Patent US3896340A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3896340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for washing away an electrostatic charged mist in an oil tanker
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-23
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-08-23
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus and method permits an electrostatic field strength of a charged mist in a substantially empty hold of a tanker to be reduced safely. The apparatus includes a head having nozzles receiving a supply of water at a predetermined location in the hold of the tanker. Each nozzle converts the water to drops. As the water is converted to drops, each drop acquires a charge in the presence of the electrostatic field of the charged mist opposite in polarity to the polarity of the electrostatic field. The droplets are distributed throughout the hold so that they impact with the mist droplets to substantially neutralize the mist droplets and wash away the mist to effectively reduce the strength of the electrostatic field except for a low residual field well within safety limits. The coalescence between a drop and a mist droplet is enhanced by the difference in their charges.
Inventors
- 👤 Julian H Dancy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:21
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05F; H05F3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for washing away an electrostatic charged mist in a substantially empty hold in an oil tanker, comprising means for providing a supply of liquid at a predetermined pressure and at a predetermined location in the hold of the tanker, means for converting the liquid to drops of a predetermined size, utilizing the electrostatic charged mist to charge the drops during the converting step to an opposite polarity to the polarity of the electrostatic charged mist, and means for distributing the oppositely charged drops throughout the hold so as to substantially wash away the charged mist.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for washing away an electrostatic charged mist in a substantially empty hold in an oil tanker, comprising means for providing a supply of liquid at a predetermined pressure and at a predetermined location in the hold of the tanker, means for converting the liquid to drops of a predetermined size, utilizing the electrostatic charged mist to charge the drops during the converting step to an opposite polarity to the polarity of the electrostatic charged mist, and means for distributing the oppositely charged drops throughout the hold so as to substantially wash away the charged mist.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 in which the converting means includes a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle receiving the liquid and spraying drops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 in which the distributing means is a manifold on which the plurality of nozzles are mounted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for reducing the strength of an electrostatic field of a charged mist in a substantially empty hold in an oil tanker, which comprises the following steps of providing a supply of liquid at a predetermined pressure at a predetermined location in the hold of the tanker, converting the liquid to drops, utilizing the electrostatic field to change the drops during the converting step to an opposite polarity to the polarity of the electrostatic field, and distributing the oppositely charged drops throughout the hold so as to reduce the strength of the electrostatic field of the charged mist while substantially washing away the charged mist.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for reducing the strength of an electrostatic field of a charged mist in a substantially empty hold in an oil tanker, which comprises the following steps of providing a supply of liquid at a predetermined pressure at a predetermined location in the hold of the tanker, converting the liquid to drops, utilizing the electrostatic field to change the drops during the converting step to an opposite polarity to the polarity of the electrostatic field, and distributing the oppositely charged drops throughout the hold so as to reduce the strength of the electrostatic field of the charged mist while substantially washing away the charged mist.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as described in claim 4 in which each converting step includes providing the liquid through an orifice of a predetermined size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as described in claim 5 in which the predetermined pressure is within a range of 100 to 200 pounds per square inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as described in claim 6 which further comprises measuring the net strength of the electrostatic field, continuing the aforementioned steps when the measured net strength of the electrostatic field is not less than a predetermined value, and terminating the steps when the measured net strength of the electrostatic field is less than the predetermined value.
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US3188238A
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US3802625A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |