US4990261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for monitoring and/or controlling liquid-solid separation processes
Assignee: ECC SPECIALTY CHEMICALS Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-28
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Granted: 1991-02-05
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Expires: 2009-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for monitoring and/or controlling a liquid/solid separation process is described. The method utilizes photodetectors to view the surface of the composition being dewatered, and correlate the corresponding signals from the photodetectors to dryness values. This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 122,976, filed Nov. 19, 1987 now abandoned.
Inventors
- 👤 Bosco P. Ho
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:10
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D33/00; B01D33/04; B01D33/70; B01D33/72; B01D33/80; B01D33/804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for monitoring and/or controlling a liquid/solid separation process, wherein a liquid/solid composition having a surface and an initial liquid:solid weight ratio contacts a separation zone wherein a change from said initial liquid:solid weight ratio to a lower liquid:solid weight ratio occurs, comprising: (a) positioning at least one photodetector in close proximity to and above said surface so as to enable said photodetector to view light reflected by said surface of said liquid/solid composition and to generate an output signal in response to said view proportional to said change, and (b) utilizing said output signal from said photodetector to monitor and/or control said liquid/solid separation process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for monitoring and/or controlling a liquid/solid separation process, wherein a liquid/solid composition having a surface and an initial liquid:solid weight ratio contacts a separation zone wherein a change from said initial liquid:solid weight ratio to a lower liquid:solid weight ratio occurs, comprising: (a) positioning at least one photodetector in close proximity to and above said surface so as to enable said photodetector to view light reflected by said surface of said liquid/solid composition and to generate an output signal in response to said view proportional to said change, and (b) utilizing said output signal from said photodetector to monitor and/or control said liquid/solid separation process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said liquid/solid separation process is selected from the group consisting of drying processes, filtering processes, and gravity dewatering processes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said process is a belt-filter press process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, wherein a plurality of photodetectors is used.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said output signal is transmitted to an output device which monitors said process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said output signal is transmitted to a process controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of photodetectors is used.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7, wherein each photodetector is a gray scale detector containing an integral light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8, wherein each output signal is a bi-modal signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said liquid/solid separation process is selected from the group consisting of drying processes, filtering processes and gravity dewatering processes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said process is a belt-filter press process.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the output signals are summed and wherein said summed signal is converted to a signal proportional to dryness using a filtering device equivalent to a first order time lag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said converted signal is transmitted to an output device which monitors said process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said converted output signal is transmitted to a process controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said output signal is an analog signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said photodetector is a gray scale detector containing an integral light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said output signal is a bi-modal signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said signal is converted to a signal proportional to dryness using a filtering device equivalent to a first order time lag.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said output signal is transmitted to an output device which monitors said process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said output signal is an analog signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said output signal is transmitted to an output device which monitors said process.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said output signal is transmitted to a process controller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said output signal is transmitted to an output device which monitors said process.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said output signal is transmitted to a process controller.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |