US4361491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Supercooled fluids and methods of producing such supercooled fluids
Assignee: Kay Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1981-05-18
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Granted: 1982-11-30
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Expires: 2001-05-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method of producing articles which generate heat at a substantially constant temperature for an extended period of time and which are able to remain in a stable state until such time as the generation of heat is desired. The method also relates to supercooled fluids produced by such methods. The method involves the processing of supercooled fluids such as hypo to produce this stable state. As a first step, a suitable material such as ethylene glycol may be added to the supercooled fluid to stabilize the supercooled fluid and to decrease the generation of heat in the supercooled fluid to obtain a desired temperature. The mixture is then heated to a relatively high temperature considerably above the melting temperature of the supercooled fluid. With the mixture at the high temperature, water is added to provide a particular specific gravity and an alkali is added to provide a particular pH. The mixture may then be poured into rupturable pouches while being maintained at the high temperature. The mixture in the pouches is then allowed to cool slowly to ambient temperatures and is placed in a separate container with a triggering material.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Truelock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F7/03; C; C09; C09K; C09K5/00; C09K5/02; C09K5/06; C09K5/063; F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/028; A61F2007/0292; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of producing sodium thiosulphate in only the pentahydrate phase, including the following steps: heating the aqueous solution of sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate to a temperature of at least 165° F. for a sufficient period of time to melt all of the crystals in the sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate, maintaining the solution alkaline, and adding water to the solution to maintain the specific gravity of the solution at a particular value for inhibiting the self-triggering of the sodium thiosulphate into the crystalline state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of producing sodium thiosulphate in only the pentahydrate phase, including the following steps: heating the aqueous solution of sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate to a temperature of at least 165° F. for a sufficient period of time to melt all of the crystals in the sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate, maintaining the solution alkaline, and adding water to the solution to maintain the specific gravity of the solution at a particular value for inhibiting the self-triggering of the sodium thiosulphate into the crystalline state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the solution is allowed to cool for an extended period to ambient temperatures after being heated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method set forth in claim 2 wherein the pH is maintained at a value above approximately 8 by adding to the solution an alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein the particular specific gravity is approximately 1.595.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method set forth in claim 4, including the step of: disposing the sodium thiosulphate in a container while the sodium thiosulphate is at the elevated temperature of at least 165° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the elevated temperature is approximately 180° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein the elevated temperature is approximately 180° F. and water is added to the sodium thiosulphate to maintain the specific gravity at a value of approximately 1.595.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of producing sodium thiosulphate in only the pentahydrate phase, including the following steps: adding to the sodium thiosulphate a chemical selected from the group consisting of glycerol and ethylene glycol for lowering the melting point to the solution and for limiting the size of the crystals in the solid state, heating the mixture of the sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate and the chemical to a temperature of at least 165° F. for a sufficient period of time to melt all of the crystals of sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate in the solution, adding water to the mixture to maintain the specific gravity of the mixture at a value of approximately 1.595, and maintaining the solution alkaline.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of producing sodium thiosulphate in only the pentahydrate phase, including the following steps: adding to the sodium thiosulphate a chemical selected from the group consisting of glycerol and ethylene glycol for lowering the melting point to the solution and for limiting the size of the crystals in the solid state, heating the mixture of the sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate and the chemical to a temperature of at least 165° F. for a sufficient period of time to melt all of the crystals of sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate in the solution, adding water to the mixture to maintain the specific gravity of the mixture at a value of approximately 1.595, and maintaining the solution alkaline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method set forth in claim 8, including the step of disposing the mixture in a container while the mixture is maintained at substantially the elevated temperature of at least 165° F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method set forth in claim 8, including the step of cooling the mixture in air to ambient temperatures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method set forth in claim 10 wherein the elevated temperature is approximately 180° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein an alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate is added to the mixture to maintain the pH of the solution above a value of approximately 8.
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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) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-05-31 | 1986-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-29 | 1990-05-31 | 1990-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-29 | 1994-05-31 | 1994-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |