Abstract: A screen is mounted in an apparatus for contacting particulate solids with a fluid. The apparatus comprises an elongate column for holding a bed of particulate solids for contact with a fluid, the column being designed to be oriented substantially vertically in use and having a fluid inlet near the bottom for admitting a fluid into the column and a fluid outlet near the top for permitting the fluid to exit the column after passing upwardly through a bed of particulate solids in the column. The purpose of the screen is to screen solids from the fluid exiting the column through the fluid outlet. The screen comprises a plurality of vertical screen wires, and the screen is located within the column such that all of the fluid passing through the column passes through the screen and then through the fluid outlet. Each pair of adjacent vertical screen wires defines a substantially vertical screen slot therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for a supercritical fluid-solid bed process such as for decaffeinating green coffee beans including an elongated cylindrical vessel having a top and bottom. The solids accumulate to form a fluid-solids bed on the bottom of the vessel which includes a central bottom opening, a valve for periodically allowing flow of the solids through the bottom opening and a frustoconical bottom wall. A flow promoting insert having a lower conical wall is provided circumjacent to but spaced from the frustoconical bottom wall. The lower conical wall is provided with a rougher surface than the adjacent frustoconical bottom wall to promote uniform flow of solids. The fluid initially flows through the solids counter-current to the solid flow and is introduced to the vessell through means located above the flow promoting insert.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for contacting particulate solid matter with a fluid in a pressure vessel through which the fluid continuously moves at high, supercritical, pressure while the particulate solid matter is periodically moved via isolatable pressurizable vessels which are periodically pressurized and de-pressurized to and from the supercritical pressure to facilitate periodic movement of the particulate solids between the pressure vessel and the isolatable pressurizable vessels. A supply of the fluid is maintained at an intermediate pressure at which the fluid exists in both the liquid and gaseous states. The pressurizable vessels are raised to supercritical pressure by first using intermediate pressure fluid in the gaseous state and then in the liquid state, followed by introducing fluid at the supercritical pressure. The vessels are de-pressurized by first venting and then pumping to the intermediate pressure fluid supply.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for steaming and later extracting roasted and ground coffee and the product of such process. The process comprises vacuum steaming roasted and ground coffee in a percolator at a temperature less than 200.degree. F. at a pressure of from 10" to 27"(Hg) and recovering the steam aroma produced by passing same through a wedge-wire draw-off apparatus, the draw-off apparatus comprising a helically wound wire assemblage being internal to the percolator. Thereafter the coffee is percolated to extract solids therefrom and the extract and aroma are combined and dehydrated to form a soluble coffee product.