Treated Material Recirculating Means Patents (Class 34/102)
  • Patent number: 11796251
    Abstract: A hemp biomass drying assembly that is disposed within a structure and having a central lift assembly, a rotatable tine assembly, an auger assembly, and a track drive assembly that are all connected to a control system to activate and operate all assemblies. The drying assembly has multiple modes of operation that include a spreading mode, a leveling mode, and stirring mode, and an unloading mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: The Shivvers Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joaquin A. Tormo, Jose A. Andrade, Michael J. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9782705
    Abstract: A tumbler may be used as defluidizer, dryer, coater, classifier, or dynamic filter. The tumbler includes a housing for rotatably supporting a removable screened drum on a plurality of rollers. The drum receives a solid/fluid slurry through an inlet chute. As the slurry travels through the drum, fluid exits the drum through a plurality of apertures in screens attached to the sides of the drum, while the solids continue along the drum's length until they reach one or more openings and exit the drum into an outlet chute. The outlet chute includes ridges that wrap around rings extending from the openings of the drum to prevent solids from escaping the outlet chute. To further dry the solids before they exit the drum, an air tube disposed within the drum is configured to direct air through the screens to an air blower intake positioned outside of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Thrasher, Duane Boothe, Kerry P. Morris, David Bryan, George N. Benoit
  • Patent number: 9759486
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for reducing moisture in mineral slurries, particularly mineral slurries containing minerals of small particle diameter, using a granular drying material. The invention also relates to novel mineral products and intermediates useful in connection with the process. The method and system reduced moisture by contacting the mineral slurry with the granular drying material. The granular drying material is selected to be readily separated from the dried minerals using a size separation technique such as a sieve screen. The granular drying material is the regenerated, preferably using a process involving heat exchange and cross-flow air. The granular drying material is preferably capable of regeneration and recycling in a continuous process with minimal attrition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: VITRINITE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Bland, C. Bruce McDaniel, Austin McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9719722
    Abstract: The present invention provides grain-drying facilities which can effectively use the heat energy of biomass combustion hot-air that has been generated in a biomass combustion furnace. The grain-drying facilities 1 include: a biomass combustion furnace 3 provided with a heat exchanger 24 for generating a hot air from a combustion heat of a biomass fuel and an outside air which has been taken in from the outside; and a circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 provided with a grain-drying portion 7 to which the hot air that has been generated in the biomass combustion furnace 3 is supplied through a pipe 15 for supplying a hot air, wherein the circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 has a plurality of warming pipes 6a in the grain-drying portion 7, and an exhaust hot-air is supplied to the warming pipes 6a from the biomass combustion furnace 3 through a pipe 11 for supplying the exhaust hot-air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Satake Corporation
    Inventor: Hirota Fujitomo
  • Patent number: 9506693
    Abstract: A grain dryer has a grain column configured to receive grain to be dried and ducts extending from a first wall of the grain column to a second wall of the grain column. The grain dryer is configured so that different numbers of the ducts are selectable for handling cooling air used for cooling the grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Kelly Brian Pauling
  • Patent number: 8806771
    Abstract: A low impact belt dryer is presented for drying pellets while minimizing high-energy pellet collisions that may create pellet dust or cause pellets to fracture. The dryer includes a vacuum chamber having multiple air knife assemblies that direct high velocity drying fluid towards the pellets and though a liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt to a vacuum port. The low impact dryer may also include a centrifugal dryer for dewatering the pellets before they pass though the vacuum chamber. The conveyor belt of the dryer may transport the pellets through multiple desiccation chambers where low velocity air is directed upwards though the belt to both dry and levitate the pellets above the belt. The dryer may also include a cleaning chamber for removing debris from the liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: George A. Holmes, Tadeuz Rybka
  • Patent number: 8567086
    Abstract: The inner space of a drying tank 4 is made up of a mixing and drying zone MZ to mix and dry supplied material 3 by swirling the material 3 upward onto rotor blades 5 and pressing the material centrifugally against a heated cylindrical inner surface of the tank wall 2, and a drying zone DZ beneath the mixing and drying zone MZ. An upper screw conveyer 15, connected to the upper part of the mixing and drying zone MZ transfers material 3 out of the drying tank 4. A lower screw conveyer 13, connected to the bottom of the mixing and drying zone MZ transfers material received from the upper conveyor 15 through a vertical transfer pipe 17 back into the drying tank 4 along with new material to be dried. A discharge screw conveyer 21 is connected to the drying zone DZ to discharge out dried material continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Masao Kanai
  • Patent number: 8533974
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems that are used for reclaiming components of wellbore cuttings material. In one illustrative embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes, among other things, a dryer that is adapted to receive a drill cuttings mixture that includes drilling fluid and cuttings material, the dryer being further adapted to treat the drill cuttings mixture by drying the cuttings material below a preselected moisture content level. The system also includes a moisture sensor that is adapted to sense a moisture content of the cuttings material after it is dried by the dryer, and a cuttings reinjection system that is adapted to reinject the dried cuttings material into a well bore. Additionally, the system includes a conveyor system that is adapted to convey the dried cuttings material to the cuttings reinjection system, wherein the conveyor system includes, among other things, a positive pressure pneumatic conveying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20130212903
    Abstract: A device for allowing efficient drying and a method thereof are established by increasing the opportunity and area to bring a drying object into contact with air and a method for producing dry fermented feed and dry fermented manure at low costs by using the fermentation heat is proposed. The drying object is floated while shifting and stirring the drying object in the drying vessel, and air is supplied from below, and the drying object is transported by an air current repeatedly from a lower part to an upper part of the drying vessel to increase the opportunity and area to bring the drying object into contact with dry air evenly and significantly improve shortening of time spent for drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Onose
  • Patent number: 8404191
    Abstract: Biowaste sterilizers are described. In one implementation an exemplary system has waste transport vessels that can be intermittently heated and pressurized, for example, with steam, and are interconnected to provide multiple sterilization pathways for waste as the waste is transported. Selected sterilization pathways may depend on attributes of the waste. Sterilization factors, such as mechanical shredding, application of steam, application of pressure, maintenance of temperature, separation of liquid, etc., are integrated into the waste transport features of the system, which can be made compact to save space while processing relatively large bulk amounts of materials, such as medical wastes. The system maintains safe isolation of bio-hazardous components in the waste from the external environment. A system controller provides parameters management, smart sterilization cycle control, quality assurance, safety management, diagnostics, and reporting over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Globe-Tek LLC
    Inventor: Donald L Sampson
  • Patent number: 8282892
    Abstract: Bio-waste sterilizers are described. In one implementation an exemplary system has waste transport vessels that can be intermittently heated and pressurized, for example, with steam, and are interconnected to provide multiple sterilization pathways for waste as the waste is transported. Selected sterilization pathways may depend on attributes of the waste. Sterilization factors, such as mechanical shredding, application of steam, application of pressure, maintenance of temperature, separation of liquid, etc., are integrated into the waste transport features of the system, which can be made compact to save space while processing relatively large bulk amounts of materials, such as medical wastes. The system maintains safe isolation of bio-hazardous components in the waste from the external environment. A system controller provides parameters management, smart sterilization cycle control, quality assurance, safety management, diagnostics, and reporting over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Globe-Tek LLC
    Inventor: Donald L. Sampson
  • Patent number: 8028438
    Abstract: A moisture control system generally comprising a collector element is configured to be incorporated into a structure to control moisture condensation on the interior and exterior of the structure. The collector element encourages condensation on its surface. The control system includes a channel in fluid communication with the collector element to direct the condensed liquid away from the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aqualizer, LLC
    Inventor: William Scott Pedtke
  • Patent number: 7870837
    Abstract: A blower system for livestock may include a housing. An air inlet may be located on the housing. One or more motors may be located in the housing. One or more fans may be coupled to at least one of the motors. The fans may be located in the housing. The fans may draw air in through the air inlet and expel air out through an air outlet located on the housing. A nozzle may be coupled to the air outlet. The nozzle may have a wide, narrow slit opening for air to exit the nozzle. The blower system may be portable. The blower system may allow a user to apply the air from the air outlet to livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Boss Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard G. Denison, Henry M. Craig, III
  • Patent number: 7785386
    Abstract: A process for treating an organic matter sludge includes, in a mixing stage, mixing an organic matter sludge and particulate sterilized organic matter, to form an organic matter mixture. This mixture is dried in a drying stage to obtain a homogeneous particulate organic product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Capensis Investments 497 (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Hendrik J. Venter, Carl Nieuwmeijer
  • Publication number: 20080022547
    Abstract: A drier apparatus for removing water or other liquids from various materials includes a mixer, drying chamber, separator and regenerator and a method for use of the apparatus. The material to be dried is mixed with a heated media to form a mixture which then passes through the chamber. While passing through the chamber, a comparatively cool fluid is passed counter current through the mixture so that the mixture becomes cooler and drier and the fluid becomes hotter and more saturated with moisture. The mixture is then separated into drier material and media. The media is transferred to the regenerator and heated therein by the hot fluid from the chamber and supplemental heat is supplied to bring the media to a preselected temperature for mixing with the incoming material to be dried. In a closed loop embodiment of the apparatus, the fluid is also recycled from the regenerator to the chamber and a chiller is utilized to reduce the temperature of the fluid to a preselected temperature and dew point temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Shivvers Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve D. Shivvers
  • Patent number: 7225819
    Abstract: The present invention is a method, apparatus and process for an improved substrate mounting and processing technique for various substrate treatments comprising cleaning, dicing, sawing, polishing, and planarization, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: David P Jackson
  • Patent number: 6298579
    Abstract: A fluidized-bed drying and classifying apparatus is provided with a main body (10) in which a fluidized bed is formed to dry a granular material and to classify the same into fine particles and coarse particles. A perforated gas-distributing plate (12) is disposed in a lower part of a region in which a fluidized bed (14) is formed in the main body (10), a wind box having the shape of a hopper is disposed below the perforated gas-distributing plate. A dropped material discharge device (29) is connected to the lower end of the hopper-shaped wind box (16) to discharge the material dropped into the wind box (16). A gas supply system (110) is connected to the wind box (16) to supply a fluidizing gas that serves as a drying hot gas and a classifying gas into the wind box. A material supply opening portion (20) is mounted to the main body (10) to feed the granular material. A discharge chute (24) is connected to the main body (10) to discharge dried coarse particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Ichitani, Isao Hayashi, Mikio Murao
  • Patent number: 5557859
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a crop growing in a field by continuously cutting the crop with a transportable cutter and forming a layer of the cut crop on a moving conveyor. A stream of solar heated air is continuously forced onto the moving crop to reduce its moisture content. Thereafter the crop is continuously formed into bales and the bales accumulated. The crop is processed by continuously cutting, solar drying, baling and accumulating it directly in the field in a one pass operation within a contained, transportable chamber. A dessicant material aids in removing moisture from air used for drying so that dried air can be recirculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Stanley C. Baron
  • Patent number: 5535525
    Abstract: An Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) tank vapor/liquid phase separator for collecting liquid while still allowing for efficient vapor flow in an IPA tank includes a first row and a second row of spaced-apart coplanar parallel catch trays. Vapor flows upwardly through the openings between the catch trays. The catch trays are arranged so that contaminated IPA condensate falls into either the first or second row of catch trays. In one embodiment, both of the catch trays are upright V-shaped or upright semi-circular-shaped. In another embodiment the catch trays are formed as plates with staggered holes formed therein for upward passage of vapor and for downward collection of condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith R. Gardner
  • Patent number: 5428906
    Abstract: A method of converting industrial, domestic or other sludge, into a pelletized or granular fertilizer, as well as a sludge converter for practicing the method. The sludge is dewatered to form sludge cake solids which are dried in a dryer, and then sorted with a sorter into a sorted product comprising oversized, undersized, and standard sized product. A portion of the sorted product is recycled for mixing and sizing in a mixer with the dewatered sludge cake solids. To control dust and odors, cyclones and a condenser remove a substantial portion of the gaseous particulate matter and condensable gases from the converter, and any remaining noncondensates are burned in the heat source flame. A waste oil burning heat source supplies heat energy to the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignees: PCL Environmental, Inc., Sludge Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart T. Lynam, Gerald F. Nelson, David H. Meese, Ronald V. Peterson, Michael G. Ruby, Alan White
  • Patent number: 5245762
    Abstract: A treating apparatus for drying wet sludge in batches or continuous feed which is circulated through the apparatus. The apparatus includes conveyor means for circulating the wet sludge in a closed loop and means for heating and circulating the dryer air around and about the conveyor means without contacting the sludge itself. It also includes means for heating and circulating cleaning air through the sludge to dry the sludge as it is circulating in the closed loop. A sensor is provided for determining the moisture content of the sludge and means are provided for discharging the sludge from the conveyor circulating means when the moisture content in the sludge reaches a predetermined level. A measured amount of cleaning air is drawn into the conveyor means from the atmosphere and circulates through the sludge itself to assist in drying and cleaning the sludge. This air is then withdrawn from the interior of the conveying means and exhausted through a cleaning means into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventors: Dennis R. Hartis, Thomas W. Hartis
  • Patent number: 5105560
    Abstract: A flow dryer is disclosed for comminuting and dehydrating matter using a stream of hot gas, said flow dryer being of the type employing an inlet duct in series with an agitator followed by a drying duct, the agitator having an inlet communicating with the inlet duct and an outlet communicating with the drying duct in order for hot gas to flow through the agitator, and control means operable to vary the residence time of matter in the agitator by varying the required exit characteristics for comminuted matter leaving the agitator through the agitator outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: AKT Consultant Pty Limited
    Inventors: Jose L. Ruiz-Avila, Ivan G. Casten
  • Patent number: 5016527
    Abstract: For an outdoor display of items for sale and for protecting such items against environmental elements such as dust, dirt, moisture, sunlight and temperature variations and the like, a lightweight box-like structure is formed of radiation reflecting material and is provided with venting apertures and includes manually movable transparent closure means formed in at least one side wall of the enclosing structure for affording ready visibility and access to items disposed within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Spamer, J. David Robertson, David C. F. Stoddard, James L. Hanna
  • Patent number: 5007181
    Abstract: A method for making stir-in type halophosphate phosphors to obtain a fluffy, deagglomerated powder is disclosed. A wet phosphor filter cake is fed into a toroidal-shaped direct-fired glass flash dryer in which a hot gaseous stream is circulating. The wet phosphor particles are suspended in the stream while the remaining liquid is evaporated. The dried phosphor powder is ejected from the dryer by centrifugal force and collected. Recovery efficiency of the process is about 99.9 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Jackson, John A. Arbie, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4989344
    Abstract: A system is described for producing small uniform pellets of predetermined size which are substantially free of fines from mechanically dewatered sewage sludge and a means for controlling odor from the production of said pellets. The system includes a process and apparatus for mixing the dewatered sludge with previously dried recycled particles of said sludge. Drying the mixture in a thermal drier, separating a substantial portion of the dried solids from the drier off-gas. Clarifying said separated solids to separate the pellets of predetermined size, oversized pellets, and undersized pellets and particles, mechanically crushing the oversized pellets and admixing the crushed oversized pellets with the undersized pellets and particles and recycling said mixture for mixture with incoming dewatered sludge to the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Enviro-Gro Technologies
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso
  • Patent number: 4956926
    Abstract: A system is described for producing small uniform pellets of predetermined size which are substantially free of fines from mechanically dewatered sewage sludge. The system includes a process and apparatus for mixing the dewatered sludge with previously dried, recycled particles of said sludge, drying said mixture in a thermal drier, separating a substantial portion of the dried solids from the drier off gas, clarifying said separated solids to separate the pellets of predetermined size, oversize pellets, and undersize pellets and particles, mechanically crushing the oversize pellets and admixing the crushed oversize pellets with the undersize pellets and particles, and recycling said mixture by mixing said mixture with incoming dewatered sludge to the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Enviro-Gro Technologies
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso
  • Patent number: 4949474
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying particulate material such as bark by forming a circulating bed of other material to be dried, which bed, being guided by wires, moves on an endless web around two wire turning rolls. Material to be dried is continuously fed onto the bed and dried material is continuously discharged from the innermost layers of the bed, such that the thickness of the bed remains constant. The material to be dried is discharged by means of a dosing cell roll, which is disposed in the opening between the horizontal section of the first wire loop and the horizontal section of the second wire loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventor: Eero Berg
  • Patent number: 4852269
    Abstract: A process is described for combining the disposal of sewage sludge and lime sludge economically by recalcining the lime sludge to product lime for municipal water treatment, and utilizing the excess heat from the recalcining process to dry and pelletize sewage sludge or to supplement the heat required to dry and pelletize said sewage sludge. The sewage sludge pellets then are produced in uniform sizes and have excellent value as a soil conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Enviro-Gro Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso
  • Patent number: 4829678
    Abstract: A system is described for producing small uniform pellets of predetermined size which are substantially free of fines from mechanically dewatered sewage sludge. The system includes a process and apparatus for mixing the dewatered sludge with previously dried, recycled particles of said sludge, drying said mixture in a thermal drier, separating a substantial portion of the dried solids from the drier off gas, clarifying said separated solids to separate the pellets of predetermined size, oversize pellets, and undersize pellets and particles, mechanically crushing the oversize pellets and admixing the crushed oversize pellets with the undersize pellets and particles, and recycling said mixture by mixing said mixture with incoming dewatered sludge to the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Enviro Gro Technologies
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso
  • Patent number: 4761893
    Abstract: A system is described for producing small uniform pellets of predetermined size which are substantially free of fines from mechanically dewatered sewage sludge. The system includes a process and apparatus for mixing the dewatered sludge with previously dried, recycled particles of said sludge, drying said mixture in a thermal drier, separating a substantial portion of the dried solids from the drier off gas, clarifying said separated solids to separate the pellets of predetermined size, oversize pellets, and undersize pellets and particles, mechanically crushing the oversize pellets and admixing the crushed oversize pellets with the undersize pellets and particles, and recycling said mixture by mixing said mixture with incoming dewatered sludge to the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso
  • Patent number: 4754437
    Abstract: An improved method for mixing and/or drying particulate material is achieved with a housing having a substantially cylindrical portion and a tapered portion arranged coaxially therewith. A motor-driven rotor is arranged within the housing and is provided with a plurality of impeller blades which are affixed at one end to the shaft member. The impeller blades extend substantially radially outwardly toward the internal surface of the housing means. Each blade has a dual pitch characteristic which, in combination with a direction or rotation permits establishment of first and second flows of the fluidized material in opposite directions in the housing. The first and second flows are combined in the tapered section of the housing wherein there is provided a terminating impeller which agitates the combined flows in response to rotation of the central shaft. A material flow of the particulate material with sufficient velocity will fluidize the material being mixed or dryed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Inventors: Lewis W. G. Doom, Lewis W. G. Doom, Jr., Robert W. Urban
  • Patent number: 4524528
    Abstract: This invention relates to solar grain drying apparatus in general, and more specifically to a windmill powered grain circulating conveyor mechanism used in conjunction with a solar heat source to accomplish a slow uniform drying of the contents of a grain bin; and having a unique conveyor support and rotation imparting mechanism, that insures that the grain lifted from the bottom of the grain bin, will be uniformly distributed around the periphery of the bin to promote the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Inventor: Thomas G. Ehlers
  • Patent number: 4499669
    Abstract: A combination surge and drying apparatus is described which includes first and second bins, a jacket surrounding the first bin for passage of a hot fluid therethrough, and air coils positioned within the jacket to be heated by the hot fluid. Air within the coils is directed into and through a hollow, apertured auger positioned to discharge material from the first bin to the second bin. An overflow port is included for returning excess material from the discharge auger back to the first bin to handle surges in demand for the material and also to facilitate drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Miller Hofft, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Haeck
  • Patent number: 4481721
    Abstract: A body of pulverulent material is confined in a receptacle, and a screw conveyor having a vertical axis conveys a predetermined quantity of the material per unit of time in the upward direction. The amount of the pulverulent material which is being conveyed is such that it fills the space between the turns of the helical conveyor screw of the screw conveyor, which is surrounded by a jacket, only in part, thus leaving a passage in the screw conveyor through which a stream of drying air is conveyed in contact with the pulverulent material so that the drying air withdraws moisture from the material. The rotational speed and/or the pitch or spacing of the consecutive turns of the conveyor screw is so selected that only such an amount of the pulverulent material enters through an opening in the jacket of the screw conveyor while the space between two consecutive turns is juxtaposed with the opening as to only partially fill such a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Inventor: Roderich W. Graff
  • Patent number: 4466200
    Abstract: Process and device for convectively drying grannular bulk material in a silo. A hot gas jet is vertically blown upward through a jet nozzle of jet aperture (orifice), a tube having a wall closed over is entire length is inserted into the bulk material coaxially with the axis of the vertical gas jet, the tube being lowered up to a particular distance above the bottom of the silo, in such a way that continuously an amount of the descending bulk material is entrained by the recycling gas jet and is blown into the vertically introduced upwardly directed jet of hot drying gas and the tube is of such a length that it projects with its top above the bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Inventor: Giok-Khoen Khoe
  • Patent number: 4398356
    Abstract: A gravity-flow grain dryer for particulate material comprises first and second generally vertical drying columns spaced apart to provide a plenum chamber therebetween, the drying columns each having opposed spaced perforate walls. First and second inputs are provided for introducing particulate material into top portions of the first and second drying columns, respectively. First and second discharge mechanisms are also provided for removing particulate material from bottom portions of the first and second drying columns, respectively. Conveyor means are provided for receiving the particulate material discharged from the first drying column and for conveying the particulate material to the second input. A flow of drying air is directed to the plenum chamber, whereby the drying air passes into the first and second drying columns to dry the particulate material, the drying air being subsequently discharged from the drying column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Inventor: Christianus M. T. Westelaken
