Patents by Inventor Andrew John Prior

Andrew John Prior has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for dispersing a sample of particulate material
    Patent number: 8448534
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispersing a sample of particulate material, includes a carrier (31;35;37;38;39) having a sample-bearing surface on which to place the sample, and a housing (10;44;48) for forming a dispersion chamber (17), at least when closed off at a base (46;51). The carrier is arranged such that the sample-bearing surface is removed from contact with the sample upon application of a sufficient pressure differential across the carrier between the sample-bearing surface and an opposite side of the carrier. The housing (10;44;48) has an inlet (26) at least partially facing the base (46;51). The apparatus includes an apparatus (15;16) for passing a volume of fluid past the carrier (31;35;37;38;39) through the inlet (26) by subjecting the carrier (31;35;37;38;39) to a pulsed positive pressure differential relative to the dispersion chamber (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Malvern Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Craig Davidson, Margaret Ellen Dyson, Jonathan Powell, Andrew John Prior
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING A SAMPLE OF PARTICULATE MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20100326213
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispersing a sample of particulate material, includes a carrier (31;35;37;38;39) having a sample-bearing surface on which to place the sample, and a housing (10;44;48) for forming a dispersion chamber (17), at least when closed off at a base (46;51). The carrier is arranged such that the sample-bearing surface is removed from contact with the sample upon application of a sufficient pressure differential across the carrier between the sample-bearing surface and an opposite side of the carrier. The housing (10;44;48) has an inlet (26) at least partially facing the base (46;51). The apparatus includes an apparatus (15;16) for passing a volume of fluid past the carrier (31;35;37;38;39) through the inlet (26) by subjecting the carrier (31;35;37;38;39) to a pulsed positive pressure differential relative to the dispersion chamber (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Nicholas Craig Davidson, Margaret Ellen Dyson, Jonathan Powell, Andrew John Prior