US4923646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for the manufacture of fibrids
Assignee: Custom Papers Group Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-08
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2008-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the formation of polymer fibrids. These fibrids are produced by the mixing of superheated water and melted polymer and by passing this mixture through a bank of capillary tubes. The mixture becomes elongated in the capillary tubes and exits those tubes through a nozzle into an expansion chamber where they form fibrids. The fibrids are cooled by the evaporation of liquid water after expansion.
Inventors
- 👤 Homan B. Kinsley, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:32
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29B; B29B9/00; B29B9/10; D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/11; B29B9/02; B29B9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for the manufacture of fibrids comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a melted polymer and superheated water; (b) forming a suspension of molten polymer droplets suspended in said superheated water; (c) passing said suspension through at least one bank of capillary tubes wherein said molten polymer droplets are elongated to form pre-fibrids suspended in said superheated water due to shear forces acting upon the droplets during their passage through the bank of capillary tubes; (d) allowing said pre-fibrid/superheated water suspension to exit from the capillary tubes and pass into an environment of lower pressure and temperature thereby expanding said superheated water such that polymer fibrids are formed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for the manufacture of fibrids comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a melted polymer and superheated water; (b) forming a suspension of molten polymer droplets suspended in said superheated water; (c) passing said suspension through at least one bank of capillary tubes wherein said molten polymer droplets are elongated to form pre-fibrids suspended in said superheated water due to shear forces acting upon the droplets during their passage through the bank of capillary tubes; (d) allowing said pre-fibrid/superheated water suspension to exit from the capillary tubes and pass into an environment of lower pressure and temperature thereby expanding said superheated water such that polymer fibrids are formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said melted polymer is at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said molten polymer droplets are at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pre-fibrids are at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said superheated water of steps (a), (b) and (c) is at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said melted polymer and said superheated water are maintained at approximately the same temperature prior to expansion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said superheated water is at a pressure in steps (a), (b) and (c) sufficient to prevent the formation of steam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said superheated water is maintained at a pressure of between about 250 and 3000 psia in steps (a), (b) and (c).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said melted polymer is at about the same pressure as said superheated water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said molten polymer droplets are at about the same pressure as said superheated water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said pre-fibrids are at about the same pressure as said superheated water.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said superheated water to melted polymer mass ratio is from about 1:1 to about 40:1.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for the manufacture of fibrids comprising the steps of: (a) melting a polymer and transporting said melted polymer to a mixing chamber; (b) pressurizing and heating water to form superheated water of approximately the same temperature as said melted polymer and transporting said superheated water to said mixing chamber; (c) mixing said melted polymer and said superheated water such that a suspension of polymer droplets are formed; (d) passing said suspension through at least one bank of capillary tubes wherein said molten polymer droplets are elongated to form pre-fibrids suspended in said super heated water due to shear forces acting upon the droplets during their passage through the bank of capillary tubes; (e) allowing said pre-fibrid/superheated water suspension to exit from the capillary tubes and pass into an environment of lower pressure and temperature thereby expanding said superheated water such that polymer fibrids are formed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for the manufacture of fibrids comprising the steps of: (a) melting a polymer and transporting said melted polymer to a mixing chamber; (b) pressurizing and heating water to form superheated water of approximately the same temperature as said melted polymer and transporting said superheated water to said mixing chamber; (c) mixing said melted polymer and said superheated water such that a suspension of polymer droplets are formed; (d) passing said suspension through at least one bank of capillary tubes wherein said molten polymer droplets are elongated to form pre-fibrids suspended in said super heated water due to shear forces acting upon the droplets during their passage through the bank of capillary tubes; (e) allowing said pre-fibrid/superheated water suspension to exit from the capillary tubes and pass into an environment of lower pressure and temperature thereby expanding said superheated water such that polymer fibrids are formed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said melted polymer is at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said molten polymer droplets are at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said pre-fibrids are at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said superheated water of steps (b), (c) and (d) is at a temperature of between about 400° and about 650° F.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said melted polymer and said superheated water are maintained at approximately the same temperature prior to expansion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said superheated water is at a pressure in steps (b), (c) and (d) sufficient to prevent the formation of steam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said superheated water is maintained at a pressure of between about 250 to 3000 psia in steps (b), (c) and (d).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said melted polymer is at about the same pressure as said superheated water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said molten polymer droplets are at about the same pressure as said superheated water.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said pre-fibrids are at about the same pressure as said superheated water.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said superheated water to melted polymer mass ratio is from about 1:1 to about 40:1.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for the manufacture of fibrids comprising the steps of: (a) melting and pressurizing a polymer and maintaining the temperature thereof at between about 400° and 650° F. and the pressure thereof at between about 250 and 3,000 psia; (b) transporting said melted polymer to a mixing chamber; (c) forming superheated water by heating water and maintaining the temperature thereof at approximately the same temperature as said melted pressurized polymer and by pressurizing said water at a pressure approximately the same as the melted and pressurized polymer; (d) transporting said superheated water to said mixing chamber; (e) forming a suspension of polymer droplets by mixing said melted polymer and said superheated water; (f) forming pre-fibrids in suspension by passing said polymer droplet/superheated water suspension through at least one bank of capillary tubes, whereby the pre-fibrids are formed due to shear forces acting upon the droplets, elongating said droplets, during their passage through the bank of capillary tubes; (g) allowing said pre-fibrid suspension to exit from said capillary tubes and pass into an environment of lower pressure and temperature, thereby expanding said superheated water such that polymer fibrids are formed.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for the manufacture of fibrids comprising the steps of: (a) melting and pressurizing a polymer and maintaining the temperature thereof at between about 400° and 650° F. and the pressure thereof at between about 250 and 3,000 psia; (b) transporting said melted polymer to a mixing chamber; (c) forming superheated water by heating water and maintaining the temperature thereof at approximately the same temperature as said melted pressurized polymer and by pressurizing said water at a pressure approximately the same as the melted and pressurized polymer; (d) transporting said superheated water to said mixing chamber; (e) forming a suspension of polymer droplets by mixing said melted polymer and said superheated water; (f) forming pre-fibrids in suspension by passing said polymer droplet/superheated water suspension through at least one bank of capillary tubes, whereby the pre-fibrids are formed due to shear forces acting upon the droplets, elongating said droplets, during their passage through the bank of capillary tubes; (g) allowing said pre-fibrid suspension to exit from said capillary tubes and pass into an environment of lower pressure and temperature, thereby expanding said superheated water such that polymer fibrids are formed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said superheated water to melted polymer mass ratio is from about 1:1 to about 40:1.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for the manufacture of fibrids comprising: a mixing chamber; means for superheating and continuously supplying superheated water to said mixing chamber; means for melting, heating and transporting polymer material to said mixing chamber; a bank of capillary tubes connected at a first end to said mixing chamber; a nozzle attached to a second end of said bank of capillary tubes; and an expansion chamber into which an aperture of said nozzle opens.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for the manufacture of fibrids comprising: a mixing chamber; means for superheating and continuously supplying superheated water to said mixing chamber; means for melting, heating and transporting polymer material to said mixing chamber; a bank of capillary tubes connected at a first end to said mixing chamber; a nozzle attached to a second end of said bank of capillary tubes; and an expansion chamber into which an aperture of said nozzle opens.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for melting said polymer material is an extruder.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said mixing chamber is a static mixing chamber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the expanding superheated water in step (d) is flashed to vapor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13, wherein a portion of the expanding superheated water in step (e) is flashed to vapor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25, wherein a portion of the expanding superheated water in step (g) is flashed to vapor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the bank of capillary tubes contains more than one capillary tube.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the bank of capillary tubes contains more than one capillary tube.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the bank of capillary tubes contains more than one capillary tube.
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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) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |