US3853500A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for degassing viscous liquids and removing gas bubbles suspended therein
Assignee: Ilford Imaging Switzerland GmbH
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Filing: 1973-01-22
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for degassing viscous liquids and removing gas bubbles suspended therein is provided, the method comprising allowing a liquid to flow into a gas tight vessel which is under reduced pressure, the liquid first passing an apertured partition which causes many more small bubbles to form in the liquid before it passes into the partially or fully evacuated vessel. The liquid therein is subject to ultrasonic vibrations which coagulates the numerous small bubbles with each other and with other bubbles causing them to rise to the surface of the liquid where they are drawn off by a vacuum pump.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gassmann
- 👤 C Chen
- 👤 M Vermot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:30
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0073; B01D19/0078; B01D19/0063; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/25; B29C48/36; B29C48/50; B29C48/76; B29C48/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A METHOD OF DEGASSING VISCOUS LIQUIDS AND FOR REMOVING GAS BUBBLES SUSPECTED THEREIN, SAID METHOD COMPRISING: PASSING THE LIQUID THROUGH AN APERTURED PARTITION TO DEGAS AND FORM BUBBLES IN THE LIQUID, THE AREA OF THE APERTURE BEING A MAXIMUM OF ONE-FIFTH THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE STREAM OF LIQUID INTRODUCED TO SAID PARTITION; PASSING THE LIQUID, WITHOUT REMOVING GAS BUBBLES THEREFROM, FROM THE PARTITION INTO A GAS TIGHT VESSEL; REDUCING THE PRESSURE INSIDE THE VESSEL SUCH THAT THE LIQUID FLOW THROUGH THE APERTURE DUE TO SUCH PRESSURE REDUCTION AVERAGED OVER THE CROSS-SECTION THEREOF, IS BETWEEN 3 AND 10 METRES PER SECOND; AN AGITATING THE LIQUID BY SUBJECTING IT TO ULTRASONIC VIBRATIONS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A METHOD OF DEGASSING VISCOUS LIQUIDS AND FOR REMOVING GAS BUBBLES SUSPECTED THEREIN, SAID METHOD COMPRISING: PASSING THE LIQUID THROUGH AN APERTURED PARTITION TO DEGAS AND FORM BUBBLES IN THE LIQUID, THE AREA OF THE APERTURE BEING A MAXIMUM OF ONE-FIFTH THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE STREAM OF LIQUID INTRODUCED TO SAID PARTITION; PASSING THE LIQUID, WITHOUT REMOVING GAS BUBBLES THEREFROM, FROM THE PARTITION INTO A GAS TIGHT VESSEL; REDUCING THE PRESSURE INSIDE THE VESSEL SUCH THAT THE LIQUID FLOW THROUGH THE APERTURE DUE TO SUCH PRESSURE REDUCTION AVERAGED OVER THE CROSS-SECTION THEREOF, IS BETWEEN 3 AND 10 METRES PER SECOND; AN AGITATING THE LIQUID BY SUBJECTING IT TO ULTRASONIC VIBRATIONS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the partition is so formed as to provide an aperture the area of which is between 1/5th and 1/100th of the cross-sectional area of the stream of liquid introduced to said partition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for degassing viscous liquids and for removing gas bubbles suspended therein, comprising a closed gas-tight vessel, a liquid reservoir, a liquid supply conduit leading from the reservoir to the vessel, a partition within said conduit defining an aperture having a cross-sectional area which is at maximum one-fifth of the inside cross-sectional area of the supply conduit, an evacuation conduit connected to the top part of the vessel, a vacuum pump connected to the evacuation conduit for reducing the pressure inside the vessel in such an amount that the liquid flow through the aperture due to such pressure reduction averaged over the cross-section thereof is abOut 3 to 10 metres per second, an emptying conduit leading from the bottom part of the vessel, a feed pump connected to said emptying conduit to remove degassed liquid from the vessel, and at least one ultrasonic oscillator coupled to the vessel to agitate the liquid therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for degassing viscous liquids and for removing gas bubbles suspended therein, comprising a closed gas-tight vessel, a liquid reservoir, a liquid supply conduit leading from the reservoir to the vessel, a partition within said conduit defining an aperture having a cross-sectional area which is at maximum one-fifth of the inside cross-sectional area of the supply conduit, an evacuation conduit connected to the top part of the vessel, a vacuum pump connected to the evacuation conduit for reducing the pressure inside the vessel in such an amount that the liquid flow through the aperture due to such pressure reduction averaged over the cross-section thereof is abOut 3 to 10 metres per second, an emptying conduit leading from the bottom part of the vessel, a feed pump connected to said emptying conduit to remove degassed liquid from the vessel, and at least one ultrasonic oscillator coupled to the vessel to agitate the liquid therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture of the partition is at least one/hundredth of the inside cross-sectional area of the supply conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional area of the aperture of the partition is between approximately one/tenth and one/thirtieth of the inside cross-sectional area of the supply conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein at least the front edge of the partition aperture as considered in the direction of flow is angular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, including a liquid level sensor within the vessel for sensing a predetermined level of liquid within said vessel, a valve disposed in the supply conduit, and a switch coupled to the valve and sensor so that operation of the latter on sensing said predetermined level actuates said valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the supply conduit leads into the vessel below said predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the discharge end of the supply conduit lies on the centre axis of the vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the emptying conduit leads from the centre of the vessel base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, in which a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators are distributed around the point where the vessel discharges into the emptying conduit.
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 |