By Means Applying Fluid Jet Or Blast To Unconfined Liquid Material Patents (Class 425/7)
  • Patent number: 11951549
    Abstract: The present disclosure related to a process and an apparatus for producing powder particles by atomization of a feed material in the form of an elongated member such as a wire, a rod or a filled tube. The feed material is introduced in a plasma torch. A forward portion of the feed material is moved from the plasma torch into an atomization nozzle of the plasma torch. A forward end of the feed material is surface melted by exposure to one or more plasma jets formed in the atomization nozzle. The one or more plasma jets being includes an annular plasma jet, a plurality of converging plasma jets. Powder particles obtained using the process and apparatus are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Tekna Plasma Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Maher I. Boulos, Jerzy W. Jurewicz, Alexandre Auger
  • Patent number: 11925987
    Abstract: A metal powder manufacturing device includes: an atomization tank; a crucible in which a molten metal is stored; a molten metal nozzle that allows the molten metal stored in the crucible to flow downward into the atomization tank; and a fluid spraying nozzle including a plurality of spraying holes that spray a fluid to an atomization tank side end part of the molten metal nozzle to pulverize a molten metal flow flowing downward from the molten metal nozzle. The molten metal nozzle includes a molten metal nozzle body and an orifice part having an inside diameter equal to or smaller than an inside diameter of the molten metal nozzle body, and a material of the orifice part is harder than a material of the molten metal nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shibayama, Shinya Imano, Shigenobu Eguchi
  • Patent number: 11529683
    Abstract: A production method of particulate materials, through centrifugal atomization (CA) is disclosed. The method is suitable for obtaining fine spherical powders with exceptional morphological quality and extremely low content, or even absence, of nonspherical shape particles and internal voids. An appropriate cost effective method for industrial scale production of metal alloy, intermetallic, metal matrix composite or metal-like material powders in large batches is also disclosed. The atomization technique can be extended to other than the centrifugal atomization with rotating element techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: INNOMAQ 21, S.L.
    Inventor: Isaac Valls Angles
  • Patent number: 11448979
    Abstract: A discharge device is provided. The discharge device includes a liquid feed-discharger, and the liquid feed-discharger includes a feed unit configured to feed a liquid and a discharge unit having discharge holes configured to discharge the liquid fed by the feed unit. A ratio (X/Y) of a maximum cross-sectional area X (mm2) to a minimum cross-sectional area Y (mm2) of the liquid feed-discharger in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the liquid feed-discharger is from 1 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Morinaga, Tatsuru Moritani, Naoki Shiraishi, Shinji Aoki, Hisayoshi Ohshima, Yuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11447893
    Abstract: This disclosure describes meltblown methods, assemblies, and systems for polymer production. In one such implementation, a meltblown system provides improved uniform output and reduction of fiber size given certain polymer material and production rate. In certain meltblown implementations, the equipment may be ready and quickly swapped while provided in hot standby mode such that the maintenance down time is minimized. The disclosed meltblown equipment may include a polymer beam and air chamber and a die tip assembly. The die tip assembly, in certain embodiments, may quickly be attached onto or removed from the polymer beam and air chamber. In preferred embodiments, the meltblown system includes a single input (e.g., a specific type of polymer material). The meltblown system includes some tapered structures that facilitate polymer flow. The assembly mechanisms used in the meltblown system enables cleaning of the polymer distribution components with each use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Extrusion Group, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Cook, Kurtis Lee Brown, Micheal Troy Houston
  • Patent number: 11298746
    Abstract: The metal powder producing apparatus includes: a first gas jet nozzle that includes jet holes disposed in a bottom surface of a gas jet device so as to form first rings each, and jets gas against molten metal flowing down through the liquid nozzles; a second gas jet nozzle that includes jet holes disposed in the bottom surface of the gas jet device so as to form second rings each on an outer side of a corresponding one of the first rings, and jets gas to prevent scatter of metal particles; and a third gas jet nozzle that includes jet holes disposed in the bottom surface of the gas jet device so as to form a third ring on an outer side of the second gas jet nozzle, and jets gas against an inner wall surface of the spray chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shibayama, Shinya Imano, Yuting Wang, Shigenobu Eguchi
  • Patent number: 11208735
