US4948497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustically fluidized bed of fine particles
Assignee: General Atomics Corp
•
Filing: 1988-05-18
•
Granted: 1990-08-14
•
Expires: 2008-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus to acoustically fluidize a bed of fine particles comprises a generally box-shaped hollow chamber. An acoustic source is located at the bottom of the chamber and a convection inhibiting heater is located at the top of the chamber. An acoustic wave is directed from the source into the chamber to levitate and suspend fine particles within the chamber at determinable distances from the acoustic source according to the intensity and frequency of the acoustic wave.
Inventors
- 👤 Tihiro Ohkawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:26
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/08; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/18; B01J8/24; B01J8/40; B07B13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus to acoustically fluidize a bed of fine particles which comprises: a chamber for confining said particles in a substantially motionless gaseous medium, said chamber having a top and a bottom; a sound source mounted on said bottom of said chamber for directing an acoustic wave into said chamber to suspend said particles on said wave therein; means for adjusting the intensity of said wave to vary the distance of said suspended particles from said sound source in said chamber; and an acoustic absorber effectively lining the interior of said chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus to acoustically fluidize a bed of fine particles which comprises: a chamber for confining said particles in a substantially motionless gaseous medium, said chamber having a top and a bottom; a sound source mounted on said bottom of said chamber for directing an acoustic wave into said chamber to suspend said particles on said wave therein; means for adjusting the intensity of said wave to vary the distance of said suspended particles from said sound source in said chamber; and an acoustic absorber effectively lining the interior of said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as cited in claim 1 wherein said sound source comprises at least one speaker.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as cited in claim 2 wherein said sound source comprises a plurality of speakers disposed on said bottom of said chamber to shape said acoustic wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as cited in claim 3 further comprising: a strobe light mounted on said chamber to illuminate the interior of said chamber; and optical means mounted on said chamber for observing said particles in said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as cited in claim 4 further comprising calibrated means for correlating the distance of a particular sized particle from said sound source according to the intensity of said wave.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as cited in claim 5 further comprising means to vary the frequency of said acoustic wave to disperse said particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A fine particle filter which comprises: a hollow chamber having a top and a bottom for confining said particles in a substantially motionless gaseous medium; means mounted on said bottom of said chamber for generating an acoustic wave; means for adjusting the intensity of said wave to vary the distance of said particles at predetermined locations in said chamber according to the size of said particles; a heater mounted on the top of said chamber to inhibit convection currents within said chamber; and an acoustic absorber effectively lining the interior of said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A fine particle filter which comprises: a hollow chamber having a top and a bottom for confining said particles in a substantially motionless gaseous medium; means mounted on said bottom of said chamber for generating an acoustic wave; means for adjusting the intensity of said wave to vary the distance of said particles at predetermined locations in said chamber according to the size of said particles; a heater mounted on the top of said chamber to inhibit convection currents within said chamber; and an acoustic absorber effectively lining the interior of said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fine particle filter as recited in claim 7 wherein said wave generating means is at least one speaker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fine particle filter as recited in claim 8 wherein said wave generating means comprises a plurality of speakers disposed on said bottom of said chamber to shade said acoustic wave.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fine particle filter as recited in claim 9 further comprising: a strobe light mounted on said chamber to illuminate the interior of said chamber; and optical means mounted on said chamber for observing said particles in said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fine particle filter as recited in claim 10 further comprising means mounted on said chamber for withdrawing similar sized particles therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fine particle filter as recited in claim 10 further comprising means mounted on said chamber for withdrawing particles of similar weight therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fine particle filter as recited in claim 12 further comprising means to vary the frequency of said acoustic wave to disperse said particles.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for segregating fine particles according to size which comprises the steps of: generating an acoustic wave in a hollow chamber having a top and a bottom; directing said acoustic wave into said chamber from the bottom thereof; heating said chamber from the top thereof to inhibit convection currents therein; and setting the intensity of said wave to position particles within said chamber at a distance from said bottom of said chamber according to the size of said particles.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for segregating fine particles according to size which comprises the steps of: generating an acoustic wave in a hollow chamber having a top and a bottom; directing said acoustic wave into said chamber from the bottom thereof; heating said chamber from the top thereof to inhibit convection currents therein; and setting the intensity of said wave to position particles within said chamber at a distance from said bottom of said chamber according to the size of said particles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of withdrawing similar sized particles from said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of shaping the wave to establish a progressive wave depression within said chamber to hold similar sized particles in said depression.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3109721A
Cited
US3076547A
Cited
US3076544A
Cited
DE3218488A1
Cited
US4523682A
Cited
US4743361A
Cited
US4520656A
Cited
US4549435A
Cited
US4759775A
Cited
JPS64638A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-13 | 1994-02-12 | 1994-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-02-12 | 1998-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-13 | 2002-02-12 | 2002-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |