A monitoring system includes one or more wireless nodes forming a wireless mesh network; a user activity sensor including a wireless mesh transceiver adapted to communicate with the one or more wireless nodes using the wireless mesh network; and a digital monitoring agent coupled to the wireless transceiver through the wireless mesh network to request assistance from a third party based on the user activity sensor.

This invention relates generally to methods and systems for monitoring a person. Improvements in living condition and advances in health care have resulted in a marked prolongation of life expectancy for elderly and disabled population. These individuals, a growing part of society, are dependent upon the delivery of home health and general care, which has its own set of challenges and drawbacks. This population needs continuous general, as well as medical, supervision and care. The creation of retirement facilities and old age homes, as well as other geriatric facilities, provides only a partial solution to the problems facing the geriatric population. As discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,544,649 and 6,433,690, the notion of ambulatory (home environment) patient care is gaining increased popularity and importance. As discussed in the '649 patent, the number of old aged people receiving home care services under Medicare has shown a 13% annual growth rate and has tripled in 10 years (1978-1988) from 769,000 to 2.59 million. This shift in patient care from the "sheltered" institutional milieu to the patient's home, work place, or recreational environment is driven in part by cost and in part to a new care concept that prefers keeping the aged and the disabled in their own natural environment for as long as possible.
Typically, home care is carried out either by the patient's family or by nonprofessional help. The monitoring equipment at home care facilities is usually minimal or nonexistent, and the patient has to be transported to the doctor's office or other diagnostic facility to allow proper evaluation and treatment. Patient follow-up is done by means of home visits of nurses which are of sporadic nature, time consuming and generally very expensive. A visiting nurse can perform about 5-6 home visits per day. The visits have to be short and can usually not be carried out on a daily basis. Moreover, a visiting nurse program provides no facilities for continuous monitoring of the patient and thus no care, except in fortuitous circumstances, in times of emergency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mesh network personal emergency response appliance


The invention provides a method for the fast downloading of textures to graphics hardware for use in computer graphics. By loading the textures directly into hardware, and by making that the only copy of the texture which is downloaded, it is possible to save the time and memory space which have heretofore been required to make at least two additional copies of the texture. Instead, bookkeeping entries are made which tell the graphics API and the applications software that the texture is already available in the graphics hardware.

The present invention relates to a method for fast downloading of textures to accelerated graphics hardware and the elimination of extra software copies of texels. In particular, the invention relates to software memory management of texture maps of a texture mapping computer graphics system and, more particularly, to a new approach which considerably speeds up the downloading of textures when a Texture Interrupt Management ("TIM") daemon based virtual memory management system is used to provide a hardware device local cache memory system for storing texture mapping data.
Current implementations of texture mapping, as described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/486,447, filed Jun. 8, 1995, entitled TEXEL CACHE INTERRUPT DAEMON FOR VIRTUAL MEMORY MANAGEMENT OF TEXTURE MAPS, by Ethan W. Gannett, which is assigned to the present assignee, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, store a copy of the user's texture in software to provide a mechanism for texture inquiry and to allow cacheing of texels in hardware when there is not enough memory to fit all of the texels into the hardware at one time.
In typical computer graphics systems, an object to be represented on the display screen is broken down into a plurality of graphics primitives. Primitives are basic components of a graphics picture and may include points, lines, vectors, and polygons, such as triangles. Typically, a hardware/software scheme is implemented to render, or draw, on the two-dimensional display screen, the graphics primitives that represent the view of one or more objects being represented on the screen.
Typically, the primitives that define the three-dimensional object to be rendered are provided from a host computer, which defines each primitive in terms of primitive data. For example, when the primitive is a triangle, the host computer may define the primitive in terms of the x,y,z coordinates of its vertices, as well as the R,G,B color values of each vertex. Rendering hardware interpolates the primitive data to compute the display screen pixels that are turned on to represent each primitive, and the R,G,B values for each pixel.
Early graphics systems failed to display images in a sufficiently realistic manner to represent, or model, complex three-dimensional objects. The images displayed by such systems exhibited extremely smooth surfaces absent textures, bumps, scratches, shadows, or other surface details present in the object being modeled.
As a result, methods were developed to display images with improved surface detail. Texture mapping is one such method that involves mapping a source image, herein referred to as a "texture", onto a surface of a three-dimensional object, and thereafter mapping the textured three-dimensional object to the two-dimensional graphics display screen to display the resulting image. Surface detail attributes which are commonly texture mapped include color, specular reflection, vector perturbation, specularity, transparency, shadows, surface irregularities and grading.
Texture mapping involves applying one or more point texture elements ("texels") to each point element ("pixel") of the displayed portion of the object to which the texture is being mapped. Texture mapping hardware is conventionally provided with information indicating the manner in which the texels in a texture map correspond to the pixels on the display screen that represent the object. Each texel in a texture map is defined by S and T coordinates which identify its location in the two-dimensional texture map. For each pixel, the corresponding texel or texels that map to it are accessed from the texture map, and incorporated into the final R,G,B values generated for the pixel to represent the textured object on the display screen.
It should be understood that each pixel in an object primitive may not map in a one-to-one correspondence with a single texel in the texture map for every view of the object. For example, the closer the object is to the view port represented on the display screen, the larger the object will appear. As the object appears larger on the display screen, the representation of the texture becomes more detailed. Thus, when the object consumes a fairly large portion of the display screen, a large number of pixels are used to represent the object on the display screen, and each pixel that represents the object may map in a one-to-one correspondence with a single texel in the texture map, or a single texel may map to multiple pixels. However, when the object takes up a relatively small portion of the display screen, a much smaller number of pixels is used to represent the object, resulting in the texture being represented with less detail, so that each pixel may map to multiple texels. In addition, each pixel may map into multiple texels when a texture is mapped to a small portion of an object. Resultant texel data is calculated for each pixel that maps to more than one texel. As it is common for a pixel to map to multiple texels, resultant texel data for a pixel typically represents an average of the texels that map to that pixel.
Texture mapping hardware systems typically include a local memory that stores data representing a texture associated with the object being rendered. As discussed above, a pixel may map to multiple texels. If it were necessary for the texture mapping hardware to read a large number of texels that map to a pixel from the local memory to generate an average value, then a large number of memory reads and the averaging of many texel values would be required, which would be time consuming and would degrade system performance.
To overcome this problem, a scheme has been developed that involves the creation of a series of maps, called "MIP" (meaning "multum in parvo"--many things in a small place) maps, for each texture, and storing the MIP maps of the texture associated with the object being rendered in the local memory of the texture mapping hardware. A MIP map for a texture includes a base map that corresponds directly to the texture map, as well as a series of filtered maps, wherein each successive map is reduced in size by a factor of two in each of the two texture map dimensions. An illustrative example of a set of MIP maps is shown in FIG. 1. The MIP maps include a base map ("Level 0") 100 that is eight-by-eight texels in size, as well as a series of maps 102, 104 and 108 that respectively represent Level 1, which is four-by-four texels; Level 2, which is two-by-two texels; and Level 3, which is one texel in size.
The Level 1, four-by-four map, 102 is generated by box filtering (decimating) the base map 100, such that each texel in the Level 1 map 102 corresponds to an average of four texels from the Level 0 base map 100. For example, the texel 110 in Level 1 map 102 equals the average of the texels 112-115 in Level 0 (base) map 100. Similarly, texels 118 and 120 in Level 1 map 102 equal the averages of texels 121-124 and 125-128 in Level 0 (base) map 100, respectively. The two-by-two, Level 2, map 104 is similarly generated by box filtering Level 1 map 102, such that texel 130 in Level 2 map 104 equals the average of texels 110 and 118-120 in Level 1 map 102. The single texel in Level 3 map 108 is generated by averaging the four texels in Level 2 map 104.
Conventional graphics systems generally download, from the main memory of the host computer to the local memory of the texture mapping hardware, the complete series of MIP maps for any texture that is to be used with the primitives to be rendered on the display screen. Thus, the texture mapping hardware can access texture data from any of the series of MIP maps. The determination of which map to access to provide the texel data for any particular pixel is based upon the number of texels to which the pixel maps. For example, if the pixel maps in one-to-one correspondence with a single texel in the texture map, then the base map 100 is accessed. However, if the pixel maps to four, sixteen or sixty-four texels, then the maps 102, 104 and 108 are respectively accessed, because those maps respectively store texel data representing an average of four, sixteen and sixty-four texels in the texture map.
Furthermore, some texture mapping systems are pipelined so that various operations are performed simultaneously on different object primitives. However, a series of MIP maps for a texture can be large. Most systems employ a local memory that is capable of storing only one such large series of MIP maps at a time. Thus, when there is a switch in the texture used in rendering primitives, the system must download a new series of MIP maps. Typically, the data path used to load the new texture data into the local memory in the texture mapping hardware includes passing through the system's primitive rendering pipeline. Therefore, when a new texture is to be mapped, the primitive rendering pipeline must be allowed to empty out before the new series of MIP maps can be downloaded. Once the series of MIP maps is downloaded, the pipeline must again be filled. The necessity of flushing the primitive rendering pipeline each time a new texture is required reduces the system's bandwidth.
FIG. 2 is a part hardware, part hierarchical software block diagram of a conventional computer graphics system showing the layers of software that run on the processor of the system host computer as well as the hardware device with which the host computer communicates to render the texture mapped images. The system memory of the host computer may store multiple user interactive processes PR1, PR2, . . . , PRN that can run on the system processor, as shown in FIG. 2. Each process, PRi, is a high level computer graphics software program or application such as a database, a CAD/CAM application, an architectural design application, a civil engineering application, a word processing package, or the like.
Within a particular process, a user can create multiple contexts. Each context created within a process may include a different view of the same image. For example, in an architectural engineering design application process, a user may create different views of the same structure, such as a building. Each context may require texture mapping to render the image. In this example, texture maps may be required to render the floors, walls, ceilings and other surface attributes of the building. Thus, the user provides the texture map or maps to render the image of that context. Because multiple contexts created within the same process typically include different views of the same image, the contexts within a process commonly require the same texture or textures.
When a context is created by a user, the user issues a command recognizable by the high level process programming language to draw that image. If the image requires a texture map, then a command is entered indicating that a texture map is required, and the texture map is then provided by the user from an external input device, floppy disk, or the like. The process, or high level programming language, then translates that command to a lower level software command and copies the texture entered by the user. In prior art systems, such as that shown in FIG. 2, each context created within a single process requires its own copy of that texture. Each context stores its copy of the texture within a dedicated area of system memory on the host computer. Thus, when multiple contexts within a process require use of the same texture, multiple copies of that texture are stored within the system memory, one copy corresponding to each context.
The user-entered command to draw an image using a particular texture, once translated by the process, is communicated from the process to an underlying graphics application programmer interface ("API"). As shown in FIG. 2, a unique graphics API communicates with each process of the system. Each graphics API is an underlying lower level software language, which operates on the processor of the host computer, to translate each high level graphics command received from the corresponding process to a lower level software code command. The graphics API also stores a copy of each texture required to render the image in its own dedicated location of the system memory. The graphics API additionally breaks down the image to be rendered into graphics components such as quadrilaterals or polygons. Such information is then provided to a corresponding hardware driver.
A unique hardware driver communicates with each graphics API. Each hardware driver is another underlying lower level graphics software language that translates each low level graphics command received from the API to hardware commands recognizable by the graphics hardware device to which the host computer is connected. These commands arc then communicated from the hardware driver to the hardware device which, in response, renders the texture mapped image on a display screen connected to the hardware device. As shown in FIG. 2, a unique instance of a hardware driver HWD1, HWD2, . . . , HWDN communicates with each graphics API, API1, API2, . . . , APIN.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, all of the hardware drivers are connected to a single graphics hardware device 150. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, the host computer may be connected to multiple different graphics hardware devices, with a different hardware driver communicating with each hardware device.
When a graphics API provides a low level software command to render a texture mapped polygon using a particular texture that also is provided, the graphics hardware driver translates that low level command into hardware commands recognizable by the hardware device 150. The graphics hardware driver then provides the commands to render the polygon to the hardware device 150 by writing to appropriate registers and input buffers within the hardware device. Additionally, the graphics hardware driver provides the texture data for that particular polygon to the local memory 155 of the hardware device 150 where it is temporarily stored during rendering of that polygon. As is described herein, prior art computer graphics systems download the entire series of MIP maps for a single texture from the graphics hardware driver to the local memory of the hardware device each time that texture is required to render an image or component of the image.
With conventional systems, such as the one shown in FIG. 2, multiple copies of a single texture are stored in different locations of the system software memory of the host computer. For example, if context 1A and context 1B of process PR1 require the same texture to render different views of a particular image, then the user provides a first copy of that texture when it is initially defined and introduced to the process. The graphics API1 makes a copy of the texture for Context 1A (the second copy) and another copy of that texture for Context 1B (the third copy) and stores them in memory shared between the API and the hardware. Thus, three unique copies of the same texture are stored in different locations of the system software memory to render two views of the same image using that same texture. Additionally, fourth and fifth copies of the texture are provided to the hardware device and stored in the local memory thereof.
As will be recognized, a series of texture MIP maps can require a large amount of system software memory for storage. For example, a series of MIP maps for a texture having a texture base map of 1024.times.1024 texels requires more than five megabytes of system software memory to store one copy of the MIP mapped texture. Thus, the multiple stored copies of the MIP mapped texture uses a significant amount of system software memory.
While system software memory may be able to store up to a few gigabytes of software data, typical dedicated local hardware texture memory of a texture hardware device can store much less data. Such local texture hardware memory typically range from four megabytes to sixteen megabytes. In many texture mapping applications, therefore, the amount of system memory consumed by textures far exceeds that of the local hardware texture memory. While the system memory typically stores multiple MIP mapped textures for use with multiple contexts of a process, the local hardware device memory may store only one texture of a limited size at any one time. Therefore, proper management of the local texture memory of the hardware device is critical to achieve maximum performance of the system.
In addition to the large consumption of system software memory due to the storage of multiple copies of textures, system bandwidth generally suffers with conventional local hardware texture memory management schemes. Conventional local hardware memory management schemes repeatedly replace entire series of texture MIP maps within the local hardware memory. The series of MIP maps for a texture is replaced in the local memory each time that texture is needed to render a polygon. Such schemes both fail to consider the history of the use of that texture and to predict future use of that texture. By repeatedly downloading the entire series of the same texture from the system memory into the local hardware texture memory, system bandwidth is negatively affected.
Because conventional texture hardware memory replacement algorithms download entire texture MIP map series, each texture MIP map series cannot exceed the physical storage capacity limits of the local hardware texture memory. Therefore, the user of the graphics process that is connected to the particular hardware device, is required to know the capacity of the local texture memory so that textures greater than that capacity will not be used. While many applications (processes) can operate with several different underlying hardware devices, each with unique local texture memory constraints, the burden falls on the user to have knowledge of such constraints and create images in a device-dependent manner.
As indicated above, it is possible for a large number of software copies to be created for any given texture. Yet, in many cases there is never a need for all of those software copies. In these cases, the user never inquires the texture back, and during the life of the texture there is always room to store it in the texel cache. Prior solutions to this problem have focused on reducing the number of operations performed on the texture map before copying it in to graphics core memory, but have not eliminated the various software copies, as it was thought that the software copies were required since the graphics core can not determine future functions that might be performed on the texture (e.g., inquiry of the texture).
Accordingly, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/486,447 filed Jun. 8, 1995 entitled TEXEL CACHE INTERRUPT DAEMON FOR VIRTUAL MEMORY MANAGEMENT OF TEXTURE MAPS, by Ethan W. Gannett, referenced above, a TIM is described which provides for the shared storing of textures among the manager (the "TIM"), the hardware driver, and the corresponding graphics API within the system memory. The manager also provides for shared storing of textures among multiple contexts of a single process. The management scheme described by Gannett provides tremendous bandwidth savings and system software memory space savings in contrast with the prior art. The system described by Gannett additionally enables the user of the high level graphics processes to create images in a device independent manner, without knowledge of the storage capacity limits of the local memories of the underlying hardware devices.
In one embodiment of the Gannett invention, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3 in which same reference characters are used to reference identical elements to those of FIG. 2. Like the (pre-Gannett) prior art embodiment of FIG. 2, the system includes multiple user interactive processes PR1, PR2, . . . PRN that run on the system processor. Within each process, the user can create multiple contexts which require the same texture maps. The system also includes an underlying graphics API and graphics hardware driver for each process.
The Gannett invention related to a texture interrupt managing ("TIM") daemon 160 that is an independent, stand alone software process that runs on the processor of the host computer, unbeknownst to the user. The TIM 160 of the Gannett invention communicated with each of the graphics hardware drivers over a distinct socket. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a socket is a software communications path over which two software programs can communicate. The TIM also communicated with the hardware device 150 over a bus 162.
The TIM of the Gannett invention can run on conventional processors of computer graphics system host computers known as computer graphics workstations. An example of such a workstation would be the Hewlett-Packard 9000 series J200.
TIM 160 manages the storing of texture data within the local memory 155 of the hardware device 150, and the TIM included a device independent portion that handled the software texture memory management and socketed communications with the graphics hardware drivers and a device dependent portion that writes to and reads from the hardware device over bus 162.
In one embodiment of the Gannett invention, the local memory of the hardware device is arranged as a cache memory in which portions of textures are stored in the local memory of the hardware device at any one time. The device independent portions of the TIM track the usage of the portions of texture data stored in the cache and monitor the priorities of the textures to predict future usage of those portions. A cache miss in the hardware occurs when texture data is needed by the hardware device to render an image that is not currently stored in the cache. When a cache miss occurs, the TIM determines which block of texture data within the cache to replace by considering which block or blocks of texture data within the cache were used least recently and which textures have the lowest priority.
In one embodiment of the Gannett invention, the TIM includes a shared memory location within the system memory in which a large texture or texture portion is stored and is shared between the graphics API, graphics hardware driver and TIM, for a particular process. Each of the graphics API, the graphics hardware driver (for a particular process), and the TIM 160 includes a pointer to a location within the system shared memory area to access the stored texture copy. In addition, the TIM provides a memory management scheme such that all of the contexts created within a single process share the same copy of any texture needed for those contexts. For certain applications, therefore, the TIM of the Gannett invention provided tremendous savings of system software memory space.
With respect to the example described above with reference to FIG. 2, in which context 1A and context 1B of process PR1 require the same texture to render different views of a particular image, if the texture is large, then the TIM of the Gannett invention provided tremendous system memory space savings. By contrast with the prior art (pre-Gannett) system described, a single copy of the texture may be stored that would be shared between context 1A and context 1B. Additionally, if the texture was large enough to warrant it being stored in the shared memory location, then only one other copy of the texture would be stored in the system shared memory location and would be shared between the TIM, the graphics API1, and the graphics hardware driver HWD1. Thus, in this example, only three unique copies of the same texture would be stored in different locations of the system software memory to render two views of the same image using that same texture. One copy would be the user copy, one copy would be shared between the two contexts of the process PR1 and one copy would be shared between the graphics API, the graphics hardware driver and TIM. In the prior art (pre-Gannett) system of FIG. 2, described above, five copies of that same texture would have to be stored in the system software memory. Therefore, with the TIM of the Gannett invention, two less copies of the texture are required to be stored in the system software memory which, for a large texture, results in great memory space savings.
On the other hand, using the device of the present invention, as will be explained hereinafter, requires that only a single copy of the texture exist, and that it be maintained in the graphics hardware.
Using the Gannett invention, it was necessary to perform several steps in order to draw a textured triangle 10. As shown in FIG. 4, first, the application program specified a texture, using an API call 12. The API library verified that the API call was valid 14, and then the API copied the texture into a library-private buffer 16, thereby creating the first copy of the texture.
Next, the texture daemon ("TIM") copied the texture into the daemon's private buffer (possibly reformatted to meet daemon requirements), creating the second copy of the texture 18.
An application program draws a triangle 20 using the texture by having the graphics hardware ask the texture daemon to provide portions of the texture required to draw the triangle 22. Thus, the applications program must have the texture daemon download the required portions of the texture, thereby making the third copy of the texture 24.
Similarly, pursuant to the Gannett invention, an additional copy of the texture is maintained to handle the inquiry by the application of the current value of the texture, or to handle the removal of the texture from the graphics hardware when a new texture is required.

Method for fast downloading of textures to accelerated graphics hardware and the elimination of extra software copies of texels


A clamp assembly for flexible tubing including a housing, at least one movable slide disposed within the housing, an opening defined between each side of the at least one slide and the housing for receiving flexible tubing, and a control element, rotation of the control element displacing the at least one slide in a predetermined direction to facilitate insertion of flexible tubing in the respective opening.

The present invention relates to a tube clamp assembly for flexible tubing and, more particularly, to a tube clamp assembly for holding different sizes of flexible tubing to be used in a peristaltic pump.
Peristaltic pumps have been widely used for medical and research applications where constant or pulsatile metering of fluids at a relatively low flow rates is desired. Peristaltic pumps are volumetric pumps which progressively compress a flexible tube to propel a fluid along the tube under the influence of rotating members which contact the tube at spaced-apart locations. More specifically, the conventional peristaltic pump provides a circular array of rollers which are driven in a planetary motion against one or more flexible tubes to effect the compression thereof and the resultant pumping of the fluid. Such pumps are commonly used in cardiovascular surgery for circulating blood between a patient and a heart-lung machine. Other common uses for such pumps are the transfer of blood between a patient and a kidney dialyser and the intravenous infusion of medications.
In pumps which utilize peristaltic tubes, or an array of peristaltic tubes, special care must be taken to assure that the tubes deliver fluid at the desired rate. The rate of delivery is a function not only of the rate at which the rollers move along the tube, but also of the inside and outside diameters of the tube, the compression characteristics, the force with which the roller compresses the tube and the tension of the tube within the pump. All these variables must be carefully and precisely controlled to assure consistent and uniform or pulsatile metering rates within and between the delivery tubes.
One of the most easily changed variables in a peristaltic pump is the diameter of the flexible tubing through which the fluid is pumped. Typical tubing varies from an outer diameter of 0.213xe2x80x3 to 0.6875xe2x80x3, although tubing have greater and lesser diameters is also known. A tubing clamp is utilized in order to accommodate this wide range of tubing sizes in the peristaltic pump, and the clamp is typically configured to receive a clamp insert corresponding to the desired tubing size. Not only does this require a set of clamp inserts to be maintained for all possible tubing sizes, increasing the costs associated with the peristaltic pump, but changing the clamp insert also increases the time and labor required for operating room preparation.
In addition, although clamps do exist that can be adjusted to hold a limited range of tubing sizes without changing an insert, these clamps may often require an additional tool such as a wrench in order to effect the tubing size adjustment and, once again, greatly increase the time and labor required for operating room preparation
A strong need therefore exists for a tubing clamp capable of holding a plurality of sizes of flexible tubing without requiring additional set up time or labor intensive manipulation of clamp inserts or adjustments.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present invention provides a clamp assembly for flexible tubing having a housing, at least one movable slide disposed within the housing, an opening defined between the slide and the housing for receiving flexible tubing, and a control element. Rotation of the control element in a first direction displaces the slide in a first predetermined direction, and thereby opens the opening for insertion of flexible tubing. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each movable slide includes opposing slide elements and each of the slide elements includes a slide recess. Similarly, the housing includes two opposing side supports and each of the side supports includes a support recess. Thus, each opening is defined between the slide recess in the slide and the support recess in the housing.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control element includes a control knob and an internal surface of the control element includes a cam surface. Each movable slide also includes a cam element which engages a cam surface on the control element. Thus, rotation of the control knob results in movement of the cam surface and the cam element engaged therewith, thereby displacing the movable slide.
A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a clamp assembly for flexible tubing including a housing, an upper movable slide disposed within the housing, a lower movable slide disposed within the housing that is disposed vertically beneath the upper slide, a plurality of tubing openings defined between the slides and the housing, and a rotatable control element. Rotation of the control element displaces the slides in a predetermined lateral direction. Each of the movable slides includes a slide element which has a slide concavity. Similarly, the housing includes two opposing side supports, each of which includes an upper concavity generally aligned with the slide concavity of the upper movable slide and a lower concavity generally aligned with the slide concavity of the lower movable slide. Accordingly, the plurality of tubing openings are defined between the slide concavities and the upper and lower housing concavities.
The present invention also includes a method of clamping a plurality of flexible tubing including the step of providing a clamp assembly having a housing, at least one movable slide disposed within the housing, openings defined between each side of at least one slide and the housing for receiving flexible tubing, and a control element. The method further includes rotating the control element in a first direction from a neutral position so as to open the opening on first side of the clamp assembly, inserting flexible tubing through the opening, rotating the control element in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to return to the neutral position, and thereby closing the opening to engage the flexible tubing.


A new and distinctive variety of peach tree denominated varietally as xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99, and which is characterized as to novelty by a date of maturity for commercial harvesting and shipment of, approximately July 24 to August 10 under the ecological conditions prevailing in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

Prunus persica.
xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99.
The present relates to a new, novel and distinct variety of peach tree, which has been denominated varietally as xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99. The xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 Peach Tree produces an exceptionally high quality, firm, yellow fleshed freestone peach which matures in the later portion of the mid-season. Another unique aspect of the xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 is that it exhibits exceptionally firm flesh which then extends storage life.
The present peach tree was the result of an ongoing program of fruit and nut tree breeding. The purpose of this program is to improve the commercial selections of prunus, malus and regia species. To this end, both controlled and hybrid crosses are made each year in order to produce seedling populations from which improved progenies are evaluated and selected.
The seedling xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 was originated by us in 1994, and chosen from a population of seedlings which resulted from a controlled cross of the unnamed peach, xe2x80x98A48-70xe2x80x99 (unpatented), used as the seed parent, and an unnamed nectarine, which was used as the pollen parent. Resulting seed from this cross were planted in the spring of 1995. The new variety was selected from among seedlings growing in experimental orchards near the city of Fowler, Calif., County of Fresno, in the Central portion of the San Joaquin Valley of California. The xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 was marked for subsequent observation during the 1997-2000 fruit growing seasons. After the 1997 season, the xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 peach tree was selected for advanced evaluation and repropagation.
The new variety xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 was grafted onto two separate and existing xe2x80x98Nemaredxe2x80x99 Peach rootstocks in February of 1998. The scionwood used in this asexual propagation was collected from the original seedling. This propagation was performed in the experimental orchards near the city of Fowler, Calif., as previously described. Fruit from the resulting propagation has been evaluated for both the 1999 and 2000 fruit seasons. These evaluations have clearly demonstrated that the repropagated trees are true to the fruiting and vegetative characteristics of the original seedling in all observable aspects.
The xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 Peach is characterized as to novelty and is otherwise noteworthy by producing fruit which ripens in the later portion of the mid-season; is considered very high quality; and which is extremely firm; and has an attractive coloration; and exhibits an increased shelf life when compared to the commercial varieties currently available. In this regard, the present variety of peach tree bears fruit which are typically ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment in the fourth week of July, as the fruit is grown in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 Peach ripens 7-10 days before the seed parent xe2x80x98A48-70xe2x80x99, but the xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99 Peach is firmer, larger and has better shelf life than does the xe2x80x98A48-70xe2x80x99 Peach.

Peach tree named xe2x80x98Burpeachsevenxe2x80x99


Filtration media having germicidal properties for use in filtering particles and deactivating, removing and/or destroying microorganisms from a feed liquid passing therethrough. The filtration media includes an effective amount of a germicidal chemically grafted and covalently bonded to a surface of the media. The germicidal grafted filter media is prepared by contacting the media with a grafting solution comprising an anionic monomer, a catalyst, a graft initiator and a germicide and subsequently curing tile media at an elevated temperature to chemically graft a polymerized salt of the polymerizable anionic monomer and the cationic germicide onto a surface of the media. Filter media suitable for use in the present invention include ceramic spheroids, hollow glass spheres, polymeric type media and thermoset coated glass spheres. The germicidal grafted filter media is effective for deactivating, destroying and/or removing from a feed liquid, such as water, escherichia coli, salmonella choleraesuis, staphylococcus, aspergsillus, klebisiella, listeria clostridium, rotavirus, cysts and other microorganisms. Moreover, the filter media can be used repeatedly without a decrease in its germicidal effectiveness.

The present invention is directed to filter media with germicidal properties. In particular, the present invention is directed to ceramic, polymeric and glass filter media to which is chemically grafted and bonded a polymerized salt of a polymerizable anionic monomer with a cationic germicide for use in water treatment.
For close to a century, microorganism content, e.g., bacteria and viruses, in municipal water supplies has been controlled through the addition of oxidative chemicals such as chlorine. This has proven effective in control of most microorganisms and is readily simple to monitor. For example, a residual capable of being measured is carried throughout the municipal distribution system and periodically monitored to insure that the drinking water supply has been effectively treated. However, these systems are not always reliable or readily available to remote areas. Moreover, when an oxidizing agent is used at the source point, there can be contamination away from the source caused by pipeline problems that could allow the water to be unsafe at the time it arrives at the final point of use. In addition, there are also growing health concerns surrounding some of the compounds formed from the use of oxidative chemicals in the water supply.
To address contamination away from the source, a variety of devices or methods can be utilized to remove, destroy or deactivate microorganisms at the point of use. These include boiling the water, exposing the water to ultraviolet light, use of ozone, addition of chemicals and others. Most, if not all, of the methods used to remove, destroy and/or deactivate microorganisms include the need for external energy or the addition of chemicals to the water.
None of the known methods typically used to remove, destroy and/or deactivate microorganisms at the point of use can be used to remove sediment or turbidity from the source water. Typically, conventional filtration apparatuses are used in combination with a process or apparatus to destroy, deactivate and/or remove microorganisms. The filtration apparatuses are utilized primarily for removing particles in order to reduce turbidity. Examples of typical water filtration media include sand, garnet and anthracite.
In addition to bacteria and viruses present in the source, other microorganisms that can be harmful include protozoan cysts. Removal of harmful cysts is desired and is reflected in the EPA filtration requirements now mandated by the Surface Water Treatment Rule. Since some of these cysts are not destroyed and/or deactivated effectively by the typical chlorine dosages used in municipal application, filtration and the use of chemical coagulants are typically used. The chemical coagulants increase the size of the particles containing the cysts to a point at which they can be removed by conventional filtration. During coagulation, small particles are agglomerated into larger particles by adding the chemical coagulants to the source. Once agglomerates of a desired size are produced, the solution is passed through a filter to filter out the agglomerates.
However, chemical coagulation has several disadvantages. The mechanism for filtering the liquid is by physically straining particles from the feed solution which are larger than can pass through interstices between grains of the media. The media can only remove particles that are larger than the interstices. For example, sand filters can only remove particles greater than about 20 microns in size. Eventually, the particles held by the media seal off the interstices, reducing filtration efficiency. Moreover, chemical coagulation does not necessarily remove or deactivate all of the microorganisms present in the source water. Chemical coagulation is also disadvantageous in view of the cost of the chemicals, the need to regulate the amount of chemicals despite a continuously changing feed stream and in view of a low flow rate. Disposing of chemical sludge waste is another concern
Thus, there is a need for a method and apparatus that could simultaneously filter and disinfect a water supply without the need for external energy or addition of chemicals.
The present invention is directed to filtration media having germicidal properties for use in filtering particles and simultaneously destroying, removing and/or deactivating microorganisms from a feed liquid passing therethrough. The filtration media comprises ceramic, polymeric and/or glass particles wherein the particles have chemically grafted and covalently bonded thereto in a germicidal effective amount a polymerized salt of a polymerizable anionic monomer and a cationic germicide. The polymerizable anionic monomer and the cationic germicide are present in about a 1:1 molar ratio. The cationic germicide preferably has a minimum inhibitory concentration less than about 1000 ppm (parts per million) for at least one targeted microorganism. Preferably, the cationic germicide is selected from the group consisting of bisguanidines and quaternary ammonium compounds. More preferably, the cationic germicide is selected from the group consisting of zinc pyrithione and diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone. The polymerizable anionic monomer is selected from the group consisting of a vinyl and acrylic monomer that preferably includes a carboxyl group or a sulfonyl group. The salt of the polymerizable anionic monomer and the cationic germicide may be copolymerized with at least one polymerizable monomer copolymerizable therewith. The amount of said anionic monomer is from about 10 to about 20 percent of the amount of said at least one other polymerizable monomer.
Preparing the germicidal grafted filter media includes preparing a grafting solution by mixing to a uniform solution a cationic germicide, at least one anionic monomer, a catalyst for initiating polymerization and a graft initiator. Then, the grafting solution is contacted with the filtration media to form a mixture which is then filtered to obtain a filtrate. The filtrate is dried and then cured at an elevated temperature effective to chemically graft and covalently bond to a surface of the media in a germicidal effective amount a polymerized salt of the polymerizable anionic monomer and the cationic germicide. Optionally, at least one other polymerizable monomer co-polymerizable with the anionic monomer and the cationic germicide.
The germicidal filter media is effective for purifying water by flowing source water across the germicidal filter media whereby the filter media removes particles and is in an effective amount for destroying, removing and/or deactivating microorganisms in the water.
Other embodiments of the invention are contemplated to provide particular features and structural variants of the basic elements. The specific embodiments referred to as well as possible variations and the various features and advantages of the invention will become better understood when considered in connection with the detailed description that follows.
The present invention is generally directed to filter media having antimicrobial properties. In particular, filter media is contacted with a grafting solution wherein a germicide-polymer is grafted onto a surface of the filter media. Advantageously, filters including at least one layer of the germicidal grafted filter media are effective for deactivating, destroying or removing microorganisms from a feed liquid such as water. The filtration media is preferably selected so that a wide range of particle sizes and specific gravities can be attained. Thus, the present invention can advantageously be used in a wide variety of filter applications including its use in single layer, multi layer, upflow or downflow filtration configurations. Moreover, depending on the choice of germicidal grafted onto the filter media, the filter media, in addition to filtering particles, can be tailored to effectively remove, deactivate or destroy targeted bacteria, viruses or cysts present in the source feed liquid. This is especially desirable wherein the source feed liquid to be filtered is known to have undesirable levels of known microorganisms.
The materials suitable for use in the present invention as filter media include ceramics, polymers and glass. The media particles are preferably spherical or spheroidal but may be anhedral. The media particles are characterized by a generally coarse surface having a high surface area. A high surface area allows the use of smaller particle sizes for removing smaller particulate matter than conventionally used without affecting flow rates. Other suitable filtration materials will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.
The grafting solution comprises a cationic germicide, polymerizable monomers including at least one anionic monomer, a catalyst, and a graft initiator. The monomer is preferably an anionic monomer having carboxyl or sulfonyl functional groups. The ratio of monomers to germicidal agent is preferably at about a 1:1 molar ratio.
Germicides are well known in the art. See, for instance, the section on xe2x80x9cQuaternary Ammonium and Related Compoundsxe2x80x9d in the article on Antiseptics and Disinfectantsxe2x80x9d in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology 2nd Edition (vol. 2, pp.632-635). Preferably, the germicide is a cationic germicide having a broad spectrum of antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Among the most common of these are quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzethonium chloride. Others of this class (and generic formulas and descriptions thereof) are those mentioned, for instance in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,984,639, 3,325,402, 3,703,583 and 3,431,208 and British Patent No. 1,319,396. Usually one of the substituents on the quaternary nitrogen has a chain length of about 8 to 18 carbon atoms. A preferred quaternary ammonium compound is an alkyl dimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride compound sold under the trade name BARQUAT 42502 manufactured by Lonza Chemicals.
Other types of germicides suitable for use in the present invention are the omadines. Examples of omadines are the substituted guanidines, e.g., chlorhexidene and the corresponding compounds having 2-ethyihexyl groups instead of chlorophenyl groups, and other bisguanidines such as those described in German Patent Application No. P2,332,382 published Jan. 10, 1974. The following formula is representative of a bisguanidine suitable for use in the present invention:
in which A and Axe2x80x2 signify as the case may be either (1) a phenyl radical, which as substituent can contain up to 2 alkyl groups with from about 1 to about 4 carbons, a nitro group or a halogen atom, (2) an alkyl group which contains from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, or (3) alicyclic groups with 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, X and Xxe2x80x2 as the case may be represent an alkylene radical with 1 to 3 carbon atoms, z and zxe2x80x2 are as the case may be either zero or 1, R and Rxe2x80x2 as the case may be represent either hydrogen, an alkyl radical with 1 to about 12 carbon atoms or an aralkyl radical with 7 to about 12 carbon atoms, n is a whole integer from 2 to about 12 and the polyethylene chain (CH2)n can be interrupted by up to 6 ether, thioether, phenyl or naphthyl groups or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof A preferred omadine is zinc pyrithione sold under the trade name ZINC OMADINE and manufactured by the Arch Chemical Company.
Other suitable germicides and equally preferred include diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone such as that sold under the trade name AMICAL 48 and manufactured by the Angus Chemical Company. Other germicides suitable for use in the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. Most preferred are cationic germicides.
The germicidal compound is preferably one which has germicidal activity such that its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is below 1000 ppm, more preferably the MfC is below 500 ppm. The MIC is an indicator recognized by those skilled in the art of the effectiveness of the germicide against certain known microorganisms. The MIC is determined by art recognized procedures that measure the lowest concentration of a test antimicrobial compound that prevents the growth of a given culture of microorganisms under standardized conditions. It has been found that the MIC less than 1000 ppm for a targeted microorganism is effective for removing, deactivating or destroying the, microorganism. For example, the MICs of zinc omadine and AMICAL 48 are given by the manufacturers as 4 ppm and 6.2ppm, respectively, for S. Aureuis bacteria and as such, is highly effective for removing, deactivating or destroying this particular species of bacteria, among others, at concentrations equal to or greater than the MICs given.
The cationic germicides that can be used in accordance with the present invention are those which will form salts with anionic monomers so that the resulting salt can be polymerized and grafted onto the filter media. Depending on the desired properties, the cati onic germicide may be used in combination with other cationic germicides. Preferably, the cationic germicide should be non-toxic and not cause any health concerns. Likewise, the other components of the grafting solution should be non-toxic.
The monomers suitable for use in the present invention are preferably anionic monomers that will form a salt with the cationic germicide. Preferred monomers include vinyl or acrylic monomers having sulfoonyl or carboxyl functional groups. It should be understood that the term xe2x80x9canionic monomersxe2x80x9d refers to anionic polymerizable materials. These anionic polymerizable materials are generally monomers, but may also be partially polymerized that will undergo further polymerization under the proper reaction conditions.
Among suitable anionic monomers are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,984,639 and 3,325,402, incorporated herein by reference. As indicated above, the anionic monomers preferred are those which contain a sulfonyl or carboxyl functional group and are preferably those of the vinyl or acrylic type. Among these suitable monomers are ethylene imine, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, diethylamino ethylacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, ethylacrylate, butyl acrylate, as well as carboxylated and sulfonated vinyls such as vinyl chloride, vinyl pyrrolidine, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene bromide, etc. Other monomers suitable for use in the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. Examples of suitable commercial monomers and prepolymers include those sold.under the trade names SILANE A-99 manufactured by Angus Chemical Company, HYCAR 26288 manufactured by BF Goodrich Company, SR-344 manufactured by Sartomer Company and EPON 828 manufactured by Shell Chemicals.
The method of grafting the salts of the cationic germicide and anionic monomer comprises contacting the filter media with a solution of these materials in the presence of a catalyst and graft initiator. The graft initiator provides an active site on a surface of the filter media for reaction and forming a covalent bond with the germicidally active polymer. The graft initiator is selected to abstract an active hydrogen from a surface of the media to which the graft polymer will be bonded. It is preferred that the graft initiator is a metal ion provided by the ionization of a metal salt. Silver ions provided by the ionization of silver salts are especially preferred although ferric and ferrous ions abstracted from iron salts as well as other metal salts may also be advantageously used. When a silver salt such as silver nitrate, silver perchlorate and silver acetate is used, such salts are preferably present in the graft solution in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 0.01% by weight of the solution.
The catalyst functions as a free radical initiator for polymerization of the monomer to occur according to reaction pathways well known in the art. Additionally, the selected catalyst may function to ionize the metal salts used as the grafting initiators. Suitable catalysts for effecting such a reaction include peroxides, peresters, peracids and persulfates. Preferred catalysts include hydrogen peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, urea peroxide and ammonium persulfate. Other catalysts will be apparent to one of ordinary skill inl the art in view of this disclosure. An example of a commercial catalysts suitable for use in the present invention include those sold under the trade name ANCAMRNE TETA and manufactured by Air Products, Inc.
As indicated above, the filter media having germicidal properties is prepared by admixing in a suitable solvent the cationic germicide, anionic monomer, graft initiator, and catalyst to a uniform solution. The filter media to be treated is then added to the liquid solution, stirred and subsequently filtered. The filtrate is air dried for about twenty four hours and then cured for a period of time at an elevated temperature. The curing time and temperatures used are dependent on the components chosen for the grafting solution and are well within the skills of those in the art to readily determine and optimize. The resulting filter media has chemically grafted and covalently bonded thereto in a germicidal effective amount a polymerized salt of a polymerizable anionic monomer and a cationic germicide and is ready for use. It has advantageously been found that the germicidal grafted filter media retains its germicidal properties after repeated use indicating that the germicide is chemically bonded and attached to the media.
The general reaction according to the present invention is believed to take place as follows:
S+GIxe2x86x92S*xe2x80x83xe2x80x83II.
S*+AM+G+Cxe2x86x92S-AM-Gxe2x80x83xe2x80x83III.
wherein S represents the filter media, GI represents the graft initiator, S* represents the formation of a free radical on the filter media, C represents a catalyst, AM represents an anionic monomer and G represents a cationic germicide.
Depending on the desired properties, the grafting solution can include more than one type of monomer, catalyst or grafting initiator. In the case of more than one monomer, if the molecular amount of the co-mononmers is the same (n=m), the structure is as shown above. Generally, however, the ionic monomer is used in an amount of no more than about 10-20 mole percent. As a result, the actual molecule grafted onto the media may include more than one group of the second monomer. The cationic germicide is preferably used in approximately a 1:1 molar ratio with respect to the anionic monomer.
The germicidal grafted filter media is suitable for use in water filters including filters employing multiple layers of media for removing particulate matter from a liquid. The multiple layers of media can be made from the same or different synthetic materials. In the case of gradient filters, each layer of synthetic material preferably has a distinct particle size range and specific gravity range. The synthetic material can be formed of glass, ceramic, thermoset aggregates, thermoset coated materials, polymer particles, or any other suitable material and may be fabricated or otherwise classified to have different, predetermined specific gravities. Classification is less desirable since it is difficult to achieve both a desired particle size and intrinsic specific gravity in this manner compared to tailoring specific gravity during production of the material. As such, in addition to the more traditional downflow filter configurations, the media can be made for upflow filtration by tailoring the specific gravity of the media to be less than the specific gravity of the feed liquid. Other suitable filtration configurations utilizing the germicidally grafted filter media will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.
The media particle sizes are generally defined by the mesh size of a sieve in which the particles are screened. For example, a 30 mesh sieve will allow particles less than 600 xcexcnm to pass through the sieve, whereas particles 600 xcexcm or larger than will not pass through. Generally, sieves of varying mesh ratings are stacked and particles are separated using methods well known to those skilled in the art . The range of particles separated is defined by the mesh size of the sieves used. For example, a mesh size designation of 20/40 means that substantially all particles have a size ranging from 20 to 40 mesh (841-420 xcexcm in diameter). A 30/50 designation indicates that substantially all particles have a size ranging from 30 to 50 mesh (595-297 xcexcm in diameter). The particle sizes of the present invention are preferably not larger than about 10 mesh (about 2000 xcexcm in diameter) and, as small as about 80 mesh (about 177 xcexcm in diameter). In multi-layer filter configurations, the mesh sizes are preferably chosen so that particle size ranges do not overlap between the filter media layers.
One type of filter media suitable for use in the present invention is made from polymeric and/or glass material. An example of this type of filter media suitable for use in the present invention are glass phenolic coated hollow glass spheres sold under the trade name SYNTREX and manufactured by the Kinetico Company. The preparation of polymeric and/or glass gradient filter media suitable for use in the present invention has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,713, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Parts of the following discussion of materials and methods for making the polymer and glass filter media suitable for use in the present invention is from U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,713. Parting agent particles and either solid granules of liquefiable binder material or already liquid globules of binder material are tumbled together to form hollow spheres.
A wide variety of binder materials may be used to form the hollow spheres. More than one ingredient can be included in the binder material, although these ingredients will generally be dissolved or uniformly dispersed in one another. The result is that in a hollow sphere, as formed at the end of the sphere forming operation and solidification of the binder material, the sphere wall comprises only a single layer or thickness of the binder material, plus parting agent particles at least partially embedded in the layer or wall. There may be a gradation in the composition of the layer from one edge to the other edge; and there may be pigments, flow-control agents, fire retarding agents or other fillers (besides the parting agent) contained in the binder material as a discontinuous phase or dispersion. But the wall is a single-layer wall formed as a void develops in the liquid globule of binder material.
Illustrative organic ingredients of binder materials include epoxy resins; polycarboduimides, formaldehyde resins such as phenol-formaldehydes, urea-formaldehydes and melamine-formaldehydes; polyesters; polyisocyanurates; polyurethanes; natural rubber and synthetic elastomers, such as silicones, styrene-butadiene copolymers; acrylic resins; ethylene copolymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; propylene copolymers such as ethylene-propylene copolymers; and olefin-wax combinations. These materials may be variously formulated to solidify, as by polymerization, by crosslinking, by loss of volatiles, or by cooling.
Inorganic binder materials such as the low melting glass described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,782 may also be used. Glass-forming binder material granules may be provided as spray dried xe2x80x9cslipxe2x80x9d particles, prepared as in glaze or enamel preparation, which simplify incorporation of avolatile void forming agent. In the case of the ceramic or metal parting agents, the binder material may be a low-cost flux (such as sodium carbonate, sodium borate, or sodium silicate) and may be in the form of a water solution thickened to the proper viscosity with a material such as sodium alginate. This thickener acts as a temporary binder material prior to sintering the principal binder material.
During the sphere forming operation, the binder material should achieve a viscosity that is low enough for the parting agent particles to be wetted by the globules, and preferably low enough so that any cells forming inside an evacuated globule will tend to at least partially coalesce, whereby binder material will be concentrated at the exterior spherical wall or shell of the sphere. At the same time, the viscosity of the binder material should be high enough so that the expanded globule will not deform excessively while sphere formation is taking place. The useful range of viscosities for the binder material is broad, ranging from at least about 50 to 100,000 centipoise, but an especially preferred range is between about 100 and 1000 centipoise. The globules of binder material in the tumbling, sphere forming operation are termed liquid herein, since even when at high viscosity they are flowable. The range of useful viscosities will vary with particle size and the ease with which the parting agent particles can be wet. Surfactants can be used as an ingredient in the binder material or as a treatment on the parting agent particle.
In general any solid discrete free-flowing particulate material, which is sufficiently inert to retain its parting function throughout the sphere-forming operation, can be used as a parting agent particle. Examples of parting agent particles are hollow or solid glass microspheres; byproduct fines; ground scrap rubber particles such as vulcanized scrap rubber from tires; hard irregular abrasive particles such as aluminum oxide granules used for abrasive products; magnetic iron oxide particles; perlite; clay; glass fibers or glass flakes; wood flour; flame retardants such as aluminum trihydrate; organic polymeric particles and metal particles. Mixtures of any of the above particles can be used. For example, parting agent particles providing better flow properties may be mixed with irregular parting agent particles; or mixtures may be used to provide pigmentation, flame retardency, or variety in physical properties of the final sphere. Generally the parting agent particles will range from a few micrometers up to several hundred micrometers in size. They generally have adiameter no larger than the thickness of the wall of the final hollow sphere.
The void-forming agent used to form hollow spheres can be any substance which, while present in the binder material, evolves a gas during the time and at a temperature of formation of the hollow spheres. It may be a separate ingredient added to the binder material; it may be a byproduct of a reaction of the binder material; or it may be a solvent or carrier for the binder material. Often the void forming agent is incorporated into the binder material while the latter is in liquid form prior to being solidified and formed into granules. In other cases it is mixed with milled solid inert material which is then spray dried or compressed or otherwise prepared into granules.
Most often the void forming agent causes an expansion in size of the liquid globules being formed into hollow spheres, since at least initially the outer wall of the globule tends to form voids of the desired size. Examples of useful void forming agents are: in the case of polycarbodiimide, a carbon dioxide reaction product of curing of the polycarbodiimide, in the case of some elastomers, a solvent for the elastomer precursor, in the case of low melting glass, water from hydrated borate or water contained in other xe2x80x9cslipxe2x80x9d particles.
The granules or globules of binder material introduced will vary in size depending upon the size of hollow sphere that is ultimately desired. Typically the granules are between 100 micrometers and 1 centimeter in diameter, and most often are less than 5 millimeters in diameter.
Generally binder material granules in such a range of sizes produce hollow spheres about xc2xd millimeter to 2 centimeters in diameter. Spheres can be made with good uniformity of sizes by using binder material granules or globules of uniform size. Further, hollow spheres may be screened after formation to provide desired ranges of sizes.
The hollow spheres formed have a single hollow interior space enclosed by a single spherical wall or shell. The coarse exterior wall or shell is characterized by having a high surface area. The hollow spheres are particularly useful as buoyant media for upflow gradient filter configurations. The media can easily be made to a wide variety of specific gravities depending on the size of the void created in the sphere and the densities of the raw materials used. Achieving different specific gravities can be found in examples 1-24 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,713 and would be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.
Another type of media suitable for use in the present invention are ceramic. Ceramic particles suitable for use in the present invention can be made with the materials and processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,725,390 and 4,632,876, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,059 , herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. Preferred ceramic media include media sold under the trade name MACROLITE, manufactured by the Kinetico Company. The process for making the material generally includes the following steps. In the first step, binder, silicon carbide, mineral particulate and a metal oxide are mixed and spheroidized in order to form unfired spheroids. One example of suitable mineral particulates contains: 60% orthoclase, 10% nepheline, 10% hornblende, 5% diopside, 15% accessory minerals (titanite, apatite, magnetite and biotite) and trace amounts of secondary minerals (e.g. kac)linite and analcite). Another example contains approximately 75% plagioclase and orthoclase feldspar and 25% of the minerals pyroxene, hornblende, magnetite and quartz of which magnetite is less than 5%. Byproduct mineral fines of perlite (containing 2-5% chemically bound water) will also function as the mineral particulates. Minerals containing chemically bound water or sulfur which are useful components of the mineral particulates are: hornblende, apatite, biotite, pyrite, vermiculite and perlite.
Typical binders that may be useful as raw materials in the invention are bentonite (preferably sodium bentonite), starch, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose gum, polyvinyl acetate and sodium lignosulphonate.
Silicon carbide raw material may conveniently be obtained as coproduct fines (less than 8 micrometers particle size) from the manufacture of silicon carbide abrasive products. It may alternatively be formed in situ, such as by adding a polycarbosilane solution to the mineral mixture which would convert into SiC during processing.
Several types of mixing equipment may be used such as balling pans or disk spheroidizing machines. Machines known as high energy mixers are well suited to this application. Two examples of such machines are the Littleford mixer and the machine known as the Eirich machine. The Eirich machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,622.
There are four basic steps in making the unfired spheroids in a high energy mixer: (1) mixing the dry powders at high speed rotation of the pan and an impacting impeller of the machine; (2) nucleation at which time water is added to the region of the mixer near the impacting impeller to be dispersed into droplets; (3) growth ofthe spheroids in the manner of a snow ball with the powder agglomerating during which time the impacting impeller rotates at a slower speed than it did during the nucleation step; and (4) polishing or smoothing the surfaces ofthe spheroids by turning off the impacting impeller and allowing the pan to rotate, similar to a balling pan. Polishing is optional and is less preferred for use in the present invention.
The amount of binder may generally comprise about 1-5% by weight of the dry materials fed to the mixer and is generally sufficient to permit screening and handling of the spheroids without significant attrition or breakage.
The wet spheroids are discharged from the mixer and dried at a temperature of about 40xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C. The dried spheroids are then typically screened. The particle size range selected is actually smaller than the desired end product because of the growth of the spheroids during firing.
The dried spheroids are next mixed with the parting agent, for example, alumina. The dry spheroids and parting agent may be mixed in a tumbling mixer such as a twin shell mixer or a cement mixer. The amount of parting agent usually ranges from 3 to 50 weight percent of the material fed to the kiln. Magnesium oxide, zircon, diaspore and high alumina clays may also be useful parting agents as discussed above, as well.as other surface metal oxides.
The following are examples of specific metal oxides that may be used as parting agents in the present invention: alumina (less than 45 micrometers particle size obtained as A-2 alumina from Alcoa), magnesium oxide obtained as M-51 MgO from Fisher Scientific Company, and zircon (less than 45 micrometers particle size obtained from NL Industries). Aluminum and magnesium salts convert to oxides at elevated temperatures (e.g., Al(OH)3 and MgCO3 may be substituted for Al2O3 and MgO in mole equivalent amount). The particle size distribution of the parting agent depends on the desired end product.
The next step is to feed, typically by means of a vibratory feeder, the mixture of parting agenrt and dry spheroids to a rotary kiln. Firing may be done statically, but a rotary kiln is the preferred apparatus for this step. The residence time of the spheroids in a rotary kiln is dependent upon several parameters: kiln length, diameter, angle, and rotational speed, feed rate to the kiln, temperature within the kiln, gas atmosphere, and diameter of the spheroids. Residence time and temperature are adjusted to achieve the desired properties with each specific formulation for a given end use. With a typical residence time in a rotary kiln of 20 minutes or more, increasing the kiln temperature results in decreasing fired density of the spheroids. Firing temperature is typically above 100xc2x0 C.
The ceramic spheroids are overfired, which allows for the formation of the internal air cells, making the finished product less dense. The firing atmosphere is air. The silicon carbide in the spheroids is oxidized during firing, the SiC near the surface being more extensively oxidized than that in the core.
Some of the metal oxide parting agent (e.g., alumina or magnesia) becomes part of the spheroids during the firing step. Metal oxide (e.g. Al2O3 or MgO) or a metal oxide precursor (e.g. MgCO3 or Al(OH3)) which converts to the metal oxide during firing, is incorporated into the spheroids as they pass through the kiln. Higher firing temperatures result in a thicker shell of parting agent on the spheroids. The coarser the particle size of the mineral particulate in the composition, the higher the required temperature, and more metal oxide is absorbed into the spheroids during firing to form an outer shell rich in metal oxide. Also, finer particle size distribution of the parting agent allows more metal oxide to be absorbed into the spheroids.
The use of metal oxides as parting agents is important for imparting an electrical net charge on the ceramic media particles. Tile electrical charge can be tailored depending on the metal oxides used in making the particles to have an electrical affinity for particulate matter. Ceramic particles having an electrical affinity for particulate matter that are suitable for the present invention are described in pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,059.
In addition to providing the filtration material with a desired electrical affinity, the surface metal oxides serve as parting agents that prevent the prills from sticking together as the intense heat is applied during firing. The surface metal oxides are located on the surface of each particle. However, the surfaces of the particles may not be composed entirely of the surface metal oxides. During firing, some of the surface may be occupied by the surface metal oxides and other portions of the surface may be occupied by the mineral fines. If magnesium oxide is used, a higher percentage of magnesium oxide on the surface may be required compared to the amount of aluminum oxide on the surface.
One example of ceramic filtration material having an electrical charge suitable for use in the present invention comprises the following composition (in % by weight): 96% mineral fines, which may be obtained from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; 3% bentonite clay, which may be obtained from the American Colloid Company; 1% silicon carbide, which may be obtained from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; and 14% water.
The dry raw materials are mixed with the water and agglomerated into xe2x80x9cprillsxe2x80x9d having a desired size, with time and percentage of water being variable. The term xe2x80x9cprillxe2x80x9d as used herein means green or unfired particles of filtration material. The wet prills are dried in a rotating cylindrical gas heated drier. The particles are not completely dried, but are dried enough to be able to be screened and stored.
In a screening process, xe2x80x9con-sizexe2x80x9d material of desired size is separated from xe2x80x9coff-sizexe2x80x9d material. The off-size material is recycled into the prilling process and the xe2x80x9con-sizexe2x80x9d material is stored in bulk bags. The on-size prills are proportionally mixed with the surface metal oxide, for example, aluminum oxide, and fed into a kiln.
In the firing stage, the on-size prills are heated in a kiln at a temperature ranging from about 2000 to 2200 xc2x0 F. A kiln that is 4 feet in diameter, 40 feet in length and set at an adjustable incline may be used. The kiln is preferably direct fired with gas as the fuel. The prills are introduced at the higher end of the kiln and as the kiln is rotated, they slowly travel to the lower end of the kiln. A gas burner is located in the center of the lower end of the kiln, which allows a flame to travel along the elongated horizontal axis of the kiln to produce the required temperature. An indirect fired kiln having gas jets disposed outside of the rotating cylinder may also be suitable for making the filtration material of the present invention.
Temperature and rotation are the variables during firing that are used to adjust the specific gravity of the material, as well as to produce different sizes of filtration material. The silicon carbide is involved in a reaction during firing that produces trapped gas within the particles. As a result of this reaction, the specific gravity of the particles may be adjusted as desired. For example, if a lower specific gravity is desired, the material is present in the kiln for a longer time and higher temperature, which generates more trapped gases. If a higher specific gravity is desired, the material spends less time in the kiln at a lower temperature. This enables a wide range of specific gravities and particle sizes of the filtration material to be produced. Specific temperatures and firing times vary with the particular composition of the material and desired specific gravity, but would be apparent by empirical observation to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.
Adjusting the specific gravity of the particles is important for gradient filters of the present invention. Of course, the specific gravity of the media for other filter configurations may not be of significance and will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the intended application for the filter. In gradient filters, each media layer has preferably a different specific gravity. More preferably, the difference in specific gravity between each ceramic media layer is at least 0.4 units or greater. This differential is important to prevent intermixing of the media layers during filtering and backwashing.
The specific gravities of the ceramic, glass or other particles are typically selected depending on the filter configuration. In a downflow configuration, the smallest particles would have the highest specific gravity whereas in an upflow configuration the smallest particles would have the lowest specific gravity. Specific gravity can be determined as is known by those skilled in the art by weighing a sample, measuring the volume of the sample with an air comparison pycnometer and calculating the weight per cubic centimeter. Alternatively, specific gravity can be calculated by determining the bulk volume density based on percent filling of the total volume by spheres, also known by those skilled in the art as the packing factor.
The product from the kiln is screened using standard methods known to those skilled in the art. The filtration material of the present invention has a final particle size range depending on the sieves used, for example, 20/40 and 30/50, which means that substantially all particles have a size ranging from 20 to 40 mesh (841-420 xcexcm in diameter) and 30 to 50 mesh (595-297 xcexcm in diameter), respectively. The particle size fraction is preferably not larger than about 10 mesh (about 2000 xcexcm in diameter) and, as small as about 80 mesh (about 177 xcexcm in diameter). The particle size is preferably selected, depending upon the composition of filtration material, to provide the material with electrical affinity characteristics that are suitable for removing particles about 3 xcexcm and less. In many cases, the particle size of the ceramic material is much smaller than 20 mesh, for example, about 70/80 mesh. Ceramic particles of a size of not greater than 10 mesh and preferably about 80 mesh are used in the present invention. 80 mesh ceramic particles are able to remove particles about 3 xcexcm and less from the feed liquid through a combination of physical straining and electrical affinity mechanisms. These small ceramic particles pack more closely together than larger particles and have a greater surface area, which increases the electrical affinity effect. Ceramic particles that do not exhibit the electrical affinity effect may also be used in the gradient filter of the present invention.
Either before, during or after the screening step, the fired spheroids may be subjected to vigorous agitation by air or some other agitation means or to a water washing step in order to remove dust from their surfaces.
Other types of filter media suitable for use in the present invention include polymeric filtration media such as beads of polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyesters and the like, and inorganic filtration media such as silicate aggregates and the like.