    Abstract: A method for controlling fiber cross-alignment in a nanofiber membrane, comprising: providing a multiple segment collector in an electrospinning device including a first and second segment electrically isolated from an intermediate segment positioned between the first and second segment, collectively presenting a cylindrical structure, rotating the cylindrical structure around a longitudinal axis proximate to an electrically charged fiber emitter; electrically grounding or charging edge conductors circumferentially resident on the first and second segment, maintaining intermediate collector electrically neutral; dispensing electrospun fiber toward the collector, the fiber attaching to edge conductors and spanning the separation space between edge conductors; attracting electrospun fiber attached to the edge conductors to the surface of the cylindrical structure, forming a first fiber layer; increasing or decreasing rotation speed of the cylindrical structure to alter the angular cross-alignment relationship b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
    Inventor: Maurice Haff
  • Patent number: 11185920
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments presently described, metal-containing particles may be made by a method that includes introducing a molten material into a reaction zone of a reactor system, passing a process gas into the reaction zone in a direction substantially tangential to a sidewall of the reaction zone, and contacting the process gas with the molten material in the reaction zone to form metal-containing particles. The molten material may be introduced into an upper portion of the reaction zone The reaction zone may include a substantially circular cross-section, and the molten metal may be introduced into the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hammond Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Hyde Murphy, William Peter Wilke, IV, Philip Michael Kowalski
  • Patent number: 10926332
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing iron powder configured for improving a recovery rate of chromium using ingot including chromium in a content suitably higher than a target content at the time of manufacturing iron powder including chromium, may include preparing ingot further including chromium (Cr) so that a content of chromium (Cr) in the ingot is 1 to 30% higher than a target content of chromium (Cr) in finally produced iron powder; dissolving the ingot to prepare molten steel; forming iron powder by performing water atomization on the molten steel; and adjusting a content of carbon (C) in the iron powder by performing reduction treatment on the iron powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joon Chul Yun, Hyun Gon Lyu, Hyun Kyu Choi, Ji Min Yu
  • Patent number: 10773244
    Abstract: The present invention provides amorphous bi-functional catalytic aluminum metallic glass particles having an aluminum metallic glass core and 2 or more transition metals disposed on the surface of the aluminum metallic glass core to form amorphous bi-functional aluminum metallic glass particles with catalytic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
    Inventors: Santanu Das, Sundeep Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 10730220
    Abstract: Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting, wherein a plurality of the polymeric strands are periodically joined together in a regular pattern at bond regions throughout the array, wherein a majority of the polymeric strands are periodically bonded to at least two (three, four, five, six, or more) adjacent polymeric strands, and wherein no polymeric strands are continuously bonded to a polymeric strand. Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. Ausen, Thomas P. Hanschen, William J. Kopecky
  • Patent number: 10583605
    Abstract: A drop draw and extrusion method that creates anchor points around, within, or around and within, the region where a two dimensional fibrous architecture is deposited. Between the anchor points, a nozzle translates at high speeds to draw, extrude, or draw and extrude (depending on the print settings), a filament from the nozzle and build a two dimensional network of filaments connected by the anchors. Webbed architectures fabricated using the methods described herein exhibit superior structural properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher A. Howe, Justin Hicks, Michelle Louise Gee, Thomas Wilson, Adrian Mouritz
  • Patent number: 10421227
    Abstract: A shim stack foaming die for making foam slabs comprises a plurality of shims that are layered together under pressure to form a shim stack, wherein the shims combine to collectively define a plurality of die orifices in a working face, to define a main body of the shim stack foaming die, and also to define a plurality of die cavity that is fluidly connected to the plurality of die orifices. And articles foamed from the shim stack foaming die have found wide use in various applications, thermal or acoustic insulation, reinforcing layers and/or space-filling layers, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Kalish, James M. Jonza, William J. Kopecky, Bryan C. Feisel
  • Patent number: 10421126
    Abstract: A method of producing iron powder by a water atomization process may include preparing a molten metal in a tundish, discharging the molten metal in a free-falling manner by opening an orifice formed on a bottom of the tundish, and producing iron powder by spraying water onto the free-falling molten metal using a pair of water spraying nozzles, an angle formed by the water spraying nozzles being at least 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun Gon Lyu, Joon Chul Yun
  • Patent number: 10416045
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing molten salt electrolyte. The method includes extracting a sample of a molten salt electrolyte from an electrorefiner or other process vessel or conduit; generating droplets from the sample, where the droplets are at a first temperature; transporting the droplets to detectors, where during transport, the droplets attain a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature; analyzing the droplets at or below the second temperature; and returning the droplets to the process. The apparatus includes a droplet generator; a sample transport mechanism; and at least one detector positioned above the sample transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Cari A. Launiere, Candido Pereira, James L. Bailey, Stanley G. Wiedmeyer
  • Patent number: 9970079
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of constructing a three-dimensional part using metallic glass alloys, layer by layer, as well as metallic glass-forming materials designed for use therewith. In certain embodiments, a layer of metallic glass-forming powder or a sheet of metallic glass material is deposited to selected positions and then fused to a layer below by suitable methods such as laser heating or electron beam heating. The deposition and fusing are then repeated as need to construct the part, layer by layer. One or more sections or layers of non-metallic glass material can be included as needed to form composite parts. In one embodiment, the metallic glass-forming powder is a homogenous atomized powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Poole, Theodore A. Waniuk, Jeffrey L. Mattlin, Michael S. Nashner, Christopher D. Prest
  • Patent number: 9926217
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the flow of vitrified material. In at least some embodiments, a vitrified material control system comprises a melt chamber (8) configured to contain a molten material (27) during operation of the control system; a siphon valve (11) configured to facilitate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber; and a vacuum-generation system (26, 15, 16) configured to controllably deliver a vacuum to the molten material in the melt chamber and to thereby regulate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber. In other embodiments, methods of controlling a flow of molten vitrified material from a heating device are disclosed. The methods may include, for example, applying a vacuum to the molten material to control a dwell time of the molten material in a vessel of the heating device and regulating the vacuum based on a measured temperature of the molten material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Plasma Tech Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: James C. Juranitch
  • Patent number: 9921501
    Abstract: A toner having a toner particle which contains a binder resin, a fatty acid metal salt, and a resin having an ionic functional group, in which the fatty acid metal salt is a fatty acid metal salt of a polyvalent metal with valency of 2 or higher and a fatty acid with carbon atom number of at least 8 and not more than 28, and the acid dissociation constant pKa of the resin having an ionic functional group is at least 6.0 and not more than 9.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Mochizuki, Kenichi Nakayama, Masashi Kawamura, Tsuneyoshi Tominaga, Kunihiko Nakamura, Tsutomu Shimano, Takayuki Toyoda, Shiro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9447522
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing solid material filaments or films from a fluid of the material, by extruding the fluid by one or more extrusion openings and by solidifying the material in a precipitation bath. The formed material is guided between the extrusion openings and the precipitation bath by a lateral gas flow. The gas flow is subdivided into a hot partial flow and a cold partial flow. The material is initially brought into contact with the hot partial flow and subsequently with the cold partial flow prior to it being introduced into the precipitation bath. A device is also provided for extruding and forming materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: AUROTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Zikeli, Friedrich Ecker
  • Patent number: 9080813
    Abstract: Greatly enhanced interaction of material processed by a rotary kiln with gas introduced into the rotary kiln is provided by initially rotating the rotary kiln at a rotational speed causing the material to be transported by centrifugal force to an upper portion of the shell of the kiln, and thereafter maintaining a rotational shell speed that causes centrifugal forces acting upon the material to be greater than seventy percent of gravitational forces acting upon the materials but less than one-hundred percent of gravitational forces acting upon the material. When this percent is between ninety and ninety-five percent of such gravitational forces tests indicated that the enhancement was maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventor: George J. Deckebach
  • Patent number: 8992196
    Abstract: A seamless capsule manufacturing apparatus (1) manufactures a seamless capsule by means of nozzles (2a-2d). A core liquid (5) and a coating liquid (6) are supplied to each of the nozzles (2a-2d) from pumps (16, 18) through distributors (21, 22). The distributors (21, 22) and the nozzles (2a-2d) are connected to each other by core liquid distributing tubes (23a-23d) and coating liquid distributing tubes (25a-25d), and each of the core liquid distributing tubes (23a-23d) and each of the coating liquid distributing tubes (25a-25d) have the same length. A vibrator (24) is mounted to the distributor (21), and the core liquid (5) is supplied to the nozzles (2a-2d) while being vibrated. Each of the distributors (21, 22) is provided with an air vent device (35), and air vent is performed appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Freund Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ikeda, Hiroshi Nagao
  • Publication number: 20150059526
    Abstract: A system for metal powder atomisation comprising a refractory lined melting furnace (1) configured to melt metal into a liquid metal bath (6), in which furnace (1) a drain (3) is arranged for draining liquid metal from the bottom of the furnace. The drain (3) is configured to be closed by a stopping member. The system comprises an atomisation chamber (2) configured to receive and atomise liquid metal from the melting furnace (1). The system also comprises removal means controllable from the bottom region of the furnace (1) for removing the stopping member without interfering with the surface of the liquid metal bath (6). The removal means and the stopping member are configured such that the stopping member is removable independently of the temperature of the liquid metal bath (6) using the removal means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Vikner, Patrik Lönnberg
  • Publication number: 20150047467
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing solid particles based on inert gas evaporation. The method includes forming a continuous gaseous feed flow, and injecting the continuous gaseous feed flow through an inlet into a free-space region of a reactor chamber in the form of a feed jet flow, and forming at least one continuous jet flow of a cooling fluid and injecting the at least one jet flow of cooling fluid into the reaction chamber. The feed jet flow is made by passing the feed flow at a pressure above the reactor chamber pressure in the range from 0.01·105 to 20·105 Pa through an injection nozzle. The jet flow of cooling fluid is made by passing the cooling fluid through an injection nozzle which directs the jet flow of cooling fluid such that it intersects the feed jet flow with an intersection angle between 30 and 150°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Eirik Ruud
  • Publication number: 20140322515
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for forming a micron, submicron and/or nanometer dimension polymeric fiber. The method includes providing a stationary deposit of a polymer. The method also includes contacting a surface of the polymer to impart sufficient force in order to decouple a portion of the polymer from the contact and to fling the portion of the polymer away from the contact and from the deposit of the polymer, thereby forming a micron, submicron and/or nano-meter dimension polymeric fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Kevin Kit Parker, Mohammad Reza Badrossamay, Josue Adrian Goss
  • Patent number: 8834142
    Abstract: A granulator, having a granulation unit having a bottom floor with a perforated plate as its bottom part; an upper air-supplying pipe for supplying a fluidizing air to the bottom of the granulation unit; a lower air-supplying pipe; air-spouting pipes, each of which is branched from the lower air-supplying pipe, and has an opening in the bottom of the perforated plate, for jetting the air into the granulation unit; and spray nozzles for spraying a granulation raw material liquid, which each are provided in the center of an air outlet of the air-spouting pipe, or having: the bottom; the air-supplying pipe; and spray nozzles for spraying a granulation raw material liquid each of which are provided in an opening in the bottom of the perforated plate, and use a high-pressure atomizing air as an auxiliary gas, with the spray nozzles being provided in a triangular arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kojima, Takahiro Yanagawa
  • Publication number: 20140234625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to means for manufacturing micro-beads (polymer micro-particles) comprising thermoplastic polymer and having the average particle size of 10 ?m or less, and extending into the nano-range. An original filament comprising a thermoplastic polymer is passed through an orifice under an air pressure (P1) and guided to a spray chamber under a pressure (P2; where P1>P2). The original filament having passed through the orifice is heated and melted under irradiation by an infrared beam, and is sprayed in microparticulate form from the orifice by the flow of air generated by the pressure differential between P1 to P2, whereby micro-beads comprising thermoplastic polymer micro-particles having an average particle size of 10 ?m or less, and even less than 1 ?m are manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF YAMANASHI
    Inventor: Akihiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140234457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrospinning device. The electrospinning device may apply the force of a supersonic flow acting at a predetermined angle with respect to an electrostatic force on a fiber discharged from an electrospinning nozzle to cause shearing stress on the fiber, thereby providing fibers having a very small diameter and collecting fibers having a finer diameter. Also, the electrospinning device may collect finer and more uniform fibers by adjusting the relative positions of the electrospinning nozzle for discharging the fiber and a gas spray nozzle for spraying a gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Min Wook Lee, Suk Goo Yoon, Alexander L Yarin, Suman Sinha-Ray, Behnam Pourdeyhimi
  • Patent number: 8691121
    Abstract: Sulfur (or sulphur) spray nozzles disposed with a tank spray liquid molten sulfur into the cooling liquid in the tank. Solid sulfur seeds are formed in the cooling liquid and settle in the tank. The tank may be a spiral dewaterer tank that has a screw conveyor at the bottom of the tank that moves the seeds to a granulating drum for enlargement into sulfur granules. The tank may also be used to capture and remove sulfur dust from a slurry of sulfur dust and water recycled from the granulating drum. The sulfur dust in the cooling tank may be captured by contact with molten sulfur droplets streaming down the cooling liquid column such that the dust particles become incorporated into the droplet, thereby being converted to seed. The granulating drum may be equipped with two or more sets of segmented lifting flights. The sets of flights may not be in alignment. The flights may be spaced apart from the inside surface of the drum with segmented rib members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brimrock International Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie L. Lang, Jamsheed P. Irani, Sergio A. De Paoli, Casey J. Metheral
  • Publication number: 20140087013
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electro-spinning nozzle pack for receiving and then electro-spinning a solution with a fiber feedstock dissolved therein, comprising a body with a solution receiving space to keep the solution supplied, a plurality of solution injection nozzles installed at the body in such a manner that the nozzles are in communication with the solution receiving space, and a high-voltage electrode arranged inside the solution receiving space, for charging the solution therein; and to an electro-spinning system comprising such an electro-spinning nozzle pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: WOOREE NANOPHIL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Keun Park, Suk Won Chun, Jong Su Park, Jin Kyu Han
  • Patent number: 8652367
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for prilling are provided which include dynamically controlling the pressure at the prill head for increased control over prill quality and size distribution. In one embodiment, the pressure of a headspace above a volume of liquid or slurry is regulated to maintain a more precise control of the pressure of the liquid or slurry at the prill head. In another embodiment, an axial upflow device is used to maintain a more precise control of the pressure of the liquid or slurry at the prill head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Donnick, Stephanie C. Barthe, Gregory A. Cleotelis, Andrew J. Howes, James A. Kweeder, Raymond G. Wissinger
  • Publication number: 20140044819
    Abstract: A production arrangement for producing a batch of particles having predetermined sizes and/or morphology comprising at least a) two or more spray nozzles, each having a fluid transport conduit, a solution transport conduit, and a mixing arrangement for mixing a fluid and a solution with each other downstream of the fluid transport conduit, and a spray outlet, b) one or more particle collecting chambers, each comprising the spray outlet of at least one of the spray nozzles and a function for separating and collecting particles produced in the spray nozzle from the solution-fluid mixture, and c) a transport conduit external to the spray nozzles for transferring fluid to the fluid transport conduits of the spray nozzles, wherein the spray nozzles are identical and adapted to be run simultaneously with at least two of them being placed in a same particle collecting chamber and/or in different particle collecting chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: XSpray Microparticles AB
    Inventor: Mustafa Demirbüker
  • Patent number: 8632326
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing finely powdered spherical magnesium includes a gas compressor that compresses argon gas, a gas heating unit that heats the compressed argon gas, and a tundish that receives molten magnesium. The device further includes a reactor having a nozzle injection unit that injects heated argon gas into the reactor, a recovery unit that recovers magnesium powder produced in the reactor, and a first gas cooler that cools the argon gas passing through the recovery unit. The device further includes a filtering unit that filters the cooled argon gas, a buffer tank that receives the filtered argon gas, and a compression blower that adiabatically compresses the argon gas. The device further includes a second gas cooler that cools the compressed argon gas, an adiabatic expansion duct that adiabatically expands the cooled argon gas, supplies the expanded argon gas to the reactor, and cools the magnesium powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Kyu Yeub Yeon
  • Patent number: 8603373
    Abstract: A method for producing particles, including: bringing a compressive fluid into contact with a pressure plastic material, so as to produce a melt of the pressure plastic material; and discharging the melt of the pressure plastic material by differential pressure to a space, so as to form particles, wherein the discharging includes at least one of (A) discharging the melt of the pressure plastic material while a compressive fluid is supplied to the melt of the pressure plastic material, and (B) discharging the melt of the pressure plastic material through one or more through-holes, to which vibration is applied, so as to change the shape of the melt of the pressure plastic material from a columnar shape, through the columnar shape with constrictions, into a particle shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ohtani, Chiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8579620
    Abstract: Methods and techniques of using 3D printers to create physical models from image data are discussed. Geometric representations of different physical models are described and complex data conversion processes that convert input image data into geometric representations compatible with third party 3D printers are disclosed. Printing templates are used to encapsulate complex geometric representations and complicated data conversion processes from users for fast and simple 3D physical model printing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Andy Wu
  • Publication number: 20130273188
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing fine particles is provided. The apparatus includes a liquid droplet discharge device and a liquid droplet solidification device. The liquid droplet discharge device has multiple nozzles. The liquid droplet discharge device is adapted to discharge a liquid from the multiple nozzles to form the liquid into liquid droplets. The liquid comprises a solvent in which constituents of the fine particles are dissolved or dispersed or a melt of constituents of the fine particles. The liquid droplet solidification device is adapted to solidify the liquid droplets by an airflow. The multiple nozzles are arranged in a manner such that each of the nozzles does not overlap each other relative to a direction of the airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Satoshi TAKAHASHI, Yoshihiro NORIKANE, Yasutada SHITARA, Kiyotada KATOH, Minoru MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20130264754
    Abstract: A granulation installation for a melt produced in a metallurgical plant, especially for blast furnace slag having a water injection device for quenching and thereby granulating the melt and a granulation tank for collecting water and granulates a steam condensation tower is located above the granulation tank for collecting steam generated in the tank, where the tower has a steam condensing system with a water-spraying device and a water-collecting device below the water-spraying device, and the tower is equipped with a stack for selectively evacuating excessive steam to the atmosphere, the stack having an inlet communicating with the lower zone of the condensation tower and an outlet arranged to evacuate steam to the atmosphere above the condensation tower, the stack being equipped with an obturator device for selective evacuation of steam through the stack, where the installation according to the invention may process an increase of 60% of slag, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: PAUL WURTH S.A.
    Inventor: Bob Greiveldinger
  • Publication number: 20130243877
    Abstract: The technology relates to spray dried plasma and methods of making the same. The method includes providing plasma to a spray drying apparatus, spray drying the plasma, at the spray drying apparatus, to form physiologically active plasma power, the spray drying apparatus configured utilizing one or more parameters, and storing the physiologically active plasma powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Haley, Dennis Hubbard, JR., Keith Rosiello
  • Publication number: 20130236582
    Abstract: A gas atomization apparatus is disclosed for producing high purity fine refractory compound powders. After the system reaches high vacuum, a first stage inert atomizing gas breaks superheated metal melt into droplets and a second stage reactive atomizing gas breaks the droplets further into ultrafine droplets while reacts with them to form refractory compound powders. The first stage atomizing gas is inert gas able to break up melt into droplets and prevent crust formation on the nozzle front. A reaction time enhancer is arranged at bottom of reaction chamber to furnish a reactive gas flow in a reverse direction of the falling droplets and powders. Under the reverse gas flow, the falling droplets and powders change moving direction and travel longer distance in reaction chamber to increase reaction time. This apparatus can produce refractory powders with ultrahigh purity and uniform powder size while maintain high process energy efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: QUALMAT, INC.
    Inventor: Bo Liu
  • Patent number: 8408889
    Abstract: A device for meltblowing of synthetic fibers utilizes an elongated spinneret packet that is held at the bottom side of the spinneret carrier. In order to supply process air the two elongated air tubes extend at the opposite longitudinal sides of the spinneret carrier, which are connected to an air distribution device having an air channel system in the spinneret carrier. In order to avoid thermal stress in the expansion joints between the air distribution device and the spinneret carrier as much as possible, the air distribution devices are embodied by means of multiple distribution segments having an expansion joint between adjacent distribution segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Schutt, Nicola Mueller-Reichau, Bernhard Potratz
  • Publication number: 20130078324
    Abstract: The technology relates to spray dried plasma and methods of making the same. The method includes providing plasma to a spray drying apparatus, spray drying the plasma, at the spray drying apparatus, to form physiologically active plasma powder, the spray drying apparatus configured utilizing one or more parameters, and storing the physiologically active plasma powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: VELICO MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Velico Medical, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130069270
    Abstract: A granulating method is a method in which powder containing a water-soluble component is granulated. In the disclosed granulating method, a dispersion element, wherein fine water droplets are dispersed in superheated steam, is expelled from a nozzle, and thus the dispersion element and powder in a flowing state come into contact with one another. It is preferable that the mass ratio of superheated steam contained in the dispersion element, as a mass ratio found from the theoretical flow amount of superheated steam expelled from the nozzle, and the actual flow amount of water supplied to the nozzle, be set in a range of 20-70 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicants: POKKA CORPORATION, INCORPORATED ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY NATIONAL AGRICU
    Inventors: Itaru Sotome, Seiichiro Isobe, Takao Katagiri, Takashi Inoue, Hironobu Mano, Joju Niida, Hirokazu Takeuchi, TAkeshi Itou, Yuichiro Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8372997
    Abstract: According to the invention, powders of low hygroscopicity are prepared by granulation of an aqueous solution (1) in a fluidized bed (140). A compound formed from crystalline grains whose moisture content is defined and stable is obtained. The invention applies especially to organometallic complexes of glycine with a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pancosma Societe Anonyme pour l'Industrie des Produits Biochimiques
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Meunier, Sébastien Oguey
  • Publication number: 20130035279
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and a system of producing nanoparticles and nanoparticle matrices of thermolabile, biocompatible matrix materials, like lipids and biopolymers with controlled properties. A prototype pulse-heat aerosol system is described for single-step production of free, thermolabile nanoparticles with sufficient control over size, morphology and crystallinity with controlled-release properties, for possible therapeutic, cosmetic or diagnostic use. Nanoparticles of the range 50 to 500 nm are obtained and are found suitable for controlled drugs delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOMBAY
    Inventors: Chandra Venkataraman, Amol Ashok Pawar
  • Patent number: 8348651
    Abstract: A facility that is especially suited for the freezing of juices and similar products, which includes a cooling tank that supplies the product by means of an impelling pump to a freezing chamber that receives a supply of a liquefied gas at a temperature of around ?140° C., preferably nitrogen, and pressurized air through an electro-valve to transform the juice into micro-drops or pellets and to freeze the droplets or the pellets inside the freezing chamber, which then exit the chamber through one or more dispensing valves, said freezing not affecting the original characteristics of the juice, in terms of its vitamin, protein and enzyme content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Victorino Juan Mata
  • Publication number: 20120325051
    Abstract: A system and method for producing atomized powder for glassy aluminum-based alloys in an inert gas atmosphere. A melt chamber melts the alloy and it is atomized to form powder. The powder is deposited in at least one catch tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 8329072
    Abstract: Sulfur (or sulphur) spray nozzles disposed with a cooling tank spray liquid molten sulfur into the cooling liquid in the tank. Solid sulfur seeds are formed in the cooling liquid and settle in the tank. The cooling tank may be a spiral dewaterer tank that has a screw conveyor at the bottom of the tank that moves the seeds to a granulating drum for enlargement into sulfur granules. The cooling tank may also be used to capture and remove sulfur dust from a slurry of sulfur dust and water recycled from the granulating drum. The sulfur dust in the cooling tank may be captured by contact with molten sulfur droplets streaming down the cooling liquid column such that the dust particles become incorporated into the droplet, thereby being converted to seed. The granulating drum may be equipped with two or more sets of segmented lifting flights. The sets of flights may not be in alignment. The flights may be spaced apart from the inside surface of the drum with segmented rib members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Brimrock International Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie L. Lang, Paul R. Larson, Jamsheed P. Irani, Sergio A. De Paoli, Casey J. Metheral
  • Publication number: 20120282361
    Abstract: A granulator, having a granulation unit having a bottom floor with a perforated plate as its bottom part; an upper air-supplying pipe for supplying a fluidizing air to the bottom of the granulation unit; a lower air-supplying pipe; air-spouting pipes, each of which is branched from the lower air-supplying pipe, and has an opening in the bottom of the perforated plate, for jetting the air into the granulation unit; and spray nozzles for spraying a granulation raw material liquid, which each are provided in the center of an air outlet of the air-spouting pipe, or having: the bottom; the air-supplying pipe; and spray nozzles for spraying a granulation raw material liquid each of which are provided in an opening in the bottom of the perforated plate, and use a high-pressure atomizing air as an auxiliary gas, with the spray nozzles being provided in a triangular arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KOJIMA, Takahiro YANAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8297959
    Abstract: Capsules and particles with at least one encapsulated and/or entrapped agent, such as therapeutic agent, imaging agents, and other constituents may be produced by electrohydrodynamic processes. More particularly, the agent encapsulated in a vehicle, capsule, particle, vector, or carrier may maximize treatment and/or imaging of malignant cancers while minimizing the adverse effects of treatment and/or imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Terapia Celular, LN, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustavo Larsen, Ruben Spretz, Raffet Velarde-Ortiz, David Vu, Luis Nunez
  • Publication number: 20120195786
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing spheroidal metal particles having high size and shape uniformity from a melt from a highly reactive metal melt, with the following steps: melting the metal starting material under a hermetic seal; transporting the metal melt in a closed granulating tube from the melting furnace to at least one melt outlet; discharging the metal from the metal outlet via a rotary plate in the form of discrete drops to a melt stream which disintegrates into drops by the time it strikes the rotary plate; conducting a shielding gas flow into the region of the melt exiting from the melt outlet, collecting the melt on the rotary plate in the form of discrete melt drop, solidifying the melt drops into granule particles by contact with the colder surface of the rotary plate, and conducting the granule particles off the rotary plate for packaging/further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: NON FERRUM GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Eibisch, Michael Grimm, Mathias Gruber, Mark Hartmann, Andreas Lohmueller, Michael Loos
  • Patent number: 8231369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for producing nanoparticles, in which method starting materials for nanoparticles are mixed at least as liquid droplets and optionally also as gases and/or vapors with at least combustion gases in a premixing chamber and the mixture is separated for liquid drops larger than size d, whereafter the mixture is conducted to at least one burner, in which the combustion gases are ignited such that a heavily mixing flame is generated, in which the starting materials react and optional solvents evaporate and generate through nucleation and/or sintering and/or agglomeration particles having a diameter of 1 to 1000 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Beneq Oy
    Inventors: Markku Rajala, Kai Asikkala, Anssi Hovinen