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:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1998
Olivier L Tremoulet, Jr, Edmonds, WA (US);
Flow International Corporation, Kent, WA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for pressure processing a pumpable substance. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a pressure vessel having an inlet port to receive the pumpable substance and an outlet port to remove the pumpable substance. The inlet and outlet ports can be sealed with movable internal valves. Each of the valves can include a purging fluid channel that terminates in a purging zone located between two seals positioned on the valve. Purging fluid can be pumped through the channel and into the purging zone to create a fluid barrier between a pressurized portion of the pumpable substance and any unpressurized or only partially pressurized portion of the pumpable substance. The purging fluid may also sanitize the purging zone and may remove unpressurized or under-pressurized pumpable substance from the purging zone.