Plate Or Block Being Apertured, Notched, Or Truncated In Shape Patents (Class 366/340)
  • 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: 7134621
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus wherein raw material may be crushed to fine particles of desirous size to be mixed uniformally by multi-layered mixing blocks. The mixing apparatus includes a plurality of mixing units piled up in a housing, and arrays of projections formed at the facing side of the mixing units and located alternately in order to form concentric circles which are not interfered with each other. The mixing units are formed with first and second pairs of upper and lower disks. The arrays of the projections are formed on the outer surface of the pairs of disks, and the fluid passages are formed between the upper and lower disks. The inflow passages are opened to the fluid passages which are formed between the lower disks of each pair and the housing. The outflow passages are formed at the inner surface of the upper disks of each pair and the mixing units are attachable in multiple layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventors: Woon Seung Choi, Woo Ram Choi
  • Patent number: 7081205
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for desalinating water are provided. A vessel includes a water intake system, a reverse osmosis system, a concentrate discharge system, a permeate transfer system, a power source, and a control system. The concentrate discharge system includes a plurality of concentrate discharge ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Water Standard Company, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew W. Gordon, Charles R. Cushing, Steven J. Duranceau, J. Michael Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 7066641
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Honda
  • Patent number: 6982064
    Abstract: Known static micromixers that work according to the principle of multilamination allow for a rapid mixing by diffusion. The invention provides a means for substantially increasing the throughput of known micromixers. To this end, the inventive micromixer for mixing two or more reactants comprises microstructures that define mixer cells. Each of said mixer cells is provided with a feeding chamber which adjoins at least two groups of digital channels. Said channels intermesh with the digital channels of the groups adjoining the feeding channels in a comb-like manner, thereby producing mixing zones]. Outlet ports are located above said mixing zones, said outlet ports extending perpendicularly to the digital channels and discharging the product. The inventive micromixer is especially useful for the large-scale production of mixtures, dispersions and emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Frank Michel, Astrid Lohf, Volker Graeff
  • Patent number: 6971787
    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: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Chemque, Incorporated
    Inventors: Alex Botrie, Tuan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6951892
    Abstract: A continuous output system makes paper coating by combining an emulsifier with ASA particles having a mean average size in the low to sub-micron region. A turbine, pump, blender or other device exposes the ASA to a number of repeated episodes of high shear until the resulting ASA is in the form of particles having a mean average diameter in approximately the 1? range. The measure of the amount of high shear is identified by an energy factor index. A system for cooling the ASA enables the processing without causing a hydrolyzing of the ASA, even when a heated cooked emulsion is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Norchem Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Pardikes
  • 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: 6935769
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing multi-layered, laminated, lipid-based sweet confections comprises tempering the lipid-based formulation for each layer, and depositing them separately onto a moving conveyor belt, which is passed through a cooling tunnel between the station where the first layer is placed on the conveyor belt and the station where the next layer is placed. If more than two layers are to be made, additional stations are employed further along the conveyor belt. A set of fingers is located at each station so as to striate the layers as they pass beneath the fingers, so as to govern the width of each ribbon that is thus formed. The width of the fingers in each successive set of fingers is not greater than the width of the fingers in the preceding set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Cargill Limited
    Inventors: Van Miller, Rene Miller
  • Patent number: 6905609
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment and disposal of waste, including sanitary, petroleum, and other organic wastes. More specifically, the present invention treats and disposes of these types of waste from portable and remote waste generating sources, such as passenger carrying vehicles and remote facilities where sewage and septic systems are impractical. The invention makes use of thermal energy liberated from devices that generate a hot exhaust stream, such as internal combustion engines. The invention generally involves the passing of a waste material from a tank through a homogenizing device. The homogenizing device reduces the particle size and thoroughly mixes the waste stream so that it maybe injected into a hot exhaust stream, which converts the waste stream into water vapor, gas and inert ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Namon A. Nassef
  • Patent number: 6902313
    Abstract: A micro mixer for use in a microdevice which utilizes time-varying force fields to induce bulk fluid and/or sample component motion leading to homogenization of sample components. Time-varying force fields employed includes at least one of a physical displacement field, electrical field, pressure field or magnetic field to generate transverse forces which induce the mixing of samples within the micro mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: University of California
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Ho, Patrick Tabeling, Yi-Kuen Lee, Joanne Helene Deval
  • Patent number: 6887384
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices comprising porous monolithic polymer for concentration, extraction or mixing of fluids. A method for in situ preparation of monolithic polymers by in situ initiated polymerization of polymer precursors within microchannels of a microfluidic device and their use for solid phase extraction (SPE), preconcentration, concentration and mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jean M. J. Frechet, Frantisek Svec, Cong Yu, Thomas Rohr
  • Publication number: 20040252584
    Abstract: Microfluidics mixing apparatus and methods of using same are disclosed for mixing fluids using increasing centrifugal force as the fluids being mixed traverse a mixing channel. One inventive apparatus comprises a generally planar substrate having a top major surface and a bottom major surface generally parallel to the top major surface, and a cover plate over the top major surface. The substrate has at least one inlet port that routes fluid to the top major surface, and at least one outlet port for mixed fluid. The substrate comprises a mixing channel having a depth measured from the top surface and a width, the mixing channel adapted to route fluids to be mixed therein in laminar flow and in a substantially spiral flow pattern that is parallel to the top surface. Apparatus of the invention can mix fluids flowing serially, or two or more fluids entering the device from different feed channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicants: Agency for Science, Technology and Research, National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Hongmiao Ji, Victor Samper
  • Patent number: 6802640
    Abstract: In a static micromixer which comprises at least one mixing chamber and one guide component disposed upstream of the mixing chamber and which includes channels extending therethrough at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the micromixer, so that the channels of alternate layers intersect without communicating with each other, the cross-section of the channels decreases steadily from the entrance end to the exit end of the guide component so as to reduce the pressure losses of the fluid flowing through the channels for mixing in the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignees: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhc GmbH, Bayer AG
    Inventors: Klaus Schubert, Maximilian Fichtner, Georg Wiessmeier, Stephan Ehlers, Klaus Elgeti
  • Publication number: 20040134854
    Abstract: A liquid particulate-handling method and device, in which the evaporation of the droplets is prevented and therefore the handing of the droplets is appropriately performed, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Toshiro Higuchi, Toru Torii, Tomohiro Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20040130967
    Abstract: An element (21) for mixing a mass formed of a plurality of components has an input opening (28) for supplying the at least two components into the mixing element (21), an output opening (31) for discharging the mixed mass, and at least one flow channel provided between the input opening (28) and the discharge output (31), with the flow channel being oriented perpendicular to the direction of the input opening (28) or of the output opening (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Christian Wolf, Paul Ludwig Geiss
  • Patent number: 6749656
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning device comprising at least an air distribution channel having a downstream end, and at least an air diffusing element arranged at said one downstream end. The invention is characterized in that the air diffusing element (1) comprises a support (11) provided with through orifices (17) and covered over at least one of its faces with a material (12, 16), having air resistance ranged between 10 N.s.m−3 and 180 N.s.m−3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: Valeo Climatisation, Rieter Technologies A.G.
    Inventors: Carine Paumier, Pascale Petitjean, Didier Loup, Jean Casulli, Emmanuel Reymond, Marc Saget, Jean Philippe Thome
  • Patent number: 6749817
    Abstract: An arrangement for a fluid distributor-contactor-type reactor uses perforated plates to circulate two reactants in alternate channels defined by spaces between parallel stacked plates to perform controlled distribution and mixing simultaneously with optional indirect heat transfer. One reactant enters one set of channels that serve as reaction channels. A set of second channels interleaved with the reaction channels serve as distribution channels that also provide a heat exchange function. Finely dispersed openings in the perforated plates distribute the reactant at low concentration from the distribution channels into the reaction channels. Dispersal of the reactant through the perforations will enhance the turbulence that is primarily introduced by the corrugated plates to insure good mixing of the reactants in the reaction channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Mulvaney, III
  • Publication number: 20040100864
    Abstract: Static mixer element for homogenizing media, having a housing and a deflection surface arranged at an angle of 70 to 110° with respect to the flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventor: Manfred Schauerte
  • Patent number: 6736376
    Abstract: A fuel processing device is provided that produces properly sized fuel aerosol particles that when mixed with combustion air, reduces or eliminates detonation (knock) in internal combustion engines thus reducing fuel octane requirements for engines of a given compression ratio. The device includes an adapter between a fuel injector and a port for the fuel injector, the adapter being generally of a hollow cylindrical configuration. A plurality of plates are disposed in the adapter, the plates provided with a central opening, with radially extending slots extending away from the central opening. Each slot has one edge configured with a vane that creates turbulence in the air/fuel mix passing through the adapter so that larger droplets are broken up into smaller droplets until an optimum droplet size is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Gilles L. DeLisle
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 6701963
    Abstract: A flow conditioner includes a body composed of an array of vanes generally parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The vanes create a plurality of chambers to effectively reduce large scale vortices in the flow. The vanes have surfaces with perforations to allow pressure regulation between chambers to effectively reduce asymmetric flow and reduce drag. Additional preferred features include an acoustic choke created by a reduction in cross-sectional flow area at the entrance and the exit of the flow conditioner with circular plates. The plates have rough edges to increase production of micro-vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Horiba Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Hill
  • Patent number: 6672756
    Abstract: A multi-entry fluid mixer is provided, e.g. for mixing and injecting liquid rocket propellants, which mixer has a first set of passages for receiving fluid A and a second set of passages for receiving fluid B, the passages being separated by porous walls for mixing of fluids A and B therethrough as the fluids flow through such passages and then through a porous end wall, for further mixing and then discharge, as in, say, fuel injection into the combustion chamber of a rocket. The inventive mixer can also be employed in filtrated mixing of gases or gas/liquid combinations as well as for liquid rocket propellant injection, jet engine propellant injection, chemical mixing, aerosol formation and numerous other mixing and dispersion operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: David E. Barland
  • Patent number: 6637601
    Abstract: An agitator assembly for use within a sieve during automotive painting and cleaning operations has flutes consisting of circular conical discs aligned within the sieve by means of a magnetized cylinder extending through the flute or by means of a collar attached to said flute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy Donald Mossip
  • Publication number: 20030174577
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Alex Botrie, Tuan Nguyeg
  • Patent number: 6615872
    Abstract: A flow translocator disposed within a conduit for transferring and separating laminar fluid flow during translocation of the fluid core to the outer perimeter of the conduit and the outer perimeter flow to the center of the conduit. The flow translocator includes a disk disposed transverse the length of a conduit and having an outer profile conforming to the inner profile of a conduit to form a sealed fit. Arrays of slots extend about the disk for simultaneously directing the fluid core to the inner profile of a conduit and the outer perimeter flow toward the fluid core. The slots are staggered to maintain separation of the fluid core and the outer perimeter fluid during translocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven G. Goebel, Steven D. Burch, Thomas P. Migliore
  • Patent number: 6616327
    Abstract: Fluid transporting fractal devices, which can be employed whenever a controlled distribution and/or collection of fluids is desired, are constructed to position fractal stages of either progressively smaller or progressively larger scales along the direction of flow (Plates #1-#8). A preferred construction assigns generations of recursive fractal pattern to plates arranged in a stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Amalgamated Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Kearney, Kenneth R. Peterson, Michael W. Mumm
  • Publication number: 20030165081
    Abstract: A stationary type fluid mixer adapted to improve mixing/dispersion efficiencies, to easily cope with the increase and decrease of the total number of divisions, to prevent the stationary type fluid mixer from being long and large sized, to increase the degree of freedom of setting of the number of divisions, to facilitate the adjustment of the degree of mixing/dispersion according to different types of fluids, to dispense with a housing, to improve safety, and to make washing possible without disassembling, the mixer comprising a laminated structure (6) composed of a center plate (4) and side plates (5), through-holes (7) and outlet/inlet ports (8) which communicate with each other through communication flow paths (9) composed of a plurality of annular grooves (10, 10a) and radial communication grooves (11, 11a) disposed between the annular grooves (10, 10a), seal bodies (16) disposed between the center plate (4) and the side plates (5), a fixing clip (17) fitted on the laminated structure (6), the fixing cli
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Kazunori Mizutani, Toshiyuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 6607006
    Abstract: A method to reduce or attenuate the amplitude of time-variant properties of a fluid stream by introducing the stream into a defined enclosed volume in a controlled manner such that the residence time distribution of the fluid exiting the enclosed volume approaches that of a preferred flat residence time distribution. This is accomplished by the concept of temporal mixing in which different residence times are imparted to a fluid in a mixing zone by physically dividing the fluid into individual portions, each of which has a different residence time while passing through the mixing zone. The desired fluid portions are created by means of specifically-designed multiple inlets into the mixing zone and/or by means of specifically-designed multiple outlets from the mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Jacob Smith, IV, David Ross Graham
  • Patent number: 6601986
    Abstract: A static mixer comprises a mixing chamber with an inlet mixing module, fluids to be mixed being fed into the module to undergo swirling and jet collision, at least one intermediate mixing module connected to the inlet mixing module and provided with means for splitting liquid flow into a plurality of jet flows with subsequent recombination of said jets and mixing action of vortices formed around the jet flows, and an outlet mixing module connected to the intermediate mixing module and provided with means for further swirling premixed fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ruei-Hung Jang, Tien-Hsing Woo, Chih-Lin Ying, Tsung-Chi Hsieh, Ming-Kuo Yu
  • Publication number: 20030133355
    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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: ROCHE VITAMINS INC.
    Inventors: Hermann Stein, Klaus Viardot
  • Publication number: 20030107946
    Abstract: A cover slip mixing apparatus having a support and a flexible cover slip positioned over and forming a chamber between the support and the cover slip. A device is positioned with respect to the support and cover slip for applying a force on the cover slip and flexing the cover slip toward the support, the flexing cover slip providing a mixing action of a material located in the chamber. A microfluidic device includes a substrate with a fluid path disposed in the substrate. A flexible cover is positioned over the substrate and the fluid path, and a device is positioned with respect to the substrate and the cover. The device is operable to apply forces to the cover and flex the cover to act on fluid in the fluid path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: N. Guy Cosby, David J. Moore, Jim Clements
  • Patent number: 6576146
    Abstract: A diffuser rod for use in a filter stalk having deflector disks rigidly mounted thereon to deflect liquid radially during the backwash process is disclosed. A backwashable filter element containing a diffuser plate that is located within the filter member at the end where the backwash fluid enters the filter member and a number of filter stalks with each filter stalk including a diffuser rod is disclosed. Finally, a method of backwashing a filter member that includes the step of introducing a diffuser rod and a diffuser plate to the filter assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: NMW, Incorporated
    Inventors: Darrel D. Fry, Steven P. Franke, William B. Frauenberger
  • Patent number: 6568845
    Abstract: A stationary mixing machine for mixing various fluid materials in a line. In a fluid path, a pair of mixing element portions 2 and 3 is concentrically arranged. At a surface formed by overlapping these mixing element portions 2 and 3, a respective fluid path is formed as mixing chambers 8 (13) at the both elements. These mixing chambers are peripherally, radially and concentrically, arranged. Fluid material flown from an opening 5 provided at a central portion of one of the mixing element portions 2 and 3 is flown in a radius direction, the juxtaposed mixing chambers in the adjacent rows can be communicated each other and a shearing stress is applied by providing a partition or a step so as to accomplish uniformly mixed and finely-dividing dispersing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Matrix Global Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuharu Harada
  • Publication number: 20030058737
    Abstract: The invention is a mixer/flow conditioner wherein the orientation of the passages are such that an initial flow stream passing is divided into a plurality of packets with each packet being given a velocity component such that angular momenta of the packets exiting the passages sums to approximately zero thereby achieving a final flow stream having a swirl number less than 0.2 and possibly as low as 0.03. The invention has particular application in mixing and/or flow conditioning where a recirculation zone is not desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Patent number: 6530684
    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: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Roche Vitamins Inc.
    Inventors: Gudrun Kolb, Hermann Stein, Klaus Viardot
  • Publication number: 20030043689
    Abstract: A static mixer comprises a mixing chamber with an inlet mixing module, fluids to be mixed being fed into the module to undergo swirling and jet collision, at least one intermediate mixing module connected to the inlet mixing module and provided with means for splitting liquid flow into a plurality of jet flows with subsequent recombination of said jets and mixing action of vortices formed around the jet flows, and an outlet mixing module connected to the intermediate mixing module and provided with means for further swirling premixed fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ruei-Hung Jang, Tien-Hsing Woo, Chih-Lin Ying, Tsung-Chi Hsieh, Ming-Kuo Yu
  • Publication number: 20030039169
    Abstract: Micromixers constitute a main component of microreactors that have three-dimensional microstructures in a fixed matrix, in which chemical reactions take place. In said micromixer, fluids from their respective supply chambers are divided into spatially separated fluid streams using a network of microchannels allocated to the respective streams. Said streams then emerge as jets with identical volumetric flows for each fluid into a mixing chamber. The invention aims to ensure that identical volumetric flows are achieved for each fluid at the respective microchannel outflow and to produce a micromixer with a simple, compact construction. Wedge-shaped plates can be used as the supply elements (2a-d). Said plates can be assembled to form at least one ring sector which surrounds the mixing chamber (5) in the form of a curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Volker Hessel
  • Publication number: 20030031090
    Abstract: A micro mixer for use in a microdevice which utilizes time-varying force fields to induce bulk fluid and/or sample component motion leading to homogenization of sample components. Time-varying force fields employed includes at least one of a physical displacement field, electrical field, pressure field or magnetic field to generate transverse forces which induce the mixing of samples within the micro mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: University of California
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Ho, Patrick Tabeling, Yi-Kuen Lee, Joanne Helene Deval
  • Patent number: 6517234
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to improved microfluidic devices, systems and methods of using same, which incorporate channel profiles that impart significant benefits over previously described systems. In particular, the presently described devices and systems employ channels having, at least in part, depths that are varied over those which have been previously described. These varied channel depths provide numerous beneficial and unexpected results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caliper Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Anne R. Kopf-Sill, John Wallace Parce
  • Publication number: 20030007419
    Abstract: A flow translocator disposed within a conduit for transferring and separating laminar fluid flow during translocation of the fluid core to the outer perimeter of the conduit and the outer perimeter flow to the center of the conduit. The flow translocator includes a disk disposed transverse the length of a conduit and having an outer profile conforming to the inner profile of a conduit to form a sealed fit. Arrays of slots extend about the disk for simultaneously directing the fluid core to the inner profile of a conduit and the outer perimeter flow toward the fluid core. The slots are staggered to maintain separation of the fluid core and the outer perimeter fluid during translocation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Steven G. Goebel, Steven D. Burch, Thomas P. Migliore
  • Patent number: 6447158
    Abstract: A fluid handling device to assist in the mixing or separation of two or more fluids utilizing a stack of two types of alternating plates. A first plate has an aperture; a second plate has peripheral spaces around which the fluids may flow. Both types of plates are provided with a plurality of projections that serve to space the plates apart and to provide additional turbulence to the fluids as they flow around the projections. The fluids are forced to proceed back and forth through the alternating plates. The plates may be designed to fit within a housing of circular or polygonal cross-section. The projections may be tapered or non-tapered. The projections may be circular or polygonal in cross-section. Further the heights of the projections may vary to adjust the separation between adjacent pairs of plates to obtain the appropriate degree of turbulence for optimum mixing or separation of the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Frank E. Farkas
  • Publication number: 20020110047
    Abstract: A mixing element is provided for a fluid guided in a pipe, especially an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. Parts of an outer flow adjacent an inner surface of the pipe are guided inwardly by an outer guide surface and parts of an inner flow are guided outwardly by an inner guide surface, at the same time and in an approximately common plane. The use of the entire inner surface of the pipe for the purpose of cooling is preferably guaranteed by at least one opening provided in the outer guide surface. A simple measure is thus provided for obtaining a homogenous temperature distribution and good cooling of a fluid guided in a pipe. The mixing element is especially distinguished by its compact construction. A pipe having at least one mixing element disposed therein is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Rolf Bruck, Katrin Schaper, Jan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 6431528
    Abstract: Static mixers are arranged so that its longitudinal direction is substantially vertical. A liquid supply mechanism supplies the liquid containing impurities from the upper end of the static mixer into the static mixer. A gas supply mechanism supplies gas from the lower end of the static mixer into the static mixer. The static mixer is fabricated so that one or more mixing elements comprising a passage tube through which fluid can pass and one or more spiral blades arranged inside the passage tube are, continuously or through one or more spacers, arranged in the longitudinal direction thereof. The liquid drops down inside the static mixer and the gas rises up inside the static mixer, so that the two are subjected to gas-liquid contact inside the static mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Hisao Kojima
  • Patent number: 6422734
    Abstract: A static foam generating apparatus including a pipe having an inner diameter, an axis, an input end, and an output end is disclosed. A plurality of perforated discs are disposed in the pipe, the discs positioned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the pipe axis. A plurality of spacer rings are disposed within the pipe, a spacer ring separating each perforated disc from each adjacent perforated disc. Additionally, a method for generating foam including the steps of providing a static foam generating apparatus including a pipe having an inner diameter, an axis, an input end, and an output end, supplying feed water to the pipe, supplying surfactant to the pipe, and supplying air to the pipe is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: National Gypsum Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnan Sethuraman, Ronald S. Finkelstein, Larry W. Kingston, Robert C. Mitchell, W. Roy Burke
  • Patent number: 6392007
    Abstract: At least two different liquid streams are sub-divided into a dense plurality of individually separated parallel pixels oriented in respective misregistered arrays. Therefore, an individual pixel of one of the liquid stream arrays will be surrounded by pixels of the other liquid stream array. These individual pixel arrays are then bought into contact with one another to form a multi-pixel liquid stream comprised of the misregistered pixel arrays of the two different liquid streams. The “pixelated” liquid stream—that is, the liquid stream containing in cross-section the misregistered pixel arrays of the two different liquid streams—may then be further processed. For example, the pixelated liquid stream may be subjected to further mixing by being directed along a tortuous flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Karl H. Buchanan, Wendel L. Burton, Charles F. Helms, Jr., John A. Hodan, Gary W. Shore
  • Patent number: 6386750
    Abstract: In a process for producing stable emulsions of at least two substantially immiscible fluids, particularly emulsions of a liquid fuel with water, a considerable increase in the efficiency of the emulsion-formation process is achieved by injecting the fluids to be emulsified into an emulsification chamber provided with an injection system which imparts to the fluids a motion in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the general direction in which the fluids travel through the emulsification chamber. This injection system can be provided by means of a diffuser having an inlet hole, through which a stream of liquid is fed in a substantially axial direction, and at least one outlet hole, which leads into the chamber and whose axis lies on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the inlet stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Ernesto Marelli
  • Patent number: 6383422
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a porous member made of temperature-resistant material for filtering and/or mixing fluids comprises first channels (132) and second channels (138) respectively extending therethrough. The channels extend under an acute angle to the flow direction (D). Fluids flowing through the porous member (101) flow through the channels (132, 138), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, through the porous material between the channels so that a good mixing of the fluids is obtained and a fluid, homogenized over the cross section, exits from an outlet surface (103). The invention further refers to methods of making the porous member (101), wherein, according to the present invention, a foamed plastic material member is formed with channels, the foamed material member is wetted with wetting material and is afterwards removed by evaporation during the curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V
    Inventor: Bernhard Hoffschmidt