Semi-continuous method and apparatus for forming a heated and pressurized mixture of fluids in a predetermined proportion
First Claim
1. An apparatus for mixing, heating and pressurizing two or more fluids comprising:
- (a) at least two or more vessels each having walls and an upper and lower end;
(b) means communicating between said vessels for conveying the fluids from one or more of the vessels to one or more of the other of said vessels;
(c) means for continuously oscillating the fluids through the communicating means from at least one of said vessels to at least one of the other of said vessels comprising a reciprocating displacement means contained in each of the vessels for displacing the fluids contained in said vessels, where said oscillation of the fluids provides for their mixing;
(d) means for pressurizing the fluids as they are being oscillated between the vessels; and
(e) means for heating the fluids as they are being oscillated through the vessels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for effectively supplying, feeding, measuring, proportioning, mixing, pressurizing, and heating on a semi-continuous basis, a plurality of fluids. Preferably, the fluids comprise at least one substantially non-compressible fluid, such as coating formulation, and at least one substantially compressible fluid, such as carbon dioxide, to form a substantially accurately proportionated coating admixture in the supercritical state of the compressible fluid for spraying the combined mixture through a spraying means onto a substrate to produce a coating. The process employs vessels having a known displacement volume to feed and proportion the fluids. The pressurization, mixing and heating is accomplished in an oscillation loop wherein the mixture is pressurized and heated while in such oscillation loop. A spray gun connected to the oscillation loop is used to spray the mixture.
56 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for mixing, heating and pressurizing two or more fluids comprising:
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(a) at least two or more vessels each having walls and an upper and lower end; (b) means communicating between said vessels for conveying the fluids from one or more of the vessels to one or more of the other of said vessels; (c) means for continuously oscillating the fluids through the communicating means from at least one of said vessels to at least one of the other of said vessels comprising a reciprocating displacement means contained in each of the vessels for displacing the fluids contained in said vessels, where said oscillation of the fluids provides for their mixing; (d) means for pressurizing the fluids as they are being oscillated between the vessels; and (e) means for heating the fluids as they are being oscillated through the vessels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of mixing, heating and pressurizing two or more fluids comprising:
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(a) supplying the fluids to at least one of at least two or more vessels; (b) oscillating the fluids from at least one of said vessels to at least one of the other of said vessels by synchronized displacement of the fluids in one or more of the vessels and introduction of the fluids in one or more of the other vessels, where said oscillation of the fluids by said synchronized displacement provides for their mixing; (c) pressurizing the fluids as they are being oscillated between the vessels; and (d) heating the fluids as they are being oscillated between the vessels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification