U.S. patent application number 17/184019 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-17 for apparatus and method for separating plant trichomes using a double vortex turbulence.
This patent application is currently assigned to Delta Separations LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Delta Separations LLC. Invention is credited to Didier Camilleri, Benjamin K. Stephens.
Application Number | 20210178285 17/184019 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005417911 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210178285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Camilleri; Didier ; et
al. |
June 17, 2021 |
Apparatus and Method for Separating Plant Trichomes Using a Double
Vortex Turbulence
Abstract
A method and apparatus for separating trichome heads containing
resin from cannabis plants using a double vortex liquid flow to
remove the trichome heads without macerating the plant material and
a multi-tiered filtration process to isolate the resin product.
Inventors: |
Camilleri; Didier; (El
Cerrito, CA) ; Stephens; Benjamin K.; (Santa Rosa,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Delta Separations LLC |
Cotati |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Delta Separations LLC
Cotati
CA
|
Family ID: |
1000005417911 |
Appl. No.: |
17/184019 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16881422 |
May 22, 2020 |
10933348 |
|
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17184019 |
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16103972 |
Aug 16, 2018 |
10933347 |
|
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16881422 |
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62547600 |
Aug 18, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 11/0257
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B01D 11/02 20060101
B01D011/02 |
Claims
1.-4. (canceled)
5. A method of separating plant material from plants, the method
comprising: (a) providing a basin with two rounded corners; (b)
placing liquid and plants inside the basin to form a mixture; (c)
rotating the mixture inside the basin in one rotational direction
until a first double agitation is formed in the mixture, the first
double agitation comprising a vortex of the mixture about an axis
of rotation of the vortex, and a second agitation of the mixture
adjacent to a first one of the two rounded corners of the basin;
and then (d) reversing the rotational direction of the mixture
until a second double agitation is formed in opposite directions,
the second double agitation comprising another vortex of the
mixture about the axis of rotation, and another agitation of the
mixture adjacent to a second one of the two rounded corners of the
basin and separating plant material from the plants.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising repeating steps (c)
and (d) at increased speeds of rotation.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising automating steps (c)
and (d), and repeating step (d) at selected intervals.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein, after step (d), further
comprising draining the mixture from the basin.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein, after step (d), further
comprising filtering the mixture to remove selected portions of the
plant material from the mixture.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein filtering further comprises
removing a series of filters with the selected portions of the
plant material.
11. The method of claim 5, wherein the basin comprises a D-shaped
tub when viewed from above.
12. The method of claim 5, further comprising automatically
increasing rotational speed in a range of 300 rpm to 1700 rpm.
13. The method of claim 5, further comprising cooling the basin to
regulate a temperature of the mixture.
14. The method of claim 5, wherein the liquid consists of water and
step (b) further comprising adding ice to the basin.
15. A method of separating plant material from plants, the method
comprising: (a) providing a basin with two rounded corners; (b)
placing liquid and plants inside the basin to form a mixture; (c)
rotating the mixture inside the basin in one rotational direction
until a first double agitation is formed in the mixture, the first
double agitation comprising a vortex of the mixture about an axis
of rotation of the vortex, and a second agitation of the mixture
adjacent to a first one of the two rounded corners of the basin;
(d) reversing the rotational direction of the mixture until a
second double agitation is formed in opposite directions, the
second double agitation comprising another vortex of the mixture
about the axis of rotation, and another agitation of the mixture
adjacent to a second one of the two rounded corners of the basin
and separating plant material from the plants; and then (e)
filtering the mixture to remove selected portions of the plant
material from the mixture.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising repeating steps (c)
and (d) at increased speeds of rotation, and repeating step (d) at
selected intervals.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein step (e) comprises draining the
mixture from the basin.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein filtering further comprises
removing a series of filters with the selected portions of the
plant material.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically
increasing rotational speed in a range of 300 rpm to 1700 rpm.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the liquid consists of water,
step (b) further comprising adding ice to the basin, and the method
further comprises cooling the basin to regulate a temperature of
the mixture.
21. A method of separating plant material from plants, the method
comprising: (a) providing a basin with two rounded corners; (b)
placing liquid and plants inside the basin to form a mixture; (c)
rotating the mixture inside the basin in one rotational direction
until a first double agitation is formed in the mixture, the first
double agitation comprising a vortex of the mixture about an axis
of rotation of the vortex, and a second agitation of the mixture
adjacent to a first one of the two rounded corners of the basin;
(d) reversing the rotational direction of the mixture until a
second double agitation is formed in opposite directions, the
second double agitation comprising another vortex of the mixture
about the axis of rotation, and another agitation of the mixture
adjacent to a second one of the two rounded corners of the basin
and separating plant material from the plants; and then repeating
steps (c) and (d) at increased speeds of rotation, and repeating
step (d) at selected intervals.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising draining the mixture
from the basin and filtering the mixture to remove selected
portions of the plant material from the mixture.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising automatically
increasing rotational speed in a range of 300 rpm to 1700 rpm.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the liquid consists of water,
step (b) further comprising adding ice to the basin, and the method
further comprises cooling the basin to regulate a temperature of
the mixture.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to separating sticky
particulate from plant material. More specifically, the present
invention relates to separating resin heads from cannabis
plants.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Hashish is a consumable compress of purified psychoactive
resin from the glandular trichomes of the cannabis plant. The
trichomes are found on the flowers, and to a lesser extent, in the
stems and leaves of the plant. Historically, separating the
trichomes from the plant has been very difficult as the resin
within the trichomes is quite sticky. Methods such as flat
screening or dry sieving require practice and skill, are
inefficient, and often result in a lower quality product that
contains broken leaf-matter contaminants. Use of chemical solvents
can alter the resin and produce unwanted by-products. Machines,
such as that disclosed by Raichart in U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,631,
which tumble the plant flowers and collect the sticky trichomes on
sieving screens, although inexpensive, are also inefficient, and
are difficult to clean and reuse.
[0006] Some success has been found with a process using ice, water,
and a mechanical agitator. The ice reduces the stickiness of the
resin in the trichome heads, and the mechanical agitator forces the
trichome heads to break away from their stalks and botanical
material. In addition, the use of ice and mechanical agitators on
the botanical material creates plant particulate contamination in
the final resin product, creating an inferior product and harsh
flavors.
[0007] An example of an ice and agitator method is the cold water
cleaning process and machine disclosed by Reinhard in U.S. Pat. No.
6,158,591. This machine uses an agitator similar to an electric
mixer that macerates the leaves of the plant, damaging them before
the resin can be removed. The machine requires the use of ice to
keep the water as cold as possible, but the ice also damages the
plant material, resulting in inefficiencies in the process. The
machine also contains internal screens which are easily blocked by
sticky resin and plant biomass, making them ineffective and
preventing effective flow of liquid through the machine.
[0008] The present invention addresses these issues by combining a
low temperature process with a double vortex pattern of liquid flow
to gently remove the resin heads from the botanical material. The
double vortex flow is created through a uniquely shaped basin in
combination with a user controlled rotator plate. The double vortex
flow results in a gentle, yet powerful, turbulence. The rolling
effect of this turbulence gently removes the cold-water hardened
trichome heads from their stalks, yielding a much cleaner and
desirable end product. A subsequent filtration process is used to
separate the resin containing trichome heads from the liquid. The
filtration system uses a series of different sized filters to
separate elements of the plant's biomass contaminants from the
trichome heads. The result is a maximum separation of the resin
containing trichome heads from the plant surface with negligent to
non-existent contamination.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is a method and apparatus that
separates trichome heads from plants using a double vortex liquid
flow to separate the trichomes from the leaves, flowers, and stems.
The plant parts are placed with very cold liquid in a jacketed
basin which contains a rotator plate near the bottom. The shape of
the basin is circular on the front half, and a rounded square on
the back half. The plant biomass is soaked in this cold liquid bath
until fully hydrated, such that all plant components are completely
softened and any flowers begin to open.
[0010] Following hydration, the user starts the rotator plate
spinning, creating a central vortex. As the liquid swirls and picks
up speed, the outer edge of the liquid flow rolls off the back side
of the rounded square portion of the basin and rolls over the
mid-section of the liquid flow, creating a powerful, rolling
turbulence in a second vortex. After establishing this second
vortex, the direction of rotation of the rotator plate is reversed,
causing more gentle turbulence as the liquid flow reverses
direction. When the double vortexes are created in the opposite
direction, the rotator plate is again reversed to repeat the
process. Each time the rotator plate direction is reversed, the
velocity is increased to increase the power of the turbulence.
[0011] The liquid and separated plant biomass and trichome head
resin material are evacuated from the basin through a Venturi style
drain which creates a powerful flow of liquid toward the external
filtration system. That powerful flow is necessary to ensure the
separated plant biomass and sticky trichome head resin material do
not get trapped in the drain.
[0012] The filtration system employs a series of different sized
external filters to separate elements of used plant biomass,
trichome head resin material, and contaminants. The first filter is
designed to capture plant components that have passed through the
drain and are not fully cleaned of resin. The plant components
captured in this first filter may be removed and returned to the
basin for further resin separation. The second filter catches the
smallest botanical particles while allowing the resin components to
pass through. Some resin particulate may remain with the plant
material on the second filter and it may be removed and rinsed with
high pressure water spray to capture more of the resin product. The
final filter is designed to capture the resin product which is then
removed from the filter for further processing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A more complete understanding of the present invention may
be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when
considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference
numbers refer to similar items throughout the figures and:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the Double
Vortex Machine showing the exterior of the Basin on a Cart, the
Outflow Pipe and Valve, and the Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a view of the top of the Double Vortex Machine
without a Cover or a Cart and showing the interior shape, the
Rotator Plate and the location of the Venturi drain.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross section of the Double Vortex Machine
showing the Jacketing, a possible shape of the Rotator Plate, the
location of the Motor and the Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly showing
three Filters.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic showing the liquid flows in the First
and Second vortexes when the Rotator Plate is spinning in the
clockwise direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In the following detailed description of the invention,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of
the disclosure and, which show by way of illustration, and not of
limitation, specific embodiments by which the invention may be
practiced. The drawings, the foregoing discussion, and the
following description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its application
in any manner.
[0019] The apparatus of the present invention is a Double Vortex
Machine 101 and a Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly 102, used in
conjunction with a liquid source. FIG. 1 shows one possible
embodiment of the invention as installed conveniently on an
optional Cart 107. The liquid is preferably water, and the source
may be a food-grade water hose with a high pressure spray nozzle
attached. In another embodiment, the Double Vortex Machine 101 may
also be hard plumbed to a water or other liquid source. The Double
Vortex Machine 101 has a uniquely shaped Basin 104, a Rotator Plate
201, a Motor 302, a Control Unit 103, a Venturi Drain 202, and an
Outflow Pipe Assembly 105. The Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly 102 is
attached to the Outflow Pipe Assembly 105 and includes a series of
removable Filters 305, 306, and 307. The attributes of each element
of the assembly are described throughout the following description
of the extraction process.
[0020] The process begins with hydration of the plant product in
the Basin 104 of the Double Vortex Machine 101. As shown in FIG. 2,
the Basin 104 is shaped such that the front half is a semi-circle
and the back half is a rounded square. The distance from the center
of the semi-circle to the flat portion of the rounded square is
preferably equal to, or just slightly larger, than the radius of
the semi-circle. The Basin 104 is preferably made of stainless
steel to prevent the resin from sticking to the surface and to
facilitate cleaning, but it may be made of any other suitable
material. The Basin 104 is also preferably jacketed as shown in
FIG. 3, and may have a Cover 106 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to help
maintain the liquid temperature at close to freezing.
[0021] A Venturi Drain 202, located in the bottom of the Basin 104,
is connected to the Outflow Pipe Assembly 105 which includes a
Valve 303. The Valve 303 is preferably manually operated, but may
also be electrically connected to, and controlled by, the Control
Unit 103. With the Valve 303 in the closed position, the Basin 104
is filled approximately two thirds full with very cold liquid,
preferably water. If a cold liquid source is not available, the
temperature of the liquid may be reduced to near zero degrees
Celsius via the introduction of coolant to the Jacketed Portion 304
of the Basin 104, if the Basin 104 is jacketed. The plant product
is placed in the Basin 104 with the very cold liquid and is soaked
in this bath until all elements are fully hydrated and any flowers
begin to open.
[0022] The Rotator Plate 201, located at the geometric center of
the Basin 104, is positioned slightly above the bottom of the Basin
104 such that there is sufficient clearance beneath the Rotator
Plate 201 to ensure plant material does not become trapped
underneath. The shape of the Rotator Plate 201 is preferably fairly
flat with several ribs of sufficient height to move the liquid into
a First Vortex 401 when it is rotated, as shown by the arrows in
FIG. 4. The Rotator Plate 201 is preferably made of stainless
steel, but may be made of any suitable material. The Rotator Plate
201 is connected mechanically to a Motor 302 which is connected
electrically to the Control Unit 103. The Motor 302 has variable
speed capability, preferably from 300 to 1700 rpm, which may be
adjusted by the user through the Control Unit 103. The Control Unit
103 is preferably designed to automatically reverse the Motor 302
direction at intervals based on the adjusted speed, but this
reversal may also be done manually by the user. The Motor 302 and
Control Unit 103 components are all readily available catalogue
items, and no particular model(s) or specifications are
indicated.
[0023] After hydration of the plant product is complete, the user
starts the Rotator Plate 201 spinning using the Control Unit 103.
The spinning of the Rotator Plate creates a First Vortex 401 in the
Basin 104. As the liquid swirls and picks up speed, the outer edge
of the liquid flow rolls off the back side of the rounded square
portion of the Basin 104 and rolls over the mid-section of the
liquid flow, creating a Second Vortex 402 as shown in FIG. 4. After
establishing this Second Vortex 402, the direction of rotation of
the Rotator Plate 201 is reversed, either automatically through
design of the Control Unit 103, or manually by the user. The
reversal action creates more turbulence as the liquid flow reverses
direction. Ultimately, double vortexes are created in the opposite
direction, and the user, or the Control Unit 103, reverses the
Rotator Plate 201 direction again to repeat the process.
[0024] Each time the Rotator Plate 201 direction is reversed, the
velocity is preferably increased to increase the power of the
turbulence. The increase in velocity is preferably manually
adjusted by the user, but it may also be automated in the Control
Unit 103.
[0025] After a sufficient amount of trichome heads containing resin
have been separated from the plant material, the Rotator Plate 201
rotation is stopped and the filtering portion of the process is
started. The Valve 303 in the Outflow Pipe Assembly 105 is opened
and the liquid, processed plant biomass and separated trichome
heads containing the resin flow through the Venturi Drain 202 to
the Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly 102. The Valve 303 is preferably
manually operated, but may also be an electronically controlled and
operated valve, such as a solenoid. If an electronically controlled
valve is used, it would preferably be electrically connected to,
and operated by, the Control Unit 103.
[0026] The Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly 102 contains at least two,
and preferably three, removable Filters 305, 306, and 307. The
First Filter 305, preferably with a mesh size of approximately 190
microns, is sized to capture plant components that have passed
through the drain and are not fully cleaned of resin. The plant
components captured in this First Filter 305 may be removed and
returned to the basin for further resin separation. The
Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly 102 preferable contains a Middle
Filter 306 with a mesh size of approximately 160 microns that will
capture both trichome heads containing resin material and plant
biomass of a similar size. Some resin particulate may remain with
the plant material on the Middle Filter 306, and it may be removed
and rinsed with high pressure water spray to capture more of the
resin product. The Final Filter 307, preferably with a mesh size of
approximately 45 microns, captures the resin product. The Final
Filter 307 is removed and the resin is cleaned from it to be
prepared for further processing.
[0027] Many modifications and variations of this invention may be
made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art. For example, the
Multi-Tiered Filter Assembly 102 could contain several additional
intermediate filters to facilitate the filtering process. The
cleaning of the filters could also be automated by including space
and controls for high pressure liquid sprays between each of the
filters. Also, although water is specified herein as preferable,
any suitable liquid could be used as the medium for the plant
material. The specific embodiments described herein are offered by
way of example only. The embodiments were chosen and described in
order to best explain the principles of the invention and its
practiced applications.
* * * * *