  • Patent number: 4373272
    Abstract: Semi-insulating granular bed material in a spout inlet region of a spouted bed vessel between a draft tube and a portion of the vessel base section adjacent a fluid inlet is aligned along the force lines of an imposed localized electric field to thereby afford improved control over spout inlet conditions which affect processes carried out in the spouted bed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Jones, Morris H. Morgan, Peter W. Dietz
  • Patent number: 4372053
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying particulate material wherein the particulate material is passed through an enclosed chamber. A heated fluid is introduced into a portion of the enclosed chamber to heat and absorb the moisture from the particulate material. A cooling fluid is introduced into a portion of the enclosed chamber to cool and absorb moisture from the heated particulate material. The particulate material is recirculated through the enclosed chamber until the desired degree of drying is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: The Andersons
    Inventors: Robert J. Anderson, Glenn E. Hall
  • Patent number: 4349969
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which a grate is disposed in a housing for receiving a single bed of particulate material. The interior of the housing below the grate is divided into a plurality of zones and air is selectively passed through portions of the grate to fluidize corresponding portions of the bed above the zones. A plurality of pipes are provided in the bed for receiving excess particulate material accumulating in various portions of the bed and for blowing air into said latter portion, to reduce the build-up of particulate material in the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Stewart, Robert L. Gamble
  • Patent number: 4349967
    Abstract: Variable control is achieved over processes involving the spouting of magnetizable granular material in a draft tube-equipped spouted bed device through the application of a localized magnetic field in a spout inlet region of the device between an inlet of the draft tube and a portion of the device interior surface adjacent an associated fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Jones, Morris H. Morgan, Peter W. Dietz
  • Patent number: 4280283
    Abstract: A dryer system, such as is used in a pulverizing mill assembly, includes a hot gas generator which supplies drying gas to the starting point for a gas circulation system. The drying gas passes through the circulation system commingling with particles to be dried. The dried particles are removed whereupon the system gas flow is divided into a return portion and a spent portion for expulsion to ambient. Part of the system return flow is further freed of particles, compressed, and supplied to the hot gas generator as secondary gas. The return gas flow into the generator is regulated to control hot gas temperature in response to generator flow temperature. In addition, hot gas temperature may be controlled in response to system gas temperature by regulation of fresh primary air flow to the generator. Exhaust gases from the hot gas generator are introduced into the system return flow at the circulation starting point to repeat the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG
    Inventors: Jakob Ansen, Helmut Duill, Heinz Fasbender
  • Patent number: 4247987
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for continuous countercurrent contacting with magnetically stabilized fluidized beds. More particularly, the invention relates to the operation of a magnetically stabilized bed with continuous solid addition and removal. The bed particles which include a magnetizable component are stabilized against gas by-passing and solids back-mixing (except possibly for the flow or movement of the solids near entrance or exit ports or near fluid injection zones) during countercurrent contacting by the use of an applied magnetic field. The process of the invention is particularly suited for carrying out separation processes. The use of the applied magnetic field in such processes enables one to use small size fluidizable, adsorbent particles without encountering high pressure drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Costas A. Coulaloglou, Jeffrey H. Siegell
  • Patent number: 4234448
    Abstract: In treatment of aqueous solutions and suspensions of radioactive waste through a step of drying and pulverizing the aqueous solutions and suspensions and a successive step of compressing and solidifying the resulting powders of radioactive waste, a step of measuring a water content of the powders is provided between the step of drying and pulverizing and the step of compressing and solidifying. When the measured water content of the powders fails to satisfy a predetermined water content, the powders are eliminated from a system of the treatment without passing through the step of compressing and solidifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Hirano, Susumu Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 4051603
    Abstract: In a fluidized bed dryer or reactor in which particles are coated or aggregated to form granules, oversized particles are withdrawn and separated from the product of a desired granule size, the oversized particles are pulverized, and the pulverized particles are returned to the fluidized bed for further granulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: Struthers Scientific and International Corporation
    Inventor: Hobart Malcolm Kern, Jr.