Concurrent Gas Or Vapor Flow Only Patents (Class 34/136)
  • Patent number: 10900192
    Abstract: A sediment capping system is adapted to create, and distribute, a homogenized mixture of capping material. Where distributing the capping material, the system is configured to militate against the capping material forming clumps of a size and weight that would disturb the sediment on a bottom of a body of water. This in turn militates against the sediment being disturbed, and a disturbing of pollutants and toxins into the water surrounding the sediment. The sediment capping system militates against the clumping of capping material through a vibrating spreader and baffle system, producing a sediment cap with a more consistent depth that will minimally disturb the sediment on the floor of the body of water where the sediment cap is being deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CASHMAN DREDGING AND MARINE CONTRACTING, CO., LLC
    Inventors: Chris Sheedy, Tim Mannering
  • Patent number: 10723808
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a cellulose ether including a drying step capable of continuously and stably drying a highly adhesive wet cellulose ether with high thermal efficiency without causing adhesive growth and solidification of the wet cellulose ether in a dryer. More specifically, the method for producing a cellulose ether includes a step of drying a wet cellulose ether having water content of more than 50% by weight in a rotary type through-flow dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10337795
    Abstract: A drying machine for pasty and/or granular substances, which comprises a supporting frame for a plurality of superimposed conveyor belts, the frame being provided with lateral openings for the passage of air, each conveyor belt being supported by a plurality of spaced rollers which are pivoted to the frame, the rollers being surrounded by spacers which are adapted to define, between the rollers and the belt, air passage spaces to optimize the drying of the conveyed substances, each roller being surrounded by a single helical body with spaced turns that define the air passage space between the roller and the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: OFFICINE FACCO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Finco
  • Patent number: 10240866
    Abstract: Vacuum rotary automatic dryers for fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, medicines and granulate, is composed of the box frame (5), the loading conveyor (6) and the hopper (7), whereby on the box frame (5) in the upper horizontal sector is the shaft (18), mounted to which the frame (8) is attached, in which a cylinder (4) is mounted with the cover (32), which rotates around its axis using an electric motor (11). In the cylinder (4) are small cylinders (1) inserted in which the products for drying are loaded. In the process of loading the products, cylinder (4) with the cylinders (1) is placed in a vertical position, and then, in the drying process, it is rotated into a horizontal position by a pneumatic cylinder (19). Low-pressure in smaller cylinders (1) is achieved using a vacuum pump (2), and the warm water is fed through a swivel joint (25) through a hollow shaft (9) in the central tube (26) and the space of cylinder (4) and flows around the outer surface of small cylinders (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Marko Palic
  • Patent number: 10194577
    Abstract: A horizontal rotating drum for mixing and drying treated seed with multiple functional zones separated by one or more dams that are attached to and rotate with the drum. The dam regulates the flow of seed through the drum's functional zones. The dam has one or more cleanout passages and an overflow passage centrally disposed within the dam to selectively regulate seed flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KSI Conveyor, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry N Kaeb, Paul Arthur Kaeb, Todd William Kaeb
  • Patent number: 8959789
    Abstract: A tunnel-type rotary drum tumble dryer includes a cabinet (1) with a loading door (2) and an unloading door (3) on opposite sides, and a drum (4) arranged inside the cabinet (1) for rotating with respect to a horizontal or inclined geometric axis (E). The drum (4) has a revolution wall (5) around the axis (E), and end openings (5a, 5b) at opposite ends facing said loading and unloading doors (2, 3). The tumble dryer also includes an air circulator that includes an air inlet (8) facing one of the end openings (5a, 5b) of the drum (4) and an air outlet (9) adjacent to the other end opening (5a, 5b) of the drum (4) for creating an axial flow of drying air inside and from one end to another of the drum (4) through the clothing tumbling inside the drum (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Girbau, S.A.
    Inventors: Ramón Sans Rovira, Daniel Arcarons Alibes, Jordi Garcia Ferrera
  • Patent number: 8793891
    Abstract: A novel collapsible aeration system is retrofitted into a grain bin with a discharge opening in the bottom. This grain bin may have a sloped or conical hopper or a flat bottom. The aeration system is formed from a set of connected (e.g. hinged) duct sections that define a round or multi-sided duct having a minimum of three sides or faces. The sides may be flat, curved or corrugated. The collapsible aeration system is folded (collapsed), inserted into the bin via a hole, and then unfolded inside the bin. An air duct is connected to the aeration system to enable the aeration system to dry the grain in the grain bin. This technology enables existing grain bins to be retrofitted with a dryer in an easy and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: AG Growth International, Inc.
    Inventor: Imre Varro
  • Patent number: 8601711
    Abstract: A radial rotary dryer improves drying efficiency for sludge and other substances, prevents clogging phenomenon, and is realized in a simple structure. The radial rotary dryer includes spaces formed by inner and outer drums and partitioned by a plurality of radial plates. The substances, which have been introduced through a drum inlet together with hot blowing air, sequentially move throughout all spaces and are dried during drum rotation. The substances are discharged through an opposite side of the inner drum. A lift plate is attached at one surface of each radial plate to improve the drying efficiency. Hammers are attached to an opposite surface of the radial plate to free-fall according to the rotation of the drum, thereby crushing the substances. The radial rotary dryer is useful to dry sewage sludge, food waste, or other industrial substances with the best drying efficiency, the minimum installation space, and a crushing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7980002
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary drum in which the hygienic status of pourable solids separated from liquid cattle manure is modified by aerobic heating in such a manner that said solids can be reused as bedding in cattle sheds. The object of the invention is to obtain a high loading factor amounting to 60-70% filling of the drum which is located horizontally for installation in an insulated container. In accordance with the invention, the loaded solid is kept in a chamber and is only transferred to the drum when there is no solid surrounding the chamber. The crucial element is a flap of the chamber which only opens and closes in this area. If there is any solid resting on the outside of the flap then opening of the flap is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Röhren-und Pumpenwerk Bauer Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Dietrich Eichler
  • Patent number: 7155841
    Abstract: An improved rotary shell or drum dryer (10) is provided having an elongated, horizontally disposed, axially rotatable shell (12) with product and air inlets (14, 18) and an outlet (16) at opposite ends of the shell. Internally, the dryer (10) includes axially spaced apart first and second drying sections (26, 28) each having a turbulator (30, 32) and a downstream serpentine flow section (34, 36). The turbulators (30, 32) are designed to divert portions of a product/airstream in different directions respectively to achieve the intense mixing similar to that obtained in an impingement dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Earth Care Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Livingston
  • Patent number: 6363625
    Abstract: A drying and mixing plant is provided comprising a tapered inner drum (1) and an oppositely tapered outer drum (4) attached together concentrically and rotated as a unit. A burner (37) directs a hot air stream into the small end (2) of the inner drum (1). Material is fed into the small end of the inner drum, where impellers (40) lift it and drop it into the hot air stream and move the material through the inner drum (1) aided by the downward taper of the inner drum. The material exits the inner drum and enters the outer drum (4) where an additive material is introduced and mixed with the material (42) as both move through the chamber (28) between the inner and outer drums to a material outlet. The receiving end (5) of the outer drum (4) is enclosed in a shroud (12), therefore the air stream is directed through the chamber (28) between the drums, the chamber having an expanding cross section which slows the air down allowing fines to precipitate out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Niew Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Niemi
  • Patent number: 6324770
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the hot air roasting of coffee beans is provided and includes structure for inhibiting contaminants from entering the hot air stream used in the roasting of coffee beans, structure for obtaining a uniform roast of the coffee beans, unitary structure for mounting a handle to a roasting chamber and removably and releasably mounting a cover to the roasting chamber, structure for initiating a roasting cycle and terminating the roasting cycle for a predetermined cooling period at any point during the roasting cycle, structure for double sealing a cover to a roasting chamber, structure for assembling a vessel, a metallic base, and a plastic mount ring into an integral roasting chamber, structure for releasably and removably mounting a roasting vessel to a main housing, dual filters for preventing the blockage of a hot air stream through a hull and chaff collector, and a “fan based” method for controlling the roasting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Alan R. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6195912
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the hot air roasting of coffee beans is provided and includes structure for inhibiting contaminants from entering the hot air stream used in the roasting of coffee beans, structure for obtaining a uniform roast of the coffee beans, unitary structure for mounting a handle to a roasting chamber and removably and releasably mounting a cover to the roasting chamber, structure for initiating a roasting cycle and terminating the roasting cycle for a predetermined cooling period at any point during the roasting cycle, structure for double sealing a cover to a roasting chamber, structure for assembling a vessel, a metallic base, and a plastic mount ring into an integral roasting chamber, structure for releasably and removably mounting a roasting vessel to a main housing, dual filters for preventing the blockage of a hot air stream through a hull and chaff collector, and a “fan based” method for controlling the roasting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Alan R. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6110430
    Abstract: The present invention is a decontamination plant for removing contaminates from contaminated material. The decontamination plant comprises an outer shell including a cavity therein. A drum formed of heat conductive material is rotatably mounted in the cavity defined by the outer shell so as to form an annular heating chamber between the drum and the outer shell. A plurality of heat sources are positioned to discharge heat into the annular heating chamber. The drum also has an inner surface defining a decontamination chamber. A tube is concentrically supported within the decontamination chamber formed in the drum. The tube has an inlet which is in communication with the annular heating chamber so as to receive flue gases therefrom. The outlet of the tube is positioned to exhaust gases from the drum. The drum is slightly inclined from a material receiving opening to a soil discharge end so as to cause the material which is being decontaminated to progress through the decontamination chamber as the drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: CMI Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Swisher, Jr., Jerry R. Collette, Jianmin Zhang
  • Patent number: 6101736
    Abstract: A combined spray and rotary drying apparatus includes a spray dryer having a housing defining a spray drying chamber, an annular inlet and an outlet. A burner and atomizer sprayer are provided in the spray drying chamber. The outlet of the spray drying chamber feeds into a rotary drying drum. A raw material feed chute is also provided for feeding raw material of relatively low moisture content directly to the rotary dryer. Methods of drying a raw material and of processing raw animal parts are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Griffin Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis B. Griffin, John L. Crowley
  • Patent number: 6061924
    Abstract: A dehydrating apparatus includes a chamber for receiving wet material to be dehydrated. A rotatably-mounted agitator is provided with the chamber. The agitator is adapted to agitate material in the chamber when the agitator rotates in a first direction and convey the material out of the chamber when the agitator rotates in the other, second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Rubicon Development Co. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Danny R. Bolton, David L. Bigham
  • Patent number: 6058623
    Abstract: Apparatus and processes for removing volatile components from a composition utilize a dryer having an inlet chamber and a plurality of channels. A flow restriction is disposed immediately upstream of the inlet of each channel with respect to a direction of flow of the composition through the dryer. The process includes the step of heating the composition at a location upstream of the flow restriction to a temperature above the flashing temperature of at least one of the components at a pressure of the channel inlet and applying a pressure to the heated composition to avoid such flashing. The process further includes the step of passing the pressurized, heated composition through the dryer inlet chamber, the flow restriction, and through the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The Chemithon Corporation
    Inventors: Burton Brooks, Walter A. Jessup, Brian W. MacArthur
  • Patent number: 5946815
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for roasting legumes such as soybeans to enhance their nutritional properties. Raw legumes are introduced to a roaster having an oven section and a steeping section downstream of the oven section. The raw legumes are heated to a selected roasting temperature in the oven section as they are moved through the oven section to and through the steeping section. Throughout the passage of the legumes through the oven and steeping sections the legumes are mixed continously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Clifford C. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 5822881
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating refuse by non-combustibly shrinking plastics in the refuse. The trash is heated to a temperature of at least 250.degree. to 500.degree. for a minimum period of time. A rotatable chamber heats the refuse and transports the refuse for the minimum period of time. An operator controls the rate of rotation of the chamber and thus the time of heating in accordance with the moisture content of the refuse. A steam/air mixture used as a heat medium serves to kill bacteria in the refuse in addition to shrinking and drying the refuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventors: Frank T. Romweber, Dennis F. Sowa
  • Patent number: 5813138
    Abstract: An aerated belt conveyor system for conveying hot expanded minerals including a longitudinal power driven belt conveyor surrounded by an envelope is described herein. An exhauster creates an air flow in the envelope to aerate expanded mineral material conveyed by the power driven belt conveyor and cool the mineral material to an adequate bagging temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventors: Richard Barabe, Yvan Boisvert
  • Patent number: 5778558
    Abstract: A pellet conditioning device (10) for the cooling and/or drying of preformed discrete pellets (148) is provided which includes an upright pellet-receiving bin (12) with a dual grate assembly (18) therein. The assembly (18) includes a stationary first grate comprising a plurality of upright, apertured grate wall members (86), and a shiftable second grate including a plurality of elongated, obliquely oriented plates (106) located between and in spanning relationship to adjacent pairs of the wall members (86). Shifting structure (20) is provided for selective and sequential translational, rectilinear shifting movement of the lower margins (110) of the plates (106) so as to successively open and close a pellet passageway (117) adjacent each lower margin (110). A duct and fan arrangement (38) is also provided with the bin (12) so as to draw cooling air currents through the grate assembly (18) and pellets (148) therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: LaVon G. Wenger, Douglas S. Clark, Nicholas B. Scott
  • Patent number: 5746006
    Abstract: A single pass rotary dryer in which heated gas and a moist material is blown through a rotating drum. The drum has inwardly extending flights or vanes which deflect particles of the material back into the gas flow. A flight is oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the drum in order to present an ascending ramp to incoming material. There is a core oriented longitudinally in the drum. The core may be hollow and perforated with holes through which particles of material may pass. The core may have flights and a narrowing closed end facing the incoming material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Duske Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfried P. Duske, Robert T. Hogue, Kenneth J. Koeslin
  • Patent number: 5737849
    Abstract: A recycled asphalt product (RAP) drying apparatus comprising a three-zone counterflow RAP dryer and a duct system to recycle essentially all of the hot gases back through the system. The three-zone RAP dryer has a combustion zone at one end, a drying zone at the other end, and a buffer zone between the combustion and drying zones. A RAP inlet to introduce RAP into the dryer is included at one end of the drying zone, and a RAP outlet to remove RAP from the dryer is included at the other end of the drying zone. A duct pathway routes hot air from the drying zone back to the buffer zone so that hot air may be recycled through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Jat Enterprise Inc. of Indiana
    Inventors: Troy R. Morrison, Billy Joe Mullinax
  • Patent number: 5638607
    Abstract: A roasting apparatus for coffee beans and other food includes a removable drum on the housing rotatable about a horizontal axis and drive means on the housing for supporting and rotating the drum. The drum has a plurality of internal vanes arranged such that i) as the drum is rotated in one direction the beans are stirred and retained by the vanes within the drum, and ii) as the drum is rotated in the opposite direction the beans are moved by the vanes toward the drum opening for dispensing from the roasting apparatus. A removable cover includes a safety interlock which, when activated, prevents opening of the cover when the drum is at bean roasting temperature and which automatically deactivates upon cooling of the drum to permit opening of the cover to remove the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Source Intermarketing AG
    Inventors: Anthony R. Lemme, Chester Fudge
  • Patent number: 5620249
    Abstract: A compact, enclosable plant for producing hot mix asphalt from various ingredients, including recycle asphalt pavement ("RAP"). The system includes an inclined rotary drum, a burner assembly for generating a hot gas stream within the drum; a baghouse, exhaust blower, and stack mounted above the drum for reclaiming entrained particulate matter; an auger arrangement for returning the reclaimed particulate matter to the: and a supporting frame. The baghouse has a lower chamber for collecting the reclaimed particulate matter and for serving as a primary hopper for certain of the various ingredients. A plurality of preferably rectangularly shaped storage and loadout silos for containing certain of the ingredients and the hot mix asphalt, and conveyors for conveying the certain ingredients and hot mix asphalt to and from the storage and loadout silos, and to a bypass chute for direct loading on transport vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Cedarapids, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Musil
  • Patent number: 5613306
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating refuse by non-combustibly shrinking polyfoam plastics in the refuse. The trash is heated at a temperature between 250.degree. and 500.degree. for a minimum period of time. A rotatable chamber heats the refuse and transports the refuse for the minimum period of time. An operator controls the rate of rotation of the chamber and thus the time of heating in accordance with the moisture content of the refuse. A steam/air mixture used as a heat medium serves to kill bacteria in the refuse in addition to shrinking. and drying the refuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Rapo-Shrink, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank T. Romweber, Dennis F. Sowa
  • Patent number: 5581902
    Abstract: A rotary drum dryer is provided which will dissipate heat from the drum and which will allow the drum to expand. The rotary drum dryer includes an elongate cylindrical drum which rotates on a base and a tire assembly mounted to the drum. The tire assembly includes a band extending circumferencially around the drum and being radially spaced from the drum and a circumferential tire mounted on the band. A plurality of linkage assemblies are spaced around the drum to physically connect the tire assembly to the drum and a plurality of gussets which maintain a desired spacing between the tire assembly and the drum to allow the drum to move relative to the tire assembly. The gussets each include a gusset body having a top edge and a notch formed in the top edge. The gussets act as vanes to dissipate heat from the drum before the heat reaches the tire assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Didion, Michael S. Didion
  • Patent number: 5580242
    Abstract: A rotary kiln has a generally cylindrical housing centered on and extending along an axis inclined to the horizontal and having an upper upstream end and a lower downstream end and a drive that rotates the kiln about its axis. Particles to be heat-treated are fed into the housing at the upstream end and are extracted from the downstream end. A plurality of axially separate heat-exchange radiators fixed in the housing are connected axially in series and a fluent heat-exchange medium is flowed serially through the radiators from the downstream end of the housing to the upstream end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Babcock BSH Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans Becker
  • Patent number: 5579587
    Abstract: A recycled asphalt product (RAP) drying apparatus comprising a three-zone counterflow RAP dryer and a duct system to recycle essentially all of the hot gases back through the system. The three-zone RAP dryer has a combustion zone at one end, a drying zone at the other end, and a buffer zone between the combustion and drying zones. A RAP inlet to introduce RAP into the dryer is included at one end of the drying zone, and a RAP outlet to remove RAP from the dryer is included at the other end of the drying zone. A duct pathway routes hot air from the drying zone back to the buffer zone so that hot air may be recycled through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: JAT Enterprises Inc. of Indiana
    Inventors: Troy R. Morrison, Billy J. Mullinax
  • Patent number: 5570517
    Abstract: An improved slurry dryer of the type having a plurality of beater blades carried on a rotating shaft in a cylindrical housing, the improvement in combination therewith of a plurality of scraper blades mounted on at least one disk carried by the rotating shaft at the inlet end of the dryer for scraping the cylindrical side wall and the end wall to prevent the material entering the dryer from adhering and remaining on the side and end wall of the cylindrical housing. The scraper blades are replaceable and adjustable with respect to the side and end walls of the housing by slotted mounting to accommodate wear of the scraper blades. An air dam in the form of a radially extending disk is provided downstream of the scraper blade disks to direct drying air radially outward to impinge on the slurry material to be dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Scott Equipement Company
    Inventor: William A. Luker
  • Patent number: 5566469
    Abstract: A thermal vaporization apparatus includes a cylindrical tube having two ends. A base is provided, with the tube being rotatable with respect to the base. A first drive mechanism applies rotating force to the tube. An auger having two ends extends through the tube, and a second drive mechanism applies rotating force to the auger. At least one gas-fired burner to heat the exterior of the tube while in rotation is provided. A feed mechanism for introducing wet material into the interior of the tube and exterior of the auger within the tube is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Fen-Tech Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny R. Bolton, David L. Bigham
  • Patent number: 5561917
    Abstract: A paper sludge drier includes a somewhat attrition style mill discharging to a horizontal, rotary drum drier. The mill has two mill plates facing each other. As one rotates relative to the other, sludge is broken down as it passes between the plates. The sludge flows generally from the center of the plates and outward through grooves running radially across the plates. The sludge is subsequently dried in the horizontal drum which has an integral internal screw that conveys the sludge through the drum. The sludge drier reduces the moisture content of the paper sludge from over 50 percent down to less than 20 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: William J. Ratajczek
  • Patent number: 5555639
    Abstract: An anti-clogging rotary drum dryer for drying stranded material is provided which includes a tubular, rotatable housing having an inlet for receiving drying gas and wet material, as well as first and second, apertured, telescopically interfitted tubes within the housing and defining the dryer flow path. The first and second tube apertures are designed for passage of the stranded material without clogging, and filler and lifting flight structure is provided within the dryer for assuring smooth, trouble-free operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Productization Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Livingston, Andrew D. Livingston
  • Patent number: 5525239
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heated aeration method of completing the processing of a partially treated mixture of wastewater sludge and alkaline materials to produce a biologically active but pathogenetically clean fertilizer which can safely and easily be spread on agricultural lands. Also disclosed are a product made by the method and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The mixture is loaded into a forceful stream of heated air which carries the mixture through a rotating, internally vaned drum which has an internal, longitudinal, vaned core which rotates with the drum. The core and the vanes impart paths to the mixture particles which allow smaller particles to exit quicker than larger and thereby avoid sterilization and which breaks up larger mixture particles and otherwise enhances the spreadability of the resultant fertilizer. A vane on the core is bent and its portion beyond the bend is pronged to facilitate showering rather than dumping mixture particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Duske Design & Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Wilfried P. Duske
  • Patent number: 5454176
    Abstract: A dryer for drying material carried along and dried by hot gases including a hollow rotatable drying drum with an inlet and a discharge end, means for driving the drum in rotation and a group of flights projecting into the gas flow stream to break up the material and retard the speed of flow of the material with the flowing gases with the flights arranged in one group at the outer periphery inside the drum and the other supported on a central axially extending core member arranged on the ends of arms projecting radially from the core member to provide satellite groups which are adjustable in a radial rotational and axial directions to change their location relative to the gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Gobel, Daniel W. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5455005
    Abstract: Material remediation apparatus includes a remediation drum through which materials, such as soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, are advanced from a feed end to a discharge end of the drum. A tube extending concentrically from the discharge end of the drum into the drum forms a combustion chamber. Materials being decontaminated advance through an annular space between the tube and the drum. The tube is axially first of converging and then of diverging shape, as viewed from the discharge end of the drum. A turbo burner injects combustible gases into the tube which are burned within the diverging shape of the tube. A portion of the burned gases reflow from the outlet of tube through the annular space to the discharge end of the drum. In a zone of the drum occupied by the tube materials are heated by conduction and radiation of energy passing through the wall of the tube as well as by convective heating from the reflow gases. Hot gases are exhausted from the drum at the feed end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Cedarapids, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Clawson, Joseph E. Musil
  • Patent number: 5412881
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating refuse by non-combustibly shrinking polyfoam plastics in the refuse. The trash is heated at a temperature between 250.degree. and 500.degree. for a minimum period of time. A rotatable chamber heats the refuse and transports the refuse for the minimum period of time. An operator controls the rate of rotation of the chamber and thus the time of heating in accordance with the moisture content of the refuse. A steam/air mixture used as a heat medium serves to kill bacteria in the refuse in addition to shrinking and drying the refuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: RSS, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank T. Romweber, Dennis F. Sowa
  • Patent number: 5405579
    Abstract: For the thermal treatment of contaminated soils, excavated soil is heated by indirect heat exchange up to 650.degree. C. in a rotary drum in the absence of oxygen. Pollutants are separated from the soil by a desorption medium. Moisture in the soil vaporized to steam can serve as the desorption medium. The resultant gaseous pollutant stream is condensed, and the pollutants are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reiner Melzer, Klaus Mikulla
  • Patent number: 5403395
    Abstract: An arrangement for the application of topical substances to base products. A rotatable star-shaped reel structure is rotated, in which a flowable base product is tumbled while being coated with the topical substance so as to ensure an appropriate uniform distribution of the topical substance on the surfaces of the base product while inhibiting the formation of clump-like agglomerates of coated base product on the internal surfaces of the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy J. McCullough, Kenneth A. Seymour, Harold F. Yother
  • Patent number: 5393501
    Abstract: Material remediation apparatus includes a remediation drum through which materials, such as soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, are advanced from a feed end to a discharge end of the drum. A tube extending concentrically from the discharge end of the drum into the drum forms a combustion chamber. Materials being decontaminated advance through an annular space between the tube and the drum. The tube is axially first of converging and then of diverging shape, as viewed from the discharge end of the drum. A turbo burner injects combustible gases into the tube which are burned within the diverging shape of the tube. A portion of the burned gases reflow from the outlet of tube through the annular space to the discharge end of the drum. In a zone of the drum occupied by the tube materials are heated by conduction and radiation of energy passing through the wall of the tube as well as by convective heating from the reflow gases. Hot gases are exhausted from the drum at the feed end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cedarapids, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Clawson, Joseph E. Musil
  • Patent number: 5386764
    Abstract: A grain roaster/cooler includes a fuel saving preheater and a roasting drum that rotates within a stationary housing. Heat radiated from the drum is captured in the form of hot air trapped in an air gap between the drum and the housing. A fan draws from this hot air supply and discharges through the incoming grain being supplied to the roaster. The incoming grain is thus preheated as it recovers heat that would have otherwise been lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Inventor: William J. Ratajczek
  • Patent number: 5337496
    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 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Enviro-Gro Technologies
    Inventor: John D. Glorioso
  • Patent number: 5285581
    Abstract: A dryer assembly dries waste materials to a predetermined moisture level. The dryer includes a drum having an inlet where waste materials and hot gasses are simultaneously introduced, and an outlet where dried materials and hot vapors are transferred out of the dryer. The drum presents a plurality of preheat baffles in which the material is heated by but does not contact the gasses, thereby avoiding premature combustion of the material. Baffle sections located downstream of preheat baffles uniformly distribute material downstream into a primary drying section of the drum, where the material is mixed with the gasses to uniformly dry the material to the predetermined moisture level. The primary drying section includes alternating baffle sections which dry the material and which recycle material that is not yet dried back into the preceding baffle sections, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Combustion Design Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5283961
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting foreign materials such as rocks and tramp iron from material fed to a rotary dryer, wherein the material is dropped into the dryer at an intake end for tumbling within the dryer in a stream of drying gas flowing axially through the dryer. A trough is positioned spaced downwardly and beneath the intake for catching the heavy foreign materials dropping downwardly, and the foreign materials are carried outwardly by a screw auger driven by the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Gobel
  • Patent number: 5261738
    Abstract: A drum mixer which is useful in the continuous production of asphalt paving composition. The mixer includes a hollow drum which is mounted for rotation about an inclined axis, and the aggregate is introduced into the upper end of the drum so that as the drum rotates, the aggregate cascades through the interior of the drum and moves toward a discharge outlet at the lower end of the drum. A burner is mounted adjacent one end of the drum so that a heated gas passes through cascading aggregate. To permit the temperature of the exhaust gas to be maintained within acceptable limits so as to avoid detrimental effects to a downstream filtering baghouse, a gas flow bypass system is mounted in the downstream end portion of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Donald Brock
  • Patent number: 5207009
    Abstract: A dryer consists of a horizontal drum rotated about its horizontal axis, containing flighting around its periphery, and coupled with a heat source, all of which is well known in the prior art. The dryer is open at only one end and provides an inner tubular member, centrally mounted coaxially in the drum which member presents a preheating chamber. Material to be dried is first fed into the inner tubular member at one end of the drum and is moved through the tubular member by a plurality of curved flights thus preheating the material in preparation for drying. The material is moved through the preheating chamber to the opposite closed end of the drum where it is deposited into the primary drying chamber of the drum. Flighting in the drum moves the material back toward the inlet end of the drum as it continues to be heated and dried and is then passed into a hopper where it is moved by a conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventors: Stanley P. Thompson, Kenneth J. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5203693
    Abstract: A rotary drum dryer is disclosed which is useful in the production of asphalt paving composition. The drum incorporates a burner which defines a combustion zone, and a novel dam and flight construction is mounted to the interior of the drum so that the flights surround the combustion zone. The dam is adapted to retain and raise the level of the aggregate flowing through the rotating drum so that the flights pass through the aggregate in the bottom of the drum, and the flights collect a portion of the aggregate on their top surfaces and carry the collected aggregate to an elevated discharge point, where the aggregate drops back to the bottom of the drum. The flights serve to shield the metal wall of the drum from the radiant heat energy of the burner flame which would otherwise result in its rapid deterioration, and they also serve to permit the aggregate to be effectively exposed to the radiant heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 5197204
    Abstract: A rotary dryer (1) for the drying of, for example, biological sludge, comprises a rotatable drum having rake elements (6) with openings for the passage of sludge disposed on the inner side of the drum casing.A drying plant with such a dryer further comprises a hot-gas plant (3) and one or more co-rotating drying zones (4,5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Atlas Industries A/S
    Inventor: Jorgen Christensen
  • Patent number: 5191723
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to recover spent lime from various manufacturing processes, such as sugar manufacturing from sugar beets and sugar cane, for use as a nutritional flowing agent for poultry and animal feeds, comprises a first holding bin for receiving expended lime cake from a lime lagoon, a second holding bin for receiving expended lime cake from dewatering stockpiles, a rotary kiln dryer, a cyclone dust collector, a negative-air-pressure dust collector, and a product storage bin. As the lime cake is processed through the rotary kiln dryer, the lime cake is dried at a temperature having an upper limit such that the nutritive value of the lime cake is not destroyed. In the kiln, a substantial portion of the lime cake is converted to dust particles suspended in air, which air is directed through one or both of the collectors to collect and remove the suspended particles therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Herzog
  • Patent number: 5190371
    Abstract: A drying and mixing plant for producing a bituminous paving mixture comprises a drying and mixing drum (10) which is supported by a hydraulic cylinder (16) or other lifting means so that the inclination of the drum axis may be altered. By choosing a suitably small angle of inclination so that the drum inclines downwardly towards its outlet end, the plant may be used for continuous operation, so-called drum-mixing. Aggregates and other components may then be supplied continuously to the inlet end of the drum from silos (18), through a center intake (24) from another source (25) and binder such as bitumen may be supplied through a supply tube (58). Finished paving mixture is continuously discharged from the outlet end of the drum and passed to a product silo (28) via a conveyor (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Pedershaab Maskinfabrik A/S
    Inventor: Jorgen Gjerulff