US5044761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dissolving and deaerating method
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1990-06-18
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Granted: 1991-09-03
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Expires: 2010-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of dissolving a powder material is disclosed in which the material is wholly dissolved and the existence of bubbles in the resultant solution is greatly minimized. An agitating blade stirs a liquid in an air-tight tank while the powder material is inserted into the liquid. The pressure is then reduced in the tank causing large bubbles to swell. The bubbles are destroyed by the agitating blade. The pressure reducing operation is then turned off so that the bubbles do not leave the tank through a pressure reduction port. The pressure reducing operation is then repeated a number of times to dissolve the powder material and to destroy bubbles.
Inventors
- 👤 Hirokazu Yuhki
- 👤 Sadao Kumazawa
- 👤 Shigeru Yamaguchi
- 👤 Hiroshi Ohnishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:26
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0063; B01F; B01F21/00; B01F21/02; B01F21/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of dissolving a powder material into a liquid using high speed agitation, in an air-tight jacketed tank, and a deaerating a solution of the powder material, comprising the steps of: supplying the power material into the liquid; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; agitating the liquid at a high speed; and cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at the high speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of dissolving a powder material into a liquid using high speed agitation, in an air-tight jacketed tank, and a deaerating a solution of the powder material, comprising the steps of: supplying the power material into the liquid; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; agitating the liquid at a high speed; and cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at the high speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of switching to a low agitation speed and allowing the pressure in the tank to attain atmospheric pressure after a predetermined number of decompression operations has occurred.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of deaerating a liquid, comprising the steps of: supplying the liquid into an air-tight jacketed tank; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; agitating the liquid at a high speed; and cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at the high speed.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of deaerating a liquid, comprising the steps of: supplying the liquid into an air-tight jacketed tank; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; agitating the liquid at a high speed; and cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at the high speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of switching to a low agitation speed and allowing the pressure in the tank to attain atmospheric pressure after a predetermined number of decompression operations has occurred.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of dissolving a powder material into a liquid using high speed agitation, in an air-tight jacketed tank, and of deaerating a solution of the powder material, comprising the steps of: agitating the liquid at a low or medium speed; supplying the powder material into the liquid; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at said low or medium speed; and increasing said low or medium agitation speed to a high speed when the pressure in the tank is reduced to a predetermined level while continuously cycling through said further decompression operations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of dissolving a powder material into a liquid using high speed agitation, in an air-tight jacketed tank, and of deaerating a solution of the powder material, comprising the steps of: agitating the liquid at a low or medium speed; supplying the powder material into the liquid; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at said low or medium speed; and increasing said low or medium agitation speed to a high speed when the pressure in the tank is reduced to a predetermined level while continuously cycling through said further decompression operations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 5 further comprising the step of switching to a low agitation speed and allowing the pressure in the tank to attain the atmospheric pressure after a predetermined number of decompression operations has occurred.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of deaerating a liquid, comprising the steps of: supplying the liquid into an air-tight jacketed tank; agitating the liquid at a low or medium speed; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at said low or medium speed; and increasing said low or medium agitation speed to a high speed when the pressure in the tank is reduced to a predetermined level while continuously cycling through said further decompression operations.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of deaerating a liquid, comprising the steps of: supplying the liquid into an air-tight jacketed tank; agitating the liquid at a low or medium speed; reducing a pressure in the tank by commencing a decompression operation and then ending said operation at a later time; cycling through further decompression operations of the tank in discrete steps for progressively lowering the pressure in the tank, while continuously agitating the liquid at said low or medium speed; and increasing said low or medium agitation speed to a high speed when the pressure in the tank is reduced to a predetermined level while continuously cycling through said further decompression operations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of switching to a low agitation speed and allowing the pressure in the tank to attain the atmospheric pressure after a predetermined number of decompression operations has occurred.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-03-04 | 1995-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-02 | 1999-03-04 | 1999-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-02 | 2003-03-04 | 2003-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |