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:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 09, 1996
Alcatel Fibres Optiques, Bezons Cedex, FR;
Abstract
A method for producing spherical silica grains using a cylinder having its axis inclined to the horizontal and having an inside wall made from a material that is significantly softer than silica. The cylinder has an entry chute for non-spherical silica grains and an exit chute for spherical cylinder grains. According to the method, a rotary member is rotated at high speed by a drive shaft having its axis coincident with the axis of the cylinder. The rotary member includes at least one paddle vertically aligned with the entry chute so that silica grains entering via the entry chute are thrown by the paddle against the inside wall of the cylinder and follow a path most of which is against the wall before leaving via the exit chute. As a result, the silica graining have a spherical shape.