Curved Deflector Surface Patents (Class 366/338)
  • Publication number: 20040109386
    Abstract: A particle analyzer that includes a specimen source, a flow cell, a pump and delivery tube for transporting specimen fluid from the specimen source to the flow cell, a dispensing valve for injecting stain from a stain source into the specimen fluid in the delivery tube, and a mixing device for mixing the stain and the specimen fluid together. The mixing device includes a cylindrical shaped member having an outer surface, a channel formed in the outer surface with the channel including circumferential and longitudinal turns, and a hollow mixing tube disposed in the channel. As the stain and the specimen fluid flow through the mixing tube, they travel through the circumferential and longitudinal turns and are mixed together. A fluid sensor employing a sensor RC circuit and a reference RC circuit detects capacitance changes in the delivery tube for detecting the presence or absence of fluid therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Gold, John P. Pelmulder, Richard H. Turner
  • Patent number: 6701964
    Abstract: A vortex generating fuel saving device is installed on the air intake hose to a fuel injector. An airfoil body creates a spiral vortex of air spiraling off of its outer edge, thereby increasing the air in the fuel-air mixture to the fuel injectors. The airfoil body is mounted on the forward rim of the air intake hose by a clip, and is positioned inside of the hose with the edge of the airfoil in the center of the hose. The airfoil creates a spiral vortex, which is in concentric relation to the interior of the hose, thereby allowing maximum mixture of air in the fuel-air mixture. The airfoil is capable of being adjusted in width so that the outer edge of the airfoil blade is positioned in the center of any of a variety of sizes of fuel injector air intake hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Michael R. Maurice
  • Publication number: 20040013034
    Abstract: A fluid mixer including an inner fluid flow (11) duct having a cylindrical wall (14) provided with the window openings (13) and an outer tubular sleeve (12) disposed outside and extending along the duct (11) to cover the openings (13). Fluids to be mixed are admitted to one end of duct (11) through an inlet (25) and the mixture flows out through outlet (32). Duct (11) is statically mounted in pedestals (15) fixed to a base platform (17). Sleeve (12) is mounted for rotation in further pedestals (16) and driven by motor (23) and drive belt (22) to rotate concentrically about duct (11) such that parts of the sleeve move across the window openings (13) to create viscous drag on fluid flowing through the duct and transverse flows of fluid in the regions of the openings to promote mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Guy Parker Metcalfe III, Murray Rudman
  • Patent number: 6632014
    Abstract: A method and device for mixing a liquid with another substance are presented. The mixing is based on creation of a turbulent flow of the liquid, by providing curvilinear trajectories of the flow and providing a polymer material in the liquid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Steinberg, Alexander Groisman
  • Patent number: 6547433
    Abstract: An air mixer for an air distribution system for a building including a set of fixed, parallel partitions arranged in a spaced-apart manner with one above another, these partitions forming alternating primary and secondary air passageways that are capable of conveying first and second air flows respectively. These passageways are substantially open ended at both inlet and outlet ends thereof. The primary air passageways extend from a first side of the mixer to a third, outlet side while the secondary air passageways extend at a substantial angle to the primary passageways from a second side to the third outlet side. There are fixed mixing devices, preferably in the form of curved vanes, arranged at many of the outlet ends of the passageways. The preferred air mixer has a substantially triangular shape in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: M & I Heat Transfer Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muammer Yazici, Ming Hui Han
  • Patent number: 6523572
    Abstract: An injection system used to generate an acrodynamically induced force, with accordance to the present invention, serving as an air-cushion non-contact supporting system. The system comprises a high pressure manifold (101), connected by high pressure pipe (103), to a high pressure source (102). A SASO-conduit (1), whose inlet (2) is connected to the high pressure manifold, and the outlet (3) is located on the injection-surface (104), of the injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Core Flow Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Levin, Yuvai Yassour
  • Patent number: 6474364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow deflecting device 5, comprising a substantially planar baffle adapted to be disposed in a conduit 2 having a first part 3 defining a first flow direction 3a and a second part 4 defining a second flow direction 4a deviating from the first direction, to promote substantially uniform flow in the second part 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Thames Water Utilities Limited
    Inventors: Tuan Ta, Jo Hague
  • Patent number: 6467949
    Abstract: A static mixer element and a method for mixing first and second (or more) fluids using a static mixer element. The static mixer element includes a directional flow axis which points in an intended downstream direction opposite to an intended upstream direction. The static mixer element also includes interdigitated static mixer blades. The blades each have a concave side which faces generally in the intended upstream direction at an acute angle with respect to the intended upstream direction. The static mixer element is placed in a pipe with the directional flow axis of the static mixer element pointing downstream. The first and second fluids are introduced into the pipe upstream from the static mixer element. Optionally, other static mixer elements can be added downstream, wherein even-numbered elements are rotated ninety-degrees about the directional flow axis from odd-numbered static mixer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Chemineer, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Reeder, Kevin J. Myers, Julian Fasano
  • Patent number: 6451265
    Abstract: An assembly for mixing a polymer with water and activating the polymer includes a water/polymer mixing chamber immediately preceding a high shear nozzle formed by a spring loaded plug seated against an outlet orifice of the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Alfonso M. Misuraca
  • Publication number: 20020126572
    Abstract: An air mixer for an air distribution system for a building including a set of fixed, parallel partitions arranged in a spaced-apart manner with one above another, these partitions forming alternating primary and secondary air passageways that are capable of conveying first and second air flows respectively. These passageways are substantially open ended at both inlet and outlet ends thereof. The primary air passageways extend from a first side of the mixer to a third, outlet side while the secondary air passageways extend at a substantial angle to the primary passageways from a second side to the third outlet side. There are fixed mixing devices, preferably in the form of curved vanes, arranged at many of the outlet ends of the passageways. The preferred air mixer has a substantially triangular shape in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Muammer Yazici, Ming Hui Han
  • Publication number: 20020093878
    Abstract: A method and device for mixing a liquid with another substance are presented. The mixing is based on creation of a turbulent flow of the liquid, by providing curvilinear trajectories of the flow and providing a polymer material in the liquid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Steinberg, Alexander Groisman
  • Patent number: 6416213
    Abstract: A coagulating/condensing device including a spiral coagulating pipe composed of a spiral mixing pipe formed by inner and outer pipes of a multiple pipe with an inner pipe having an opening thereof formed in the outer pipe to face downstream to floc the solids by causing liquids at different electric potentials separately supplied from the inner and outer pipes to contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventor: Kazuji Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20020085448
    Abstract: A gas stream vortex mixing system for mixing gas is provided. The gas stream vortex mixing system includes a duct provided with an outer surface defining an interior passageway operable for communicating a gas. The gas stream vortex mixing system further includes at least one nozzle and at least one wing. The wing is disposed within the interior passageway of the duct and is operable for generating at least one vortex. The nozzle is disposed within the interior passageway of the duct. The nozzle is operable to discharge a mixture into the interior passageway of the duct. The present invention provides a method of mixing gas by creating a predictable and ordered vorticity. The method includes providing the gas stream vortex mixing system and providing a supply of combustion gas into the interior passageway of the duct such that the combustion gas passes about at least one of the wings of the gas stream vortex mixing system generating a vortex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Barry L. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6358415
    Abstract: A vortex sewage disposal apparatus for the disposal of construction sewage, comprising a hopper-type casing, a water inlet pipe, a lower outlet and a frame; within the water inlet pipe these are provided rapid-mixing blades, on the wall of the inlet pipe there are provided an upper and a lower reagent-filling holes used to add two treatment reagents successively, at the center of the hopper casing there is provided a central tube, at the lower end of the central tube there is mounted a conical separator, and inside the central tube there is provided a screw-type water lifter; on the top of the hopper casing there is provided a top baffle plate acting as an upper cover; a bleed pipe is provided for discharging oil and gas, the silt is discharged through the lower outlet, and the clear water ascents to a clear water tank and a water-directing tray and then flows into a water discharging pipe after crossing a dam board to be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Wai On Leung
  • Patent number: 6354730
    Abstract: A static mixer element and a method for mixing first and second (or more) fluids using a static mixer element. The static mixer element includes a directional flow axis which points in an intended downstream direction opposite to an intended upstream direction. The static mixer element also includes interdigitated static mixer blades. The blades each have a concave side which faces generally in the intended upstream direction at an acute angle with respect to the intended upstream direction. The static mixer element is placed in a pipe with the directional flow axis of the static mixer element pointing downstream. The first and second fluids are introduced into the pipe upstream from the static mixer element. Optionally, other static mixer elements can be added downstream, wherein even-numbered elements are rotated ninety-degrees about the directional flow axis from odd-numbered static mixer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Chemineer, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Reeder, Kevin J. Myers, Julian Fasano
  • Patent number: 6332980
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating raw influent water to remove particles, algae and toxic chemicals from the water. Basically, air is dissolved in recirculated water under high pressure in an air contactor unit, the air saturated water is intimately mixed with the raw, particle bearing, water in a particle mixing system, and the water, particle and air mixture is passed through an air bubble separator wherein bubbles formed when the pressure on air saturated water is reduced carry away toxic gases and particulate material. If desired for further cleaning the water can be sent through a second series of air contactor, particle mixer and air bubble separation, but with a gas comprising ozone to further remove suspended particles and non-volatile dissolved organic matter. In order to improve mixing of the particles and the air saturated water passing through tubes, preferably a pattern of dimples is formed on at least part of the interior wall of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Jack Moorehead
  • Patent number: 6331072
    Abstract: Continuous, chaotic convection mixer, convection heat exchanger and convection reactor The invention relates to a device (1), in particular for mixing, for heat exchange or for carrying out reactions, having one or more through-flow elements (2) which have a center line (3) in the direction of flow, wherein the element(s) (2) is/are at least partially shaped or arranged such that the curve (9) formed by the center line(s) (3) approximately satisfies the following parametric representation: ϑ ⁡ ( t ) = ( ( - 1 ) [ t ] ⁢ a ⁡ ( t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Axiva GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Schierholz, Götz Lauschke, Stefan Ott, Ulrich Schmidt, Peter Hein
  • Patent number: 6299342
    Abstract: A mixing device for compounding polymers by elongational deformation is described. The device has a casing (1) with an inlet (2) and an outlet (3). The casing has inner walls (4) defining an enclosure (5) which communicates with the inlet and the outlet. A core (6) is arranged in the enclosure and defines a mixing space (7) between the core (6) and the enclosure wall (4). The mixing space (7) is divided into several slits (9) and chambers (10) by protrusions (8). The device is characterised in that the enclosure (5) and the core (6) are concentrically arranged around a common axis (A) and are conically tapered towards the outlet (3), and that the protrusions (8) are circumferentially arranged on at least one of the core (6) and the enclosure wall (4) with a slit gap in the range from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm and a width of the slit gap in the range of 0 to about 5 mm. Preferably, the enclosure wall (4) and the core (6) are adjustable relative to each other for adjustment of the slit gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Svein Staal Eggen, Rune Nygaard
  • Patent number: 6280615
    Abstract: A fluid mixer includes an elongate mixing chamber having an inlet system at one end for admission of liquid and gas to be intimately mixed by passage through the chamber and an outlet for the mixture at the opposite end, wherein opposed longitudinal sides of the chamber are each defined by a surface of scallop shape having peaks and troughs, with the peaks of the two surfaces being relatively offset so as to cause the liquid and gas entering the chamber to flow along a generally sinuous path through the chamber to create a turbulent flow which promotes intimate mixing. Advantageously a UV source extends within the chamber to sterilize the liquid flowing through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Innotech Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Laurence Colin Phillips, John Phillip Browne
  • Publication number: 20010004336
    Abstract: A mixing device for compounding polymers by elongational deformation is described. The device has a casing (1) with an inlet (2) and an outlet (3). The casing has inner walls (4) defining an enclosure (5) which communicates with the inlet and the outlet. A core (6) is arranged in the enclosure and defines a mixing space (7) between the core (6) and the enclosure wall (4). The mixing space (7) is divided into several slits (9) and chambers (10) by protrusions (8). The device is characterised in that the enclosure (5) and the core (6) are concentrically arranged around a common axis (A) and are conically tapered towards the outlet (3), and that the protrusions (8) are circumferentially arranged on at least one of the core (6) and the enclosure wall (4) with a slit gap in the range from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm and a width of the slit gap in the range of 0 to about 5 mm. Preferably, the enclosure wall (4) and the core (6) are adjustable relative to each other for adjustment of the slit gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: Svein Staal Eggen, Rune Nygaard
  • Patent number: 6203186
    Abstract: A fluid mixing device includes a nozzle having a first element mounted therein, and connected to a hollow, tubular element having a series of openings formed therein adjacent the first element. The hollow, tubular element extends outwardly from the nozzle, through an exit opening and may have a second element mounted thereon. The second element may take various shapes, including having a number of protrusions thereon, to vary the atomization of fluid flowing from the nozzle exit. An outer end of the hollow, tubular element may be free to suck in atmosphere, or may be attached to a tube immersed in a container, to draw in a second fluid to mix with the first fluid through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Luis R. Cruz
  • Patent number: 6203188
    Abstract: The module is a part of a static mixer which is provided for a plastic, flowable, composition to be mixed which is critical with respect to the dwell time. The apparatus comprises a tubular housing in which arms are arranged. The arms are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing; they cross each other substantially on a straight line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The module comprises a sleeve which can be pushed into the housing. The inner wall of the apparatus which conducts the composition being mixed is formed by the inner sides of the sleeves. The arms are formed in the shape of rods each having a tip directed opposite to the direction of movement of the mixing mass and a base fastened to the inner side of the sleeve. Each tip forms an intermediate space with respect to the inner wall of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Maurer, Joachim Studlek
  • Patent number: 6155706
    Abstract: A mixing device is placed in a stream of material flowing in a longitudinal direction for mixing constituents in the stream, the mixing device including a plurality of mixing elements spaced apart from one another and projecting transversely into the oncoming stream of material. The mixing elements are spaced laterally from one another and each mixing element has a cup-shaped upstream face for confronting the oncoming stream of material while allowing the stream of material to flow in the longitudinal direction, between the laterally spaced apart mixing elements, to effect enhanced mixing with lower shear. The mixing elements are arrayed in a field in lateral rows spaced longitudinally along the stream of material, the longitudinal spacing between the lateral rows being such that the mixing elements of adjacent rows are interleaved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Ron J. Klein
  • Patent number: 6152592
    Abstract: A mixing device is placed in a stream of material flowing in a longitudinal direction for mixing constituents in the stream, the mixing device including a plurality of mixing elements spaced apart from one another and projecting transversely into the oncoming stream of material. The mixing elements are spaced laterally from one another and each mixing element has a cup-shaped upstream face for confronting the oncoming stream of material while allowing the stream of material to flow in the longitudinal direction, between the laterally spaced apart mixing elements, to effect enhanced mixing with lower shear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Ron J. Klein
  • Patent number: 6112768
    Abstract: An in-line agitating device for fluids includes an elongate internally-threaded cylindrical tube, open at each end, with a flow-disturber such as a round ball positioned inside the tube so as to substantially but not completely block off the bore of the tube. When a fluid is introduced into one end of the tube, its velocity increases as it is forced through the restricted space between the ball and the inner surface of the tube and then rapidly decelerates, causing turbulence which results in vigorous agitation of the fluid. This agitation is intensified by swirling action imparted to the fluid by the internal threading of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventors: Leslie B. Rath, Harvey E. Deering
  • Patent number: 6106146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mixing and/or thermal homogenization of at least one free-flowing fluid of plastic and/or natural substances, in which the fluid is distributed into a layer (34), the width (36) of which transversely to the conveyance direction (35) of the fluid is greater by a multiple than its thickness (33), and individual partial areas lying in the conveyance direction (35) of the fluid adjacent to one another, in cross-sectional planes in succession in the conveyance direction (35) and aligned vertically to the conveyance direction (35), have a different cross-sectional surface. Respective partial areas extending parallel in the conveyance direction (35) and directly adjacent to one another of the cohesive layer (35) are differently spatially deformed and a cross-sectional surface in the partial area is greater than in relation to a greater flow path length between two cross-sectional planes with a rectilinear connection in the conveyance direction (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: C.A. Greiner & Sohne Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Gunter R. Langecker, Purstinger Franz
  • Patent number: 6092921
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing reactive fluids which are capable of ignition or explosion, at elevated temperature and pressure, for subsequent conversion by contact with a catalyst, such as a (partial) oxidation catalyst or in a combustion zone, comprising in sequence an upstream inlet end, a mixer, an expander, a diffuser and a downstream outlet end, the outlet end being characterised by a greater available cross-sectional area than any of the inlet end, mixer and expander, and the expander having substantially increasing internal cross-sectional area in downstream direction, wherein the available cross-sectional area of the expander at any point along its length is less than the difference in internal cross-section of the expander at its downstream and its upstream ends, a process therefor and the use thereof, in particular the use thereof in a process for the catalytic partial oxidation of hydrocarbon feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Hendrik Martinus Wentinck, Arend Van Wolfswinkel
  • Patent number: 6082891
    Abstract: In a static micromixer a flow guide structure consisting of a stack of foils provided with passages formed into alternate foils so as to extend between a mixing chamber at one end of the flow guide structure and different admission chambers at the opposite end of the flow guide structure, the passages are curved so that they are all parallel at their exit ends adjacent the mixing chamber and, at their entrance ends, the flow guide structure has face areas which are inclined with respect to the exit end face of the flow guide structure at such an angle that the curved passages have all about the same length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignees: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Bayer AG
    Inventors: Klaus Schubert, Wilhelm Bier, Erhard Herrmann, Thomas Menzel, Gerd Linder
  • Patent number: 6058928
    Abstract: A liquid heating device, comprising a pump for pumping a liquid, a convertor for converting of a flow of the liquid, heat exchange a unit, the convertor being formed as a cyclone connected with the pump and having a main spiral passage for a tangential supply of the liquid, passage a unit from withdrawal of the liquid, and an additional spiral passage which is directed toward a side which is opposite toward the main passage is directed, the spiral passages having outlets which are offset relative to one another along an axis of the cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: Leonid Sitko, Sergei Mitskevitch
  • Patent number: 6048496
    Abstract: A mixer for a liquid chromatograph mixes plural kinds of liquids. It has a first mixer 45 for forcibly agitating the liquids and a second mixer 58 for agitating the liquids in accordance with a flow rate. Liquid passages of the first and second mixers 45, 58 are in communication with each other, and the first and second mixers 45, 58 are integrally mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: GI Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiaojing Zhou, Yoshihiko Takano
  • Patent number: 6035897
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting sonochemical reactions and processes using in large scales liquid medium volumes is disclosed which passes a hydrodynamic liquid flow at a velocity through a flow through channel internally containing at least one element to produce a local constriction of the hydrodynamic liquid flow. The velocity of the liquid flow in the local constriction is at least 16 m/sec. A hydrodynamic cavitation cavern is created down stream of the local constriction, thereby generating cavitation bubbles. The cavitation bubbles are shifted with the liquid flow to an outlet from the flow through channel and the static pressure of the liquid flow is increased to at least 0.85 kg/cm.sup.2. The cavitation bubbles are then collapsed in the elevated static pressure zone, thereby initiating the sonochemical reactions and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Oleg Vyacheslavovich Kozyuk
  • Patent number: 6012492
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting sonochemical reactions and processes using in large scales liquid medium volumes is disclosed which passes a hydrodynamic liquid flow at a velocity through a flow through channel internally containing at least one element to produce a local constriction of the hydrodynamic liquid flow. The velocity of the liquid flow in the local constriction is at least 16 m/sec. A hydrodynamic cavitation cavern is created down stream of the local constriction, thereby generating cavitation bubbles. The cavitation bubbles are shifted with the liquid flow to an outlet from the flow through channel and the static pressure of the liquid flow is increased to at least 0.85 kg/cm.sup.2. The cavitation bubbles are then collapsed in the elevated static pressure zone, thereby initiating the sonochemical reactions and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Oleg V. Kozyuk
  • Patent number: 5984519
    Abstract: In a fine particle producing device, particles of a substance contained in a fluid are caused to collide with each other under extremely high pressure, whereby the particles are emulsified, dispersed or reduced to finer particles in the fluid in an instant. One of the blocks mounted in a cylindrical sealed casing has a pair of curved channel portions for guiding converging high-speed fluid streams and a turbulence pocket formed at a position where the curved channel portions are joined for temporarily holding fluid turbulence caused by collision of the high-speed fluid streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: Genus Corporation, Hakusui Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Onodera, Chikara Kannari, Akikazu Koyano, Yoshihiro Furukawa, Kazutoshi Mitake, Fumio Yasuda, Fuminori Miyake, Fusamitsu Fujishima
  • Patent number: 5971603
    Abstract: A static mixer head that provides not only distributive mixing, but also dispersive mixing. Distributive mixing is accomplished by providing a series of baffles along the length of the mixing tube, each baffle being angled relative to the previous baffle. Dispersive mixing is accomplished by utilizing baffles that define a converging pathway for the mixing materials. The converging pathway promotes elongation and corresponding dispersion of the mixing materials. In one embodiment, the baffles are teardrop-shaped, and are arranged so that multiple baffles are generally parallel and adjacent to one another. Preferably, the baffles are oriented such that the mixing materials flow from the small tail portion of the baffles toward the larger head portion of the baffles, thereby encountering a gradual compressive force and corresponding elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: The Madison Group: Polymer Processing Research Corp.
    Inventors: Bruce Davis, Paul J. Gramann, Tim A. Osswald
  • Patent number: 5947597
    Abstract: A device for mixing two or more fluids which includes an elongated hollow tubular member having a longitudinal axis which is constricted intermediate its ends. The constriction includes at least two orifices carrying a first fluid which are situated and sized within the hollow tubular member so that the orifices have a point of substantial mutual tangency. A fluid entry port is provided for discharging a second fluid at a point substantially coincident with the point of substantial mutual tangency of the orifices. The fluid entry port for discharging the second fluid is a second fluid discharge tube located at the point of substantial mutual tangency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Komax Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Tony King
  • Patent number: 5937906
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting sonochemical reactions and processes using in large scales liquid medium volumes is disclosed which passes a hydrodynamic liquid flow at a velocity through a flow through channel internally containing at least one element to produce a local constriction of the hydrodynamic liquid flow. The velocity of the liquid flow in the local constriction is at least 16 m/sec. A hydrodynamic cavitation cavern is created down stream of the local constriction, thereby generating cavitation bubbles. The cavitation bubbles are shifted with the liquid flow to an outlet from the flow through channel and the static pressure of the liquid flow is increased to at least 0.85 kg/cm.sup.2. The cavitation bubbles are then collapsed in the elevated static pressure zone, thereby initiating the sonochemical reactions and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Oleg V. Kozyuk
  • Patent number: 5893642
    Abstract: A static mixer is provided for one or more fluids flowing in a pipe, such as oil, water and gas from an oil well. The mixer comprises an element to divide the flowing fluids into at least two streams within the pipe and to deflect two of the resulting streams so that those streams rotate in opposite senses about axes parallel to the direction of flow of the fluid, the element being shaped so as to maintain movement of the flow in a substantially smooth manner. The apparatus is provided for analyzing fluid flow in a pipe comprising at least one radiation source to direct radiation through the flow, and at least one radiation detector positioned to receive from the source of radiation which has pass through the flow. The source or sources emits radiation at least at two different energies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignees: I.C. Consultants Limited, SGS Redwood Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Hewitt, George Lister Shires, Susan Joan Parry, Philip Antony Mark, Paul Stephen Harrison
  • Patent number: 5855776
    Abstract: Apparatus for the on-line treatment of chemical reagents, including a flow line for a reagent flow, a vortex mixer in the flow line for combining and mixing the reagent flow with at least one further reagent flow, a pulser in the flow line for causing the pulsing of the mixed flow from the vortex mixer, and a vessel having an array of vortex cells for receiving the pulsing mixed flow to cause development and growth of precipitate under narrow residence time distribution conditions. Flow lines mix a flow of reagents to initiate precipitation. The pulser pulses the admixed reagents and causes the pulsing mixed flow to swirl with a constantly reversing rotational flow to achieve development and growth of precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: AEA Technology plc
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, John William Stairmand
  • Patent number: 5810052
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a free disperse system in liquid which produces a controlled hydrodynamic cavitation by regulation of constriction ratio, volumetric flow rate, and degree of cavitation parameters. Selection of the parameters with regard to the properties of components of the fluid make it possible to effectively treat the components having a variety of physio-chemical characteristics. The invention further relates to the construction of a cavitation device wherein the geometry of a flow-constricting baffle body effectively increases the degree of cavitation to substantially improve the quality of an obtained free disperse system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Five Star Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Oleg Vyacheslavovich Kozyuk
  • Patent number: 5806976
    Abstract: A device for uniformly and virtually instantaneously mixing at least two fluids, comprising at least two feed channels each of which is shaped and sized so that it produces flat fluid streams, whereby a uniform mixture may be achieved virtually instantaneously in a limited area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Claude Roque
  • Patent number: 5743637
    Abstract: A mixing valve having a mixing passage formed by a tapered concentric reduction member for forming a venturi, a pair of baffles supporting the reducing member to form a mixing chamber where liquid from secondary inputs is metered by the venturi into an axial flow of liquid. The mixing valve is particularly adapted for use with a method of hydrating concentrated polymer and mixing in recycled polymer from an eductor. The method includes passing water through a venturi, metering a flow of neat polymer and a flow of recycled polymer from the eductor into the mixing chamber by the venturi effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Chem Financial, Inc.
    Inventor: Ray Ogier
  • Patent number: 5680884
    Abstract: A high-performance rectifying device promotes the diffusion of energy, temperature and concentration in a fluid stream with a small pressure loss. The device is a lattice type rectifying device provided within a fluid flow passageway for equalizing the flow velocity distribution of the same fluid. Lattice elements each consist of two triangular plates disposed so as to form two opposed surfaces of a pyramid having its apex on the downstream side of the fluid flow and two other triangular plates forming two opposed surfaces of another pyramid having its apex jointed with the first-mentioned apex and having its bottom surface positioned on the downstream side of the fluid flow. The latter two opposed surfaces have their orientations deviated by 90 degrees from the two opposed surfaces on the upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Nishijima, Masaaki Taniguchi, Atsushi Morii, Osamu Naito
  • Patent number: 5597236
    Abstract: An in-line laminar flow motionless mixer mixes a low viscosity fluid into a high viscosity fluid. A first conduit section receives the high viscosity fluid and has a first set of slots. Injector nozzles extend into the first conduit section ahead of the slots with orifices which add the low viscosity fluid in the form of sheets. A second tubular section has a second series of slots formed orthogonally to the slots in the first section, and an annular connective jacket encloses the first and second set of slots and provides a flow path between the sections. A flow distributor extends within the respective and provides flow equalization. Method of mixing includes the injection of a low viscosity fluid as a striation. The composite flow is diverted circumferentially radially outwardly causing laminar shear mixing. The outward flow is cut into a smaller individual flows by slots, causing distributive and extensional mixing. The flows are recombined causing further distributive and laminar shear mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Chemineer, Inc.
    Inventor: Julian B. Fasano
  • Patent number: 5595712
    Abstract: An integral structure is provided for chemical processing, particularly high-speed mixing and chemical reacting, in which a plurality of laminae are joined together and having inlet and outlet ports connected by a plurality of intersecting channels formed therethrough which accommodate the passage of one or more chemicals, said laminae comprising a material selected for compatibility with the one or more chemicals, the channels being formed so that chemicals are combined at intersections therein at sufficient angles of attack and shear rates so that chemical reactions are not limited by mass transfer. Chemicals are introduced through the inlet ports and processed along the channel, with desirable product withdrawn through the outlet ports. The laminae are selected from material of groups III, IV or V of the Periodic Table. Processes of manufacture of the apparatus and processes utilizing the apparatus are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kevin H. Harbster, Joseph A. Perrotto
  • Patent number: 5588987
    Abstract: A discharge stream conditioner and method for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of devices which discharge pressurized liquids is disclosed. An elongated rod having a plurality of outwardly radiating, spiraling, fingers or spokes is placed within the discharge conduit or flow path of a pressurized liquid to be discharged. The purpose of the discharge stream conditioner and method is to effectuate a partial separation of the propellant gas which has dissolved into the liquid agent to be discharged thereby providing for a more even flow and more efficient discharge of the liquid agent from its pressurized container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: Paul O. Huston
  • Patent number: 5540849
    Abstract: A filter for filtering particulates from a particulate-containing fluid stream passing through the filter, contains one or more flow plates, each of the flow plates having (a) one or more primary fluid flow passages; and (b) one or more particulates-collecting, eddy current-forming accumulation chambers communicating with the primary fluid flow passages; wherein the accumulation chambers are not situated in the primary fluid flow passages and, when the accumulation chambers contain particulates, the particulate-containing accumulation chambers do not impede fluid flow through the primary fluid flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Dugan
  • Patent number: 5520460
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a static-mixing element, which method comprises forming selected subassemblies of the static-mixing element, having at least two layers of mixing blade elements, in a lattice-type structure, assembling the subassemblies in position in a fixture, joining the subassemblies together, to form the static-mixing element or one or more subassembly modules, and then joining the subassembly modules together, to form the entire static-mixing element. The subassemblies may be prepared of metal, by investment-casting or sintering, or a plastic or ceramic, by molding, and the subassemblies and subassembly modules formed by welding, sintering, bonding or fusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Koch Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard L. Lantz
  • Patent number: 5499871
    Abstract: A device for producing a liquid emulsion of a hydrophobic and hydrophilic liquid is described. The emulsion consists of at least one hydrophobic liquid phase and at least one hydrophilic liquid phase, one of said phases being a disperse phase of the emulsion, which has a stable colloidal state with a particle size of the disperse phase of 1,000 nm or less, preferably a particle size in the range of 100 to 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Tecno-Bio Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Armando Ulrich, Walter H. Ott, deceased
  • Patent number: 5492409
    Abstract: A device for mixing two fluids having different temperatures comprises a connecting branch (6) extending into a main pipe (1) from a secondary pipe (2), said connecting branch having at its end positioned in the main pipe a distribution casing (7) with double annular walls, of which an inner wall (9) defines a channel (10) extending axially and centrally in the main pipe (1), and having apertures which allow a fluid (B) to be conducted into and mixed with the fluid (A) passing through the main pipe. The apertures consist of a plurality of small apertures (11) which are formed in the inner wall (9) of the distribution casing (7) and provide intermixing of the two fluids directly in the channel (10) positioned centrally in the main pipe (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Vattenfall Utveckling AB
    Inventors: Rolf Karlsson, Hernan Tinoco, Mats Henriksson, Anders Lundstrom
  • Patent number: RE36969
    Abstract: The static mixing element in a flow channel (7) has at least two deflectors (30) disposed on mountings (20) at a distance from the channel wall. The deflectors form an angle W of from 10.degree. to 45.degree. to the main flow direction Z. They have different orientations and the projection FZ of the deflectors in the main flow direction amounts to from 5% to 50% of the channel cross-section F. Cross-flows providing very efficient transverse mixing are therefore produced in a simple manner. When dispensing tubes (20, 21) are used as mountings a very effective mixing device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Felix Streiff, Markus Fleischli