Stationary Deflector (dividing And Recombining Type) In Flow-through Mixing Chamber Patents (Class 366/336)
  • Patent number: 7374156
    Abstract: A process for producing carbonated water having a high concentration, inexpensively and easily, involves using a static mixer having 20 to 100 elements so as to provide a value Re×N of 100,000 to 2,000,000, in with Re represents a Reynolds number, when a mixture of water and carbonic acid gas flow in the static mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Ooyachi, Hiroki Sakakibara, Satoshi Suzuki, Hiroshi Tasaka, Masaaki Satou
  • Patent number: 7364658
    Abstract: This invention is directed to systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid or from lipid-containing organisms from a fluid, such as plasma. These systems combine a fluid with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from the lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The at least one extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to a concentration enabling the fluid to be administered to a patient without undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid or to a different patient for therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lipid Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Bomberger, Bryan Chavez, Pablo E. Garcia, Eric Hegwer, Thomas P. Low, Ripudaman Malhotra, Jeffrey J. Shimon
  • Patent number: 7357564
    Abstract: An apparatus for pumping and mixing plural components of differing viscosities having at least one hopper for accepting each component, each hopper having a hopper outlet; an auger secured within each hopper, the auger being designed to wipe the inside surface of its respective hopper during rotation; a piston pump plumbed to each hopper outlet, each piston pump being substantially identical and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and each piston pump designed to be joined by a coupling yoke, whereby components of differing viscosities can be pumped uniformly; and a static mixer. The static mixer has a mixer inlet and a mixer outlet, and is designed so that plural components of differing viscosities can be uniformly pumped and mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Substructure Encapsulation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Reis, Andrew R. Kelly, Paul G. Reis, Robert G. Reis
  • Patent number: 7351221
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a medium includes at least a first container to hold the medium, a pressurizing device, such as a pump, in fluid connection with the container for pressurizing the medium, and an agitation mechanism or device to maintain the components of the medium in a mixed state. The container and the pressurizing device can be separate units, as in the case of an bag or bottle in fluid connection with a peristaltic or other type of pump. The container and the pump can also be combined in a single unit, as in the case of a syringe, wherein the syringe barrel of the syringe acts to contain the medium and the syringe plunger pressurizes the medium within the syringe barrel. A method of injecting a multi-component medium includes the step of agitating the medium (for example, as described above) before or during an injection procedure to maintain the components of the medium in a mixed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: MEDRAD, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Trombley, III, Arthur E. Uber, III, Edward J. Rhinehart, Rosemary Almon-Martin, Alan D. Hirschman
  • Patent number: 7338543
    Abstract: A static mixer includes a plurality of mixing elements disposed parallel to each other and arrayed annularly to define an inner cylindrical space surrounded by these mixing elements. Each mixing element has stationary vanes disposed in a circular passage. A blower supplying the air to the static mixer is entirely or partly accommodated and fixed in the inner cylindrical space of the static mixer. The static mixer and the blower are disposed parallel to each other. The overall length of the fuel mixture generating apparatus can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shunjiro Kikawa
  • Patent number: 7318902
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: John Oakey, David W. M. Marr
  • Patent number: 7291194
    Abstract: A thermal mixer reduces the temperature of flue gas supplied to a fabric filter. Two spray dry absorbers are operable to cool flue gas. A housing of the mixer has first and second inlet passages for gas from the absorbers, an outlet passage for gas to the fabric filter, and a mixing passage. A set of damper vanes extends in the mixing passage and has a mixing position for mixing the flue gases from the inlet passages to supply mixed gas to the outlet passage at relatively high pressure drop but lower temperature if one of the absorbers in not operating. They have a non-mixing position for passage of gases without mixing and at low pressure drop when both absorbers are operating. The invention can also be used to improve mixing of combined gas streams initially having different chemical compositions or amounts of particle loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7288128
    Abstract: A thermal mixer reduces the temperature of flue gas supplied to a fabric filter. Two spray dry absorbers are operable to cool flue gas. A housing of the mixer has first and second inlet passages for gas from the absorbers, an outlet passage for gas to the fabric filter, and a mixing passage. A set of damper vanes extends in the mixing passage and has a mixing position for mixing the flue gases from the inlet passages to supply mixed gas to the outlet passage at relatively high pressure drop but lower temperature if one of the absorbers in not operating. They have a non-mixing position for passage of gases without mixing and at low pressure drop when both absorbers are operating. The invention can also be used to improve mixing of combined gas streams initially having different chemical compositions or amounts of particle loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7284902
    Abstract: A mixing tube is provided, including first and second mixing passages, each of which include a plurality of elements connected in series and having a sectional shapes that change continuously. Multi-component materials pass through the first and the second mixing passage, repeatedly dividing and aggregating the materials in a passing process. The first and the second mixing passages are formed by a first outer frame member, a second outer frame member, and a partition member. The first and the second mixing passages repeatedly divide and aggregate due to the hole portions in the partition member, and with this mixing tube, the materials to be mixed pass trough the mixing passages by continuing and manually squeezing the mixing tube from the inlet port to the outlet port of the first and the second mixing passages, and sufficient mixing can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Maeda Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Hosozawa
  • Patent number: 7258137
    Abstract: A system conveys two gases separately until controlled delivery and gas mixing are desired. The device maintains separation between the two gases with sealed, high temperature materials, and a geometry that contains gas flow channels that do not allow gas mixing. The present design provides a seal at the interfaces between components. An outer ring and an inner spool are assembled together to form a single component that accommodates the input of two, initially separate gases, and then contains and conveys the two gases separately to an exit surface where outlet holes allow the two gases to mix and react in a controlled manner upon exiting the component. The inlet holes for both gases are located on one side of the spool. The exit holes are formed in a centralized, alternating, completely interspersed array or grid-like pattern on the opposite surface of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Poco Graphite, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Plummer
  • Patent number: 7198400
    Abstract: A static mixer comprising a mixer body with a first and a second array of intermeshed and interconnecting passageways formed therein that connect, and provide a convoluted flow path between, flow faces at ends of the mixer body. The first and second arrays of passageways preferably interconnect such that the boundaries of adjacent intermeshed passageways overlap to form mixing portals. When used in an injection molding system, a singular melt flow is initially divided at the first flow face of the static mixer, wherein the melt flow divides into the intermeshing passageways and further divides and re-combines at the locations of mixing portals before exiting the static mixer at the second flow face as homogenized melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Unterlander, Maciej Brelski, Robert Schad, Peter Lacza, Denise Craig
  • Patent number: 7160024
    Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a vortex chamber tool in a conduit includes: an outer barrel; an inner barrel that is concentric with the outer barrel; and a corkscrew deflector coupled to an inside wall of the outer barrel and an outside wall of the inner barrel to organize the flow of a fluid in the vortex chamber tool. The vortex chamber tool operates to convert a turbulent flow from an input portion of the conduit into a non-turbulent laminar flow at a downstream portion of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Ecotechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dougherty, Sr., Bradley J. Fehn, Thomas B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7150558
    Abstract: A device for producing emulsions, suspensions and the like of at least two media has a substantially tubular reservoir provided with a first inlet at one axial end so that a first medium is supplied substantially in an axial direction, a second inlet for a second medium provided in a substantially tubular wall of the reservoir so that the second medium is supplied into the reservoir substantially transversely to the axis and therefore to the first medium to produce a mixture, and an outlet for discharging the mixture of the first and second media, means for imparting vibrations and located downstream of the first inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: AAA Commerce Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Shvartsman, Anatoly Potik, Ashok Chakram, Borys Zamotaylov
  • Patent number: 7140292
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method is provided for injecting a fluid additive into a viscous fluid food flow stream. A fluid additive injector device is utilized to inject the fluid additive which has structure to prevent or minimize the amount of fluid additive that contacts or pools along the periphery of the fluid food flow stream. A fluid additive delivery system is provided to deliver equal amounts of fluid additive to a plurality of fluid additive injectors using a single pump without adjustable flow control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: Marcus Parsons, Robert Chatel
  • Patent number: 7121535
    Abstract: The present invention includes a horizontal foam fractionation protein skimmer for removing organic waste material (dissolved organic compounds) from organic loaded water. The protein skimmer includes a horizontal reaction chamber connected to a foam collection chamber in which protein-loaded foam containing organic waste material is collected. The reaction chamber is comprised of a series of horizontally-directed, nested, concentric tubes for increasing the number and decreasing the size of bubbles to facilitate efficient removal of dissolved organic compounds. Each horizontal tube has either one or several small openings that are offset from the openings on the adjacent tube at a small angle, typically 10°. The openings are formed by either a single slit that runs along the length of each tube, or by a series of holes that runs along the length of each tube. Organic-loaded water is pumped through tubing into the reaction chamber. As water moves through the tubing, gas (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Mote Marine Laboratory
    Inventors: Richard Kevin Curlee, Richard H. Paetsch
  • Patent number: 7086776
    Abstract: The present invention provides a paint container and colorant injector apparatus that includes a paint container that retains a base paint therein and provides an opening allowing access to the base paint. An injector assembly couples with the paint container and is operable to locally disperse colorant into the base paint. Such an apparatus is employed in a method for dispersing a colorant throughout a base paint. The method includes providing a base paint in a container, locally dispersing colorant in the base paint, thereafter sealing the container and shaking the container to further disperse the colorant in the base paint throughout the remainder thereof to effect uniform coloring of the base paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Roger W. Adams
  • Patent number: 7077906
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously introducing a substance in liquid phase into plastics granules includes a supporting structure adapted to support in series and in substantial vertical alignment a feeding section, at least one mixing chamber, and at least one drying chamber. The feeding section is provided with means for feeding the granules to at least one spraying chamber provided with means for spraying the substance onto the granules. The at least one mixing chamber of the granules partially or totally coated with the substance includes substantially static mixing means supported in the at least one mixing chamber. The at least one drying chamber is adapted to receive a predetermined amount of the granules coated with the substance. The substantially static mixing means may include, for example, at least one static mixer, a plurality of mixing bars, or at least two superimposed groups of mixing bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Colombo, Pierluigi Folcini, Giovanni Pozzati, Marcello Del Brenna
  • Patent number: 6986832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a mixer for mixing flows of a papermaking process. In the invention, a first flow is conveyed through a tube, and turbulence is generated in it by means of form parts located on the inner periphery of the tube. The mixing zone of the mixer comprises feed openings on the inner periphery of the tube for feeding a second flow from a feed channel outside the tube into the first flow, whereby the flows are mixed as a result of the turbulence generated by the form parts. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one form part comprises a feed opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Paper Inc.
    Inventors: Perttu Lamminen, Matti Hietaniemi, Juhani Sams, Kati Lindroos
  • Patent number: 6946011
    Abstract: A thermal mixer reduces the temperature of flue gas supplied to a fabric filter. Two spray dry absorbers are operable to cool flue gas. A housing of the mixer has first and second inlet passages for gas from the absorbers, an outlet passage for gas to the fabric filter, and a mixing passage. A set of damper vanes extends in the mixing passage and has a mixing position for mixing the flue gases from the inlet passages to supply mixed gas to the outlet passage at relatively high pressure drop but lower temperature if one of the absorbers in not operating. They have a non-mixing position for passage of gases without mixing and at low pressure drop when both absorbers are operating. The invention can also be used to improve mixing of combined gas streams initially having different chemical compositions or amounts of particle loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6942792
    Abstract: Three metal plate materials, each having penetration holes, are united together in this order as a set at such positions that penetration holes can penetrate through the three metal plate materials so as to form a mixing portion. A plurality of sets, each having the mixing portion, are integrated together at such positions that all of the penetration holes can penetrate through the respective sets of plate materials. The mixing portions of the respective sets are connected in parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Aso
  • Patent number: 6919381
    Abstract: A process for preparing a solution of a liquid additive in a liquid base wherein the liquid additive tends to gel when mixed with the liquid base at temperatures less than a gelling temperature TG includes the steps of providing a stream of the liquid base at a temperature TC which is greater than ambient temperature and less than the gelling temperature TG; feeding the stream to a mixer having a mixer inlet so as to impart energy to the stream; and adding the liquid additive to the stream downstream of the inlet, whereby the liquid additive mixes with the liquid base and the energy inhibits gelling of the liquid additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Gustavo A Nú{overscore (n)}ez, Clara E Mata, Carolina Blanco
  • Patent number: 6903138
    Abstract: A process for preparing a bimodal emulsion of viscous hydrocarbon in water includes providing a stream of water at ambient temperature; providing a liquid additive that tends to gel when mixed with water at temperatures less than a gelling temperature TG; heating the stream to provide a heated stream at a temperature TC which is greater than ambient temperature and less than the gelling temperature TG; feeding the heated stream to a mixer having a mixer inlet so as to impart energy to the heated stream; adding the liquid additive to the heated stream downstream of the mixer inlet, whereby the liquid additive mixes with the stream and the energy inhibits gelling of the liquid additive to provide a substantially homogeneous solution of additive in water. The solution is then divided and used to make two different droplet sized emulsions which are mixed to form the bimodal emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Gustavo A Nú{overscore (n)}ez, Clara E Mata, Carolina Blanco, Manuel Segundo Chirinos, Gerardo Alonso Sánchez, Tulio Rafael Colmenares, Hercilio Jose Rivas, Felix Abraham Silva
  • Patent number: 6899453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a static mixer (1) having a cylindrical mixer channel formed by a mixer channel housing (5) and a multistage mixer blade element (3) which is disposed in said mixer channel and used for mixing layers of hardening accelerator paste in a stream of highly viscous PU. Discharge openings (7) are provided in the inlet area of the static mixer. Said discharge openings introduce a partial stream of hitherto unmixed highly viscous PU into. secondary channels (6) disposed parallel to the mixer channel. The secondary channels are connected to feeder openings (8) disposed in the wall of the mixer channel downstream of the mixer wing element (3) when viewed in the direction of flow. The unmixed PU is guided in the secondary channels (6) and enters the outer area of the stream coming from the mixer wing element via the feeder openings where the mixed layers of hardening accelerator paste are contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Sika Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Reto Koch, Reto Dohner
  • Patent number: 6896007
    Abstract: A static hydro-dynamic mixer undulating interior conduit provides a static mixing apparatus which utilizes a spiral, coiled or curved conduit to cause dynamic mixing of its flowing contents while they are pumped through it. The application includes a method of use in separating oil sands. The mixing is caused by the resistance to flow through the undulated conduit and the resistance increases with pitch and conduit diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: LMC Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Lubomyr M. Cymbalisty
  • Patent number: 6890093
    Abstract: Robust microfluidic mixing devices mix multiple fluid streams passively, without the use of moving parts. In one embodiment, these devices contain microfluidic channels that are formed in various layers of a three-dimensional structure. Mixing may be accomplished with various manipulations of fluid flow paths and/or contacts between fluid streams. In various embodiments, structures such as channel overlaps, slits, converging/diverging regions, turns, and/or apertures may be designed into a mixing device. Mixing devices may be rapidly constructed and prototyped using a stencil construction method in which channels are cut through the entire thickness of a material layer, although other construction methods including surface micromachining techniques may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Nanostream, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph D. Karp, Joseph F. Covington
  • Patent number: 6878400
    Abstract: A method for continuously introducing a substance in liquid phase into plastics granules comprising: a) feeding a substantially continuous flow of the plastics granules to at least one substantially static spraying chamber, b) spraying the substance in liquid phase onto the plastics granules, c) passing the granules partially or totally coated by the substance in liquid phase by a substantially static mixing means supported in at leas one mixing chamber provided downstream of the spraying chamber, d) submitting the mixed granules to drying for a time sufficient to allow a substantially complete absorption of the substance in liquid phase by the granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Colombo, Pierluigi Folcini, Giovanni Pozzati, Marcello Del Brenna
  • Patent number: 6857774
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a cavitational mixing and/or pumping device and method including a body having a base portion and a peripheral wall extending from the base portion and defining an inlet space therebetween. Additionally, the base portion includes at least one inlet port disposed therein that is in fluid communication with the inlet space. The peripheral wall includes an outlet channel disposed therein that is in fluid communication with the inlet space. A cavitation assembly is disposed within the outlet channel. Alternatively, a plurality of cavitation assemblies may be disposed within the outlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Five Star Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Oleg V. Kozyuk
  • Patent number: 6849189
    Abstract: The present invention includes a horizontal foam fractionation protein skimmer for removing organic waste material (dissolved organic compounds) from organic loaded water. The protein skimmer includes a horizontal reaction chamber connected to a foam collection chamber in which protein-loaded foam containing organic waste material is collected. The reaction chamber is comprised of a series of horizontally-directed, nested, concentric tubes for increasing the number and decreasing the size of bubbles to facilitate efficient removal of dissolved organic compounds. Each horizontal tube has either one or several small openings that are offset from the openings on the adjacent tube at a small angle, typically 10°. The openings are formed by either a single slit that runs along the length of each tube, or by a series of holes that runs along the length of each tube. Organic-loaded water is pumped through tubing into the reaction chamber. As water moves through the tubing, gas (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Mote Marine Laboratory
    Inventors: Richard Kevin Curlee, Richard H. Paetsch
  • Patent number: 6830715
    Abstract: Method and device for producing elastane threads from spinning solutions using recycled elastane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignees: Bayer Faser GmbH, Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Reinehr, Tilo Sehm, Wolfgang Anderheggen, Toni Herbertz, Helmut Judat
  • Publication number: 20040246815
    Abstract: A device and method for creating hydrodynamic cavitation in fluids is disclosed. The device can include a chamber formed by at least one wall. The wall can have a first orifice configured to permit the introduction of a first liquid stream into the chamber and an opposing second orifice configured to permit the introduction of a second liquid stream into the chamber. The first orifice can have a diameter sufficiently smaller than the second orifice to permit penetration of the first liquid stream into the second liquid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Oleg V. Kozyuk
  • Publication number: 20040246814
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical device with no moving parts that homogeneously mixes two or more liquids or liquids and gases. It is possible with the device to totally saturate liquids with gas droplets of less than one micron. The device comprises an inlet for partially mixed components leading to a plurality of passageways converging axially into a chamber which has radial openings into another chamber defined by a conical member converging in the axial direction and having an opening at its apex to exit the mixed components, the components exiting the radial openings collide with the walls of the conical member producing shear and turbulence and subsequently spinning within the conical member and are then subjected to increased pressure in the axial direction by the converging wall of the conical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Weng Chuen Foong, Paul Woodley
  • Patent number: 6817753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging system for the in-situ preparation of cosmetic formulations which has a micromixer. This micromixer can be connected to one or more stock chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft MIT Beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Joachim Buenger, Hansjürgen Driller, Jutta Zur Lange, Annette Wagner
  • Publication number: 20040218469
    Abstract: A static mixer comprising a mixer body with a first and a second array of intermeshed and interconnecting passageways formed therein that connect, and provide a convoluted flow path between, flow faces at ends of the mixer body. The first and second arrays of passageways preferably interconnect such that the boundaries of adjacent intermeshed passageways overlap to form mixing portals. When used in an injection molding system, a singular melt flow is initially divided at the first flow face of the static mixer, wherein the melt flow divides into the intermeshing passageways and further divides and re-combines at the locations of mixing portals before exiting the static mixer at the second flow face as homogenized melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Husky Injection Molding Systems LTD
    Inventors: Richard M. Unterlander, Maciej Brelski, Robert D. Schad, Peter Anthony Lacza, Denise Davina Craig
  • Publication number: 20040213083
    Abstract: In a fluid mixing apparatus and a fluid mixing system including the apparatus, a micro-reactor has a plate sandwiched by a lid member and a receiving member. In the plate, a plate through hole, a slit cylindrical through hole, and an outer layer channel are formed, and three fluids flowing in the lid member are allowed to flow out in the same direction, respectively. Further, in the micro-reactor, the receiving member having a mixing channel having an outer periphery in the same form as an outermost periphery of the outer layer channel is provided detachably to the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujiwara, Mamoru Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20040213084
    Abstract: Two or more independent and offset fluid transporting fractals allow the scaling and intermingling of two or more fluids separately and simultaneously prior to contacting the fluids with one another. The device provides rapid and homogeneous mixing and/or reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Michael M. Kearney
  • Patent number: 6793964
    Abstract: An apparatus for bitumen coating particulate material comprises a chamber (2) having baffles or deflectors (4), a particulate material inlet (8) and a particulate material outlet (10). In use, a foamed bituminus formulation is directed into the chamber via an outlet (12) and an air stream is directed from an inlet (14) towards the bituminous formulation, to atomise the formulation. The atomised formulation then contacts particulate material which passes in a convoluted path through the chamber via inlet (8). Prior to contact with the atomised bituminous formulation, heated air which passes into the chamber via a second gas inlet (16) heats the surface of the stone. After the particulate material has been coated it is discharged via outlet (10) for subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Totalfinaelf Bitumen Limited
    Inventor: Leslie Hoad
  • Publication number: 20040145967
    Abstract: A micro-mixer of a simple structure suited to form a micro-mixed liquid from two kinds of liquids A and B comprises a plurality of passage modules 7 stacked and thereby forming a multi-tiered flow passage. Each of the passage modules has a plurality of combining-dividing units 10 arranged at regular intervals. Each of the combining-dividing units has two inlets 11a, 11b and two outlets 12a, 12b. The two outlets 12a, 12b of each of the combining-dividing units in each of the stacked passage modules are connected with an inlet 11a of a combining-dividing unit and an inlet 11b of another combining-dividing unit in its immediate downstream passage module, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuaki Honda
  • Publication number: 20040109386
    Abstract: A particle analyzer that includes a specimen source, a flow cell, a pump and delivery tube for transporting specimen fluid from the specimen source to the flow cell, a dispensing valve for injecting stain from a stain source into the specimen fluid in the delivery tube, and a mixing device for mixing the stain and the specimen fluid together. The mixing device includes a cylindrical shaped member having an outer surface, a channel formed in the outer surface with the channel including circumferential and longitudinal turns, and a hollow mixing tube disposed in the channel. As the stain and the specimen fluid flow through the mixing tube, they travel through the circumferential and longitudinal turns and are mixed together. A fluid sensor employing a sensor RC circuit and a reference RC circuit detects capacitance changes in the delivery tube for detecting the presence or absence of fluid therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Gold, John P. Pelmulder, Richard H. Turner
  • Patent number: 6742924
    Abstract: Two or more independent and offset fluid transporting fractals allow the scaling and intermingling of two or more fluids separately and simultaneously prior to contacting the fluids with one another. The device provides rapid and homogeneous mixing and/or reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Amalgamated Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael M. Kearney
  • Patent number: 6730214
    Abstract: System and apparatus to accelerate solution of gas into liquid. The system includes an aspirating injector to bring the gas into the pressurized system, a collider, a reactor, and an optional gas/liquid separator. The collider and reactor provide for prompt renewal of the interface in the bubble with the liquid as the consequence of abrupt changes of direction of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Angelo L. Mazzei
  • Patent number: 6722780
    Abstract: A process for mixing or dispersing liquids is provided that includes introducing liquids to be mixed or dispersed into a mixing device having a cylindrical support. The cylindrical support includes an inlet nozzle having a bore which is in fluid communication through a turbulence chamber with a bore of an outlet nozzle, wherein the bores of the nozzles are axially spaced apart relative to one another. The liquids are then allowed to enter the turbulence chamber through the bore of the inlet nozzle where the liquids are mixed or dispersed. The mixed or dispersed liquid is then recovered from the outlet nozzle. Various devices for mixing or dispersing liquids are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Roche Vitamins Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann Stein, Klaus Viardot
  • Patent number: 6719007
    Abstract: Apparatus for attenuating the amplitude of a time-variant property of a fluid stream which comprises an enclosed volume, wherein the enclosed volume includes a mixing zone having an inlet and three or more outlets; piping means for introducing an inlet fluid stream into the inlet of the mixing zone; and piping means for withdrawing from the mixing zone three or more individual fluid portions through the three or more outlets and combining the three or more individual fluid portions into an outlet fluid stream. The distance between at least one pair of adjacent outlets may be different than the distance between another pair of adjacent outlets, and the distance between adjacent outlets may decrease as the distance of each outlet from the inlet increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Jacob Smith, IV, David Ross Graham
  • Patent number: 6705757
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for preparing microparticles using in-line solvent extraction. An emulsion is formed by combining two phases in a static mixer. The emulsion is combined with an extraction liquid in a blending static mixer. The outflow of the blending static mixer is combined with additional extraction liquid. The additional extraction liquid and the outflow of the blending static mixer can be combined in a vessel, or through the use of a static mixer manifold that includes a plurality of static mixers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc. II
    Inventors: Shawn L. Lyons, Steven G. Wright
  • Patent number: 6705756
    Abstract: A cartridge assembly used with a conventional caulking gun for mixing and dispensing components of a material. The cartridge assembly includes a component carrying body that has a plurality of separate component reservoirs and a component flow directing housing at a forward end of the reservoirs. A mixing unit extends between the component flow directing housing and a discharge nozzle secured to the front end of the carrying body. The mixing unit mixes the components and delivers them to the discharge nozzle. The mixing unit includes a plurality of mixing cylinders that each have a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the component carrying body. The mixing cylinders and guiding channels that extend between them form at least a portion of a component mixing path. The mixing cylinders can each include one or more mixing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Chemque, Incorporated
    Inventors: Alex Botrie, Tuan Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20040047233
    Abstract: A mixer (1) for mixing at least two components from a foil pouch containing a first component and arranged in a housing and at least one second foil pouch arranged in the first foil pouch and containing a second component. The mixer (1) has an additional receiving space (7) on the threaded connector (4) for receiving a partially hardened two-component mass. The space is formed by an inner tube (6) arranged coaxial to the threaded connector (4), which extends from the threaded connector (4) up to the foil bag. At the time of replacing a used mixer (1) with a new mixer (1), the mass situated in the receiving space (7) is removed with the used mixer (1) and the remaining quantity of the first and second components present in the foil bag can be reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Ayrle
  • Patent number: 6701964
    Abstract: A vortex generating fuel saving device is installed on the air intake hose to a fuel injector. An airfoil body creates a spiral vortex of air spiraling off of its outer edge, thereby increasing the air in the fuel-air mixture to the fuel injectors. The airfoil body is mounted on the forward rim of the air intake hose by a clip, and is positioned inside of the hose with the edge of the airfoil in the center of the hose. The airfoil creates a spiral vortex, which is in concentric relation to the interior of the hose, thereby allowing maximum mixture of air in the fuel-air mixture. The airfoil is capable of being adjusted in width so that the outer edge of the airfoil blade is positioned in the center of any of a variety of sizes of fuel injector air intake hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Michael R. Maurice
  • Patent number: 6698917
    Abstract: A process is provided for blending two fluids having widely differing viscosities, such that the ratio of the two viscosities is at least 10,000:1. The low viscosity fluid is injected into the high viscosity fluid as it flows through a conduit, such that the low viscosity fluid is at least 30% by weight of the total weight of the low viscosity fluid and the high viscosity fluid. The two fluids are then forwarded to a second conduit containing a first set of static mixing elements providing a fluid shear rate in excess of 0.57 sec−1. The two fluids are then further forwarded to a third conduit containing a second set of static mixing elements of a larger diameter than the first set, providing a fluid shear rate in excess of 0.20 sec−1. Within the third conduit the two fluids form a homogeneous blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Arthur William Etchells, III, Charles Linfred Henderson, Felix Alfred Streiff, Andreas Walder
  • Publication number: 20040037161
    Abstract: An emulsifying apparatus includes a multistage channel provided between plural inlets and a single outlet and having plural channel stages. A sectional area of the individual channel stage is larger than that of the immediately downstream channel stage on the outlet side, so that shearing rate of fluids flowing in the multistage channel gradually increases toward the outlet side to promote fluid dispersion, whereby a high-quality emulsion having an uniform particle diameter is produced with excellent mass producibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Honda, Kazuhiro Mae
  • Patent number: 6677387
    Abstract: A process for preparing a hydrocarbon in water emulsion, comprising the steps of providing a liquid additive that tends to gel when mixed with water at temperatures less than a gelling temperature TG; providing a stream of water at a temperature TC less than the gelling temperature TG; feeding said stream to a mixer having a mixer inlet so as to impart energy to the stream; adding the liquid additive to the stream downstream of the mixer inlet, whereby the liquid additive mixes with the stream and the energy inhibits gelling of the liquid additive so as to provide a substantially homogeneous solution of the liquid additive in the water; and mixing the solution with a hydrocarbon in a mixer so as to form a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion. In further accordance with the invention, different emulsions can be formed and combined so as to provide a combined emulsion having desired properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Mariano E Gurfinkel Castillo, Franzo Agustin Marruffo Rodriguez, Manuel Segundo Chirinos, Felix Abraham Silva, Gustavo Padron, Gustavo A Nú{overscore (n)}ez, Clara E. Mata, Carolina Blanco
  • Patent number: 6657205
    Abstract: A turbine-boosted ultraviolet-radiation sterilizing fluid processor, comprising a quartz sleeve installed inside a tube unit, inside the quartz sleeve being installed an ultraviolet-radiation lamp, at the upper and lower end of the tube unit being respectively a fluid inlet tube and a fluid outlet tube; the invention is characterized in that: at the top of the tube unit and at the lower part of the fluid inlet tube is installed a diversion mechanism to form a fluid pressurizing chamber. When the fluid flows through the fluid inlet tube, into the diversion mechanism for pressurizing, a whirlpool spinning at a high speed is created so that the fluid with sterilizing function is blended properly. The fluid spinning at high speed also flushes the wall of the quartz sleeve thus increases the sterilizing effects and reduces the frequency for maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Vast Light Ltd.
    Inventor: Tommy Chi-Kin Wong