Gravity Flow Of Treated Material Patents (Class 34/436)
  • Patent number: 6754979
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) is proposed for drying and heat-treating pellets with a stream of inert gas, wherein the apparatus has a cuboid base unit (2) with a feed (3) for the pellets in its upper part and an outlet (4) in its lower part, with a feed (5) on one lateral surface and with an exhaust base (6) on the opposite lateral surface of the cuboid base unit (2) for the stream of inert gas, and also with distribution and retention equipment (7, 8) in the region of the feed (5) and, respectively, of the exhaust (6) for the stream of inert gas, where each of these extends essentially over the entire vertical cross section of the cuboid base unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfons Ludwig, Ragnhild Pille, Gunter Pipper
  • Patent number: 6122838
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying grain which includes a method and apparatus for unloading the grain from a grain dryer of a type including spaced apart first and second walls for defining a passageway or grain column for directing grain flowing downwardly by gravity between the first and second walls. A substantially horizontal shelf is disposed below the outlet port of the grain confinement walls for receiving grain thereon from the grain column. A channel is disposed below the shelf for receiving grain which is pushed off of the shelf. A discharge port is disposed in the channel. A strip of material is disposed for moving along above the shelf for metering grain from the shelf to the channel as the strip moves along the shelf. A paddle is disposed for movement in the channel for pushing grain from the channel into the discharge port. The dryer also has a central air passage from top to bottom, which lends itself to being used for three mode drying, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Beard Industries
    Inventor: Brent J. Bloemendaal
  • Patent number: 5992044
    Abstract: A grain dryer has a horizontal plenum connected to a source of heated forced air and has at least one generally perforated wall. A substantially enclosed grain conduit extends along the plenum and has one of its sidewalls being the perforated wall of the plenum. The grain conduit has upper and lower ends to receive and discharge, respectively, a quantity of grain to be dried by heat conveyed to the grain through the perforated wall of the plenum. The lower end of the grain conduit defines an opening generally dwelling in a substantially vertical plane and having upper and lower discharge ports, separated by a plate extending across the central portion thereof to close the flow of grain therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sukup Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John A. Hanig
  • Patent number: 5817184
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus capable of supplying on a substantially continuous basis an anhydrous agent and water to an area to be cleaned. The cleaning machine includes an inner enclosure disposed in an interior chamber of an outer enclosure. The outer enclosure is designed to enclose the interior chamber. Also, provided in the cleaning apparatus is a system for purging the interior chamber with dry air. The inner enclosure contains the anhydrous agent, which is typically baking soda. The inner enclosure further includes a system for distributing the anhydrous agent to a cleaning nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: John Webb Lawrence
  • Patent number: 5549057
    Abstract: A dryer for particulate materials comprising an elongated, peripherally enclosed combustion tunnel having a combustion chamber and an exhaust outlet, a liner spaced from and around the combustion tunnel, having an exterior radiant heat reflective shield, a peaked upper roof portion defining a pair of diagonal, flow dividing, slide surfaces, the upper roof portion being of a metal alloy having a low coefficient of friction and high thermal conductivity, a jacket surrounding and generally spaced from the liner, cooperative with the liner to form a material drying chamber between the liner and jacket, the jacket having a configuration similar to that of the liner and an interior heat reflective shield, an elongated, particulate material inlet conveyor in the housing above the upper roof portion of the liner for dispensing particulate material over the length of the roof portion to evaporate volatilizable substances therefrom, an elongated, particulate material discharge conveyor in the jacket, beneath the liner,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Raymon J. Castine
    Inventor: David J. Favreau
  • Patent number: 5375342
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling warm granular product. The apparatus includes a grate system having a first grate overlying and second grate. The first grate has a plurality of parallel generally spaced apart members, whereas the second grate has a plurality of parallel equally spaced apart beams. The first and second grate reciprocate relative to each other between a first position in which the product is retained on the grate system and a second position in which the product flows through the grate system. Each of the members in the first grate includes an air flow deflector defining a primary and secondary air outlets for dividing a flow of air into primary and secondary air streams. When the grates are in their relative second position, the secondary air stream is increased to minimize fluidization of the pellet product as it flows through the grate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Donmar Welding & Fabricating Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary D. Giesler