And Liquid Flow Modifier Patents (Class 96/194)
  • Publication number: 20090084267
    Abstract: A bubble trap assembly for critical bioprocess applications. The assembly includes a disposable liner for placing in a fluid stream of a critical bioprocess application. The liner includes at least one gas port disposed on a top of the liner, and at least two fluid ports disposed substantially on the bottom of the liner. The fluid ports are adapted to be coupled in-line to the critical bioprocess application. A rigid vessel is included for housing the liner. The liner being sized to substantially conform to a shape of the inside of the vessel. The vessel includes at least one upper aperture for aligning with the at least one gas port and a bottom opening opposed to the at least one upper aperture. A bottom cap is included, removeably secured to the vessel and closing the bottom opening. The bottom cap together with the vessel substantially enclosing the liner. The bottom cap includes at least one lower aperture for aligning with the fluid ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: PendoTECH
    Inventors: James F. Furey, John F. McMickle, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090064863
    Abstract: A tempering device for tempering a consumption device comprises a tempering circuit in which a tempering liquid can be circulated by a pump P, and a ventilation device which is disposed in the tempering circuit, by means of which a gas contained in the tempering liquid can be separated therefrom. In order to degas the tempering liquid as quickly as possible, the ventilation device comprises a flow divider in the form of a gravity separator which is disposed in the tempering circuit upstream of the pump, and a ventilation tank which is connected to the gravity separator via a ventilation line. A partial flow of the tempering liquid that flows in the tempering circuit is supplied to the ventilation tank via the ventilation line, wherein a feedback line is additionally provided between the ventilation tank and the tempering circuit, through which tempering liquid that collects in the ventilation tank is returned to the tempering circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Franz-Josef Elsland
  • Patent number: 7384451
    Abstract: When a reaction liquid is passed through a gas-liquid separation pipe having a larger volume per unit length than the volume per unit length of a pipe, a headspace part into which gas can be released is formed above the gas-liquid separation pipe, and the byproduct gas generated by the reaction changes into bubbles, moves upward in the reaction liquid, and is continuously released from a gas-liquid interface into the headspace part. While the gas is removed in the gas-liquid separation pipe, the pressure of the headspace part is controlled so as to be constant by a pressure adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiko Shiraishi, Yasunori Ichikawa, Seiji Sugiyama, Koukichi Waki
  • Patent number: 6962626
    Abstract: Disclosed is a venting assembly for a dip coating system, a dip coating system utilizing such venting assembly, and related method for dip coating. These aspects are particularly directed for the production of organic photoconductor layers in imaging devices, and more particularly to drum photoreceptors. The venting assembly eliminates or significantly reduces coating defects otherwise occurring in the production of drum photoreceptors. Also disclosed are the drum photoreceptors produced by this assembly, apparatus and coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Bush, Michael J. Duggan, Mark E. Klino, Peter Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6818046
    Abstract: A liquid purifying device for separation and removal of volatile contaminants from liquids. A first feature of this design is an improved utilization of space, thus affording simplified and convenient mounting means, usually in the place of a standard filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Charles Andrew Lowry
  • Patent number: 6811591
    Abstract: An autonomous pushed liquid recirculation system (APLRS) is installed in a vessel, such as an electroplating tank. It situates around the interior perimeter and adjusts to changes in the level of liquid, maintaining the same location and orientation respective to the liquid's surface. It establishes a current near the surface that pushes liquid across the narrow horizontal dimension of the tank from a front wall to a rear wall. The current serves to push any bubbles resultant from operations within the tank to the rear wall. Over the rear wall is mounted an abbreviated exhaust hood covering only a short width of the surface of the tank along the rear wall. Because the exhaust system has to scavenge only a portion of the surface since all bubbles now burst along the rear wall, a much smaller air handling apparatus may be specified with an attendant savings in energy costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Kent James Hay, Shaoying Qi
  • Patent number: 6712883
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for deaerating liquid crystal contained in at least one liquid crystal container. The apparatus includes a chamber, a holder, a displacement mechanism, a vacuum system and a gas supply. The chamber has an opening to provide access to an interior of the chamber and a cover to seal the opening. The holder is disposed in the chamber to hold the liquid crystal container having the liquid crystal while the displacement mechanism displaces the at least one container. Here, the vacuum system creates a vacuum state in the chamber during deaeration, and the gas supply restores the chamber to atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyug Jin Kweon, Hae Joon Son
  • Patent number: 6706094
    Abstract: A system for rapid collection of large volumes of dissolved gases from groundwater pumps the water from a large-diameter passage through a small-diameter restrictor passage, and then into a flow-through collection chamber. The small-diameter passage causes a drop in the hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater traveling therein, causing spontaneous ebullition of gas bubbles which are then collected in the collection chamber. Testing reveals that the gases are collected in proportion to their presence in the groundwater, and thus the system allows accurate quantification of concentrations of dissolved gas in groundwater. The system may beneficially be made easily portable, thereby allowing its use in the field as well as in laboratory settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: WiSys Technology Foundation Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Alan Browne
  • Patent number: 6652630
    Abstract: A device for degassing melts, especially plastic melts, which has a melt nozzle (1) with an inlet connection (11) for connecting to a melt supply, a melt outlet opening and a vacuum chamber (20) defined by essentially vacuum-tight walls, which communicates with a vacuum source and which opens into a discharge opening for an essentially vacuum-tight connection to a melt processing system, the melt outlet opening of the nozzle extending into the degassing chamber. The melt outlet opening (13a) of the nozzle (1) is configured as a slit of a length which is a multiple of its width and which has a curved or folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Starlinger & Co. Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Franz Starlinger-Huemer
  • Patent number: 6500242
    Abstract: An apparatus for degassing and preventing gelation in a viscous liquid stored in a reservoir tank is provided. For a viscous liquid such as one that has a viscosity higher than 5000 cp, a reservoir tank that has a cavity for holding the liquid is first provided which is equipped with a liquid feed conduit and a liquid output conduit. The liquid feed conduit is configured in J-shape with an inlet end at a top of a first vertical section in fluid communication with a liquid source tank and an outlet end at an opposite end of a second vertical section of the J-shape conduit protruding above a liquid level stored in the tank cavity. A U-section of the liquid feed conduit is generally immersed in the viscous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Tzung-Chi Fu, Albert An-Ho Yin
  • Patent number: 6482254
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an insert for a vacuum deaerator for receiving a liquid having gas entrained therein and distributing the liquid to a gas-disentrainment surface, with distributing structure being connected to the receiving structure to permit the liquid to flow from the receiving structure to the distributing structure, and at least one fin attached to and extending downwardly from the distributing structure to receive the liquid from the distributing structure and to provide a gas-disentrainment surface to aid removal of entrained gas from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: James Edward Bono, Jiaying Li Mallon
  • Publication number: 20020129705
    Abstract: A system and multiple methods are described for removing dissolved gases from a liquid either prior to or following filling into a container. Prior to filling, gas is removed by creating a pressure differential, by application of heat, by sonication, or by generating a liquid by combination of dry solute and de-gassed solvent. Alternatively, liquids may be highly concentrated with solute to force any dissolved gas out of solution and later diluted with de-gassed solvents. In other embodiments, gases are percolated into liquids to displace atmospheric gases, wherein these percolated gases separate from solution and diffuse out of sealed containers after filling either by nature of their molecular size or chemical reaction with materials constructed into the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Eloy A. Ituarte
  • Patent number: 6338749
    Abstract: A system is provided for de-gassing a material. The system includes a vessel and a material distributor. The vessel has an internal chamber in which a vacuum can be maintained. The material distributor is located inside the internal chamber and is adapted to distribute the material to be degassed as a thin film along at least one wall of the vessel in such a way that exposure of the thin film to vacuum within the internal chamber causes entrained air or other gasses from the material to be withdrawn from the thin film. Also provided is a method for degassing a material. Preferably, a material distributor is inserted into a vessel where degassing of a material is to be performed. The material distributor can comprise an inlet for the material to be degassed, a scaling lip, a film-forming lip, and a material distribution cavity. The sealing lip is adapted to sealingly engage at least one wall of the vessel. The film-forming lip is spaced apart from the sealing lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Keith Fulk, Carleton L. Berk
  • Patent number: 6120254
    Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of fluidics and jet technology. The essence of the invention: is a vacuum-producing device composed of a liquid-gas jet apparatus, a separator and a pump, is furnished with a jet pump, so that the gas inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to a pipeline for discharge of vapors from a rectification column, the liquid inlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to the discharge side of the pump, the outlet of the liquid-gas jet apparatus is connected to the separator, the passive medium inlet of the jet pump is connected to the separator, the outlet of the jet pump is connected to the suction side of the pump, the active nozzle of the jet pump is connected to a pipeline for export of a liquid fraction from the rectification column. This vacuum system results in increased efficiency and productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Serguei A. Popov
  • Patent number: 6033462
    Abstract: An air/oil separator used with a closed loop oil seal system for a liquid ring vacuum pump, which incorporates a multi-chambered design for facilitating multiple stages of oil particulate separation is disclosed. The separator includes a cylindrical multi-chambered accumulator and a cylindrical filter housing, which supports a conventional filter element. The accumulator has an outer housing and an inner housing, which defines an outer reservoir chamber and an inner reservoir chamber. The accumulator also includes an inner oil conduit extending through the inner reservoir chamber, which deposits the oil discharge into the inner reservoir chamber. A perforated inner baffle is mounted within the inner housing to partially divide the inner reservoir chamber. A second outer baffle is mounted inside the outer reservoir chamber between the outer and inner housings to partially divide the outer reservoir chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Dekker Vacuum Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan D. Dekker, Rick-Jan Dekker, Gerald G. Geenen
  • Patent number: 5976226
    Abstract: The invention, intended for large power transformers and industrial heat transfer installations, is systemic in nature and calls upon two components which complement each other, the first one effecting the continuous on-line de-gassing of an insulating or heat transfer medium by the application of a vacuum whose pressure reducing effect is compensated by hydrostatic pressure or the combination of an impeller downstream and a restrictor upstream of the pressurized part; the second component of the complementary system is constituted by an expansion space which is separated from a displaceable buffer liquid by a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventors: Jurgen Bastian, Anne Isobel Bastian
  • Patent number: 5948279
    Abstract: In general terms, the present invention includes an apparatus for controlling macrofoulers and larvae thereof in an on-demand water conduit, and a method for controlling macrofoulers and larvae thereof in a water conduit having an intake opening. The apparatus comprises generally: a water conduit having an intake opening, the water conduit adapted to conduct a flow of water on demand; and a vacuum device adapted to receive water, the vacuum device adapted to produce oxygen-depleted water from the received water, the vacuum device also adapted to provide a flow of the oxygen-depleted water to the water conduit when no demand exists for a flow of water through the water conduit. The invention also includes a method for controlling macrofoulers and larvae thereof in a water conduit having an intake opening, such as through use of the apparatus of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Tiao J. Chang, Timothy A. Bartrand
  • Patent number: 5885332
    Abstract: A vacuum degassing and solvent delivery apparatus for those solvents being utilized in high pressure liquid chromatographic operations and/or applications. The degassing and delivery apparatus of the present invention is designed for attachment directly to a solvent reservoir, such as a double-ended bottle having a threaded portion along the bottom end thereof. The arrangement facilitates ease of installation and removal of the vacuum degassing, recycling and delivery apparatus so as to accommodate a variety of installation applications and requirements. The solvent degassing system of the present invention further includes the utilization of an atmospheric impermeable composite tubing structure which is effective for isolating fluids from atmospheric contamination during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventors: Yuri Gerner, Carl W. Sims
  • Patent number: 5858466
    Abstract: A system for pumping resist to a wafer coating machine includes a line that returns a selected proportion of the resist entering the resist pump to the resist supply tank. The return line to the tank is connected to the pump outlet at a higher point than the pump outlet to the wafer coating machine, and the resist that is returned to the tank carries substantially all of the bubbles that are carried in the resist entering the tank. The bubbles are removed from the resist in the tank and the resist can be used normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen Song Liu, Bii Juno Chang, Jen Shang Fang, Hao Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 5840101
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the treatment of an endless web, wherein exhaust vapors, formed in a treatment chamber, are withdrawn together with returned gases with a vacuum from the treatment chamber and are led into a separator to be separated into gas and liquid. The gas is further heated in a vacuum generator and is then returned into the treatment zone, wherein the endless web is led in the treatment zone over rollers with heating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: WET TEX Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Keller
  • Patent number: 5743941
    Abstract: A vacuum degassing and solvent delivery apparatus for those solvents being utilized in high pressure liquid chromatographic operations and/or applications. The degassing and delivery apparatus of the present invention is designed for attachment directly to a solvent reservoir, such as a bottle having a threaded neck portion. The arrangement facilitates ease of installation and removal of the vacuum degassing, recycling and delivery apparatus so as to accommodate a variety of installation applications and requirements. The solvent degassing system of the present invention further includes the utilization of an atmospheric impermeable composite tubing structure which is effective for isolating fluids from atmospheric contamination during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Systec, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuri Gerner, Carl W. Sims
  • Patent number: 5601635
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deaerating a liquid in a substantially closed liquid circulation system, wherein an amount of liquid is withdrawn from the circulation system and is introduced into a closed reservoir via a valve which is alternately open and closed, wherein by a pump which is operative in the open as well as the closed positions of the valve an underpressure can be created in the reservoir for the purpose of deaerating the liquid, and the liquid can be sucked from the reservoir and added to the circulation system again, separated air being discharged via a vent unit to the environment. For the valve adapted to be opened and closed alternately, preferably a throttling valve is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Spiro Research B.V.
    Inventor: Franciscus Roffelsen
  • Patent number: 5578116
    Abstract: The present invention has two basic aspects: (a) a mechanical method for controlling the macrofouling of zebra mussels; and (b) a mechanical apparatus for reducing the dissolved oxygen of natural source water, such as for industrial or municipal use, to a level below that sufficient to support the survival respiration of zebra mussels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventor: Tiao J. Chang
  • Patent number: 5534047
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for degassing a mix of cement and a polymeric binding agent including filler material and/or fiber. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber and a mechanism for adjusting the pressure inside the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber has an upper inlet zone including an inlet port, a lower discharge zone including a discharge port and an intermediate zone therebetween. Structure is provided adjacent to the inlet port which is open to the atmosphere for guiding the mix toward the inlet port. Structure is also positioned in the intermediate zone of the vacuum chamber for receiving, distributing and expediting the degassification of the free falling mix entering the vacuum chamber through the upper inlet port. A vacuum seal is provided by the mix entering the inlet port and by the degassed mix exiting the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventors: Jerry A. Gisko, Larry J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5494425
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for handling thermoplastic liquified material is disclosed. A system including an extruder feeding into a degasifying chamber is disposed upstream of a gear pump for pressurizing the material. The extruder gravity delivering, by way of a multiple-billet die, billets to the gears outside of the gear meshing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Maag Pump Systems AG
    Inventor: Roger Stehr
  • Patent number: 5480487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing process particularly for a sealing/adhesive product which comprises at least one step of pumping the sealing/adhesive product to allow a step of distribution thereof onto at least one part to be sealed, such as for example a motor vehicle mechanical component; an intermediate step of deaeration of the sealing/adhesive product, so as to optimize its distribution on the part to be sealed, is provided between the pumping step and the distribution step. The apparatus for dispensing the sealing/adhesive product (14) comprises elements (2) for feeding the sealing/adhesive product to elements (4) for distributing it onto at least one part (5) to be sealed and sealing/adhesive product deaeration means (3) which cooperate with the pumping and distribution elements for the uniform deposition of the sealant/adhesive on the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignees: Loctite Corporation, NKE S.r.l.
    Inventors: Aldo Figini, Renato Beylis
  • Patent number: 5423979
    Abstract: In a multi-pass system for purifying oil or other liquids, an improved apparatus and method for mixing air with the contaminated liquid for separation after a phase change from liquid to gas. The contaminated liquid is drawn from a reservoir by a pump, filtered, and heated, and atmospheric air is induced into the contaminated liquid downstream of the heater by an eductor, which promotes the phase change from liquid to vapor. The liquid/contaminant mix, which now includes entrained air, is passed immediately through a second eductor, the compressibility of the air in tile mix, followed by expansion of the compressed air as the mix exits the second eductor, causing intimate contact of air and contaminant, thereby promoting the stripping of the contaminant from tile liquid. The air/liquid/contaminant mix is then routed to a level controlled separation tank, water vapor, contaminants, and condensate being released from tile tank ill the space above the pooled liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Judith L. Allen
  • Patent number: 5403475
    Abstract: In a multi-pass system for purifying oil or other liquids, an improved apparatus and method for mixing air with the contaminated liquid for separation after a phase change from liquid to gas. The contaminated liquid is drawn from a reservoir by a pump, filtered, and heated, and atmospheric air is induced into the contaminated liquid downstream of the heater by an eductor, which promotes the phase change from liquid to vapor. The liquid/contaminant mix, which now includes entrained air, is passed immediately through a second eductor, the compressibility of the air in the mix, followed by expansion of the compressed air as the mix exits the second eductor, causing intimate contact of air and contaminant, thereby promoting the stripping of the contaminant from the liquid. The air/liquid/contaminant mix is then routed to a level controlled separation tank, water vapor, contaminants, and condensate being released from the tank in the space above the pooled liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Judith L. Allen
  • Patent number: 5389264
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for dissipating the energy of a wet oxidation mixture after that stream traverses a pressure control valve. The depressurized stream is discharged into a phase separator vessel containing a gas phase and a liquid phase. The pressure control valve is positioned to discharge the oxidation mixture at a selected orientation below the surface level of the liquid phase in the vessel. This dissipates the energy of the mixture and prevents erosion of the phase separator vessel. The apparatus of the invention includes the separator vessel with gas and liquid phase exits, a control device for maintaining the liquid phase at the selected level in the vessel, a pressure control valve positioned at an aperture in the vessel for discharging the mixture below the surface level of the liquid phase in the vessel, and sealing device between the control valve and the separator vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Zimpro Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Lehmann, Mark A. Clark
  • Patent number: 5341832
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device sequence for burning waste oil and includes a circulating system having a pump for circulating the oil therein and a heater for heating the oil to a suitable combustion temperature during this circulation. A combustion oil system is included for diverting a portion of the circulating oil to an atomizing gun for combination therein with a source of atomizing air. The air and oil mixture is injected through an injection orifice into a suitable combustion chamber for ignition and burning therein. A linear actuator is included having a rod with a needle end that is operated by the actuator in a linear manner along the central axis of the atomizing gun for extending through the injection orifice for providing mechanical cleaning thereof and for regulating oil flow there through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Harry D. Foust
  • Patent number: 5332423
    Abstract: A vertical continuous degassing apparatus for degassing a mix of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a mix of liquids, a mix of a liquid and solids and combinations thereof comprising: a vacuum chamber, a mechanism for adjusting the pressure therein, the vacuum chamber having an upper inlet zone including an inlet port, a lower discharge zone including a discharge port, and an intermediate zone therebetween. An annular skirt is positioned in the intermediate zone of the vacuum chamber for receiving, distributing and expediting the degassification of the mix entering the vacuum chamber through the upper inlet port. A vacuum seal is provided by the mix entering the inlet port and by the degassed mix exiting the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventors: Jerry A. Gisko, Larry J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5314302
    Abstract: An impeller pump which can be connected for use with hot-water serving systems. By the rotation of an impeller, liquids are sucked through a suction port which is connected with a container of the hot-water serving system and discharged through a discharge port for the intended supply. A guide port is provided nearby the suction port to let escape bubbles from the pump chamber, thereby assuring that the hot-water supply capacity performance is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Ohken Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goro Kakizawa, Tadashi Fukami
  • Patent number: 5269836
    Abstract: The present invention describes a passive membrane degasser device in which solid chunks of photographic materials (15) are pumped past a hydrophobic membrane (10). Air from in between the chunks is forced through the membrane by pump pressure including a screw auger (11) and a vacuum (12) on the outer side of the membrane. The solid chunks of photographic material (15) are then transferred to a liquefier where conventional ultrasonic deaeration is performed. This device causes no sensitometric problems and permits using a continuous liquefaction system without the use of a centrifugal vacuum degasser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Walter Johannes, Daniel J. Wooster, Donald E. Eaton