Patent JPH02201077A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4101301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Formation of spheres of thermoplastic materials, especially glass
Assignee: Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd
•
Filing: 1976-10-28
•
Granted: 1978-07-18
•
Expires: 1996-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for manufacturing spheres from molten material, such as glass, by allowing drops of the molten material to pass from one end to another of a column containing a liquid, such as a mixture of salts, the temperature of the column being so graduated that the drops harden during passage through the column. The column can be bifurcated at the lower end into legs provided with cooling cuffs for alternate use.
Inventors
- 👤 Zvi Rigbi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:01
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/06; C; C03; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/10; C03B19/1005; C03B19/1045; C03B19/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for manufacturing hardened spheres from molten material, comprising: filling a column with a liquid which either does not react chemically at all, or does so only to an insignificant extent, with said molten material and which has a specific density less than that of the material at the temperature in the column, said specific density difference being between 0.05-0.2; causing a graduation of temperature of the liquid in the column such that the liquid at the top of the column is hotter than that at the bottom, the temperature at the top of the column being above the temperature at which the material passing through the column is sufficiently hard to be handled without deformation, and the temperature graduation within the column being such that a drop of said molten material passing through said column will have hardened sufficiently to be handled without danger of deformation by the time it reaches the bottom; and allowing a drop of said molten material to enter the liquid at the top of the column and to pass through the liquid in the column, from the top to the bottom thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for manufacturing hardened spheres from molten material, comprising: filling a column with a liquid which either does not react chemically at all, or does so only to an insignificant extent, with said molten material and which has a specific density less than that of the material at the temperature in the column, said specific density difference being between 0.05-0.2; causing a graduation of temperature of the liquid in the column such that the liquid at the top of the column is hotter than that at the bottom, the temperature at the top of the column being above the temperature at which the material passing through the column is sufficiently hard to be handled without deformation, and the temperature graduation within the column being such that a drop of said molten material passing through said column will have hardened sufficiently to be handled without danger of deformation by the time it reaches the bottom; and allowing a drop of said molten material to enter the liquid at the top of the column and to pass through the liquid in the column, from the top to the bottom thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the liquid in the column is a mixture of salts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the molten material is glass.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for manufacturing hardened spheres from molten material, comprising: a tube for carrying a liquid, the lower end of said tube being bifurcated into two legs; melting means for melting the material; nozzle means for delivering drops of said molten material from said melting means to the top of the tube; temperature affecting means for maintaining a temperature gradient in the liquid carried by said tube such that the liquid is hotter at the top of the tube than at the bottom and the temperature of the liquid at the bottom of the tube is below the point at which the molten material hardens; and directing means for selectively directing hardened spheres falling through said tube into one or the other of said legs.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for manufacturing hardened spheres from molten material, comprising: a tube for carrying a liquid, the lower end of said tube being bifurcated into two legs; melting means for melting the material; nozzle means for delivering drops of said molten material from said melting means to the top of the tube; temperature affecting means for maintaining a temperature gradient in the liquid carried by said tube such that the liquid is hotter at the top of the tube than at the bottom and the temperature of the liquid at the bottom of the tube is below the point at which the molten material hardens; and directing means for selectively directing hardened spheres falling through said tube into one or the other of said legs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the tube is filled with a mixture of salts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said directing means includes a cooling cuff associated with each of said legs, through which a cooling liquid can circulate to cool a portion of said leg.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of said legs has an outlet opening at the lower end thereof, and further including a movable sealing plate associated with each of said outlet openings and heating and cooling means, associated with each said movable sealing plate, for heating or cooling the liquid in the vicinity of the respective sealing plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein each said cooling cuff is located near the top of the respective one of said bifurcated legs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the lower end of said column is bifurcated into two legs with a cooling cuff mounted near the top of each bifurcated leg, and further including the steps of: circulating cooling water through the cooling cuff on a first one of said legs until the said mixture adjacent thereto is cooled sufficiently to obtain a plug of solid salt, whereby the sinking drops of molten material are deflected into the other of said legs; and then discontinuing the circulation of cooling water through said one cooling cuff and circulating cooling water through the other of said cooling cuffs until the salt mixture adjacent thereto is cooled sufficiently to attain a plug of solid salt, whereby the sinking drops of molten material are deflected into the first one of said legs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method in accordance with claim 9, further including the steps of: removing the hardened spheres from the bottom of the first one of said legs when cooling water is being circulated through the cooling cuff of said first leg and the sinking drops are being deflected into the other leg; and removing the hardened spheres from the bottom of the other one of said legs when cooling water is being circulated through the cooling cuff of said other leg and the sinking drops are being deflected into said first leg.
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) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |