Patent US4313745A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4313745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of forming frozen spheres in a force-free drop tower
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-12-24
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Granted: 1982-02-02
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Expires: 2000-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming hollow glass spheres S shaped by the effects of surface tension acting on bubbles of glass in its molten state; the method is characterized by the steps of establishing a downwardly flowing stream of air accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration through a drop tower 10, introducing into the stream of air free-falling bubbles B of molten glass, and freezing the bubbles in the stream as they are accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Lovelace Alan M. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 James M. Kendall, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:56
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/10; C03B19/107; C03B19/1075; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P40/00; Y02P40/50; Y02P40/57; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of forming solid spheres from a hardenable liquid material, the steps comprising: A. establishing a flowing stream of gaseous fluid with said stream flowing in a substantially vertical downward direction; B. introducing droplets of hardenable liquid material into said stream with the droplets accelerating in the direction of said stream and at a common rate of acceleration with said stream, which rate is substantially one-G; and C. cooling said droplets a sufficient amount within said stream to harden said droplets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of forming solid spheres from a hardenable liquid material, the steps comprising: A. establishing a flowing stream of gaseous fluid with said stream flowing in a substantially vertical downward direction; B. introducing droplets of hardenable liquid material into said stream with the droplets accelerating in the direction of said stream and at a common rate of acceleration with said stream, which rate is substantially one-G; and C. cooling said droplets a sufficient amount within said stream to harden said droplets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which said droplets comprise bubbles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said fluid comprises ambient air and said material comprises molten glass.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said stream of fluid comprises a stream of ambient air drawn at a one-G rate of acceleration vertically downwardly through a cooled drop tower, and said droplets of material comprises free-falling bubbles of molten glass.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said stream of fluid comprises a stream of gas downwardly accelerated through a drop tower, and said droplets of material comprise hollow, free-falling droplets of glass characterized by a capability of being frozen in said stream.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for forming hollow glass spheres shaped by the effects of surface tension acting on bubbles of glass in its molten state comprising the steps of: A. establishing a downwardly flowing stream of air accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration; B. introducing into said stream of air free-falling bubbles of molten glass; and C. freezing the bubbles in the stream as they are accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for forming hollow glass spheres shaped by the effects of surface tension acting on bubbles of glass in its molten state comprising the steps of: A. establishing a downwardly flowing stream of air accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration; B. introducing into said stream of air free-falling bubbles of molten glass; and C. freezing the bubbles in the stream as they are accelerated at a one-G rate of acceleration.
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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) | 1985-02-01 | 1985-08-03 | 1986-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-02-01 | 1989-08-03 | 1990-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-02-01 | 1993-08-03 | 1994-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |