US3977606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diffuser device
Assignee: Parkson Corp
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Filing: 1975-05-05
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1995-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A diffuser device for use in disseminating air or other gaseous fluid under pressure characterized by wall structure at least a portion of which is formed of impermeable material having a multitude of normally sealed microscopic ruptures. Said wall structure, at least in the area of said ruptures, is characterized by the ability to flex when the interior wall surface thereof, which defines the diffuser chamber, is filled with air or other gaseous fluid under a predetermined level of pressure. Said ruptures are so designed that as long as the required air pressure is maintained they form a multitude of jet-like flow passages each of which has an exceedingly small diameter. Consequently, as long as the pressure level is maintained, the air will move from the diffuser chamber, by way of said microscopic ruptures, in the form of a multitude of very fine, relatively minute, air jets which on entry to a surrounding body of liquid, for example, will form air bubbles which are correspondingly of extremely small, relatively micro-miniature size. The material of the diffuser wall structure is such that, when the air pressure falls below the required level, the microscopic ruptures will automatically reseal. Preferred embodiments of the invention are distinguished by the diffuser wall structure being comprised in part by an integrated frame the respective end portions of which form end walls and are spaced by a relatively narrow integrally connected strip which is apertured and has a trough-like form.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Wyss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:33
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/20; C02F3/201; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/231; B01F23/23105; B01F23/2312; B01F23/23124; B01F23/23126; B01F23/231265; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A diffuser device comprising a frame including end portions longitudinally spaced apart by and interconnected to the respective extremities of rigidifying strip means which function therewith to determine the configuration of said frame, an elastomeric material peripherally encompassing said frame and defining therewith an interior diffuser chamber, said material being provided, throughout the extent thereof, with a multitude of extremely fine punctures producing therein microscopic ruptures so minute as to be self-sealing and generally imperceptible in the absence of an interior pressure in said chamber sufficient to stretch the elastomeric material about microscopic ruptures, and means defining an inlet to said diffuser device for directing fluid under pressure to the interior of said chamber to be diffused through microscopic ruptures in said material stretched under the influence of the pressure thereof, whereby to provide that said fluid under pressure will issue from said diffuser device in the form of fine needle-like jets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A diffuser device comprising a frame including end portions longitudinally spaced apart by and interconnected to the respective extremities of rigidifying strip means which function therewith to determine the configuration of said frame, an elastomeric material peripherally encompassing said frame and defining therewith an interior diffuser chamber, said material being provided, throughout the extent thereof, with a multitude of extremely fine punctures producing therein microscopic ruptures so minute as to be self-sealing and generally imperceptible in the absence of an interior pressure in said chamber sufficient to stretch the elastomeric material about microscopic ruptures, and means defining an inlet to said diffuser device for directing fluid under pressure to the interior of said chamber to be diffused through microscopic ruptures in said material stretched under the influence of the pressure thereof, whereby to provide that said fluid under pressure will issue from said diffuser device in the form of fine needle-like jets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A diffuser device according to claim 1 characterized in that the punctures in said material extend essentially perpendicular to the respective inner and outer surfaces thereof and are provided in said material in a pattern enabling that said fluid under pressure may, under an appropriate level of pressure, issue from said chamber in the form of a plurality of generally radially directed needle-like jets which are in essentially peripherally encompassing relation to said diffuser device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A diffuser device as in claim 1 characterized in that said strip means is a relatively narrow strip portion of said frame which defines a lower part of said frame and said end portions have a cap-like configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A diffuser device according to claim 1 characterized in that said end portions of said frame are cap-like in character and generally cylindrical in configuration, said elastomeric material forms a sleeve encompassing said frame the respective ends of which seat peripheral to said end portions and said interconnecting strip means is a narrow elongate strip portion of said frame the cross section of which is arcuate in configuration and the respective ends of which intercept relatively narrow arcuate segments of the said cap-like end portions of said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A diffuser device according to claim 4 characterized in that said strip means and said end portions of said frame with which said strip means connect is an integral structure and said strip means defines the bottom portion of the frame and has the form of a trough designed to collect condensate formed interiorly of said diffuser device in the operation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A diffuser device according to claim 1 characterized in that said elastomeric material has a sleeve-like form, extends from one end portion to the other of said frame and has means applied thereto for the releasable sealing engagement thereof to said end portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
A diffuser device comprising a frame including end portions the peripheral configuration of which determines the general peripheral configuration of said diffuser device, said end portions being interconnected and longitudinally spaced by strip means defining a limited wall portion of said frame intermediate said end portions, a basically impermeable material encompassing said frame and normally defining a non-porous wall structure defining a seal about said frame, said impermeable material being provided with a multitude of punctures the nature of which is to produce microscopic ruptures in said material which are normally imperceptible, the size and character of said ruptures and the nature of said impermeable material being such to provide that the material self-seals in the area of said ruptures absent application to the inner surface thereof of air or other fluid under a predetermined level of pressure, in the presence of which said predetermined level of pressure said ruptures are designed to stretch to allow the fluid to escape from the diffuser by way of said multitude of ruptures in a multitude of extremely fine needle-like jets, said frame and said impermeable material being arranged to define an interior diffuser chamber, and means included to define an inlet to said chamber, which is otherwise sealed, enabling thereby that said fluid may be applied interiorly of said diffuser chamber under said predetermined level of pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
225 words
A diffuser device comprising a frame including end portions the peripheral configuration of which determines the general peripheral configuration of said diffuser device, said end portions being interconnected and longitudinally spaced by strip means defining a limited wall portion of said frame intermediate said end portions, a basically impermeable material encompassing said frame and normally defining a non-porous wall structure defining a seal about said frame, said impermeable material being provided with a multitude of punctures the nature of which is to produce microscopic ruptures in said material which are normally imperceptible, the size and character of said ruptures and the nature of said impermeable material being such to provide that the material self-seals in the area of said ruptures absent application to the inner surface thereof of air or other fluid under a predetermined level of pressure, in the presence of which said predetermined level of pressure said ruptures are designed to stretch to allow the fluid to escape from the diffuser by way of said multitude of ruptures in a multitude of extremely fine needle-like jets, said frame and said impermeable material being arranged to define an interior diffuser chamber, and means included to define an inlet to said chamber, which is otherwise sealed, enabling thereby that said fluid may be applied interiorly of said diffuser chamber under said predetermined level of pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A diffuser device according to claim 7 characterized in that said frame end portions are ring-like in character, said strip means has a narrow elongate form and is limited to position to the bottom of said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A diffuser device according to claim 8 characterized in that said strip means has a trough-like configuration to catch condensate formed interiorly of said chamber in the operation of said diffuser device and includes apertures for passing said condensation to and through the ruptures provided in said impermeable material under the influence of fluid applied interiorly of said diffuser device under said predetermined level of pressure.
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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) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |