Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Mark Serafin

Leroy C Erickson

Bhaskar V Velamakanni

Richard Dale Olmsted

Zvi Rogovin

Richard M Fuller

Stanley R Ellis

Scott A Walker

Neal K Nelson

Travis A Lemke

Daniel W Brandt

A pressure-controlling dispersion delivery system for delivering a sheared dispersion comprising a plurality of ingredients to a coating device selected from a direct feed delivery system and a coating device flow-through delivery system, wherein a coating formed from a dispersion delivered through the pressure-controlling delivery system has a more consistent caliper than a coating formed from a similar sheared dispersion delivered to a coating device by means of a gear pump delivery system.

Pressure-controlling dispersion delivery system

Techniques for precisely controlling the size of particles in a coating solution delivered to a coating apparatus involve continuous classification of coating particle size using a tangential flow filter assembly. The techniques may be particularly useful in the preparation of coating dispersions for manufacture of magnetic recording media. A classification technique makes use of a tangential flow filter assembly that permits delivery of coating particles below a maximum size threshold to a coating path. The filter assembly may be disposed in a circulation path that includes one or more processing devices to reduce the size of coating particles carried by a coating solution. The filter assembly enables coating particles above the maximum size threshold to be recirculated through the circulation path and subjected to repeated processing to reduce particle size to a desired size range.

Classification of coating particle size

The invention is directed to a high pressure fluid processing device for shearing particles in a fluid mixture. The fluid processing device makes use of annular flow paths. For example, a fluid mixture can be separated into two flow paths which are introduced to first and second annular flow paths on opposite sides of a flow path cylinder. The two annular flow paths flow toward one another through the cylinder, and meet one another within the cylinder. An outlet extends through the cylinder where the two annular flow paths collide allowing the fluid mixture flowing down the annular flow paths to be expelled through the gap.

Fluid processing device with annular flow paths

An intensifier pump system includes a supply pump for delivering fluid products at an intermediate pressure. The products are delivered to one or more intensifier pumps that take advantage of hydraulic intensification to expel the product at high pressures to assure continuous product deployment in various systems. After an extension cycle in one of the intensifier pumps, product is delivered from the supply pump at a pressure sufficient to retract the intensifier pump and fill the chamber with fluid.

Fluid intensifier pump system

A check valve system and method control the opening and closure of a check valve that supplies product fluid to an intensifier pump based on the position of a piston within the intensifier pump. Position sensing allows anticipation of different events along the path traveled by the piston, such as the start and end of advance, retract, and precompression cycles. The system and method operate to selectively open and close associated check valves based on the sensed position to carefully control the delivery of fluid to each intensifier pump. Active control of the check valves based on piston position allows more precise timing of fluid delivery in relation to the piston cycles. Anticipation of the onset of piston advance and retraction cycles can improve valve response time, providing more uniform fluid pressure for a continuous, steady, high pressure flow of fluid with minimal pressure fluctuation.

Check valve system

A process and a high pressure apparatus are disclosed which are useful in preparing magnetic dispersions and other dispersions of hard, non-compliant particulates. The apparatus can be monitored for clogs and wear and allows for relatively quick and inexpensive replacement of orifices. The apparatus includes a high pressure pump and a series of impingement chambers comprising an input manifold where the process stream is split into two or more streams and an output manifold where the streams are recombined after passing through restrictive orifices configured in such a manner that the streams impinge on each other at high velocities. The orifices in each succeeding impingement zone are the same size or smaller than the orifices in the preceding impingement zone, and the orifices in the final impingement zone must be smaller than the orifices in the first impingement zone.

Process for preparing a dispersion of hard particles in solvent

The invention is an apparatus and process for making multi-phase mixtures. The apparatus includes a high pressure pump, at least two high pressure mixing zones in series, and a high pressure heat exchanger located before the last high pressure mixing zone.

Process for production of heat sensitive dispersions or emulsions

A piston check valve for use in a system which conveys abrasive materials includes a gland nut which connects the valve to the piping system, a valve body mounted on the gland nut, a valve seat mounted on the valve body, and a piston mounted within the valve body. The piston can translate within the through bore of the valve seat and has a shaft and a head which contacts the first end of the valve seat when the valve is closed. A coil spring is located within the through bore of the valve seat and biases the valve closed. A first O-ring is mounted on the first end of the valve seat and is sufficiently wide to prevent sufficient quantities of chips from becoming lodged within the surface of the inner O-ring to form a hard bridge across the resilient O-ring, allowing erosion of the valve sealing surfaces. The first end of the valve seat has an O-ring groove which receives the O-ring. A second O-ring can be mounted on the first end of the valve seat at the outer periphery of the valve seat.

Growing community of inventors

Apple Valley, MN, United States of America

Mark Serafin