Pumps – Motor driven – Fluid motor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-10-23
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Fluid motor
C417S392000, C417S478000, C092S090000, C092S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305913
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to methods and devices for pressure processing pumpable substances, such as food or abrasive slurries, using a flexible membrane.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional ultrahigh-pressure fluid systems have been used to pressurize pumpable substances, such as foods and slurries. For example, conventional ultrahigh-pressure systems have been used to improve the quality and longevity of food by subjecting the food to pressures in excess of 10,000 psi. Conventional systems have also been used to pressurize abrasive slurries to ultrahigh-pressure levels. The slurries can then be directed toward a substrate in the form of a liquid jet to cut the substrate or treat the surface of the substrate.
One conventional system includes a high-pressure cylinder with a slidable piston that divides the cylinder into two regions. The pumpable substance is placed in one region while a high-pressure fluid is introduced into the other region, driving the piston against the pumpable substance at a very high pressure. One potential drawback with this system is that as the piston may require specially designed seals to prevent the high-pressure fluid from being transported by the piston into the pumpable substance region. The seals may require periodic monitoring and replacement. Accordingly, it may be desirable to use an improved apparatus for pressurizing a pumpable substance while reducing the likelihood for contact between the pumpable substance and the pressurizing liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance, such as a food substance. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a generally rigid high-pressure vessel having a first opening toward one end, a second opening toward the other end, and an internal vessel wall between the first and second ends. A flexible membrane is disposed within the vessel and has a first membrane opening in fluid communication with the first open end of the vessel and a second membrane opening in fluid communication with the second opening of the vessel. At least a portion of the membrane is movable away from the vessel wall to pressurize a portion of the pumpable substance positioned adjacent to the membrane.
In one embodiment, the second membrane opening can be positioned beneath the first membrane opening so that the pumpable substance can exit the membrane through the second opening under the force of gravity. In another embodiment, valves are coupled to the first and second openings of the high-pressure vessel. In one aspect of this embodiment, the valves can each include a passage having a first portion with a first opening and second portion with a second opening. A piston is sealably positioned in the passage and axially movable within the passage between a closed position with the piston blocking fluid communication between the first and second openings and an open position with the first and second openings being in fluid communication with each other. The pumpable substance can be pumped into the membrane through the first opening, pressurized within the membrane by a high-pressure fluid disposed between the membrane and an inner wall of the vessel, and released from the pressure vessel through the second opening.
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Hashish Mohamed A.
Raghavan Chidambaram
Schuman Bruce M.
Tremoulet, Jr. Olivier L.
Flow International Corporation
Freay Charles G.
Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC
Solak Timothy P.
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