Method for making a product from separate bulk sources of supply of a liquid carrier and an additive

• US 5,899,561 A
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Gian
• Original Assignee: Michael Gian
• Inventors: Gian, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/928,865
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 366/152.2, 366/139, 366/138, 366/141, 366/181.1, 366/179.1, 366/177.1, 366/173.1, 366/182.2, 366/190, 366/191, 366/341, 366/152.1, 222/77, 137/4
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/50 Mixing liquids with solids displacing one liquid by another in dispersions of solids in liquids B01D12/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/431 Straight mixing tubes with baffles or obstructions that do not cause substantial pressure drop; Baffles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/85 wherein the particles fall onto a film that flows along the inner wall of a mixer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/404 for mixing material moving continuously therethrough, e.g. using impinging jets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/821 with consecutive receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/1453 by means of jets of fluid, e.g. air

Abstract

A system for applying accurately metered, minute quantities of concentrated additives from bulk sources of supply to successive masses of material presented for treatment includes a pass-through chamber within which separate streams of a liquid carrier and the additive substance are merged together. As the liquid carrier passes through the chamber, the additive, in either dry or liquid form, is likewise directed into the chamber in a metered flow to incrementally combine with the liquid stream and form the combined product. A suction pump at the downstream end of the chamber draws the prepared product out of the chamber and advances it toward an ultimate delivery site. The carrier liquid is prevented from accumulating into a pool within the chamber by the suction pump that cooperates with the upright orientation of the chamber to cause the carrier liquid to swirl smoothly through the chamber. A suction vortex may be created as the product exits the chamber, within which vortex the additive may be directed so as to complete its entrainment with the carrier without causing turbulence. The system can be easily flushed with the liquid carrier after each batch and then dried with an optional air blower.

Claims

1. In a dosifying method for making a product from separate bulk sources of supply of a liquid carrier and an additive, the improvement comprising

delivering liquid carrier into a single pass-through chamber in a stream;

delivering a measured quantity of additive material to the chamber in a metered flow;

causing the stream of liquid carrier and the flow of additive material to come together in a laminar flow manner as they pass through the chamber whereby to form the product;

drawing the product from the chamber with suction; and

delivering product withdrawn from the chamber to a point of delivery.

2. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 1,

said chamber being disposed in an upright orientation with the product being withdrawn from the chamber at a low point in the chamber.

3. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 2,

said drawing step being carried out in a manner to prevent the product from collecting into a pool within the chamber.

4. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 1,

said additive being in dry form.

5. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 1,

said additive being in liquid form.

6. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 1;

continuing the delivery of additive to the chamber until a batch of product having a predetermined amount of additive has been formed;

flushing the chamber and downstream portions to the point of delivery; and

repeating the liquid carrier delivering, additive delivering, causing, drawing and product delivering steps for successive batches of the product.

7. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 6;

and

varying the amount of additive material for each batch in accordance with predetermined standards.

8. In a dosifying method as claimed in claim 1,

said drawing step including the step of forming a suction vortex within the product being drawn from the chamber.

9. In a dosifying method for making a product from separate bulk sources of supply of a liquid carrier and an additive the improvement comprising:

delivering liquid carrier into a pass-through chamber in a stream,

delivering a measured quantity of additive material to the chamber in a metered flow;

causing the stream of liquid carrier and the flow of additive material to come together as they pass through the chamber whereby to form the product;

drawing the product from the chamber with suction;

delivering product withdrawn from the chamber to a point of delivery;

continuing the delivery of additive to the chamber until a batch of product having a predetermined amount of additive has been formed;

flushing the chamber and downstream portions to the point of delivery,

repeating the liquid carrier delivering, additive delivering causing, drawing and product delivering steps for successive batches of the product;

varying the amount of additive material for each batch in accordance with predetermined standards;

applying successive batches of a product to corresponding, successive masses of material at the point of delivery;

before each applying step, determining the weight of the mass at the point of delivery; and

controlling the amount of additive in each batch of product in accordance with the weight of the corresponding mass at the point of delivery.