US4023096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining physical characteristics of emulsions
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-17
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Granted: 1977-05-10
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Expires: 1996-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and automatic apparatus for determining the physical properties of an emulsion wherein a sample of the emulsion is allowed to settle in a sample cell formed by a capacitor. The interface level, as emulsion breaks and settles to its final value, is followed by measuring the cell capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; G01R27/26; G01R27/2605; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/22; G01N27/226; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0324; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2499
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for determining the settling time and percent of constituents in an emulsion comprising: placing a fixed quantity of the emulsion in a closed cell; retaining the fixed quantity of emulsion in the cell while separating the emulsion into its individual constituents; and measuring the capacity of the cell as the emulsion constituents separate the time required for the cell capacity to reach a steady state being related to the settling time of the emulsion and the magnitude of the steady state capacity being related to the percent of constituents in the emulsion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for determining the settling time and percent of constituents in an emulsion comprising: placing a fixed quantity of the emulsion in a closed cell; retaining the fixed quantity of emulsion in the cell while separating the emulsion into its individual constituents; and measuring the capacity of the cell as the emulsion constituents separate the time required for the cell capacity to reach a steady state being related to the settling time of the emulsion and the magnitude of the steady state capacity being related to the percent of constituents in the emulsion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said capacity of the cell is measured between capacitor plates disposed to expose equal relative areas to the constituents of emulsion as they separate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the emulsion is an alkylation emulsion.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for determining the settling time and percentage of constituents in an emulsion comprising: a closed cell adapted to retain a fixed quantity of the emulsion; fluid supply means communicating with said cell to supply said fixed quantity of the emulsion to the cell; a pair of capacitor electrodes, said electrodes being disposed in the cell so that equal relative areas are exposed to the constituents of the emulsion as the emulsion constituents separate; and measuring means, said measuring means being coupled to said capacitor electrodes to measure the capacitance of the cell with respect to time as the emulsion settles.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for determining the settling time and percentage of constituents in an emulsion comprising: a closed cell adapted to retain a fixed quantity of the emulsion; fluid supply means communicating with said cell to supply said fixed quantity of the emulsion to the cell; a pair of capacitor electrodes, said electrodes being disposed in the cell so that equal relative areas are exposed to the constituents of the emulsion as the emulsion constituents separate; and measuring means, said measuring means being coupled to said capacitor electrodes to measure the capacitance of the cell with respect to time as the emulsion settles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cell comprises a vertical cylindrical cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said capacitor electrodes comprise the outer wall of said cell and a center electrode, said center electrode being coated with a material having a high dielectric constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cell comprises a centrifuge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electrodes of said capacitor comprises a rotating element of the centrifuge and a fixed plate, said fixed plate being spaced from said rotating element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3665301A
Cited
US3757210A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-09 | 1980-11-08 | 1981-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-11-08 | 1985-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-09 | 1988-11-08 | 1989-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |