Abstract: A material treatment system for treatment of particulate material includes a transport conveyor including a transport surface for transporting particulate material through a treatment zone, conveying compartments attached to the transport surface, and foraminous cover structure travelling with and covering the conveying compartments. The system further includes a supply plenum above the treatment zone, a gas flow system for placing particles on the conveyor in fluidized condition as they move through the treatment zone, and exhaust structure for moving gases from the treatment zone upwardly away from the treatment zone. The conveying compartments and foraminous cover retain particulate material being fluidized and provide increased control of the position and movement of the particles passing through the treatment zone of the system.

Abstract: A system for thermally processing a strand of link food products includes structure defining an elongated treatment zone, and hook type conveyor structure for supporting a strand of encased food product links to be thermally treated in a series of depending loops. Each depending loop containing a plurality of links, for movement along a transport path through the treatment zone. The treatment zone is defined by parallel spaced pressure plenum structures, each pressure plenum structure having a vertical side wall and the hook type conveyor structure being disposed between the side walls. Each side wall has an array of generally horizontally extending nozzle tubes that are in communication with its corresponding pressure plenum structure.

Abstract: A multimode thermal treatment system includes a series of particle treatment zones. Perforate conveyer structure for supporting the particulate product to be thermally treated is disposed for movement through the series of treatment zones. Each treatment zone includes first (upper) distribution plenum structure disposed above the treatment zone and an array of nozzle tubes extending downwardly from the upper distribution plenum into the treatment zone to flow conditioned gas with substantial velocity into the treatment zone for thermal treatment of particulate material being transported by the conveyer structure through the treatment zone; and a second (lower) distribution plenum disposed below the treatment zone for pressurizing the region below the treatment zone and flowing conditioned gas upward through the conveyer structure and the particulate material on the conveyer.

Abstract: A web treatment system includes main housing structure, chamber structure in the main housing structure that defines a thermally insulated web treatment zone, and structure that defines a web inlet at one end of the web treatment zone and a web outlet at the opposite end of the web treatment zone, so that a web path through the web treatment zone between the web inlet and the web outlet is defined. A series of elongated gas distributing nozzle bar structures are supported in the upper region of the web treatment zone above and along the length of the web path. Each gas distribution nozzle bar structure has opposed end walls and elongated lower wall structure extending between the end walls across the width of the web treatment zone, an inlet port in one end wall and outlet port structure in the lower wall extending along the length of the gas distribution nozzle bar for directing flow of gas from the supply plenum downwardly toward the web path.

Abstract: A thermal treatment system includes thermally insulated housing structure in which conditioning plenum structure and distribution plenum structure are disposed. The distribution plenum is disposed adjacent a treatment zone that extends through the housing, and the side of the distribution plenum adjacent the treatment zone defines an open port region that corresponds in dimension to the length and width of the treatment zone. Seal flange structure extends along the edges of the open port region. Conveyer structure for supporting product to be thermally treated is disposed in the treatment zone in juxtaposition to the open port region of the distribution plenum. A series of sealed chamber units, each of which includes an array of nozzle tubes that provide an array of spaced parallel flow passages through the sealed chamber, close the open port region so that the series of sealed chamber units defines a wall of the distribution plenum adjacent the treatment zone.

Abstract: A heat exchanger-combustion chamber construction includes a combustion chamber and a heat exchanger chamber. Disposed in the heat exchanger chamber is an array of inlet tubes, the outlets of which discharge into the combustion chamber. Combustion products discharged from the combustion chamber are flowed over the inlet tubes in heat exchange relation. An array of aspirator sleeves of larger inner dimension than the outer dimension of the inlet tubes is secured to divider structure between the heat exchanger chamber and the combustion chamber, each aspirator sleeve receiving the outlet end of a heat exchanger tube while permitting longitudinal movement of the heat exchanger tube within the sleeve (due to thermal expansion, for example).

Abstract: Apparatus for roasting small quantities of coffee (typically less than five pounds) includes a roasting chamber with base and cylindrical wall portions in fixed relation to each other. Disposed coaxially within the chamber is a downwardly extending tube that has an outlet orifice spaced from the base surface, and an exhaust outlet is in the upper portion of the chamber. A stream of hot roasting gas flowed downwardly through the central tube at high velocity for impact on the base surface and deflection radially outwardly and then flow upwardly through the exhaust outlet at the top of the chamber produces a toroidal circulation pattern of fluidized coffee beans with rapid and uniform roasting of the green coffee, in a simple and compact arrangement in which roasting parameters (such as fluid temperature and cycle duration) may be easily adjusted depending on the degree of roast desired.

Abstract: A product conveyor that has a predominately open area transports food substances such as pizzas and the like to be cooked through a thermally insulated treatment zone. An array of nozzles disposed below the conveyor across the width and along the length of the treatment zone discharges streams of heated air upwardly through the conveyor against the bottom surfaces of the food products on the conveyor for primary heat exchange treatment. A reflection surface forms an upper boundary of the treatment zone, and the portion of the upwardly flowing air streams that is not deflected by the food products on the conveyor impinges against the deflection surface and is transformed into downward flowing relatively low velocity air for flow against and across the top surfaces of the food products. After those heat exchange interactions the air is drawn downwardly between the nozzles for exhaust at a point located below the conveyor.

Abstract: A product conveyor that has a predominately open area transports food substances such as pizzas and the like to be cooked through a thermally insulated treatment zone. An array of nozzles disposed below the conveyor across the width and along the length of the treatment zone discharges streams of heated air upwardly through the conveyor against the bottom surfaces of the food products on the conveyor for primary heat exchange treatment. A reflection surface forms an upper boundary of the treatment zone, and the portion of the upwardly flowing air streams that is not deflected by the food products on the conveyor impinges against the deflection surface and is transformed into downward flowing relatively low velocity air for flow against and across the top surfaces of the food products. After those heat exchange interactions the air is drawn downwardly between the nozzles for exhaust at a point located below the conveyor.

Abstract: Material treatment apparatus includes a vibrating conveyor and a gas flow system for fluidizing particles on the conveyor as they move through the treatment zone. Containment structure extends along the length of each side of the treatment zone and includes a side wall surface portion affixed to and movable with the conveyor and a cooperating fixed structure with an edge closely adjacent but spaced from the surface portion that defines an elongated orifice extending along each side of the treatment zone. Gas flows through each orifice and downwardly along each side wall surface towards the treatment zone and provides effective containment action that prevents particles on the conveyor from passing laterally from the treatment zone.

Abstract: Material to be treated is transported through a treatment zone bounded by a foraminous member that separates the treatment zone from an immediately adjacent zone of high density vapor. The vapor is flowed through the foraminous member and directly into the material at a continuous rate and with a major portion of the vapor flowed from the vapor zone being entrained by the material in the treatment zone. The continuous moderate flow of vapor into the bed of material produces rapid vapor transfer and with excellent distribution of the vapor within the material being treated.

Abstract: Improved material treatment apparatus includes an array of nozzles extending downwardly towards pan structure arranged for the substantially horizontal conveyance of solid particulate material. Gas is flowed through the nozzles at high velocity in an array of directed downwardly gas jets. The pan structure is gas impervious and impinging gas is deflected outwardly and upwardly through the bed of particles in fluidizing action and then exhausted at low velocity such that there is no significant particle entrainment in the exhaust gas stream. The angle of gas jets to the pan structure is at a small offset from the normal to the pan structure (less than ten degrees) and the small but effective resultant horizontal component of gas velocity is effective to modify the rate of movement of the particulate material through the treatment zone while maintaining the gas jet particle fluidization and treatment action in the treatment zone.

Abstract: Particulate treatment apparatus includes structure defining a particle treatment zone including a conveyor defining an imperforate lower particle treatment zone boundary. A chamber above the particle treatment zone receives a body of liquid, and means are provided for creating a zone of vapor within the chamber above the body of liquid. Nozzle tubes extend through the lower wall of the chamber and are disposed along the length and across the width of the treatment zone. The upper ends of the nozzle tubes extend above the level of liquid in the chamber while the lower ends of the tubes are disposed adjacent the imperforate transport surface of the conveyor. Vapor flows from the vapor zone through the tubes downwardly against the conveyor surface and fluidizes particles on the conveyor with concurrent vapor exchange so that the particulate material entrains a substantial amount of vapor as it is transported through the treatment zone.

Abstract: A system for treatment of particulate material includes a conveyor for transporting particulate material through a treatment zone, a gas flow system for placing particles on the conveyor in fluidized condition as they move through the treatment zone, and means along the side of the treatment zone for projecting a gaseous stream inwardly along the transport surface of the conveyor to provide boundary sheath gas flow along the edge of the treatment zone, the boundary sheath gas flow containing particles on the conveyor and contributing to the fluidization of particles on the conveyor at the side boundary of the particle treatment zone.