Concentric Patents (Class 366/178.1)
  • Patent number: 9039273
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making multiple emulsions. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. The larger droplets may be suspended in a third fluid in some cases. These can be useful for encapsulating species such as pharmaceutical agents, cells, chemicals, or the like. In some cases, one or more of the droplets can change form, for instance, to become solidified to form a microcapsule, a liposome, a polymerosome, or a colloidosome. Multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include one, two, three, or more inner droplets within a single outer droplet (which droplets may all be nested in some cases).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: David A. Weitz, Darren Roy Link, Andrew S. Utada
  • Patent number: 9010272
    Abstract: A device for depositing a mixture of powders to form an object with composition gradients, including: a plurality of tanks respectively configured to contain different powders; a powder mixer placed under the tanks and including a rotatably mounted mixing member; a plurality of powder dispensing mechanisms respectively cooperating with the tanks, and each configured to regulate mass flow rate of the powder escaping from a respective of the tanks towards the mixer; a powder mixture collector placed under the mixer; and a powder mixture dispenser placed under the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Olivier Gillia, Basile Caillens
  • Patent number: 8894270
    Abstract: In a mixing system for two-component cartridges having a neck section structure with an inner discharge channel and an outer tubular discharge channel for discharging first and second material components from first and second chambers of the cartridge, the inner discharge channel is provided with pockets extending into the outer discharge channel for dividing the second material flow into second material flow strands and a baffle plate is arranged centrally in front of the inner discharge channel for directing the inner material flow outwardly through the pockets in strands of the inner material component between strands of the outer material component, so that a pre-mixing of the material components occurs already directly at the openings of the discharge channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Ritter
  • Patent number: 8758699
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling on site generation and mixing of a two or more part chemistry, such as a peroxide source and a catalyst. In particular, the invention discloses an apparatus and dispensing method for separating solid surfaces that undergo an uncontrolled, continuous reaction when contacted with water and allows for delivery of solid reactive chemistries at the same time in a standard spray from the bottom dispensing configuration while preventing continued reaction after the dosing is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine M. Sanville, John E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8746960
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for blending process materials. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to a process material contacting system to increase wetted surface area for liquid contact as well as increase forced convective mixing efficiency of the liquid mixture. Use of a novel process material contacting apparatus allows one solid feeding element to serve multiple process material tanks, thus reducing overall system costs and decreasing set-up time/process variability while increasing operational efficiency. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, rather than adding a process material to a volume of liquid held in a blending tank, the added process material is remotely blended with the liquid outside the process material tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Mega Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Kandiyeli, Quay Issac Gene Williams, Barry Kennedy Cavinaw, Charles Richard Boley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8603408
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling on site generation and mixing of a two or more part chemistry, such as a peroxide source and a catalyst. In particular, the invention discloses an apparatus and dispensing method for separating solid surfaces that undergo an uncontrolled, continuous reaction when contacted with water and allows for delivery of solid reactive chemistries at the same time in a standard spray from the bottom dispensing configuration while preventing continued reaction after the dosing is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine M. Sanville, John E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8573831
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for mixing at least two different solid materials (e.g., adsorbents) and loading the mixture into a vessel, such as an adsorption vessel or reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem E. Celik, Mark William Ackley, Jeffert John Nowobilski, Salil Uday Rege
  • Patent number: 8544827
