Patent US3859205A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3859205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for transporting fluid-entrainable particles
Assignee: Fort James Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-17
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1994-04-17
Abstract
Abstract Particles entrained in fluid are rapidly propelled through an elongated nozzle to an outlet where they contact a fluid barrier in the form of an air curtain which intersects the path of flow of the particles. Contact of the particles with the barrier subjects the particles to violent shock which, depending on the nature of particles being transported, will tend to break up or rupture the particles into constituent components. The air curtain, due to a ''''Coanda effect,'''' attaches itself to a flowattachment surface spaced from the curtain generator to move any particles entrained with the curtain in a second flow path along this surface. Other particles having sufficient inertia will penetrate the curtain so that particles are separated or classified, depending on the inertia they develop in the nozzle. If the particles are wet, and the entraining fluid is air, a drying of the particles also takes place.
Inventors
- 👤 Imants Reba
- 👤 Edward C Wolthausen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:51
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B7/00; B07B7/02; B07B7/08; B07B7/086; B07B7/0865; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S239/00; Y10S239/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for transporting and treating fluid-entrainable particles comprising: a. means defining a first flow path having inlet and outlet ends; b. means for advancing the particles with an entraining fluid along the first flow path from the inlet to the outlet end thereof; c. a fluid-curtain generator having a fluid-exit slit adjacent said outlet of said first flow path and additionally having means for providing fluid under pressure to said generator fluid-exit slit to form a high velocity fluid-curtain barrier intersecting said first flow path; and, d. a substantially curved flow-attachment surface spaced from said fluid-curtain generator fluid-exit slit across said first flow path and positioned in close enough proximity to said high velocity fluid-curtain for said high velocity fluid curtain, and any particles entrained thereby, to attach to said flow-attachment surface and to follow said flow-attachment surface due to the Coanda effect in a second flow path, whereby any particles entrained by said high velocity fluid-curtain will be separated from any other particles exiting from the first flow path outlet that have sufficiently higher inertial characteristics to permit their passage through said high velocity fluid curtain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for transporting and treating fluid-entrainable particles comprising: a. means defining a first flow path having inlet and outlet ends; b. means for advancing the particles with an entraining fluid along the first flow path from the inlet to the outlet end thereof; c. a fluid-curtain generator having a fluid-exit slit adjacent said outlet of said first flow path and additionally having means for providing fluid under pressure to said generator fluid-exit slit to form a high velocity fluid-curtain barrier intersecting said first flow path; and, d. a substantially curved flow-attachment surface spaced from said fluid-curtain generator fluid-exit slit across said first flow path and positioned in close enough proximity to said high velocity fluid-curtain for said high velocity fluid curtain, and any particles entrained thereby, to attach to said flow-attachment surface and to follow said flow-attachment surface due to the Coanda effect in a second flow path, whereby any particles entrained by said high velocity fluid-curtain will be separated from any other particles exiting from the first flow path outlet that have sufficiently higher inertial characteristics to permit their passage through said high velocity fluid curtain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first flow path is defined by internal surfaces of a first nozzle assembly, and said means for advancing the particles comprises means defining a first nozzle assembly fluid-exit slit located adjacent the inlet end of said first flow path to direct entraining fluid through said first nozzle assembly fluid-exit slit and along said internal surfaces in a direction from said inlet end to said outlet end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said internal surfaces converge from said first nozzle assembly fluid-exit slit to a throat portion and diverge from said throat portion to said outlet end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein means for adjusting the first nozzle assembly fluid-exit slit size is provided.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first flow path is defined by internal surfaces of a first nozzle assembly, and said flow-attachment surface comprises an external end of said first nozzle assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which further includes a shroud spaced outwardly from the external surface of the first nozzle assembly, said shroud and external surface together defining said second flow path having an inlet end in communication with the outlet end of said first flow path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the direction of flow in said second flow path extends opposite to the direction of flow in said first flow path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein means for adjusting said fluid-curtain generator fluid-exit slit size is provided.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second flow path is in communication with an external fluid source for providing additional fluid to further reduce particle-fluid concentration by entrainment of the additional fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for transporting and treating fluid entrainable particles comprising: a. a first nozzle assembly provided with internal and external particle-flow-directing surfaces, said internal surface having a particle inlet end and a particle outlet end and means for moving the particles in an entraining fluid in a first flow path from the inlet to the outlet end; b. a second nozzle assembly including means defining a fluid-exit slit positioned adjacent the outlet end of the first nozzle assembly, and means for directing the fluid through the slit to provide a fluid curtain moving in a direction intersecting the first flow path; c. said external particle-flow-directing surface of said first nozzle comprising a substantially curved external flow-attachment surface spaced from said fluid-curtain means and in close enough proximity thereto for said fluid curtain, and any particles entrained thereby, to follow said flow-attachment surface in a second flow path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for transporting and treating fluid entrainable particles comprising: a. a first nozzle assembly provided with internal and external particle-flow-directing surfaces, said internal surface having a particle inlet end and a particle outlet end and means for moving the particles in an entraining fluid in a first flow path from the inlet to the outlet end; b. a second nozzle assembly including means defining a fluid-exit slit positioned adjacent the outlet end of the first nozzle assembly, and means for directing the fluid through the slit to provide a fluid curtain moving in a direction intersecting the first flow path; c. said external particle-flow-directing surface of said first nozzle comprising a substantially curved external flow-attachment surface spaced from said fluid-curtain means and in close enough proximity thereto for said fluid curtain, and any particles entrained thereby, to follow said flow-attachment surface in a second flow path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the particle outlet end of said first nozzle assembly is annular in cross-sectional configuration, and external surfaces of the means defining the fluid-exit slit are generally cylindrical, and the slit is positioned in substantially the same place as that defined by the annular, particle-outlet end of the first nozzle assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first and second nozzle assemblies are adjustably supported relative to each other by means that permit adjustment of the position of the fluid-exit slit of the second nozzle assembly relative to the external flow-attachment surface of the first nozzle assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein a shroud is supported in spaced relationship from the external particle-flow-directing surface of the first nozzle assembly to define a boundary for said second flow path for any particles entrained by said fluid curtain to follow said flow-attachment surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 which further includes means for conveying any particles which penetrate the fluid curtain in a direction away from the second flow path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said conveying means includes means defining a second fluid-exit slit located on the opposite side of said fluid curtain from said first nozzle assembly for directing fluid in flow-attached relationship onto a second substantially curved external flow-attachment surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said conveying means includes a collector device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said collector device includes a curved, internal surface in communication with a conveying fluid inlet and a particle outlet for supplying conveying fluid in tangential flow to the internal surface in a direction leading from the inlet to the outlet and removing particles from the outlet with the conveying fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said conveying means includes first conveying means for conveying any particles having sufficient inertia supplied in said first nozzle to penetrate the fluid curtain without substantial deflection of the particles by said fluid curtain, and second conveying means for conveying particles having less inertia supplied in said first nozzle than said particles removed by said first conveying means, but greater inertia than particles which follow said flow-attachment surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of transporting and treating fluid-entrainable particles comprising: a. advancing the particles entrained in a fluid from an inlet to an outlet end of a first flow path; b. providing a high velocity fluid-curtain barrier which intersects the first flow path at the outlet end thereof by forcing a fluid through a slit communicating with said first flow path under pressure; and, c. directing the pressurized high velocity fluid curtain onto a substantially curved external flow-attachment surface receding from the curtain and spaced across the first flow path from said slit so that due to the Coanda effect said high speed fluid curtain and any particles entrained by said fluid curtain attach to the receding flow-attachment surface and are diverted along a second flow path defined by said flow-attachment surface.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of transporting and treating fluid-entrainable particles comprising: a. advancing the particles entrained in a fluid from an inlet to an outlet end of a first flow path; b. providing a high velocity fluid-curtain barrier which intersects the first flow path at the outlet end thereof by forcing a fluid through a slit communicating with said first flow path under pressure; and, c. directing the pressurized high velocity fluid curtain onto a substantially curved external flow-attachment surface receding from the curtain and spaced across the first flow path from said slit so that due to the Coanda effect said high speed fluid curtain and any particles entrained by said fluid curtain attach to the receding flow-attachment surface and are diverted along a second flow path defined by said flow-attachment surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the particles are a mixture of particles capable of developing different inertias and which includes penetrating the fluid curtain with particles capable of developing sufficient inertia to penetrate said fluid curtain and removing such penetrating particles, and entraining for movement with the fluid curtain particles which do not develop sufficient inertia to penetrate the fluid curtain.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as set forth in claim 20 which further includes separating particles which penetrate the fluid curtain into a first fraction which move along a path substantially coextensive with the first flow path, and a second fraction which partially turn with the fluid curtain and are then expelled therefrom.
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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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |