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:
Apr. 02, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2000
James Claude Carnahan, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
An embodiment of the apparatus comprises a hollow tubular body (a) of a cross-section size larger than the diameter of any single particle but smaller than twice the diameter to accommodate passage of a single particle at a time through the hollow tubular body and (b) of a length to accommodate a predetermined number of particles. The apparatus includes an obstruction within the body that permits passage of fluid but prevents passage of a particle. The apparatus also includes a force applicator at one end of the tubular body to apply a force to draw a flow of fluid and particles into an end of the element to fill the hollow tubular body with particles along a length of the body up to the obstruction and to maintain the force so as to retain the particles within the body while transporting the retained particles to a location.