Patent ID: 7428797
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for dispersing plant seeds in an aqueous medium, comprising: a substantially vertical flow-through device comprising a housing defining an axially symmetric process chamber tapered at the bottom and having a round cross-section, an inlet opening at the top thereof, an opening in the bottom thereof axially aligned with the process chamber, and at least one inlet point above the opening in the bottom of said housing; a removable cover having at least one orifice and normally closed on the inlet opening; means for discharging gas, said means being in fluid communication with the at least one orifice in said removable cover; a continuous-action pump having a suction side and a delivery side; a circulation circuit comprising said housing, said continuous-action pump, a suction line connecting the suction side of said continuous-action pump to the opening in the bottom of said housing, a delivery line connecting the delivery side of said continuous-action pump to said housing at the at least one inlet point for injecting seeds in an aqueous medium through the at least one inlet point into the process chamber at an angle (α) formed between the axis of the delivery line and the radius of the circumference of the axially symmetric round process chamber, wherein the radius is drawn from the center of the circumference to the at least one inlet point and the angle (α) is within range of 30°≦α<90°; at least one means for stimulating turbulent flow of seeds in an aqueous medium, incorporated into said delivery line upstream of the at least one inlet point; an end product discharge line connected to said suction line; and at least two valves, one to control said means for discharging gas and another to control said end product discharge line.