE FED TO SAID SOLVENT HOLDING MEANS, SAID FRANGIBLE MEANS FOR SHEILDING INCLUIDNG A PLURALITY OF NIPPLE-LIKE STRUCTURES EACH HAVING A SEALED END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SOLVENT AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SOLUTION OF SAID SOLUTE VIA SAID MEMBRANE MEANS, WHEREBY SAID SOLVENT AND SAID SOLUTE SOLUTION MAY DIFFUSE THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE MEANS AT A CONTROLLED RATE AS A FUNCTION OF THE NUMBER OF SEALED NIPPLE-LIKE ENDS WHICH ARE OPENED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the hydrostatic pressure of the solvent on one side of said membrane means approximates the hydrostatic pressure of the solute solution on the other side thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2, further including means for maintaining the solute concentration on one side of said membrane means generally constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention according to claim 3, wherein said concentration maintaining means includes a quantity of excess solute other than in solution with said solvent, whereby said excess solute may enter into solution with said solvent to maintain the solute solution concentration as said solute solution diffuses through said membrane means to said solvent holding means and said solvent diffuses through said membrane means to said solute holding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4, further including means disposed within said solute holding means for indicating the solute concentration in the solute solution therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as recited in claim 5, wherein said solute holding means includes transparent means for viewing said solute concentration indicating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as delineated in claim 6, wherein said solute concentration indicating means includes a hydrometric indicator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set out in claim 7, wherein said solute in said holding means is at least partly in solid from.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as stated in claim 8, wherein said solute in said solute container is initially in solid form and subsequently enters into solution with said solvent upon diffusion of said solvent into said solute container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said membrane means comprises a plurality of discrete membranes each disposed in a distinct one of said nipples.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |