Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for measuring the sedimentation characteristics of particulate solids comprising: (a) two separate vertical housings adapted to be filled with a liquid less dense than the particulate solids to be measured and a bridge interconnecting the two vertical housings adjacent the top thereof for communicating the two housings and so maintain the same level of liquid in the two housings; (b) means for introducing a sample of particulate solids to be measured in the top of one of said housings; (c) two pressure sensors located, at the same level, one in each housing; and (d) a differential pressure transducer connected to said pressure sensors for sensing the differential pressure caused by the sample introduced into one of the housings, said differential pressure transducer providing an output indicative of the weight percent of sample remaining in suspension above the pressure sensors as a function of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for measuring the sedimentation characteristics of particulate solids comprising: (a) two separate vertical housings adapted to be filled with a liquid less dense than the particulate solids to be measured and a bridge interconnecting the two vertical housings adjacent the top thereof for communicating the two housings and so maintain the same level of liquid in the two housings; (b) means for introducing a sample of particulate solids to be measured in the top of one of said housings; (c) two pressure sensors located, at the same level, one in each housing; and (d) a differential pressure transducer connected to said pressure sensors for sensing the differential pressure caused by the sample introduced into one of the housings, said differential pressure transducer providing an output indicative of the weight percent of sample remaining in suspension above the pressure sensors as a function of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for converting the output of said differential pressure transducer into an indication of weight fraction of the particulate solids passing any given mesh size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said converting means includes a display device connected to the output of said differential pressure transducer and a timer connected to said display device for energizing such display device at predetermined time intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a display device connected to the output of said differential pressure transducer, said display device being calibrated to read directly the specific gravity of particulate material of known dry weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an inlet located near the bottom of each housing for filling the housings with said liquid, and an overflow located within said bridge for maintaining a constant level of the liquid in the two housings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom of said housings is V-shaped and slightly slanted and provided with an outlet for flushing the solids deposited at the bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a funnel secured to the top of the housing adapted to receive the sample of particulate solids and a tube mounted above said funnel and movable from a position right above the housing adapted to receive the sample to a position offset from said one position but still above the funnel for permitting continuous circulation of slurries containing the particulate solids with intermittent sampling at predetermined intervals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an insert placed into the top end of said one housing to direct the slurry below the level of water in the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an anti-splash device placed into the top end of said one housing for preventing the solid materials in the slurry from creating too much turbulence in the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising apertured vertical partitions located in said bridge for damping any movement of liquid between the two housings.