US4055491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for removing fine particles from a liquid medium by ultrasonic waves
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-02
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1996-06-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method are described for using ultrasonic waves for removing microscopic particles from a liquid medium, such as algae from a solar or refuse pond, or blood cells from blood. The described apparatus includes an ultrasonic generator propagating ultrasonic waves of over one megacycle per second through the liquid medium to cause the flocculation of the microscopic particles at spaced points. In two described embodiments, the ultrasonic waves are propagated in the horizontal direction through the liquid medium, and baffle plates are disposed below the level of propagation of the ultrasonic waves. The baffles are oriented to provide a high resistance to the horizontal propagation therethrough of the ultrasonic waves and a low-resistance to the vertical settling therethrough of the flocculated particles. The ultrasonic generator is periodically energized to flocculate the particles, and then de-energized to permit the settling of the flocculated particles through the baffle plates from whence they are removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Asher Porath-Furedi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:42
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/24; B01D21/2427; A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3693; A61M1/3695; B01D21/0039; B01D21/0042; B01D21/2488; B01D21/28; B01D21/283; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3627; B01D21/0087; B01D2221/00; B01D2221/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S47/00; Y10S47/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for removing fine particles from a liquid medium, comprising: a container for the particle-containing liquid medium; an ultrasonic generator oriented to propagate ultrasonic waves through the liquid medium to cause the flocculation of the particles at spaced points in the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic waves; means for periodically energizing the ultrasonic generator to cause the flocculation of the particles and for deenergizing the generator to permit the settling of the flocculated particles by gravity; and means for removing the settled flocculated particles; said ultrasonic generator being oriented to propagate the ultrasonic waves through the liquid medium in a horizontal direction at a prdetermined level thereof; said apparatus further including baffle means disposed in the liquid medium below the level of the propagated ultrasonic waves; said baffle means providing a high resistance to the horizontal propagation therethrough of the ultrasonic waves, and a low resistance to the vertical settling therethrough of the flocculated particles; the settled flocculated particles being removed from below the baffle means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for removing fine particles from a liquid medium, comprising: a container for the particle-containing liquid medium; an ultrasonic generator oriented to propagate ultrasonic waves through the liquid medium to cause the flocculation of the particles at spaced points in the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic waves; means for periodically energizing the ultrasonic generator to cause the flocculation of the particles and for deenergizing the generator to permit the settling of the flocculated particles by gravity; and means for removing the settled flocculated particles; said ultrasonic generator being oriented to propagate the ultrasonic waves through the liquid medium in a horizontal direction at a prdetermined level thereof; said apparatus further including baffle means disposed in the liquid medium below the level of the propagated ultrasonic waves; said baffle means providing a high resistance to the horizontal propagation therethrough of the ultrasonic waves, and a low resistance to the vertical settling therethrough of the flocculated particles; the settled flocculated particles being removed from below the baffle means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said baffle means comprises a plurality of vertically-extending horizontally-spaced baffle plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container is a tank receiving the liquid-containing particles to be separated therefrom.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of removing microscopic particles from a liquid medium comprising the steps of: propagating ultrasonic waves in the horizontal direction at a frequency of over one megacycle per second through the liquid medium to cause the flocculation of the particles at spaced points in the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic waves; discontinuing the propagation of the ultrasonic waves to permit the settling by gravity of the flocculated particles through baffle means disposed below the level of propagation of the ultrasonic waves which baffle means provides a high resistance to the horizontal propagation therethrough of the ultrasonic waves and a low resistance to the vertical settling therethrough by gravity of the flocculated particles; periodically repeating propagating and discontinuing the propagation of the ultrasonic waves to periodically flocculate and then settle the particles; and removing the settled flocculated particles.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of removing microscopic particles from a liquid medium comprising the steps of: propagating ultrasonic waves in the horizontal direction at a frequency of over one megacycle per second through the liquid medium to cause the flocculation of the particles at spaced points in the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic waves; discontinuing the propagation of the ultrasonic waves to permit the settling by gravity of the flocculated particles through baffle means disposed below the level of propagation of the ultrasonic waves which baffle means provides a high resistance to the horizontal propagation therethrough of the ultrasonic waves and a low resistance to the vertical settling therethrough by gravity of the flocculated particles; periodically repeating propagating and discontinuing the propagation of the ultrasonic waves to periodically flocculate and then settle the particles; and removing the settled flocculated particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic waves are periodically propagated through the liquid medium at a frequency of over 2 megacycles per second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the liquid is a pond, and the microscopic particles removed therefrom are algae growing in the pond.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said pond is a solar pond including salt water irradiated by the sun for promoting the growth of the algae therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said pond is a sewage pond including the algae growing therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the liquid is blood, and the microscopic particles removed therefrom are red blood cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the periods of propagation of the ultrasonic wave are about 20 seconds each.
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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) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |