Paul J Rasmussen

US Patent:

8057573, Nov 15, 2011

Filed:

Dec 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/966472

Inventors:

David William Koenig - Menasha WI, US
John Glen Ahles - Neenah WI, US
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI, US
Robert Allen Janssen - Alpharetta GA, US
Paul Warren Rasmussen - Neenah WI, US
Steve Roffers - Neenah WI, US
Scott W. Wenzel - Neenah WI, US
Shiming Zhuang - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B01D 51/08

US Classification:

95 30, 96175

Abstract:

An ultrasonic treatment system having a treatment chamber for treating a formulation to increase the shelf life thereof. In one embodiment, the shelf life is produced by degassing the formulation using the treatment chamber. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a formulation flows longitudinally from an inlet port to a first outlet port and a second outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the formulation within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the formulation being treated in the chamber.

US Patent:

8143318, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Jun 1, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/150760

Inventors:

Scott W. Wenzel - Neenah WI, US
John Glen Ahles - Neenah WI, US
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI, US
Robert Allen Janssen - Alpharetta GA, US
David William Koenig - Menasha WI, US
Paul Warren Rasmussen - Neenah WI, US
Steve Roffers - Neenah WI, US
Shiming Zhuang - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B01F 3/08
B01F 11/02

US Classification:

516 21, 137826, 137828, 20415762, 366127

Abstract:

An ultrasonic mixing system having a treatment chamber in which at least two separate phases can be mixed to prepare an emulsion is disclosed. Specifically, at least one phase is a dispersed phase and one phase in a continuous phase. The treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which the phases flow longitudinally from a first inlet port and a second inlet port, respectively, to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the phases within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the phases being mixed in the chamber.

US Patent:

8215822, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Dec 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/966447

Inventors:

David William Koenig - Menasha WI, US
John Glen Ahles - Neenah WI, US
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI, US
Robert Allen Janssen - Alpharetta GA, US
Paul Warren Rasmussen - Neenah WI, US
Steve Roffers - Neenah WI, US
Scott W. Wenzel - Neenah WI, US
Shiming Zhuang - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B01F 11/02

US Classification:

366118

Abstract:

An ultrasonic mixing system having a treatment chamber in which antimicrobial agents, particularly, hydrophobic antimicrobial agents, can be mixed with one or more formulations is disclosed. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a formulation and antimicrobial agents flow longitudinally from a first inlet port and a second inlet port to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the formulation and antimicrobial agents within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the formulation and antimicrobial agents being mixed in the chamber.

US Patent:

8206024, Jun 26, 2012

Filed:

Dec 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/966418

Inventors:

Scott W. Wenzel - Neenah WI, US
John Glen Ahles - Neenah WI, US
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI, US
Robert Allen Janssen - Alpharetta GA, US
David William Koenig - Menasha WI, US
Paul Warren Rasmussen - Neenah WI, US
Steve Roffers - Neenah WI, US
Shiming Zhuang - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B01F 11/02

US Classification:

366118

Abstract:

An ultrasonic mixing system having a particulate dispensing system to dispense particulates into a treatment chamber and the treatment chamber in which particulates can be mixed with one or more formulations is disclosed. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a formulation and particulates flow longitudinally from an inlet port to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the formulation and particulates within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the formulation and particulates being mixed in the chamber.

US Patent:

20090166177, Jul 2, 2009

Filed:

Dec 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/966458

Inventors:

Scott W. Wenzel - Neenah WI, US
John Glen Ahles - Neenah WI, US
Thomas David Ehlert - Neenah WI, US
Robert Allen Janssen - Alpharetta GA, US
David William Koenig - Menasha WI, US
Paul Warren Rasmussen - Neenah WI, US
Steve Roffers - Neenah WI, US
Shiming Zhuang - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B01J 19/10
B01F 11/02
F15C 1/22

US Classification:

20415762, 366127, 137826, 137828

Abstract:

An ultrasonic mixing system having a treatment chamber in which at least two separate phases can be mixed to prepare an emulsion is disclosed. Specifically, at least one phase is a dispersed phase and one phase in a continuous phase. The treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which the phases flow longitudinally from a first inlet port and a second inlet port, respectively, to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the phases within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the phases being mixed in the chamber.