US4640622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispersion of dry polymers into water
Assignee: Diatec Polymers Inc
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Filing: 1985-11-14
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2005-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for rapidly dispersing particles of dry, water soluble polymer into water wherein air, water and said polymer particles are introduced to a chamber for thorough contact of the polymer with the water to form a mixture of aqueous polymer dispersion and entrained air. The mixture is immediately subjected to shear forces to separate any agglomerated particles into individual particles, and to prevent further agglomeration.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin T. Sortwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:00
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/80; B01F25/85; B01F27/00; B01F27/27; B01F27/272; B29; B29B; B29B13/00; B29B7/00; B29B7/30; B29B7/74; B29B7/7461; C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/02; C08J3/03; C08J3/05; B01F27/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for rapidly dispersing particles of dry, water soluble polymer in water, comprising: (a) means for contacting said particles with water and air, said contacting means comprising a chamber having interior surfaces, under conditions of flow of said air and water whereby at least a portion of said interior surfaces are wetted such that said particles are substantially completely wetted by said water without substantial contact of said particles with interior surfaces of said chamber which are not completely wetted, to form a mixture of water, polymer and entrained air; (b) means for subjecting said mixture to conditions of instantaneous and momentary shear immediately after formation thereof whereby formation of agglomerates of particles is prevented, and existing agglomerates of particles are divided into individual particles without substantial molecular degradation or substantial reduction of particle size, to form a dispersion of said polymer in said water, with entrained air; and, (c) means for separating said dispersion from said air.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for rapidly dispersing particles of dry, water soluble polymer in water, comprising: (a) means for contacting said particles with water and air, said contacting means comprising a chamber having interior surfaces, under conditions of flow of said air and water whereby at least a portion of said interior surfaces are wetted such that said particles are substantially completely wetted by said water without substantial contact of said particles with interior surfaces of said chamber which are not completely wetted, to form a mixture of water, polymer and entrained air; (b) means for subjecting said mixture to conditions of instantaneous and momentary shear immediately after formation thereof whereby formation of agglomerates of particles is prevented, and existing agglomerates of particles are divided into individual particles without substantial molecular degradation or substantial reduction of particle size, to form a dispersion of said polymer in said water, with entrained air; and, (c) means for separating said dispersion from said air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber includes means for introducing water thereto as a falling film on said surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including means for introducing said particles directly to said falling film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said introducing means comprises a conduit for directing said particles entrained in a first air stream to the interior of said chamber at a point adjacent a surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 4 additionally including means for introducing to said chamber a second air stream directed so as to entrain polymer dust present in said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for introducing said second air stream comprises an air gap at the top of said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said chamber is a vertical frustoconical funnel having means for forming said falling film on the interior conical surfaces thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein an outlet is formed at the frustum of said funnel, and said air and particle introduction means are directed toward said falling film at a point spaced above and off-center of said frustum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for forming said falling film comprise a reservoir defined above the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of said funnel, including the means for discharging water downwardly from said reservoir onto said surface to form said film without imparting rotational motion to said film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said water discharging means comprises discharge holes in said reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said water discharging means comprise an annular opening in said reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means of (b) comprises mechanical dispersion means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said dispersion means comprises an impeller and associated means for separating particulate material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including means communicating with said dispersion means for receiving polymer dispersion and air discharged from said mechanical dispersion means and means for conveying said dispersion and air to storage means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said conveying means comprises a sump, a pump and a transfer conduit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pump is a positive displacement pump.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further including means for flushing said transfer line with water.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for rapidly dispersing particles of dry, water soluble polymer in water, comprising: (a) means for contacting said particles with water and air, said contacting means comprising a chamber having interior surfaces, under conditions of flow of said air and water whereby at least a portion of said interior surfaces are wetted such that said particles are substantially completely wetted by said water, without substantial contact by said particles with interior surfaces of said chamber which are not completely wetted, to form a mixture of water, polymer and entrained air; (b) mechanical dispersion means for subjecting said mixture to conditions of instantaneous and momentary shear immediately after formation of said mixture whereby formation of agglomerates of particles is prevented, and existing agglomerates of particles are divided into individual particles without substantial molecular degradation or substantial reduction of particle size, to form a dispersion of said polymer in said water, with entrained air, said dispersion means comprising an impeller and means associated therewith for separating particulate material comprising a stator positioned to contact material discharged from said impeller and having openings of a size selected to divide agglomerates of said particles into individual particles without substantially reducing the size or substantially degrading the molecular structure thereof; and, (c) means for separating said dispersion from said air.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for rapidly dispersing particles of dry, water soluble polymer in water, comprising: (a) means for contacting said particles with water and air, said contacting means comprising a chamber having interior surfaces, under conditions of flow of said air and water whereby at least a portion of said interior surfaces are wetted such that said particles are substantially completely wetted by said water, without substantial contact by said particles with interior surfaces of said chamber which are not completely wetted, to form a mixture of water, polymer and entrained air; (b) mechanical dispersion means for subjecting said mixture to conditions of instantaneous and momentary shear immediately after formation of said mixture whereby formation of agglomerates of particles is prevented, and existing agglomerates of particles are divided into individual particles without substantial molecular degradation or substantial reduction of particle size, to form a dispersion of said polymer in said water, with entrained air, said dispersion means comprising an impeller and means associated therewith for separating particulate material comprising a stator positioned to contact material discharged from said impeller and having openings of a size selected to divide agglomerates of said particles into individual particles without substantially reducing the size or substantially degrading the molecular structure thereof; and, (c) means for separating said dispersion from said air.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said stator is a slotted cylinder surrounding said impeller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further including means communicating with said dispersion means for receiving polymer dispersion and air discharged from said mechanical dispersion means, and means for conveying said dispersion and air to storage means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said conveying means comprises a sump, a pump and a transfer conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said pump is a positive displacement pump.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further including means for flushing said transfer conduit with water.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said chamber includes means for introducing water thereto as a falling film on the walls of said chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 24 further including means for introducing said particles directly to said falling film.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said introducing means comprises a conduit for directing said particles entrained in a first air stream to the interior of said chamber at a point adjacent a surface thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 26 additionally including means for introducing to said chamber a second air stream directed so as to entrain polymer dust present in said chamber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said means for introducing said second air stream comprises an air gap at the top of said chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said chamber is a vertical frustoconical funnel having means for forming said falling film on the interior conical surfaces thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein an outlet is formed at the frustum of said funnel, and said air and particle introduction means are directed toward said falling film at a point spaced above and off-center of said frustum.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said means for forming said falling film comprise a reservoir defined above the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of said funnel, including means for discharging water downwardly from said reservoir onto said surface to form said film without imparting rotational motion to said film.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said water discharging means comprises discharge holes in said reservoir.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said water discharging means comprise an annular opening in said reservoir.
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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) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |