# US 2017/0280741 A1 · Extraction apparatus

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- Number: US 2017/0280741 A1
- Document ID: US20170280741A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/401,738
- Filed: 2017-01-09
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-10
- Applicants: CambTEK Limited
- Inventors: Hugh Malkin; Nicholas James Hastings; Ian Morgan George; Martin Pearl
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280741A1

## CPC

- A23F 5/265: {the solid substances being transported through the apparatus during the extraction cycle}
- B01D 11/0215: {Solid material in other stationary receptacles}
- B02C 19/08: Pestle and mortar
- B02C 23/24: Passing gas through crushing or disintegrating zone ({B02C15/001}, B02C23/38, B02C23/40 take precedence)
- B02C 23/30: the applied gas acting to effect material separation (B02C23/34 takes precedence)
- B02C 23/34: gas being recirculated to crushing or disintegrating zone
- C11B 1/10: by extracting
- G01N 1/286: {involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising (microtomes G01N1/06; pulverising in general B02C; mixing in general B01F)}
- C09H 3/00: Isolation of glue or gelatine from raw materials, e.g. by extracting, by heating (gelatine for foodstuffs A23J1/10)
- G01N 2001/2866: {Grinding or homogeneising}
- G01N 2001/4061: {Solvent extraction}
- G01N 2013/006: {Dissolution of tablets or the like}
- A23F: COFFEE; TEA; THEIR SUBSTITUTES; MANUFACTURE, PREPARATION, OR INFUSION THEREOF
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02})
- C11B: PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C09H: PREPARATION OF GLUE OR GELATINE

## Abstract

Apparatus for distributing a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance in an extraction fluid comprises: a) a flow cell for holding the test substance comprising an extraction chamber of uniform cross-sectional area, a grinding surface, an extraction fluid inlet and an extract outlet; b) a grinding head disposed within the extraction chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein; and c) a recirculating pump for driving extraction fluid: (i) into the flow cell via the extraction fluid inlet; (ii) through the extraction chamber; and (iii) back to the flow cell via the extract outlet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for distributing a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance in an extraction fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a) a flow cell for holding the test substance comprising an extraction chamber of uniform cross-sectional area, a grinding surface, an extraction fluid inlet and an extract outlet;
b) a grinding head disposed within the extraction chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein; and
c) a recirculating pump for driving extraction fluid: (i) into the flow cell via the extraction fluid inlet; (ii) through the extraction chamber; and (iii) back to the flow cell via the extract outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grinding head is further adapted to rotate within the extraction chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motor for: (a) reciprocating the grinding head; and/or (b) rotating the grinding head, optionally bidirectionally.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for generating a substantially constant linear force on the grinding head towards the grinding surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for generating a substantially constant force on the grinding head comprises a weight, a coiled spring, a lever spring, gas spring, hydraulic strut, solenoid, servo-motor or stepper-motor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grinding head is a loose fit within the extraction chamber to permit extraction fluid and/or pulverized test substance to pass around the grinding head.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grinding head comprises ridges, teeth, blades, spikes and/or abrasive particles disposed thereon for pulverizing the test substance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grinding head is pierced with one or more holes to permit extraction fluid and/or pulverized test substance to pass through the grinding head.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein grinding head is adapted to mate with the grinding surface with a clearance gap at least 0.5 mm, at least 1.0 mm or at least 2.0 mm

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1wherein the grinding head and/or grinding surface comprise ridges, teeth, blades, spikes and/or abrasive particles disposed thereon for pulverizing the test substance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1wherein both grinding head and grinding surface comprise ridges, teeth, blades, spikes and/or abrasive particles disposed thereon for pulverizing the test substance.

### Claim at position 12

12-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a collection valve for switching the flow of extraction fluid from a recirculating path to a collection port.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the flow to the collection port is via a filter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance located within the flow cell.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising extraction fluid surrounding the test substance.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the grinding head is mounted on a driving rod or spindle.

### Claim 21

A method for dissolving and/or suspending a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance in an extraction fluid comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the test substance into the extraction chamber of an apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims; (b) crushing, grinding and/or cutting the test substance with the grinding head to produce a pulverized test substance before, during or after the step (c) of extracting the test substance by pumping extraction fluid through the extraction chamber and over the test substance to dissolve, suspend and/or distribute said test substance throughout the extraction fluid.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein the grinding head is a loose fit within the extraction chamber such that the extraction fluid and/or pulverized test substance passes around the grinding head during the grinding step (b) and/or extraction step (c).

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein the grinding head is pierced with one or more holes and extraction fluid and/or pulverized test substance passes through said hole(s) during the crushing, cutting and/or grinding step (b), and/or the extraction step (c). 24-27. (canceled)

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein the extraction fluid is driven through the flow cell extraction chamber before the crushing, cutting and/or grinding step.

### Claim at position 22

29-37. (canceled)