US3598282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for melting and feeding solidified material
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-11-25
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-11-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for melting solidified material and feeding the resultant liquid including a vertically disposed hopper for receiving the solidified material and heating means for melting the solidified material. The heating means comprises a heating member disposed across the bottom of the hopper and shaped to promote flow of the liquid towards its outer perimeter where liquid passage means receive the liquid as it flows over the outer perimeter. The heating means may also comprise means for applying a greater amount of heat to the lower portion of the heating member disposed adjacent the liquid passage means than to the remaining top portion of the heating member to promote liquid flow along the upper surface of the heating member and prevent liquid flow along paths through the solid material.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry A Phillips
- 👤 Reynold E Minnich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:05
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29B; B29B13/00; B29B13/02; B29B13/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In apparatus for melting solidified material and feeding the resultant liquid, said apparatus comprising a vertically disposed hopper for receiving the solidified material, electrical heating means for melting the solidified material including a heating member disposed across the bottom of the hopper, and liquid passage means for receiving and removing the liquid from the bottom of the hopper, the improvement that the heating member is shaped to promote downward flow of the liquid towards its lower outer perimeter, the liquid passage means are positioned to receive liquid passing over the said heating member lower outer perimeter, said liquid passage means comprises a flangelike member displaced from and surrounding the said heating member outer perimeter, said flangelike member and said outer perimeter defining said liquid passage means, and said electrical heating means includes means for heating said flangelike member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In apparatus for melting solidified material and feeding the resultant liquid, said apparatus comprising a vertically disposed hopper for receiving the solidified material, electrical heating means for melting the solidified material including a heating member disposed across the bottom of the hopper, and liquid passage means for receiving and removing the liquid from the bottom of the hopper, the improvement that the heating member is shaped to promote downward flow of the liquid towards its lower outer perimeter, the liquid passage means are positioned to receive liquid passing over the said heating member lower outer perimeter, said liquid passage means comprises a flangelike member displaced from and surrounding the said heating member outer perimeter, said flangelike member and said outer perimeter defining said liquid passage means, and said electrical heating means includes means for heating said flangelike member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical heating means includes means for applying more heat to a lower portion of the heating member than to the remaining upper portion of the heating member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the heating member is triangularly shaped in cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a collecting chamber is disposed below the heating member for receiving liquid leaving the liquid passage means, and the electrical heating means includes means for heating the liquid disposed in the collecting chamber to maintain it in its liquid state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising supporting means connecting the flangelike member to the hopper and including insulating means for thermally insulating the flangelike member from the hopper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, whErein the means for heating the flangelike member comprises fastening means made of heat conductive material and connecting the flangelike member to the said heating member outer perimeter at a desired distance therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said heating member outer perimeter comprises a depending generally vertically disposed flange portion, said flangelike member is disposed generally in parallel with said depending flange portion, and the bottoms of the flangelike member and the depending flange portion terminate at different vertical positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means includes means for applying more heat to a lower portion of the heating member than to the remaining upper portion of the heating member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electrical heating means includes means for applying more heat to a lower portion of the heating member than to the remaining upper portion of the heating member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
In apparatus for melting solidified material and feeding the resultant liquid, comprising a vertically disposed hopper for receiving the solidified material, electrical heating means for melting the solidified material including a heating member disposed across the bottom of the hopper, and liquid passage means for receiving and removing the liquid from the bottom of the hopper, the improvement that: a. the heating member is a pyramid-shaped bottomless member positioned with its apex approximately centrally of the hopper and its sides sloping downwardly towards the inner wall of the hopper; b. said liquid passage means includes a flangelike member and means mounting said member adjacent to and surrounding the lower outer perimeter of said pyramid-shaped member at a desired distance therefrom to define a liquid passage of a desired width therebetween; and c. said electrical heating means includes means for heating the outer surfaces of said pyramid-shaped member and the inner surface of said flangelike member to melt solidified material contacting said surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
In apparatus for melting solidified material and feeding the resultant liquid, comprising a vertically disposed hopper for receiving the solidified material, electrical heating means for melting the solidified material including a heating member disposed across the bottom of the hopper, and liquid passage means for receiving and removing the liquid from the bottom of the hopper, the improvement that: a. the heating member is a pyramid-shaped bottomless member positioned with its apex approximately centrally of the hopper and its sides sloping downwardly towards the inner wall of the hopper; b. said liquid passage means includes a flangelike member and means mounting said member adjacent to and surrounding the lower outer perimeter of said pyramid-shaped member at a desired distance therefrom to define a liquid passage of a desired width therebetween; and c. said electrical heating means includes means for heating the outer surfaces of said pyramid-shaped member and the inner surface of said flangelike member to melt solidified material contacting said surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electrical heating means comprises means for supplying more heat to lower portions of the surfaces of the sides of said pyramid-shaped member than to the remaining upper portions of said side surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said electrical heating means includes a pair of heating pads disposed adjacent the lower surface of each side of said pyramid-shaped member, each said pair including an approximately triangularly shaped pad for heating an upper surface portion and an approximately trapezoidally shaped pad for heating the remaining lower surface portion, and means for supplying more heat to the said lower surface portions via said approximately trapezoidally shaped pads than to the said upper surface portions via the approximately triangularly shaped pads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the heating member is made of metal, a metallic support member is disposed adjacent the lower surface of the heating pads, and heat conductive fastening means connect the metallic support member to the pyramid-shaped member and form heat conductive paths therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for heating the inner surface of said flangelike member includes heat conductive members connecting said flangelike member to said pyramid-shaped member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pyramid-shaped member comprises a depending generally vertically disposed flange portion, said flangelike member is disposed generally in parallel with said depending flange portion, and the bottoms of the flangelike member and the depending flange portion terminate at different vertical positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means mounting said flangelike member connects said member to said hopper and includes insulating means thermally insulating said flangelike member from said hopper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said electrical heating means is adapted to cause said trapezoidal heating pads to bring the lower surface portions to a temperature sufficient to melt the solidified material before the upper surface portions reach such temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical heating means comprises means for heating a lower portion of the upper surface of said heating member to a temperature sufficient to melt said solidified material before the remaining upper portion of said upper surface is brought to such temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |