The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 27, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
George D Rhoades, LaGrange, IL (US);
Liquid Carbonic Corporation, Oak Brook, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing solid carbon dioxide snow blocks comprising a mold having a plurality of separate mold cavities, and a liquid CO.sub.2 manifold providing one or more injection nozzles in each of the mold cavities. A vent/vapor heat exchange with incoming liquid may be employed to improve liquid-to-snow conversion rate. The manifold may take a pressure drop turn at each branch to assure that each nozzle receives an adequate supply of liquid CO.sub.2. Each nozzle may have multiple orifices to assure that the snow is dispersed relatively evenly in each mold cavity. Each of the orifices may be located on a relative high point relative to the manifold to facilitate clearance of dry ice blockages in the manifold. A timer may be used to regulate injection. As an alternative or as a backup, fullness of one or more mold cavities may be detected by a sensor, and means may be provided to discontinue injection when one or more mold cavities have been filled.