Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of orienting asymmetrically shaped particles suspended in a fluid, comprising the steps of: forcing a first stream of said fluid, under pressure, into a first conduit and forcing a second stream of said fluid, under pressure, into a second conduit in a direction opposite to said first stream, said conduits having parallel centerlines on a common axis; forcing the streams of said fluids into narrow, axial channels in each of said conduits, at the intersection of the said centerlines, such that said opposite-flowing axial streams meet at the intersection of centerlines under high biaxial pressure and such that the velocity of said streams falls to zero at said intersection; and removing said fluid from said intersection to a zone of lower pressure through a narrow bore, thereby subjecting said fluid to extensional flow under high strain rate and orienting the asymmetrically shaped particles in said fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of orienting asymmetrically shaped particles suspended in a fluid, comprising the steps of: forcing a first stream of said fluid, under pressure, into a first conduit and forcing a second stream of said fluid, under pressure, into a second conduit in a direction opposite to said first stream, said conduits having parallel centerlines on a common axis; forcing the streams of said fluids into narrow, axial channels in each of said conduits, at the intersection of the said centerlines, such that said opposite-flowing axial streams meet at the intersection of centerlines under high biaxial pressure and such that the velocity of said streams falls to zero at said intersection; and removing said fluid from said intersection to a zone of lower pressure through a narrow bore, thereby subjecting said fluid to extensional flow under high strain rate and orienting the asymmetrically shaped particles in said fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the said fluid leaves the said intersection of centerlines in two streams moving in opposite directions through the bores of a pair of dies whose centerlines are located on a common axis perpendicular to the said common axis of the first and second conduits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the distance between the orifices of the bores of the said dies is 0.1 to 2 times the diameter of the bores of the dies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is a two phase glass which crystallises to a glass-ceramic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is a glass containing asbestos fibres.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is a polyester containing asbestos fibres.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said first stream is forced between a first pair of opposed rollers and said second stream is forced between a second pair of opposed rollers spaced apart from said first pair of opposed rollers, and said fluid is removed from said intersection to the zone of lower pressure through a first narrow bore located between one of the first pair of rollers and an adjacent roller of the second pair of rollers and a second narrow bore located between the other roller of the first pair of rollers and an adjacent roller of the second pair of rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the two pairs of opposed rollers are mounted on parallel axes, the rollers are all of equal diameter and the axes are located at the corners of a square.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises a glass matrix phase containing asymmetrically shaped particles of silver halide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is a glass containing crystals or particles exhibiting photochromic properties with crystals or particles, on being subjected to extensional flow, assume extended shapes that are oriented to give a glass with photochromic properties and polarising properties.