Patent ID: 12246294

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The system for making suspensions10is an automated system for the controlled preparation of solid-in-liquid suspensions. As shown inFIGS.1A,1B,1C and2, the system for making suspensions10includes a housing12which has a base16, an upper wall20, at least one sidewall14and an open front18. It should be understood that the overall rectangular shape and relative dimensions of housing12seen inFIGS.1A,1B,1C and2are shown for exemplary purposes only. A platform24is mounted within the housing12, and a translating table28is slidably mounted on the platform24for removably supporting a receptacle26. The translating table28may be, or may include, a temperature-controlling plate for controlling a temperature of the receptacle26from the receptacle's bottom end. An additional temperature-controlling jacket32may be wrapped around the remainder, or a selected portion, of the receptacle26. As shown inFIG.7, the temperature-controlling plate of translating table28and the temperature-controlling jacket32are in communication with a controller400, which may be either manually controlled or automatically programmed through a user interface300, which may be a touchscreen or the like. It should be understood that controller40may be any suitable type of controller, such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a programmable logic controller, control circuit, a personal computer or the like. Similarly, it should be understood that user interface300may be any suitable type of user interface, and that the housing-mounted touchscreen shown inFIGS.1A-2is shown for exemplary purposes only.

A rotating dispenser system40is mounted within the housing12, above the platform24and the receptacle26. As will be described in greater detail below, the rotating dispenser system40receives at least a base fluid and a quantity of solid particles for making the solid-in-liquid suspensions, which are mixed in receptacle26. As best shown inFIG.4, the rotating dispenser40includes a base fluid dispenser84for selectively dispensing a controlled mass of the base fluid into the receptacle26, and a solid particle dispenser115for selectively dispensing a controlled mass of the solid particles into the receptacle26. The base fluid dispenser84is in fluid communication with a base fluid tank36, and the solid particle dispenser is in communication with a solid particle container100, as will be discussed in greater detail below. A mixer is provided for selectively and controllably mixing the controlled mass of the base fluid and the controlled mass of the solid particles in the receptacle26to form the suspension, as will also be discussed in greater detail below.

The rotating dispenser system40includes a rotating plate52having a plurality of openings50formed therethrough. Each of the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115includes a nozzle assembly slidably received within a corresponding one of the openings50. A lower end112of the base fluid dispenser84projects through the corresponding opening50. Similarly, the lower end116of the solid particle dispenser also projects through its corresponding opening50. A lower end56of an axle54is secured to the rotating plate52. As further seen inFIG.4, a first gear68is coupled to the upper end58of the axle54, and a second gear70engages the first gear68to drive rotation thereof. The second gear70is coupled to a motor72to drive rotation of the second gear70. A plate430is mounted to the at least one sidewall14of the housing12for supporting the gears68,70and the motor72, and for providing stability to the axle54. Plate430has an opening434formed therethrough for receiving the upper end58of axle54for connection to the first gear68. As shown, an additional bearing432may be provided for stably and rotatably receiving the upper end58of axle54.

First and second stepper motors118,120are mounted on the rotating plate52respectively adjacent to the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115. First and second threaded rods159,134are respectively driven to rotate by the first and second stepper motors118,120. First and second nozzle assembly holders126,130are respectively secured to the respective upper ends110,114of the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115. The first nozzle assembly holder126has a threaded opening128formed therethrough for receiving a portion of the first threaded rod159. Similarly, the second nozzle assembly holder130has a threaded opening132formed therethrough for receiving a portion of the second threaded rod134. Thus, as the first and second threaded rods159,134, respectively, are driven to rotate by their respective stepper motors118,120, the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115can be moved up and down, in a controlled manner, through their corresponding openings50. This vertical movement can be used to initiate or cease dispensing, as well as bringing the desired dispenser in closer proximity to the receptacle26. The particular dispenser being used at any given time is positioned above the receptacle26through operation of the motor72, which rotates the rotating plate52. As shown inFIG.7, the motor72is in communication with the controller400, which may be either manually controlled or automatically programmed through the user interface300. Similarly, the first and second stepper motors (SMs)118,120are also in communication with controller400for controlling the actuation thereof.

The rotating dispenser system40may also include a liquid surfactant dispenser79in fluid communication with a liquid surfactant tank74for selectively dispensing a controlled mass of the liquid surfactant into the receptacle26, and a solid surfactant dispenser141in communication with a solid surfactant container for selectively dispensing a controlled mass of a solid surfactant into the receptacle26, as will be discussed in greater detail below. Similar to the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115, each of the liquid surfactant dispenser79and the solid surfactant dispenser141includes a nozzle assembly slidably received within a corresponding one of the openings50formed through the rotating plate52.

Third and fourth stepper motors144,146, are mounted on the rotating plate52respectively adjacent to the liquid surfactant dispenser79and the solid surfactant dispenser141, and third and fourth threaded rods148,158are respectively driven to rotate by the third and fourth stepper motors144,146. Third and fourth nozzle assembly holders152,150are respectively secured to the respective upper ends78,140of the liquid surfactant dispenser79and the solid surfactant dispenser141. Each of the third and fourth nozzle assembly holders152,150has a respective threaded opening154,151formed therethrough for respectively receiving a portion of the third and fourth threaded rods148,158. Thus, the liquid surfactant dispenser79and the solid surfactant dispenser141may be moved and controlled in a manner similar to the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115.

The mixer may include both a sonicator86and a homogenizer88. As shown inFIG.4, each of the sonicator86and the homogenizer88is slidably received within a corresponding one of the openings50formed through the rotating plate52. Fifth and sixth stepper motors164,170, respectively, are mounted on the rotating plate52respectively adjacent to the sonicator86and the homogenizer88, and fifth and sixth threaded rods161,174are respectively driven to rotate by the fifth and sixth stepper motors164,170. Sonicator and homogenizer holders176,180, respectively, are respectively secured to the respective upper ends160,166of the sonicator86and the homogenizer88. Each of the sonicator and homogenizer holders176,180has a respective threaded opening178,182formed therethrough for respectively receiving a portion of the fifth and sixth threaded rods161,174. Thus, the desired sonicator86or homogenizer88may be lowered into the receptacle26in a manner similar to that of the movement of the base fluid dispenser84and the solid particle dispenser115. As shown inFIG.7, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth stepper motors (SMs)144,146,164,170are also in communication with controller400for controlling the actuation thereof.

As best seen inFIGS.1A and2, the housing12may be separated into upper, middle and lower compartments302,304,309, respectively, such that the platform24and the receptacle26are received within the middle compartment304, and the rotating dispenser system40is received within the upper compartment302. As shown inFIGS.2and3, a first shelf311may be used to separate the upper compartment302from the middle compartment304, with the rotating plate52rotatably supported on the first shelf311. The first shelf311may have one or more openings formed therethrough, allowing the dispensers and mixer to extend into the middle compartment304. A second shelf313separates the middle compartment304from the lower compartment309, with the platform24resting on the second shelf313. A sliding drawer308may be received in the lower compartment309. As shown inFIG.3, the controller400and an associated power supply402may be received within sliding drawer308. It should be understood that any additional electronics, such as buses, connectors, adapters or the like, may also be received within sliding drawer308. Upper and middle doors22,23, respectively, may be pivotally secured to the at least one sidewall114for releasably covering the upper and middle compartments302,304, respectively. Middle door23may be transparent, allowing the user to easily visually monitor the preparation of the suspension in receptacle26.

For metering the base fluid, a base fluid receptacle94may be in fluid communication with the base fluid tank36. As shown inFIGS.5A and5B, the base fluid metering system76includes the base fluid receptacle94and a base fluid scale96for measuring a mass of the base fluid in the base fluid receptacle94. A pump420may be used to controllably drive the base fluid from base fluid tank36to the base fluid receptacle94. For purposes of illustration and simplification, tubes or other fluid-carrying conduits are not shown inFIG.4, however, it should be understood that the base fluid may flow from the base fluid tank36to the base fluid receptacle94through any suitable type of tubes, pipes, conduits or the like.

As best seen inFIG.5B, an upper holder99and a middle holder98are mounted on a housing101for holding and stabilizing the base fluid receptacle94. A removable bar97may be removably attached to the front of the middle holder98, as shown inFIG.5A, allowing the base fluid receptacle94to be easily removed for cleaning. Housing101is mounted on the inner face of the at least one sidewall14, and may contain any necessary electronic or fluid control components.

Returning toFIG.5B, a fluid receiver103is positioned beneath the base fluid receptacle94and the base fluid scale96for receiving the controlled mass of the base fluid. As shown inFIG.5A, the base fluid scale96has an opening510formed therethrough, allowing the fluid to flow into the fluid receiver103from the base fluid receptacle94. The base fluid receiver103is in fluid communication with the base fluid dispenser84through tube107. It should be understood that support105is shown inFIG.5Bfor exemplary purposes only, and that the base fluid receiver103may be held beneath base fluid scale96using any suitable type of mounting structure. In use, pump420pumps the base fluid from the base fluid tank36to the base fluid receptacle94through a tube109or the like. The initial weight of the base fluid receptacle94is measured by base fluid scale96. The dispensing of base fluid into the base fluid receiver103may be controlled using any suitable type of valve or the like. The amount of base fluid being dispensed into the base fluid receiver103is determined by constant real-time monitoring of the weight of base fluid receptacle94. Once a desired mass of base fluid has been received by base fluid receiver103, the dispensing of the base fluid is halted. An identical system412for delivering the liquid surfactant from a liquid surfactant tank74, via pump416, to the liquid surfactant dispenser79may also be used. As shown inFIG.7, each of the base fluid metering system (BFMS)76and the liquid surfactant metering system (LSMS)412may be under the control of controller400. In addition to the base fluid and the liquid surfactant, distilled water may also be provided, as needed, from a distilled water tank406through a pump414. As a non-limiting example, the distilled water may be used to clean the tubing within system10. Further, a liquid discharge tank408may also be provided for removing excess or waste fluids via a pump418.

Similarly, for metering the solid particles, a solid particle scale102may be provided for measuring a mass of the solid particles in a solid particle container100. As shown inFIGS.6A and6B, a solid particle metering system38includes a housing39, mounted on the inner face of the at least one sidewall14, and may contain any necessary electronic or solid particle control components. A holder500has openings502and504formed therethrough, and is mounted to housing39. The solid particle container100is releasably held within opening504. A solid particle receiver512is positioned beneath the solid particle container100and the solid particle scale102for receiving the controlled mass of the solid particles. The solid particle receiver512is in communication with the solid particle dispenser115through tube506. As shown inFIG.6B, the solid particle scale102has an open recess220formed therein for receiving a funnel222. The solid particles flow from the funnel into the solid particle receiver512. It should be understood that support41is shown inFIG.6Bfor exemplary purposes only, and that the solid particle receiver512may be held beneath solid particle scale102using any suitable type of mounting structure.

In order to control the delivery of the solid particles, a cap200may be provided for covering an open lower end210of the solid particle container100, where the cap has a first opening202formed therethrough. A rotating disc204is mounted beneath the cap200, and the rotating disc204has a second opening206formed therethrough. In order to dispense the solid particles from the solid particle container100, the rotating disc204is rotated such that the second opening206aligns with the first opening202formed through the cap200. To control this dispensing, the rotating disc204has teeth508peripherally formed thereon for engaging a gear214, which is selectively and controllably driven to rotate by a stepper motor212. As shown, the stepper motor212may be held in place by passing the body thereof through opening504of holder500, and receiving a lower end218thereof within a recess216formed in solid particle scale102.

In use, the initial weight of the solid particle container100(along with the attached cap200, rotating disc204, and funnel222) is measured by solid particle scale102. The dispensing of the solid particles is initiated through the driven alignment of first opening202with second opening206. The mass of solid particles dispensed into the solid particle receiver512is determined by constant real-time monitoring of the weight of solid particle container100(along with the attached cap200, rotating disc204, and funnel222). Once a desired mass of solid particles has been received by solid particle receiver512, the dispensing of the solid particles is halted. An identical system410for delivering the solid surfactant to the solid surfactant dispenser141may also be used. As shown inFIG.7, each of the solid particle metering system (SPMS)38and the solid surfactant metering system (SSMS)410may be under the control of controller400.

In use, the user enters the desired mass or volume of each component of the suspension into the user interface300. As each component has a known density, the controller400can calculate the desired mass to be dispensed based on any volume which may be entered. It should be understood that any suitable additional environmental or utility equipment may also be mounted to or within the housing12. As non-limiting examples, a dehumidifier310and a cleaning system404may be mounted on the housing12, as shown inFIG.3. As a non-limiting example, cleaning system404may be a vacuum cleaner for removing any spilled powder inside housing12.

It is to be understood that the system for making suspensions is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.