Patents by Inventor Francis D. Polifka

Francis D. Polifka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6971594
    Abstract: A material grinding apparatus (10) includes an annular upper enclosure (12) defining an upper chamber (34) into which material to be ground is introduced from above, a conical lower enclosure (14) defining a lower chamber (36) and supported in tandem with the upper enclosure (12), and one or more angled slots (56) defined in the sidewall of the upper enclosure (12) through which compressed air is introduced relatively circumferentially into the upper chamber (34) so as to generate a circular vortex flow of air and material in the upper enclosure (12) for grinding and drying to take place. The air flow is exhausted by a pipe (92) through an upper end of the upper enclosure (12) and the dried ground material is discharged through an open lower end of the lower enclosure (14). The lower enclosure (14) is a downward continuation and extension of the upper enclosure (12) so as not to extend upwardly into nor past the upper chamber (34) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Vortex Dehydration Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Francis D. Polifka
  • Publication number: 20020027173
    Abstract: A material grinding apparatus (10) includes an annular upper enclosure (12) defining an upper chamber (34) into which material to be ground is introduced from above, a conical lower enclosure (14) defining a lower chamber (36) and supported in tandem with the upper enclosure (12), and one or more angled slots (56) defined in the sidewall of the upper enclosure (12) through which compressed air is introduced relatively circumferentially into the upper chamber (34) so as to generate a circular vortex flow of air and material in the upper enclosure (12) for grinding and drying to take place. The air flow is exhausted by a pipe (92) through an upper end of the upper enclosure (12) and the dried ground material is discharged through an open lower end of the lower enclosure (14). The lower enclosure (14) is a downward continuation and extension of the upper enclosure (12) so as not to extend upwardly into nor past the upper chamber (34) thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventor: Francis D. Polifka