Patent Publication Number: US-2023149830-A1

Title: Sonically Enhanced Microfiltration of Trichomes

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INFORMATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/278,750, filed Nov. 12, 2021, titled Sonically Enhanced Microfiltration of Trichomes, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed to filtration of plant trichomes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Trichomes are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and other plants. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a plant is an indumentum, and the surface bearing them is said to be pubescent. Trichomes sometimes have medicinal or nutritional value. The collection and filtering of trichomes from other plant parts can be time consuming and expensive. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment under the present disclosure comprises a filtration system. The system comprises a plate configured to receive filtration media thereon and to allow a flow of fluid to pass therethrough. It can further comprise a frame coupled to the plate and configured to hold the plate above a receptacle; and one or more transducers coupled to the plate and configured to agitate the plate during a filtration process. 
     One embodiment under the present disclosure comprises a filtration system. The filtration system comprises one or more sieves configured to receive a flow of solution therethrough, the solution comprising a fluid and a material. The system can further comprise a receptacle configured to receive the flow of solution as it exits the one or more sieves; and a fluid reservoir configured to store the solution. Further, it can comprise a supply line coupled to the fluid reservoir and configured to provide the flow of solution to the one or more sieves; a return line coupled to the reservoir and the receptacle and configured to recycle filtered solution to the reservoir; and one or more transducers configured to agitate the one or more sieves during the flow of solution. 
     A further embodiment comprises a method of filtering under the present disclosure. The method can comprise directing a flow of solution through one or more sieves, the solution comprising a fluid and a plant material. Further steps include agitating the one or more sieves as the solution flows through the one or more sieves and collecting the filtered plant material collected by each of the one or more sieves. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a diagram of a system embodiment under the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    shows drum and sieve embodiment under the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    shows a digital signal processor embodiment under the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    shows a diagram of a system embodiment under the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    shows a diagram of a system embodiment under the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    shows an embodiment of a transducer under the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  7    shows a flow-chart of a method embodiment under the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Trichomes from plants can be useful for medicinal uses, food and other uses. But the medicinal or food content can be difficult to isolate from other plant materials. In one example of the prior art, plant material is frozen and dropped in an ice bath. The material is then heated, resulting a murky soup that can then be put through multiple levels of filtration. This can result in filtered trichome glands containing the desired plant material. In some cases the plant soup is filtered through multiple drums of filters and water. The drums, filter, water, and other materials can be heavy to manipulate, requiring multiple people for a relatively low output of material. This process can be time consuming, labor intensive, and consume a lot of resources. 
     Embodiments under the present disclosure include improved filtration devices and processes. One embodiment of a filtration system  100  is shown in  FIG.  1   . Drum or sieve stack  150  sits on plate  160  which can be suspended over, or sit on top of, drainage receptacle  130 . Power supply  135  can turn on power to the system and connect to or comprise an electrical power supply via battery, wall connect, or other means. Reservoir  140  can hold water or another fluid. Supply line  145  connects to the top of drum  150  and can provide a flow of fluid over plant material within drum  150  via outlet  155 . Within drum  150  are one or more levels of filtration media (not shown in this figure) of decreasing size going down the drum  150 . At each level of filtration a finer size of plant material or trichomes will be filtered out of the plant material and fluid. Return line  147  can return used fluid to the reservoir  140 . Drainage receptacle  130  can contain or be coupled to a cleaning system to clean the fluid before it returns to reservoir  140 . Pump  130  can couple to the supply  145  and return lines  147  and pump fluid to and from reservoir  140 . Drainage receptacle  130  preferably contains an inner receptacle  120 . Inner receptacle  120  receives the flow-through from the bottom of drum  150 . Drainage receptacle  130 , sitting around inner receptacle  120 , preferably contains ice to help keep the fluid and other components cold. Wash basin  149  forms a portion of reservoir  140  and can receive plant material and/or recycled fluid from drum  150  and drainage receptacle  130 . 
     One or more transducers  175  are coupled to plate  160 . As fluid pours from outlet  155  over drum  150  and flows through the plant material, the transducers  175  can be turned on. Applying agitation, vibration, oscillation, and/or sounds waves from transducers  175  helps to keep the particles in the liquid in suspension such that plant material doesn&#39;t rest on screen/filter heads in the filtration media. This allows the water to flow through plant material and sieves of the filtration media more quickly than a standard filtration system without transducers  175 . Whereas the prior art could take an hour to filter a batch of plant material, embodiments under the present disclosure can filter the same size batch in 7-15 minutes. Higher quality filtering, with better filtering of trichome sizes, can be achieved as well. 
     Transducers  175  preferably are capable of agitating the plate  160  and thereby agitating drum  150  and filtration media. The agitation can produce sound waves or produce vibration or oscillation in a variety of frequencies. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are effective at filtering cannabinoids from cannabis trichomes. In such embodiments, using frequencies from generally 25-2500 Hertz has been found to be effective. Other embodiments may use other frequencies, however. Effective frequencies may vary depending on plant material type or amount, temperature, fluid or solution composition, and other factors. It may be desirable to vary frequencies during filtration to help provide a thorough filtration. The agitation emitted by transducers  175  are preferably physical waves that are not necessarily in the hearing range of human beings. In many embodiments these waves may not be audible to human beings or may sound like a low rumble. 
     After filtering, the transducers  175  can be turned off and the flow of fluid turned off. Trichomes, or other desired filtered material, can be harvested from each level of drum  150 . For cannabis and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a typical filtration session can cause trichomes of roughly 175-180 microns to filter out at one level of filtration media, down to roughly 40 microns at a bottom level. Different size trichomes, or different grades, may be more or less valuable and may have different preferred uses in the cannabis industry. Embodiments described herein can be applicable to a variety of different plant and/or filtering applications. While some reference is made to cannabis, other embodiments are possible. For different plants, or different filtered material, different frequencies may yield different results, and different size filtration media may be used while keeping with the teachings described herein. 
       FIG.  2    shows an exploded view of a drum  200 . Levels  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  can each comprise filtration media  215 ,  225 ,  235 ,  245 ,  255 . The filtration media preferably becomes finer going down the stack. Stainless steel sieves, for example, can be used to collect valuable material at different micron layers as fluid passes through levels  210 - 250 . Levels  210 - 250  can be integrated together or can comprise individual stackable layers. Filtration media  215 - 255  can comprise sieves, meshes, screens and/or other filter types operable to filter any fluid, plant material, or other filtered material. Drum  200  is preferably open on the bottom so as to allow fluid to flow to a receptacle. 
       FIG.  3    shows a possible embodiment of an electrical diagram of a system under the present disclosure. Relay  310  can be communicatively coupled to digital signal processor  320 , which can be communicatively coupled to amplifier  330 , which can be communicatively coupled to the tactile transducers  340   a - d  on transducer plate  340 . Other embodiments can comprise other quantities of tactile transducers, channels, amplifiers, relays, power supplies, and other components. The digital audio signal processor  320  can be programmed to create and distribute a sound wave intermittently to four tactile transducers  340   a - d  in turn. By being intermittent, this audio signal distribution method can help in keeping the transducers cool and operating for as long as possible. An intermittent signal creates less strain and gives a longer service life to transducers  340   a - d  and other components. The sounds wave vibrations on the drum can be introduced through the transducers  340   a - d , themselves mounted to a transducer plate either on top or below depending upon the environment. The transducer plate preferably has a large opening meant to mount and hold the sieves for collection. As the vibrations pass throughout the sieve stack, the materials collected on the screens can remain in suspension within the fluid so as to allow the water/fluid to pass through the sieve stack in an expedited manner. 
       FIG.  4    shows another view of a filtration system embodiment. Drum  450  sits on plate  460  which is coupled to framing  490 . Drum  450  is positioned about inner receptacle  420  and outer receptacle  430 . Bars  425  can sit on inner receptacle  420  or outer receptacle  430  to help prevent drum  450  or plate  460  from falling down. Transducers  475  can be coupled to plate  460 , or framing  490 , or another component. Computing device  480  can comprise a relay, digital signal processor, amplifier, power supply or connection to power supply or other components. Outer receptacle  430  preferably surrounds inner receptacle  420  such that ice can be filled into outer receptacle  430  to keep the contents of inner receptacle  420  cold. 
       FIG.  5    shows another view of the filtration system  400  of  FIG.  4   . Drum  450  with sieves inside sits on plate  460 . Frame  490  provides supporting structure, in this case resembling a cube. Springs  465  can couple plate  460  to frame  490 . Springs  465  can allow the drum  450  and plate  460  to vibrate in response to sound waves from transducers  475  (see  FIG.  4   ). Other coupling means are possible between the plate  460  and frame  490 . Depending on the type of springs  465  or coupling used, the type of transducers  475  or frequencies used may vary. As seen in  FIG.  5   , springs  465  can be coupled to the frame  490  via a bolt connection  466 . Clamps  467  can couple the springs  465  to plate  460 . Other connection means are possible. Bolts, screws, clamps, wraps, adhesives, welding, sauntering, and other means are all possible. 
       FIG.  6    shows an embodiment of a tactile transducer  650  coupled to a plate  660 . Bolts  670  can couple transducer  650  to plate  660 . Other coupling means, such as sauntering, welding, bolts, screws, washers, other means, and combinations of the foregoing, are all possible. Cap  640  provides protection and bolting connections while still allowing transducer  650  to provide agitation to the filtration system. Housing  680  can house a piston and circuitry for controlling and adjusting the transducer  650 . Transducer  650  is shown here coupled to the plate  650 . However, coupling could be done anywhere that a tactile transducer such as transducer  650  can agitate filtration media within the filtration system. Transducers as shown in  FIG.  6    and other embodiments can be prone to overheating. Many transducer embodiments comprise a piston as a portion of the sound creation means. The physical movement of the piston can add to the creation of heat. Some piston embodiments also help to increase the flow of air through the transducer, helping to alleviate some of the heat. The amount of heat created may vary depending on transducer and piston embodiments. 
     To alleviate and avoid overheating, it is preferred to rotate or alternate which transducer is activated. For example, transducers can be configured to apply sound in various stages. In an embodiment comprising four transducers, one, two, or three transducers can apply agitation while the other transducer(s) rests. The pattern of applying agitation could be two transducers on for five minutes, while the other two are off. After five minutes the transducers can be reversed, and so forth. In embodiments comprising two transducers, only one transducer might be activated at a time. Any desired number, or proportion, of available transducers can be chosen to run at the same time. One preferred embodiment comprises four transducers and a filtration process wherein one transducer is activated at a time while the other three rest. The activated transducer is rotated after a chosen length of time, possibly five minutes. The length of operation may depend on the transducer type or size, settings or factors within the filtration system such as load or power limitations, or environmental factors such as temperature or humidity. 
       FIG.  7    shows a possible method embodiment under the present disclosure. Method  600  is a method of filtering plant material. Step  710  is directing a flow of solution through one or more sieves, the solution comprising a fluid and a plant material. Step  720  is agitating the one or more sieves as the solution flows through the one or more sieves. Step  730  (optional, or carried out separately, in some cases) is collecting the filtered plant material collected by each of the one or more sieves. The agitation under this method can be provided by one or more transducers coupled to, or near, the one or more sieves. The one or more transducers can be activated in a rotating pattern so as not to overheat any individual transducer. Furthermore, optionally, the method of  FIG.  7    can comprise steps for creating the solution. Creating the solution can include: freezing the plant material; placing the frozen plant material in an ice bath; and agitating the solution to separate the plant material. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.