US6878308B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for inhibiting freeze-clumping of aggregate materials
Assignee: Natural Alternatives LLC
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Filing: 2002-12-20
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Granted: 2005-04-12
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Expires: 2022-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the freeze-clumping of an aggregate material, such as coal. The invention contemplates applying to the coal an anti-icing material, the anti-icing material comprising molasses solids, such as desugared sugar beet molasses solids or sugar cane molasses solids and/or an aqueous solution of glucose, fructose, or of DP 2-5 polymers thereof. The anti-icing material has a viscosity sufficient to adhere to the aggregate material to an extent suitable to inhibit freeze-clumping thereof. Also disclosed is a clump-inhibited aggregate material that comprises an aggregate of units of a material in combination with an anti-icing material as heretofore described.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin H. Schilling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:46
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K3/00; C09K3/18; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/91; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for inhibiting freeze-clumping of an aggregate material, comprising applying to said aggregate material an amount of an anti-icing material, said amount being at least an amount effective to inhibit freeze-clumping of said aggregate material, said anti-icing material comprising an aqueous solution having a viscosity sufficient to adhere to said aggregate material to an extent suitable to inhibit freeze-clumping thereof, said solution comprising high fructose corn syrup solids, said aggregate material comprising coal, said solution having a solids content ranging from 20-90%.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for inhibiting freeze-clumping of an aggregate material, comprising applying to said aggregate material an amount of an anti-icing material, said amount being at least an amount effective to inhibit freeze-clumping of said aggregate material, said anti-icing material comprising an aqueous solution having a viscosity sufficient to adhere to said aggregate material to an extent suitable to inhibit freeze-clumping thereof, said solution comprising high fructose corn syrup solids, said aggregate material comprising coal, said solution having a solids content ranging from 20-90%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 , said anti-icing material being applied to said aggregate material as said aggregate material is being transported via a conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 , said solution further including a viscosifier present in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of said solution relative to the viscosity of said solution absent said viscosifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 , said solution further comprising a freezing point lowering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium formate, calcium magnesium acetate, and potassium acetate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 4 , said solution further including a viscosifier present in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of said solution relative to the viscosity of said solution absent said viscosifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A clump-inhibited aggregate material comprising a plurality of units of a material forming an aggregation; and an anti-icing material in combination with at least some of said units and being present in combination with said aggregate material in at least an amount effective to inhibit freeze-clumping of said aggregate material, said anti-icing material comprising an aqueous solution having a viscosity sufficient to adhere to said aggregate material to an extent suitable to inhibit freeze-clumping thereof, said solution comprising high fructose corn syrup solids, said aggregate material comprising coal, said solution having a solids content ranging from 20-90%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A clump-inhibited aggregate material comprising a plurality of units of a material forming an aggregation; and an anti-icing material in combination with at least some of said units and being present in combination with said aggregate material in at least an amount effective to inhibit freeze-clumping of said aggregate material, said anti-icing material comprising an aqueous solution having a viscosity sufficient to adhere to said aggregate material to an extent suitable to inhibit freeze-clumping thereof, said solution comprising high fructose corn syrup solids, said aggregate material comprising coal, said solution having a solids content ranging from 20-90%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A clump-inhibited aggregate material according to claim 6 , said solution further including a viscosifier present in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of said solution relative to the viscosity of said solution absent said viscosifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A clump-inhibited aggregate material according to claim 6 , said solution further comprising a freezing point lowering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium formate, calcium magnesium acetate, and potassium acetate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A clump-inhibited aggregate material according to claim 8 , said solution further including a viscosifier present in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of said solution relative to the viscosity of said solution absent said viscosifier.
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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) | 2008-04-11 | 2008-10-11 | 2009-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-11 | 2012-10-11 | 2013-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-11 | 2016-10-11 | 2017-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |