Including Gate, Valve, Or Closure Patents (Class 366/181.3)
  • Patent number: 11167295
    Abstract: An infeed chute for a material application machine includes a riser and a water spreading unit. The riser includes a sidewall and defines an infeed opening extending through the riser. The riser is configured to be coupled to an opening of a tank of a material application machine such that application material passed through the infeed opening of the riser enters the tank of the material application machine. The sidewall includes a water inlet formed therein. The water spreading unit is coupled to the water inlet and is configured to direct water laterally across the infeed chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: DHG, INC.
    Inventor: Gordon Maciulewicz
  • Patent number: 8851742
    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: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem E. Celik, Mark William Ackley, Jeffert John Nowobilski, Salil Uday Rege
  • Patent number: 8746959
    Abstract: A portable feed apparatus comprising a feed container, a mixing assembly that receives a feed from said feed container, at least one feed additive assembly in flowable connection with said mixing assembly, and a controller in communication with said mixing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ganado Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Bachman, Michael E. Bachman
  • Patent number: 8562204
    Abstract: Apparatus for dosed mixing of pourable material components, includes a mixing container, two weighing containers, each of the weighing containers including a closable discharge opening for discharging the weighing container into the mixing container; and a weighing device for weighing the content of the weighing container, and several storage containers for respective material components, each storage container including a feeding device for feeding material from the storage container to an assigned weighing container, and the mixing container is arranged below the weighing containers such that the weighing containers are simultaneously dischargeable through the discharge openings into the mixing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Plast-Control GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Konermann
  • Publication number: 20130135958
    Abstract: A blender has a mixing chamber for reception of materials to be blended. A mixing screw is mounted at a bottom of the mixing chamber for mixing materials within the mixing chamber and delivering mixed materials to an outlet feeding a processing line. A baffle is mounted at the outlet extending about the mixing screw. The baffle inhibits upward movement of material at the outlet tending to cram material into the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: JAMES JOSEPH O'CALLAGHAN
  • Patent number: 8360279
    Abstract: An automatic home appliance that performs the preparation, mixing, and heating of infant formula bottles provides a reservoir on top that holds an amount of powdered formula. Connection to a household water supply provides a flow of water to an internal water heating reservoir. A central front opening is provided in which the infant bottle is placed. A digital display and a plurality of programming buttons are arranged upon a front panel to allow the user to select operating parameters. Once programmed, internal electronic controls perform dispensing and mixing of the necessary ingredients in the proper ratio and dispensing of mixed formula into the proper sized bottle. The mixture is also kept warm at the proper temperature by a hot plate. An indicator light then illuminates to communicate to a user that the bottle is ready to be removed and the mixture consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Matthew L. Giles
  • Patent number: 8100577
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for blending a predetermined fluid with a main fluid wherein a source of a predetermined fluid is mixed with a main fluid. The predetermined fluid flows through an inlet of a positive displacement pump assembly and transferred to a mixing chamber through an outlet of the positive displacement pump assembly. A turbine blade assembly located within the mixing chamber is used to mix a main fluid flowing into the mixing chamber with the predetermined fluid for eventual dispensing through an outlet in the mixing chamber when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Jose Elias Sardina, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7938571
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for treating powder materials, such as fly ash, cement, slag, or the like, and a method of use thereof. The material treatment system facilitates the application of a desired chemical entity to the material passing through the system. The material treatment system disclosed herein is capable of performing this task while the material is moved at a high velocity. The system includes a fluidized bed chamber, discharge chamber, application chamber, and concentration chute. The result is the quick and consistent application of a chemical entity to the material so that the treated material has the desired characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Flyashdirect, Ltd.
    Inventor: James H. Irvine
  • Patent number: 7740399
    Abstract: A feeder system comprising a hopper for holding dry chemical. A feed tube extends from the hopper and is for delivering dry chemical to a mixing tank. A first solenoid actuator is provided for controlling the opening and closing of a first solenoid actuated gate that is disposed in the feed tube. A second solenoid actuator is provided for controlling the opening and closing of a downstream second solenoid actuated gate disposed in the feed tube. A central controller is provided that is in communication with and controls the system components including the introduction of the dry chemical and process water into the mixing tank. The central controller controls a metering pump that pumps chemical mixed solution out of the mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Pulsafeeder, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Simmons, Ashok Vellaiah Retnaswamy
  • Patent number: 7651671
    Abstract: The present invention is for dissolving a metal complex and a low-pressure additive gas in a supercritical fluid and supplying the same continuously to a reaction vessel, aiming to provide a method and an apparatus for adding a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure supercritical fluid continuously, so that a gas which should be handled with care, such as a combustible gas, can be added to a supercritical fluid without compression. The method for continuously adding a low-pressure gas to a supercritical fluid comprises supplying a reactant gas to a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid by repeating, in an alternate manner, a step of storing a reactant gas midway through a piping in a low-pressure state and a step of carrying the reactant gas toward a reaction vessel with the supercritical fluid or the subcritical fluid, so that the reactant gas is continuously charged in the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: National University Corporation University of Yamanashi
    Inventor: Eiichi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7621669
    Abstract: An assembly is mounted to a soft serve confection freezer. It includes a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend solids into the confection and discharge into a customer's container for immediate consumption. Control panel selection of ingredients by the operator according to the customer's order, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning. A system for control panel selection by the operator of liquid additives to the flowing confection, is provided to accommodate the customer's order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co., L.L.P.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 7334937
    Abstract: An impeller vane assembly for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region, the upper and lower vanes being separated by a common divider plate, and the vanes are characterized by being curved in the direction of rotation of the impeller and having outer radially extending tips which terminate at the outer peripheral edge of the common divider plate, the vanes being operative to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed between the solid particle inlet and annular space surrounding the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventors: Jorge O. Arribau, Michael G. Dubic
  • Patent number: 7178976
    Abstract: An assembly is mounted to a soft serve confection freezer. It includes a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend solids into the confection and discharge into a customer's container for immediate consumption. Control panel selection of ingredients by the operator according to the customer's order, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 6974246
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region. In one embodiment, expeller blades are employed in inner concentric relation to the upper impeller vanes to accelerate the flow of solid particles into the upper impeller region, and baffle plates or deflector members are employed above and below the upper and lower impellers to prevent any leakage of liquid into the center of the impeller. In preferred and alternate forms, the impeller vanes are sized to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventors: Jorge O. Arribau, Michael G. Dubic
  • Patent number: 6966688
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing and dispensing a powder material in an aqueous solution wherein the powder material is premixed into solution by a spreader. The premix solution is subsequently dispensed in a diluted aqueous stream by a venturi proportioner. In a preferred manner a hopper is provided for the powder material which is partially positioned in a mixing chamber. A valve and spreader are positioned at the base of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
    Inventor: Claudio L. K. Lins
  • Patent number: 6905048
    Abstract: A volumetric solid and liquid dispenser includes a drum sized for receiving and containing a predetermined volume of solid material from a solid material supply source. The supply source can be a hopper positioned above the drum. The drum is rotatably mounted to a support frame and can be rotated from a position in which it receives solid material from the supply source to a dispensing position in which it dispenses the solid material into a receptacle below. A liquid metering and dispensing container dispenses a predetermined volume of liquid into the receptacle for mixing with the solid material. The invention is particularly useful for dispensing predetermined volumes of sand and water into a cement mixer for mixing with mortar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Archie J. Harris
  • Patent number: 6863429
    Abstract: In a dough mixer for preparing dough, the essentially cylindrical chamber with horizontal axis within which kneading elements (4, 4c, 4b) rotate coaxially or parallel to this axis, between two casing surface sections (1a) with the same casing line, two level surface sections (1b, 1c) which are essentially formed by the surface of sliding (2b, 3b) blades (2, 3) with upper charging opening (2a) and lower discharging opening (3a) in closed position, and the aforementioned surfaces (1a, 1b, 1c) turn into two front, coaxial, separated circular surfaces (1e, 1f) via rounded areas (1g) with the largest possible radius, such that, together with the rotating (4a) kneading element (4, 4c, 4d), which likewise has very round forms, they enable the preparing and compressing of dough and rolling into balls of an individual dough portion that is discharged without residue of ingredients or dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Artos, S.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Torghele, Pierluigi Malfatti
  • Publication number: 20040218464
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region. In one embodiment, expeller blades are employed in inner concentric relation to the upper impeller vanes to accelerate the flow of solid particles into the upper impeller region, and baffle plates or deflector members are employed above and below the upper and lower impellers to prevent any leakage of liquid into the center of the impeller. In preferred and alternate forms, the impeller vanes are sized to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jorge O. Arribau, Michael G. Dubic
  • Publication number: 20040218465
    Abstract: An impeller vane assembly for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region, the upper and lower vanes being separated by a common divider plate, and the vanes are characterized by being curved in the direction of rotation of the impeller and having outer radially extending tips which terminate at the outer peripheral edge of the common divider plate, the vanes being operative to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed between the solid particle inlet and annular space surrounding the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jorge O. Arribau, Michael G. Dubic
  • 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