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US 6,486,481 B1Granted
Vibratory table apparatus and associated equipment and methods for radiation treatment of polymeric materials
AssigneeAusimont, U.S.A., Inc.
InventorArturo Geraldo Tigera
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method for treating polymeric material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, with radiation. The polytetrafluoroethylene is moved under an electron beam in an even and consistent depth on an adapted vibratory table. The vibratory table is sealably covered which allows a controlled environment. The polymeric material can be degraded to lower molecular weight forms or reacted with other materials.
Claims27
An apparatus for radiation treatment of polymeric materials comprising:
- a) a vibratory table comprising a trough upon which said polymeric material is conveyed at a consistent thickness of about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch under an electron beam, said trough comprising a bottom and sides extending from said bottom and flanges extending from said sides, said trough made from stainless steel and having an upper surface and lower surface with the upper surface of said trough having a high polish-finish;
- b) a cover attached to said flanges with a means for sealing said cover to said flanges so that an enclosed environment is formed within a cavity defined by said trough and said cover, said cover having an aperture in the shape of a rectangle, the center of said aperture being located at about the center of said cover, said aperture capable of accommodating an electron beam window;
- c) a means for generating an electron beam and an electron beam window, said window being attached to said cover at the location of said aperture with means for sealing said window to said cover and having means for directing the electron beam from said means for generating an electron beam to said window;
- d) a distribution chute for distributing polymeric material onto the trough of said vibratory table at the consistent thickness said distribution chute comprising an upper opening having a half circular shape defined by a hollow half circle upper rim, an open hollow conical section, a half circle bottom opening, a recessed flap, and an internal directing plate which can be adjusted to equalize the flow across the vibratory table, said open hollow conical section extending outward from said upper rim with an increasing inner diameter to said half circle bottom opening which is hollow and defined by an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the upper rim and about the size of the width of said trough and said recessed flap is attached to said half circle bottom opening wherein said polymeric material enters said distribution chute at the upper opening and moves under gravity downward through the annular space of the open conical section and over the internal directing plate and is placed on the trough of the vibratory table by moving under gravitational force from the half circle bottom opening through the recessed flap;
- e) a means for cooling said polymeric material;
- and
- f) a means for vibrating said trough.
4 more elements
A method for radiation treatment of polymeric material comprising:
- providing a vibratory table comprising a trough for conveying said polymeric material under an electron beam at a consistent thickness of about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch whereby the molecular weight of said polymeric material is degraded by radiation energy of said electron beam said trough having a bottom, sides and flanges with a cover attached to the trough with means for providing a seal between said trough and said cover so that an enclosed environment defined by the cavity between the cover and said trough is provided, said cover comprising an aperture in the shape of a rectangle, the center of said aperture being located at about the center of said cover, a window, means for cooling said polymeric material during and after treatment, at least one drive spring assembly, a base assembly, a motor assembly and a power source;
- providing a means for generating the electron beam and a means for directing said electron beam to said window, said window attached to said cover within said aperture with means providing for a seal between said window and said cover;
- and
- providing a distribution chute for distributing polymeric material onto the trough of said vibratory table at the consistent thickness said distribution chute comprising an upper opening having a half circular shape defined by a hollow half circle upper rim, an open hollow conical section, a half circle bottom opening, a recessed flap, and an internal directing plate which can be adjusted to equalize the flow across the vibratory table, said open hollow conical section extending outward from said upper rim with an increasing inner diameter to said half circle bottom opening which is hollow and defined by an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the upper rim and about the size of the width of said trough and said recessed flap is attached to said half circle bottom opening wherein said polymeric material enters said distribution chute at the upper opening and moves under gravity downward through the annular space of the open conical section and over the internal directing plate and is placed on the trough of the vibratory table by moving under gravitational force from the half circle bottom opening through the recessed flap.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.