Method, apparatus and composition of matter for a high temperature plastic light conduit
AssigneeLumenyte International Corporation
InventorsJamshid J. Zarian, John A. Robbins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plastic light conduit of cross-linked polymer material having good light transmitting characteristics, without voids or noticeable bubbles, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture and an apparatus, involving progressive heating of reactive monomer mixture in a tube which is submerged in a progressive reactor utilizing cold oil to maintain a cold, non-reacting zone, and hot water to create a hot zone that causes reaction, while simultaneously carrying away the excess exothermic heat of reaction.
Claims13
An apparatus for carrying out a polymerization reaction progressively over a length of reactants, comprising:
- a. a cylindrical tank having an exterior, an interior and a longitudinal axis inclined at an angle from vertical and sufficient to prevent bubbles rising through the reacting and unreacted reactants;
- b. means for sensing and maintaining the temperature of a portion of the interior of said tank below a first predetermined temperature that prevents the reactants from reacting, thereby providing a first zone having a first size and location within said tank;
- c. means for heating the interior of said tank and its contents progressively from one end to the other to a temperature above a second predetermined temperature, thereby providing a second zone having a second size and location within said tank;
- and
- d. means for controlling the temperatures in said first zone and in said second zone, whereby the means for sensing and maintaining the temperature of a portion of the interior of said tank below a first predetermined temperature, the means for heating the interior of said tank and the means for controlling the temperatures in said first zone and in said second zone function together as means for creating and maintaining a dead zone spatially and thermally separating said first zone from said second zone.
A polymerization reactor comprising:
- an elongated, cylindrical, pressurizable tank having a top and a bottom;
- a means for recirculating a first fluid including a plurality of first fluid distribution lines which are located at intervals along the length of the tank and are in fluid communication with the interior of the tank and have a valve operatively positioned in each of the first fluid distribution lines;
- a means for recirculating a second fluid including a plurality of second fluid distribution lines which are located at intervals along the length of the tank, are in fluid communication with the interior of the tank and have a valve operatively positioned in each of the second fluid distribution lines;
- a means for pressurizing the interior of the tank comprising a valved inlet to the tank positioned at a level above the uppermost of the plurality of second fluid distribution lines;
- and
- a means for withdrawing a volume of the first fluid from the top of the tank simultaneously with introduction of a volume of the second fluid into the tank near the bottom of the tank, including an inlet to the tank positioned at a level below the valved inlet to the tank for pressurizing the interior of the tank, the volume of withdrawn first fluid being substantially equal to the volume of second fluid introduced;
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the tank is inclined from vertical so as to localize bubbles which may occur in a reactive mixture contained within containers in the tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.