Patents by Inventor J. E. Howard Smith

J. E. Howard Smith 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).

  • Tobacco expansion method
    Patent number: 5590667
    Abstract: A tobacco expansion method is provided whereby cured tobacco is first moistened with a humectant solution, as is conventional in the industry, to increase the resident liquids thereof. Next, the prepared tobacco in shredded form is placed in a sealed chamber and the chamber evacuated to vaporize a portion of the resident liquids. Next, ethyl alcohol vapor is allowed to enter the pressure chamber below 70 mm (Hg) absolute to prevent a water-ethyl alcohol azeotrope from forming. Thereafter, a hydrocarbon vapor, such as n-pentane vapor, is directed into the chamber and the pressure restored to atmospheric. The n-pentane vapor diffuses into the cellular structure of the tobacco with the assistance of the ethyl alcohol, whereafter the tobacco is heated and the n-pentane and ethyl alcohol acts as a propellant to expand the tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: SCW, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wagner, J. E. Howard Smith