US3886086A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing gel spheres and gelation apparatus
Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
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Filing: 1972-06-12
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1992-06-12
Abstract
Abstract In certain gelation processes the gelling of liquid droplets to produce gel spheres is achieved by allowing the droplets to fall into a liquid reagent which acts to gel the droplets. According to the present invention a foam layer is provided above the surface of the liquid reagent so as to inhibit the droplets from contacting the surface of the liquid reagent at a velocity sufficient to disrupt or substantially distort the droplets. Gelation apparatus for conducting the process is also disclosed, said apparatus having a column vertically divided by a baffle into a turbulent bubble region, and a substantially quiescent region through which the droplets fall after the partially gelled droplets have previously passed through the foam layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Malcolm Patrick Simpson
- 👤 Claude Lewis Stockwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:22
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/06; B01J2/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A METHOD OF PRODUCING GEL SPHERES COMPRISING INTODUCING DROPLETS OF MATERIAL TO BE GELLED INTO A COLUMN, CAUSING THE DROPLETS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A GASEOUS REAGENT IN A REGION AT AN UPPER PART OF THE COLUMN, AND CAUSING THE DROPLETS TO CONTACT A LIQUID REAGENT IN A REGION AT A LOWER PART OF THE COLUMN, THE FALL OF THE DROPLETS PASSING DOWN THE UPPER PART
Claim 2
Independent Claim
66 words
A METHOD OF PRODUCING GEL SPHERES COMPRISING INTODUCING DROPLETS OF MATERIAL TO BE GELLED INTO A COLUMN, CAUSING THE DROPLETS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A GASEOUS REAGENT IN A REGION AT AN UPPER PART OF THE COLUMN, AND CAUSING THE DROPLETS TO CONTACT A LIQUID REAGENT IN A REGION AT A LOWER PART OF THE COLUMN, THE FALL OF THE DROPLETS PASSING DOWN THE UPPER PART
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the layer of foam is generated by bubbling gaseous reagent through liquid reagent containing a non-ionic surfactant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the droplets fall into a quiescent region in the column separated from that region of the column wherein the foam is generated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
196 words
A gelation apparatus for the production of gel spheres by the gelling of droplets of a liquid, comprising a jet arrangement, means for supplying a liquid to be gelled to the jet arrangement, means for vibrating the jet arrangement to form the liquid into droplets, a column below the jet arrangement and having an upper part adapted to contain a gaseous reagent and a lower part to contain a liquid reagent, droplets of the liquid being arranged to pass from the jet arrangement into the column to be gelled therein, a baffle vertically dividing the column, means for inhibiting the escape of gaseous reagent from the top of the column and means for bubbling a gas through the liquid reagent in order to produce a layer of foam above the surface of the liquid reagent to prevent the droplets from contacting the surface of the liquid reagent at a velocity sufficient to disrupt or substantially distort the droplets, the arrangement being such that the droplets will pass on one side of the baffle, the bubbles of gas will pass on the other side of the baffle and foam will pass over the top of the baffle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
196 words
A gelation apparatus for the production of gel spheres by the gelling of droplets of a liquid, comprising a jet arrangement, means for supplying a liquid to be gelled to the jet arrangement, means for vibrating the jet arrangement to form the liquid into droplets, a column below the jet arrangement and having an upper part adapted to contain a gaseous reagent and a lower part to contain a liquid reagent, droplets of the liquid being arranged to pass from the jet arrangement into the column to be gelled therein, a baffle vertically dividing the column, means for inhibiting the escape of gaseous reagent from the top of the column and means for bubbling a gas through the liquid reagent in order to produce a layer of foam above the surface of the liquid reagent to prevent the droplets from contacting the surface of the liquid reagent at a velocity sufficient to disrupt or substantially distort the droplets, the arrangement being such that the droplets will pass on one side of the baffle, the bubbles of gas will pass on the other side of the baffle and foam will pass over the top of the baffle.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |