US4411705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
For removing particles from a tube by means of a missile
Assignee: REACTOR SERVICES INTERNATIONAL Inc A TX CORP
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Filing: 1981-11-04
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Granted: 1983-10-25
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Expires: 2001-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of emptying tubes containing particles includes the steps of propelling missiles up the tube, striking and dislodging the particles, causing the particles and missiles to fall out of the bottom of the tube into a receptacle from which they are removed by vacuum. A gas controlled, gas activated missile loading and firing apparatus for firing burst of missiles into one or more tubes is used to dislodge and empty the particles contained therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Othel D. Easley, Jr.
- 👤 John T. Wooten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:09
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0552; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/0015; B01J8/003; B01J8/0035; B01J8/02; B01J8/06; F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of removing bridged particles from a tube having a bottom entrance which comprises: (a) positioning a missle firing means separate from and below the bottom entrance of a tube containing bridged particles so that a missile, when fired, will enter the bottom entrance of the tube and travel up the inside of the tube essentially parallel to the sides of the tube; (b) activating the missile firing means so that it fires at least one missile into the bottom entrance of the tube with enough force to travel up the tube, strike and dislodge at least some of the particles, causing the dislodged particles to fall down the tube; and (c) repeating step b until the desired amount of the particles in the tube have fallen down and out of the bottom entrance of the tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of removing bridged particles from a tube having a bottom entrance which comprises: (a) positioning a missle firing means separate from and below the bottom entrance of a tube containing bridged particles so that a missile, when fired, will enter the bottom entrance of the tube and travel up the inside of the tube essentially parallel to the sides of the tube; (b) activating the missile firing means so that it fires at least one missile into the bottom entrance of the tube with enough force to travel up the tube, strike and dislodge at least some of the particles, causing the dislodged particles to fall down the tube; and (c) repeating step b until the desired amount of the particles in the tube have fallen down and out of the bottom entrance of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, where, when activated, the missile firing means fires bursts of missiles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 where the burst of missiles is a string of missiles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 where each string contains between about two and about six missiles, inclusive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 where the missile firing means has more than one barrel, each barrel being positioned so as to fire into a different tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 where the number of barrels is ten.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of claims 1, 3 or 5 which includes collecting the dislodged particles in a particle receiving means positioned, under the tube, to receive the particles which fall out of the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 which includes moving the collected particle out of the receiving means by attaching a vacuum tube means to the particle receiving means to move the particles from the receiving means to a remote location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, 3 or 5 which includes forcing a stream of gas down the tube to induce movement of the particles down the tube once dislodged by the missile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, 3 or 5 where the missiles are made from a material selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, catalyst and catalyst support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2321885A
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US2254848A
Cited
US3139704A
Cited
US3485671A
Cited
US3654143A
Cited
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Cited
US4297147A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-24 | 1987-04-25 | 1987-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | 1991-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-24 | 1995-04-25 | 1995-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |