US4212397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separation of materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-11-29
•
Granted: 1980-07-15
•
Expires: 1996-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for separating a selected material from a batch of particulate material in which a stream of the particulate material is irradiated with pulsed electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays to cause the selected material to fluoresce. The fluorescing material is then detected and ejected from the stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Bockelmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:19
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/346; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/365; B07C5/366; G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/22; G01N23/223; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/07; G01N2223/076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for separating from a batch of particulate material a selected material having the intrinsic property of fluorescing with a predetermined decay time when irradiated with radiation from a suitable source of radiation, said apparatus comprising means for providing a beam of radiation suitable to cause the selected material to fluoresce with the predetermined decay time; means for pulsing the beam with a repetition interval greater than the predetermined decay time; means for causing a stream of the particulate material to move through the pulsed beam; means for detecting the fluorescing material in the stream and for obtaining a measure of the decay time of the fluorescing; and means responsive to said last-named means for deflecting from the stream only fluorescing material having the predetermined decay time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for separating from a batch of particulate material a selected material having the intrinsic property of fluorescing with a predetermined decay time when irradiated with radiation from a suitable source of radiation, said apparatus comprising means for providing a beam of radiation suitable to cause the selected material to fluoresce with the predetermined decay time; means for pulsing the beam with a repetition interval greater than the predetermined decay time; means for causing a stream of the particulate material to move through the pulsed beam; means for detecting the fluorescing material in the stream and for obtaining a measure of the decay time of the fluorescing; and means responsive to said last-named means for deflecting from the stream only fluorescing material having the predetermined decay time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for providing a beam comprises an X-ray tube, and in which the means for pulsing the beam pulses the filament of the X-ray tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for pulsing the beam pulses the beam at a frequency of the order of 1000 pulses per second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for pulsing the beam causes pulses of radiation with the duration of each pulse of the order of five micro-seconds.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of separating from a batch of particulate material a selected material having the intrinsic property of fluorescing with a predetermined decay time when irradiated with radiation from a suitable source of radiation, said method comprising exposing the particulate material to radiation from a source of the suitable radiation to cause the selected material to fluoresce with the predetermined decay time; pulsing the source of radiation to provide the radiation in pulses having a repetition interval greater than the predetermined decay time; detecting fluorescing material in the particulate material after exposure to the radiation; obtaining a measure of the decay time of the fluorescing; and deflecting from the stream only fluorescing material having the predetermined decay time.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of separating from a batch of particulate material a selected material having the intrinsic property of fluorescing with a predetermined decay time when irradiated with radiation from a suitable source of radiation, said method comprising exposing the particulate material to radiation from a source of the suitable radiation to cause the selected material to fluoresce with the predetermined decay time; pulsing the source of radiation to provide the radiation in pulses having a repetition interval greater than the predetermined decay time; detecting fluorescing material in the particulate material after exposure to the radiation; obtaining a measure of the decay time of the fluorescing; and deflecting from the stream only fluorescing material having the predetermined decay time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the source of radiation is pulsed at a frequency of the order of 1000 pulses per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the duration of each pulse is of the order of five micro-seconds.
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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) | 1983-07-15 | 1984-01-14 | 1984-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-15 | 1988-01-14 | 1988-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-15 | 1992-01-14 | 1992-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |