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US 4,148,718 AGranted
Single drop separator
AssigneeCoulter Electronics, Inc.
InventorMack J. Fulwyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming a separate single drop wherein a fluid stream is formed in air and an electrical charge or radiant energy is applied to the stream at a particular location in order to disturb the stream and create a single drop. The drop may be formed surrounding a particle and the drop may be charged when formed, then deflected for separate collection.
Claims11
A method for selectively separating small particles suspended in a fluid including the steps of:
- forming a moving fluid stream in air having a substantially constant velocity with said particles asynchronously spaced in said stream, sensing a particle in said moving fluid stream, and applying one of an electrical pulse and a quantum of radiant energy to said stream in air at a particular location when said sensed particle passes through said particular location for asynchonously disturbing said stream and creating a single isolated droplet from said stream surrounding said particle separated from the preceding and succeeding fluid stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.