Patent US3574479A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4929152A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4929152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for maintaining a mixture of products at a certain temperature
Assignee: Stork Amsterdam NV
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Filing: 1988-06-17
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Granted: 1990-05-29
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Expires: 2008-06-17
Abstract
Abstract When maintaining a flow of a mixture of products consisting of a liquid of low to medium viscosity incorporating solid particles at a certain temperature and for a certain period of time the mixture remains for some time in a vessel of a substantially cylindrical shape. The residence time in the vessel of the solid particles mixed with the liquid is controlled separately from the liquid in that the solid particles are carried through the vessel at a regulable speed, independently of the speed of flow of the liquid through the vessel, with the aid of a rotatable conveyor means which is permeable to liquid but not to the solid particles and whose axis of rotation coincides with the axis of the vessel. The solid particles remain mixed with the liquid. The residence time of the solid particles is regulated such that the core of the solid particles attains the same temeprature as the liquid, without the liquid remaining for too long a time at the desired end temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Willem F. Hermans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/04; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/40; A23B2/42; A23B2/425; A23B2/46; A23B2/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for maintaining at a certain temperature, and for a certain period of time, a flow of a mixture of products which includes a liquid of low to medium viscosity having solid particles contained therein, comprising: (a) a vessel for holding a mixture of products therein, the vessel having a peripheral inner wall; (b) a mixture inlet pipe connected to the vessel and in fluid communication therewith; (c) a mixture outlet pipe connected to the vessel and in fluid communication therewith; and (d) means for controlling residence time in the vessel of substantially all solid particles which pass thereinto from the inlet pipe, the residence time controlling means comprising a conveyor mechanism having a central shaft disposed axially in the vessel, and at least one conveyor element which extends from the central shaft substantially radially outwardly in the vessel, the conveyor element extending close to the peripheral inner wall of the vessel to prevent passage of solid particles between the conveyor element and the inner wall.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for maintaining at a certain temperature, and for a certain period of time, a flow of a mixture of products which includes a liquid of low to medium viscosity having solid particles contained therein, comprising: (a) a vessel for holding a mixture of products therein, the vessel having a peripheral inner wall; (b) a mixture inlet pipe connected to the vessel and in fluid communication therewith; (c) a mixture outlet pipe connected to the vessel and in fluid communication therewith; and (d) means for controlling residence time in the vessel of substantially all solid particles which pass thereinto from the inlet pipe, the residence time controlling means comprising a conveyor mechanism having a central shaft disposed axially in the vessel, and at least one conveyor element which extends from the central shaft substantially radially outwardly in the vessel, the conveyor element extending close to the peripheral inner wall of the vessel to prevent passage of solid particles between the conveyor element and the inner wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vessel is substantially cylindrical in shape and both the inlet pipe and outlet pipe are connected thereto at a radially outermost surface thereof, and the conveyor mechanism is rotatable at a variable speed, and wherein the conveyor element is permeable to liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the conveyor element permeable to liquid is situated in a surface extending from the axis of rotation in an outward direction, and wherein the conveyor element has a free peripheral edge situated near the inner side of the cylindrical peripheral wall and the end walls of the vessel, whereby the conveyor element limits the maximum speed of the solid particles to the speed of the conveyor element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the surface in which the conveyor element is situated is a flat plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the surface in which the conveyor element is situated is a curved surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the conveyor element comprises a plurality of pins extending transversely outwardly from the axis of rotation of the conveyor means and spaced apart from each other in the direction of said axis, the outermost ends of the pins being situated near the inner side of the cylindrical wall of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a series of pins disposed next to one another and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the vessel, which pins extend from the cylindrical wall of the vessel towards the axis of rotation of the conveyor means and engage between the pins of the conveyor element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conveyor element has a sieve-like structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conveyor element is provided with slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixture outlet pipe is the sole and exclusive avenue for liquid to depart from the vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vessel is substantially cylindrical in shape and both the inlet pipe and outlet pipe are connected thereto at a radially outermost surface thereof.
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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) | 1993-05-28 | 1993-11-27 | 1994-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-28 | 1997-11-27 | 1998-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-28 | 2001-11-27 | 2002-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |