Patent US4780119A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4780119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for producing carbon dioxide units
Assignee: Tomco2 Equipment Co
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Filing: 1987-10-02
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Granted: 1988-10-25
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Expires: 2007-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) solid discs (dry ice) are produced from liquid carbon dioxide injected into an extrusion cylinder in which the extrusion piston compresses dry snow and extrudes it through a fixed die, thereby producing pellets of dry ice which are fed by gravity into a forming cylinder chamber in which is operated a hydraulic cylinder compresses the pellets into discs. The operation is controlled by switches and hydraulic system.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert K. Brooke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:54
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B32/00; C01B32/50; C01B32/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In an apparatus for making solid carbon dioxide units from smaller, solid carbon dioxide particles, the improvement comprising: a particle chamber for receiving liquid carbon dioxide, means for producing solid carbon dioxide particles in said particle chamber and repeatedly releasing the same, a unit chamber with hydraulic means, means for supplying a pre-determined amount of said solid carbon dioxide particles into said unit chamber for forming solid carbon dioxide units therein, a hydraulic motor for operating the hydraulic means, a power means for driving said hydraulic motor, electrical means for controlling the operation of the apparatus and including limit switches and electrically controlled valves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an apparatus for making solid carbon dioxide units from smaller, solid carbon dioxide particles, the improvement comprising: a particle chamber for receiving liquid carbon dioxide, means for producing solid carbon dioxide particles in said particle chamber and repeatedly releasing the same, a unit chamber with hydraulic means, means for supplying a pre-determined amount of said solid carbon dioxide particles into said unit chamber for forming solid carbon dioxide units therein, a hydraulic motor for operating the hydraulic means, a power means for driving said hydraulic motor, electrical means for controlling the operation of the apparatus and including limit switches and electrically controlled valves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus in claim 1 including: means for forming larger pellets from said carbon dioxide particles, means for collecting said pellets, and pressure means for forming said collected pellets into the larger solid carbon dioxide units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus in claim 2 wherein said means for collecting comprises a movable tray into which pellets are delivered, and a chamber receiving the pellets therein from said tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus in claim 3, said tray having relatively movable first and second portions and there being a container moveable with said first portion, and a dispensing opening in said container and said trays through which pellets are dispensed into said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in claim 4, wherein said tray has springs between said first and second portions, and stop means on said tray to control said relatively moveable first and second portions so as to align said container with said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus in claim 2 wherein said means for supplying comprises a moveable tray having holes therein, and means for moving said tray to align said holes to dump said pellets into said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a die through which the particles are pressurized to form pellets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in claim 7 wherein said means for pressurizing comprises a hydraulic piston operating in said particle chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 7, including a conduit leading from said die and receiving the pellets therefrom, said conduit being in communication with said disc forming chamber to continuously deposit pellets therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said chamber is a forming chamber into which said pellets are continuously delivered, and said pressure means selectively operable in said forming chamber continuously to form said pellets into units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a method of repeatedly making larger solid dry ice units, such as discs, from small increments of solid dry ice repeatedly obtained from particles produced by liquid carbon dioxide: repeatedly introducing carbon dioxide liquid forming small particles of solid carbon dioxide, repeatedly forming said small particles into larger pellets, and repeatedly forming the larger pellets into larger solid units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a method of repeatedly making larger solid dry ice units, such as discs, from small increments of solid dry ice repeatedly obtained from particles produced by liquid carbon dioxide: repeatedly introducing carbon dioxide liquid forming small particles of solid carbon dioxide, repeatedly forming said small particles into larger pellets, and repeatedly forming the larger pellets into larger solid units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claimed in claim 11 comprising extruding the carbon dioxide particles through an extrusion die to form the pellets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 12 wherein the particles are forced through a particle chamber and through the die by means of a pressure member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in claim 11, in which: said liquid carbon dioxide is repeatedly introduced into a chamber in which it becomes small particles and said small particles are forced repeatedly through openings to form larger pellets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-25 | 1992-04-25 | 1992-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-25 | 1996-04-25 | 1996-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-25 | 2000-04-25 | 2000-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |