Patent · US Expired

Particle sorting apparatus utilizing controllable corona discharge needle

US4549659A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
2References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1983
Grant dateOct 29, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S430/138
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Selection means is provided for particles following a free flight trajectory path, those particles having a preselected characteristic, such as fluorescence under x-ray bombardment, being detected and a signal being transmitted on such detection to electrostatic charging means to locally ionize the atmosphere and thereby charge the detected particle as it passes through the locally ionized atmosphere, the charged particle being deflected from its free flight trajectory path by an electric field. Non-detected and uncharged particles continue in the free flight trajectory path. Particles may be detected in a path having lateral spread by providing detecting means and electrostatic charging means which are together responsive to particles in respective portions of the path.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.