    Abstract: A mixer designed to generate high mixing turbulence within the bottom zone of a liquid holding vessel while simultaneously entraining and transferring liquid from the upper surface down to the vessel bottom. Mixing action is accomplished through the incorporation of two jet nozzles, nested one inside the other, strategically located and powered by pressurized liquid drawn from the vessel being mixed. Mixer component dimensions are adaptable to multiple vessel types and configurations. Surface liquids are entrained using a weir section that is either a fixed or floating component of the mixer assembly. Liquid used for developing outlet velocity in primary jet is drawn from multiple locations including the vessel center zone, the vessel bottom and mixer annulus. Mixing in the vessel center zone can vary from gentle upward flow in tall tanks to complete turbulent mixing in shallow vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nested Nozzle Mixers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Peter Tovani, Gary D. Matzen
  • Patent number: 8529117
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing of a first gas and a second gas, including (i) a linear first tube for supply of the first gas, the first tube having an inlet for the first gas at an upstream end and tapering to form a nozzle at a downstream end, and (ii) a linear second tube for supply of the second gas. The second tube has an inlet for the second gas at an upstream end, a first portion which forms an annulus around the outer surface of the first tube upstream of the nozzle, and a second portion which forms a sheath around the nozzle of the first tube and which forms an area of expanded cross-section compared to the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ineos Europe Limited
    Inventors: Trevor John Hesketh, Rune Peter Lindstedt, Ian Allan Beattie Reid
  • Publication number: 20130208559
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon-containing gas is mixed with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas mixer in the presence of a water mist. The water mist surrounds and contacts entrained particles in either the oxygen-containing gas stream or the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream. The water acts to suppress and prevent ignition of the hydrocarbon gas in the mixer by serving as a sink for heat created by energetic collisions between such particles and structures within the gas mixer. The water mist also acts to quench ignition caused by such collisions. The water mist can be introduced into the gas mixer in a number of different configurations, including via nozzles injecting a mist into a hydrocarbon gas manifold or an oxygen gas manifold, nozzles placed within the gas mixer adjacent to ends of the oxygen supply pipes, and nozzles placed coaxially within the oxygen supply pipes in the gas mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: DOW TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LLC
    Inventor: Dow Technology Investments LLC
  • Publication number: 20130176814
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a mixing apparatus. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide a mixing apparatus for mixing fluid components such as phosgene and amine during a highly reactive chemical reaction. One embodiment provides a mixing conduit (100) comprising a cylindrical sidewall (101) defining an inner volume, wherein one or more jets are formed through the cylindrical sidewalls and connect to the inner volume and one or more flow obstructions (103) disposed in the inner volume, wherein each flow obstruction is positioned upstream from an associated aperture (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Gillis, Joydeep Mukherjee, John B. Cooper, Arthur C. Flores, Daniel J. Reed
  • Patent number: 8367004
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided that utilize microreactor technology to achieve desired mixing and interaction at a micro and/or molecular level between and among feed stream constituents. Feed streams are fed to an intensifier pump at individually controlled rates, e.g., based on operation of individually controlled feed pumps. The time during which first and second feed streams are combined/mixed prior to introduction to the microreactor is generally minimized, thereby avoiding potential reactions and other constituent interactions prior to micro- and/or nano-scale interactions within the microreactor. Various microreactor designs/geometries may be employed, e.g., ā€œZā€ type single or multi-slot geometries and ā€œYā€ type single or multi-slot geometries. Various applications benefit from the disclosure, including emulsion, crystallization, encapsulation and reaction processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Microfluidics International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomai Panagiotou, Steven Vincent Mesite, Robert John Fisher
  • Patent number: 8333927
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hole-jetting type reactor and its applications, in particular to a process for the production of isocyanates by the phosgenation of aliphatic or aromatic diamines or triamines in the gas phase using this reactor. The present invention achieves a good mixing and reacting result of the gas-phase phosgenation reaction at a high temperature by improving the mixing of reactants in the reactor to reduce the possibility of forming swirls and eliminate negative pressure produced at a local jet area, which can finally reduce back-mixing and formation of solid by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ningbo Wanhua Polyurethanes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiansheng Ding, Yong hua Shang, Deqiang Ma, Jingquan Hao, Peicheng Luo, Shuang Hu
  • Patent number: 8287179
    Abstract: A fluid mixer for mixing a first fluid and a second fluid includes an introducing component having a bore, a cylindrical component fitted into the bore of the introducing component and a mixing component having a conical recess and on which the introducing component and the cylindrical component are held. A first introducing flow path receives the first fluid and a first distributing flow path distributes the first fluid over the whole circumference of the cylindrical component. A second introducing flow path receives the second fluid. A second distributing flow path distributes the second fluid so that the first fluid and the second fluid are alternately arranged in an circumferential direction. A joining part joins together the first fluid and the second fluid fed with the fluids alternately arranged circumferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Miyamoto, Yoshishige Endo, Shigenori Togashi, Erika Katayama
  • Patent number: 8277111
    Abstract: Several improvements are provided for a microingredient additive dispensing system. One improvement is the use of a fluid eductor to entrain and mix the additives. Another improvement is to weigh and dispense ingredients using one or more non-compartmentalized vibratory trays that are mounted on a single weigh frame. Another improvement is a summing and filtering circuit that sums and filters the signals from four different load cells to accurately determine the weight of the dispensed additives. Yet another improvement is the placement of a pump upstream of the eductor, isolating the pump from additives that are pumped to the feed mixing station. Another improvement is a line-flushing mode in which a turbulent mixture of air and water are used to clean the delivery conduit of residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Comco Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventor: Derrick A Englot
  • Patent number: 8272776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming an homogeneous mixture of chromatography media in a vessel. The invention also relates to methods and apparatus for transferring the homogeneous media from the vessel into a second vessel in preparation for packing a chromatography column. The invention can also be used directly to pack the column with homogeneous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Roger Nordberg, Alan M. Williams
  • Patent number: 8187554
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided that utilize microreactor technology to achieve desired mixing and interaction at a micro and/or molecular level between and among feed stream constituents. Feed streams are fed to an intensifier pump at individually controlled rates, e.g., based on operation of individually controlled feed pumps. The time during which first and second feed streams are combined/mixed prior to introduction to the microreactor is generally minimized, thereby avoiding potential reactions and other constituent interactions prior to micro- and/or nano-scale interactions within the microreactor. Various microreactor designs/geometries may be employed, e.g., ā€œZā€ type single or multi-slot geometries and ā€œYā€ type single or multi-slot geometries. Various applications benefit from the disclosure, including emulsion, crystallization, encapsulation and reaction processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Microfluidics International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomai Panagiotou, Steven Vincent Mesite, Robert John Fisher
  • Patent number: 8163248
    Abstract: According to the method of an aspect of the present invention, by forming the laminated body of the liquids by laminating a plurality of liquids after discharging the plurality of liquids from a central portion of the rotational stage onto the rotational stage and rotating the rotational stage after the formation, the centrifugal force by the rotation enables the laminated body to form a thin layer. Accordingly, because the diffusion between the layers can be executed rapidly in the latter mixing process, a mixing of liquids is allowed to advance immediately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8083395
    Abstract: A device for admixing a liquid into flowable dry materials has a housing with a mixing chamber having an inner wall with an impact area and an exit opening at a bottom end of the mixing chamber. Dry material is supplied from above into the mixing chamber and falls downwardly toward the impact area in front of the inner wall of the mixing chamber and exits through the exit opening. A nozzle generates a pressurized high-speed jet of a liquid impacting on the inner wall of the mixing chamber in the impact area and wetting the dry material with the liquid as the jet passes through the dry material and impacts against the inner wall. An opening inside the housing is provided for supplying liquid and pasty additives, wherein the opening is directed toward an area of the mixing chamber between the nozzle and the impact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: DIOSNA Dierks & Sƶhne GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Etzenbach
  • Patent number: 8011392
    Abstract: An object is to prevent thermal fatigue, resulting from variations in temperature interfaces, of piping having a fluid-mixing region where fluids of different temperatures are mixed. Piping 1 having a fluid-mixing region M includes a reducer 5 including an end portion 5e disposed substantially on a central axis of a main pipe 2. Low-temperature water flows through the reducer 5 at a lower velocity than high-temperature water flowing outside the end portion 5e. The low-temperature water and the high-temperature water have different temperatures. The low-temperature water and the high-temperature water are mixed in the fluid-mixing region M downstream of the reducer 5. The reducer 5 has a weld line 5f formed to connect the end portion 5e and an elbow portion 5d together. The distance between the weld line 5f and a downstream end 5a is equal to or larger than the inner diameter D of the main pipe 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Koichi Tanimoto, Shigeki Suzuki, Yoshikazu Nitta, Toshikatsu Hasunuma
  • Patent number: 7993052
    Abstract: An agitation method for mixing a solution and a solvent to precipitate a solid substance from the solution. The method includes preparing an agitation mixer including an agitation vessel, an impeller rotated in the agitation vessel, and a feed pipe connected to the agitation vessel and having a multiple pipe structure including an outer pipe and an inner pipe arranged in the outer pipe. A shearing clearance is formed in the agitation vessel between the impeller and the feed pipe. The method further includes shearing the solution and the solvent by rotating the impeller to precipitate the solid substance while feeding the solution and the solvent into the shearing clearance from the outer pipe and the inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: NOF Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Sakamoto, Kenshiro Shuto, Satoshi Yamada, Hirofumi Irie
  • Publication number: 20110160340
    Abstract: Mixing apparatus and methods for the continuous production of monomer emulsions that may be used in the production of polymer dispersions by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization. The mixing apparatus can include a pipe-in-pipe injector (100) and a suitable rotor-stator mixer (102). Liquids are delivered to the rotor-stator mixer via an inner (110) and an outer (108) pipe in such a way as to substantially prevent feed inconsistencies in a feed ratio of the liquids prior to entering a mixing zone of the rotor-stator mixer for emulsion formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Hester, Daniel R. Stanley, Mark S. Riddle, Mark A. Greschaw, Dennis D. Hacker
  • Patent number: 7963937
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a syringe for storage, mixing and dispensing of multi-component paste materials, and more precisely to a syringe for two or more components of a paste material which are to be mixed together. The syringe may be activated so that the chambers containing the components are opened, and the components may be mixed together and extruded through a mixing tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: 3M ESPE AG
    Inventors: Helmut Pauser, Michael Knee, Ingo W. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7810986
    Abstract: Systems and methods for liquid dosing in blender systems are disclosed. An exemplary system includes one or more individual metering devices, each metering device including an individual material hopper for containing a granular material ingredient to be blended, a starve-fed mixing chamber coupled to the metering devices for receiving granular material ingredients from each metering device and mixing the ingredients, and a liquid ingredient dosing device disposed within the starve-fed mixing chamber for injecting a liquid ingredient into the path of the granular material ingredients as they fall through or out of the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Process Control Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Landers, John Beal, Kevin Pittman
  • Patent number: 7753580
    Abstract: A class of designs is provided for a mixer in micro reactors where the design principle includes at least one injection zone in a continuous flow path where at least two fluids achieve initial upstream contact and an effective mixing zone (i.e. adequate flow of fluids and optimal pressure drop) containing a series of mixer elements in the path. Each mixer element is preferably designed with a chamber at each end in which an obstacle is placed (thereby reducing the typical inner dimension of the chamber) and with optional restrictions in the channel segments. The obstacles are preferably cylindrical pillars but can have any geometry within a range of dimensions and may be in series or parallel along the flow path to provide the desired flow-rate, mixing and pressure-drop. The injection zone may have two or more interfaces and may include one or more cores to control fluids before mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Corning, Incorporated
    Inventors: Pierre Woehl, Jean-Pierre Themont, Yann P M Nedelec
  • Patent number: 7677791
    Abstract: A rotary slurrifier of this invention comprises a pair of spinning discs, which throw a first fluid into a larger mass of second fluid in paired and flow connected impact cavities, within a counter-rotating cavity shell. The first fluid is to be largely insoluble in the second fluid. Impact of the first fluid with the larger mass of second fluid, in the impact cavities, causes atomization of the first fluid into a slurry of many small first fluid particles suspended in a continuous phase of second fluid. The final slurry flows out of the rotating cavity shell via a slowdown reaction turbine. High viscosity residual petroleum fuels and tars as first fluids can be thusly preatomized in a fuel in water slurry, and can then be cleanly and efficiently burned in small bore, high speed, diesel engines, which now require use of expensive low viscosity distillate fuels, which are in short supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph Carl Firey
  • Publication number: 20090262598
    Abstract: A mixing device for consistently mixing a primary fluid and at least a secondary fluid includes a primary fluid inlet in fluid communication with a first mixing orifice, and a secondary fluid inlet in fluid communication with a second mixing orifice. A mixing area receives the primary fluid and the secondary fluid via the first and second mixing orifices, respectively. A size of and thus flow through the first and second mixing orifices is variable based on a pressure of the primary fluid and the secondary fluid through the respective mixing orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: David F. Brashears
  • Patent number: 7500778
    Abstract: Polymer mixing apparatus strips oil from polymers in an oil phase continuous emulsion and at least partially hydrates the polymers by injecting the emulsion and a pressured aqueous solution into a mixing zone. The emulsion and solution are passed through a confined space, where the oil is stripped from the polymer molecules and at least partially hydrated. The resulting solution is removed from the confined space without recirculation through the confined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventor: Carl Brazelton
  • Publication number: 20080267006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for mixing fluids. It is a hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus, depending on the fluid used for transportation. It is static and has the characteristics of both an extractor and a fluid mixer. Extraction is effected by dragging the suction elements, by means of the circulation of a transporting fluid injected at low pressure. The injection inlets (5 or 6) and suction inlets (6 or 5) are interchangeable and lead to a single outlet (3). The injection tube (1) formed by a helical spiral on the outside surrounded by the sheath (4) increases the pressure in the transporting fluid and creates outward helical movement with centrifugal force in all the fluid that circulates on the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Carlos Miguel Moreira Campos
  • Patent number: 7434982
    Abstract: There is provided a microdevice in which a plurality of fluids L1, L2 and L3 are caused to pass through respective fluid supply passages and flow together in one mixing reaction flow path, and the fluids are diffused in the normal direction of the contact interface thereof while being allowed to flow as a thin layer shaped laminar flow, by which mixing or reaction is carried out. The fluid supply passages are of a concentric multiple cylindrical construction to concentrically laminate the fluids L1, L2 and L3 joined together in the mixing reaction flow path, and the opening width near a joining point of the fluids is reduced to contract the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Nagasawa, Kazuhiro Mae
  • Patent number: 7287897
    Abstract: A device (10) for mixing a pulverulent or granular solid (13) with a liquid (32) comprises at least one solid supply device and at least one liquid supply device (37, 38, 40). In an acceleration chamber (42), a rotary movement is imparted to the supplied liquid (32) and the liquid (32) is accelerated to a pre-determined speed, while a rotary movement is imparted to the supplied solid particles (13) in a solid supply chamber (16). The device (10) further comprises a mixing chamber (76) for mixing the solid particles (13) with the liquid (32) to form a suspension, while maintaining the rotary movement generated previously. In a compressor chamber (78), the rotating suspension is accelerated so that a suction effect is generated in an entry region (82) of the compressor chamber (78), which suction effect at least substantially de-aerates the supplied loose solid (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Netzsch-Feinmahltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schertenleib
  • Patent number: 7175337
    Abstract: Liquid is supplied within a substantially vertical mixing chamber in a substantially tangential manner from a chamber top section, such that the liquid is deflected for rotatory motion against a chamber wall while advancing, in response to a pressure difference, downwards in the direction of a chamber longitudinal axis. Pulverous material is supplied by compressed air into the chamber (3) from the top section and into an air core (A) established by the liquid in rotatory motion, such that the pulverous material containing little air, and by being heavier than the air contained in the pulverous material and/or used for carrying the same, is driven in response to a centrifugal force into the liquid in rotatory motion, and the air separates towards the eddy center, and that the liquid containing pulverous material and the air supplied into the chamber, are discharged through an open bottom section of the chamber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: John Bergman
  • Patent number: 7115187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for continually producing a suspension of cellulose in an aqueous tertiary amine oxide. The method includes (a) mixing cellulose and an amine oxide-free aqueous phase to form a cellulose suspension in a mass ratio in the range of 1:3 to 1:40, (b) dehydrating the cellulose suspension, wherein the dehydrated cellulose suspension has a cellulose content in the range of 20 to 80 percent-by-mass; (c) mixing the cellulose suspension with an aqueous amine oxide while the cellulose suspension is falling through a vertical fall zone to obtain an aqueous amine oxide-cellulose suspension with an amine oxide content in the range of 70 to 80 percent-by-mass; and (d) conveying the aqueous amine oxide-cellulose suspension through a horizontal shear zone. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Alceru Schwarza GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf-Uwe Bauer, MUwe Kind
  • Patent number: 7103450
    Abstract: A method for continuously preparing a medium formulation mixes a diluent with a plurality of chemically incompatible concentrate solutions in such a manner that none of the ingredients of the concentrate solutions chemically react in an adverse manner. The method utilizes a static mixing chamber to add the concentrate solutions to the diluent stream sufficiently in advance of one another so that adverse chemical reactions do not occur. The method also adjusts a pH level of the diluent prior to adding any of the concentrate solutions to the diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: James M Kubiak, Todd A Battistoni, David J Jayme
  • Patent number: 7029165
    Abstract: An automatically adjusting jet mixer used in mixing fracturing fluid gel for gas and oil wells. The mixer has an inner nozzle and an attached piston that move axially within the mixer's housing to change the size of the nozzle opening thorough which mix water enters the mixer. One side of the piston has a pressure regulated area and an opposite side has an upstream area. The upstream area is connected to the mix water supply pump and the pressure regulated area is connected to the outlet of a pressure regulator that maintains a constant pressure in the pressure regulated area. The piston and the nozzle move via hydraulic pressure exerted on the piston in proportion to the change in pressure in the upstream area to a position that will maintain a constant mixing jet pressure, thus providing constant specific mixing energy, i.e. constant energy per unit mass of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6896401
    Abstract: In a process for mixing reactant streams (1, 2; 5) to produce a product stream (10) using a mixing configuration (15, 16) having a number of reactant feed points, an excess component stream of one reactant is divided into two reactant substreams (1, 2) and fed into the suction region (3, 4) of a mixing space (12) at right angles to a deficient component (5) entering the mixing space (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Wƶlfert, Ulrich Penzel
  • Publication number: 20040213080
    Abstract: A device (10) for mixing a pulverulent or granular solid (13) with a liquid (32) comprises at least one solid supply device and at least one liquid supply device (37, 38, 40). In an acceleration chamber (42), a rotary movement is imparted to the supplied liquid (32) and the liquid (32) is accelerated to a pre-determined speed, while a rotary movement is imparted to the supplied solid particles (13) in a solid supply chamber (16). The device (10) further comprises a mixing chamber (76) for mixing the solid particles (13) with the liquid (32) to form a suspension, while maintaining the rotary movement generated previously. In a compressor chamber (78), the rotating suspension is accelerated so that a suction effect is generated in an entry region (82) of the compressor chamber (78), which suction effect at least substantially de-aerates the supplied loose solid (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Schertenleib
  • Patent number: 6802638
    Abstract: An automatically adjusting jet mixer used in mixing fracturing fluid gel for gas and oil wells. The mixer has an inner nozzle and an attached piston that move axially within the mixer's housing to change the size of the nozzle opening thorough which mix water enters the mixer. One side of the piston has an upstream area and an opposite side has a downstream area. The downstream area is connected to the mix water supply pump and the upstream area is connected to the outlet of a pressure regulator that maintains a constant pressure in the upstream area. The piston and the nozzle move via hydraulic pressure exerted on the piston in proportion to the change in pressure in the downstream area to a position that will maintain a constant mixing jet pressure, thus providing constant specific mixing energy, i.e. constant energy per unit mass of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6796704
    Abstract: An eductor mixing device (10) has a main body or housing (28) of a generally cylindrical shape and an inner tube (42) for one component to be mixed with a liquid is mounted in main body (28) with a vortex chamber (56) formed in an annulus between the main body (28) and the inlet flow tube (42). Pressurized liquid enters the vortex chamber through a generally rectangular entrance opening (36) along an arcuate surface (42) which smoothly merges with the cylindrical surface (30) of the main body or housing (28). A liquid in a swirling motion moves in a descending helical path about inner tube (42) and passes through a gap G between coaxial frusto-conical surfaces (55) and (68) of the converging inner nozzle (52) of the inner tube (42) and an outer coaxial liquid nozzle (60) of diffuser ring (58) .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: W. Gerald Lott
  • Patent number: 6672755
    Abstract: There is described a method of mixing a powder with a liquid comprising forming the liquid into a flowing film and dispersing the powder and directing it at the flowing liquid film so that it impinges thereon and mixes therewith. There is also described equipment (10) for mixing a powder with a liquid, comprising a mixing chamber (28), liquid inlet means (48) in the upper part of the chamber for directing the liquid on to an upper part of a supporting surface (31) in the chamber, the liquid inlet means (48) and the supporting surface (31) being so arranged that the liquid flows downwardly in adherence with the surface in use, and means for introducing the powder (13, 25) to the chamber (28) at a position spaced from the liquid inlet flow, for dispersing the powder within the chamber (28) and for directing it toward the said surface (31) so that it impinges on the liquid flowing down it, in use, and mixes therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Klean Earth Environmental Company Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Potter, Brian Piper
  • Patent number: 6659636
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for feeding a chemical into a liquid flow are especially suited for use with a headbox of a paper machine, particularly for feeding a retention aid into a fiber suspension flow going to the headbox so that in a mixing apparatus feed liquid is added into the retention chemical solution, prior to introducing the solution into the fiber suspension flow guided to the paper machine. The feed liquid is preferably a circulation water from the paper mill, or another non-clean liquid from a paper mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Wetend Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Jouni Matula
  • Publication number: 20030081497
    Abstract: An automatically adjusting jet mixer used in mixing fracturing fluid gel for gas and oil wells. The mixer has an inner nozzle and an attached piston that move axially within the mixer's housing to change the size of the nozzle opening thorough which mix water enters the mixer. One side of the piston has an upstream area and an opposite side has a downstream area. The downstream area is connected to the mix water supply pump and the upstream area is connected to the outlet of a pressure regulator that maintains a constant pressure in the upstream area. The piston and the nozzle move via hydraulic pressure exerted on the piston in proportion to the change in pressure in the downstream area to a position that will maintain a constant mixing jet pressure, thus providing constant specific mixing energy, i.e. constant energy per unit mass of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6443611
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing at least two reactants is taught wherein a first reactant is delivered to a reaction zone through a first annular flow path and a second reactant is delivered to the reaction zone through a second annular flow path. The first and second annular flow paths are concentric with one another and the two reactants intermix with one another in the reaction zone. There is a rotating disc having a surface, defining one boundary of the reaction zone. The flow of the first and second reactants across the rotating disc and through the reaction zone is generally radial and has a residence time in the reaction zone of not more than about 100 msec, and preferably not more than about 50 msec. The reaction zone resides in a main reactor vessel and there is a driven agitator residing in the main reactor vessel to stir the contents thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dirk J. Hasberg, Rajesh V. Mehta, Michael Bryan, Ramesh Jagannathan
  • Patent number: 6435707
    Abstract: Continuous mixing apparatus provide rapid production of a mixture of high uniformity, low viscosity, low density, high stability after mixing, without an increase in amounts of subsequently supplied liquids. Continuous production of liquid or liquid containing mixtures consists of (i) continuously loading the apparatus casing with materials of different types which are flowable such as different liquids or a powder and a liquid, (ii) mixing the components between independently rotating upper and lower bladed disk turbine impellers to form a coarse mixture, and (iii) mixing the coarse mixture with an additional portion of a liquid being continuously supplied to the casing. The apparatus includes upper and lower bladed disk turbine impellers disposed in a mixing chamber within a casing. The impellers are capable of being rotated independently at different rotational speeds. A plurality of blades are attached to the impellers. Upper and lower ring shaped baffles extend from the inner wall of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Mori, Toyohiko Yamadera, Mitsuo Hamada
  • Publication number: 20020101783
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing at least two reactants is taught wherein a first reactant is delivered to a reaction zone through a first annular flow path and a second reactant is delivered to the reaction zone through a second annular flow path. The first and second annular flow paths are concentric with one another and the two reactants intermix with one another in the reaction zone. There is a rotating disc having a surface, defining one boundary of the reaction zone. The flow of the first and second reactants across the rotating disc and through the reaction zone is generally radial and has a residence time in the reaction zone of not more than about 100 msec, and preferably not more than about 50 msec. The reaction zone resides in a main reactor vessel and there is a driven agitator residing in the main reactor vessel to stir the contents thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Dirk J. Hasberg, Rajesh V. Mehta, Michael Bryan, Ramesh Jagannathan
  • Publication number: 20020064086
    Abstract: Continuous mixing apparatus provide rapid production of a mixture of high uniformity, low viscosity, low density, high stability after mixing, without an increase in amounts of subsequently supplied liquids. Continuous production of liquid or liquid containing mixtures consists of (i) continuously loading the apparatus casing with materials of different types which are flowable such as different liquids or a powder and a liquid, (ii) mixing the components between independently rotating upper and lower bladed disk turbine impellers to form a coarse mixture, and (iii) mixing the coarse mixture with an additional portion of a liquid being continuously supplied to the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Hideyuki Mori, Toyohiko Yamadera, Mitsuo Hamada
  • Patent number: 6357905
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for blending dry comminuted materials which is particularly effective for comminuted materials having disparate physical properties such as density and particle size. The dry blending apparatus includes a substantially upright wall defining a blending enclosure, a feed mechanism for feeding dry comminuted materials into the blending enclosure, and a rotational distribution mechanism for distributing the dry comminuted materials onto the wall by causing the dry comminuted materials to fly outwardly by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald W. T. Birchard
  • Patent number: 6218466
    Abstract: A method is provided that can very rapidly produce a liquid silicone rubber base in which even microfine electrically conductive filler with specific surface of at least 0.5 m2/g will be homogeneously dispersed in liquid organopolysiloxane without small lump or clump formation. The method for the continuous preparation of liquid silicone rubber base, including the steps of continuously supplying to a continuous mixing apparatus (A) 100 weight parts polyorganosiloxane that has a viscosity at 25° C. of 100 to 500,000 mPa·s comprising at least 2 silicon-bonded alkenyl groups in each molecule, (B) 0 to 200 weight parts electrically nonconductive inorganic filler, and (C) 0.1 to 700 weight parts electrically conductive filler with a specific surface of at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hamada, Koich Ishida, Atsushi Komatsu, Hidetoshi Kurusu, Hideyuki Mori, Toyohiko Yamadera
  • Patent number: 6200014
    Abstract: Skin friction reduction on a surface moving relative to a fluid can be obtained by conditioning (i.e., unwinding, lengthening, or stretching) and ejecting a drag-reducing material, such as a polymer or other high molecular weight material, into the boundary layer. The efficacy of the ejected material is closely related to the hydration and shear stretching of the drag-reducing molecules immediately before ejection. The invention is a method and apparatus for creating a mixture/solution with optimal drag reduction characteristics. The device mixes a drag-reducing substance such as polymer powder, paste, solution or emulsion with a water flow, stretches the polymer molecules to improve hydration, and provides uniform vorticity to the mixture/solution before it is passed into an ejection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Cortana Corporation
    Inventor: Victor V. Babenko