Suspension Of Treated Material Patents (Class 34/360)
  • Patent number: 11913721
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying bulk particulate material, and having an inlet chamber for receiving a moist bulk particulate material and an outlet chamber for ejecting a dry bulk particulate material. The inlet chamber comprises a steam permeable bottom being divided into a number of subsections including a first subsection and a second subsection. Each subsection defines a first and a second radial centreline. The first subsection and the second subsection each having at least one louvered plate section comprising a plurality of louvers arranged in a first and a second specific direction, respectively, for directing superheated steam in a first and second blowing direction, towards said lower cylindrical inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ED-IPR APS
    Inventor: Arne Sloth Jensen
  • Patent number: 11026445
    Abstract: A bean roasting apparatus with a stirring barrel body, a receiving structure and an image capturing assembly is provided. The stirring barrel body has an opening. The receiving structure has a bean-through opening and an observation opening. The image capturing assembly has at least one image capturing device and a reflective surface which is disposed in the capturing scope of the at least one image capturing device and is tilted facing the at least one image capturing device and the observation opening. Therefore, the at least one image capturing device can capture an image inside the receiving structure through the reflective surface and the observation opening. Another bean roasting apparatus with an image capturing assembly is provided, wherein at least one image capturing device of the image capturing assembly can capture an image inside the receiving structure through the observation opening directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: JIYONSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Long Tun, Chien-Hung Chen, San-Chi Ho
  • Patent number: 11013253
    Abstract: A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.
    Inventors: Ricardo Lopez, John Sandhu, Arno Holschuh
  • Patent number: 11009237
    Abstract: An air cleaning unit includes a suction part into which contaminated air flows, a transfer body coupled with the suction part to support the suction part and to be raised up and down with the suction part; an elevation part connected to the transfer body and raising up and down the transfer body, a pivoting part connected to the suction part to pivot the suction part, and a filtering part communicating with the suction part and cleaning the contaminated air introduced into the suction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Wan Soo Kim, Yangkyeong Kim, Woo Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 10415822
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for measuring the height of a solid bed in a high-temperature and high-pressure fluidized bed system, and a fluidized bed system having the solid bed height measuring apparatus. The solid bed height measuring apparatus includes a lower pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a first height from a gas distributor of a fluidized bed reactor to measure pressure of the mounted location, and a middle pressure probe mounted at an upper side as high as a second height from the lower probe to measure pressure of the mounted location. An upper pressure probe is mounted at the top of the fluidized bed reactor to measure the inside pressure of the fluidized bed reactor. First and second differential pressure gauges are used for measuring differential pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Ho-jung Ryu, Dong-ho Lee, Gyoung-tae Jin, Do-won Shun, Chang-keun Yi, Jae-hyeon Park, Dal-hee Bae, Sung-ho Jo, Seung-yong Lee, Young Cheol Park, Jong-ho Moon
  • Patent number: 9335100
    Abstract: Disclosed are cooling and depressurization system equipment, arrangement and methods to cool solid particles from a coal gasifier operating at high temperature and pressure. Ash needs to be continuously withdrawn from a circulating fluidized bed gasifier to maintain the solids inventory in the gasifier. The supports for the cooling surfaces are located on the lower temperature upper section of the primary cooler. The cooled solids along with the fluidizing gas exits the primary cooler to a secondary receiving vessel where the solids can be further cooled by conventional means. The fluidizing and entrained gas entering the secondary vessel is filtered and vented through a vent pressure control valve. The column of cooled solids in the secondary vessel is depressurized by a continuous depressurization system to low pressures which are sufficient for conveying the solids to silos for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHERN COMPANY
    Inventors: Pannalal Vimalchand, Guohai Liu, Wanwang Peng
  • Patent number: 9075328
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress the increase of coarse particles due to the fusion of powder particles and reduce a ratio of particles that have been excessively spheroidized, when the powder particles are heat-treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Minagawa, Yuichi Mizo, Takeshi Ohtsu, Junichi Hagiwara, Yasushi Tamura
  • Patent number: 8863402
    Abstract: A dryer for drying objects of material has a container-like body. The body is substantially tight and material to be dried can be fed into it. The body may be substantially upright or inclined. The material to be dried is fed at the lower part of the body is discharged from the upper part thereof and drying gas is directed to the dryer substantially at the upper part of the body and taken off from the lower part thereof. This is achieved by shut-off arrangements of the feeding and discharge of the material to be dried and by the structure of the body. The drying gas circulates in the dryer in a substantially closed circulation. The drying gas taken off from the lower part of the body is heated by element of a heating device and the heated drying gas is fed to the upper part of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: CCM-Power Oy
    Inventors: Leo Ruokamo, Heikki Majava
  • Publication number: 20140101966
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for heat treatment capable of heat-treating toner particles efficiently and uniformly while suppressing increase of coarse particles due to coalescence, to thereby enable stable toner production. The apparatus for heat-treating powder particles each of which contains a binder resin and a colorant includes: a cylindrical treatment chamber in which the powder particles are heat-treated; a columnar member (6) provided so as to protrude from a lower end part of the treatment chamber toward an upper end part thereof; a powder particle supply unit (2) for supplying the powder particles to the treatment chamber; a hot air supply unit (3) for heat-treating the supplied powder particles; and a collection unit (5) for collecting the heat-treated powder particles discharged outside the treatment chamber through a toner discharge port provided on the lower end part side of the treatment chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Minagawa, Yuichi Mizo, Takeshi Ohtsu, Takakuni Kobori, Kohji Takenaka, Junichi Hagiwara, Daisuke Ito, Kunihiko Kawakita, Yasumori Kanai
  • Publication number: 20130305972
    Abstract: An apparatus for the simultaneous drying and transport of low-rank coal is described. The apparatus has a first pipe having an inner wall surface surroundingly defining a first flow channel and an outer wall surface; a low-rank coal supply system to supply particulate low-rank coal to an inlet of the first flow channel; a transport gas supply to supply transport gas to an inlet of the first flow channel; a heating apparatus to apply heat to an outer wall surface of the first pipe along at least part of the length thereof for example in the form of a drying fluid supply to supply a drying fluid, configured such that a drying fluid is brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the first pipe along at least part of the length thereof. A system of design of thermal power plant incorporating such an apparatus is also described. A method for the simultaneous drying and transport of low-rank coal is also described. A system and method for supplying dried low-rank coal for combustion are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: DOOSAN POWER SYSTEMS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Chao Hui Chen, Michael John Smith
  • Publication number: 20120272569
    Abstract: A process for drying coal is provided in which coal is passed into a fluidized bed reactor and heated to a predetermined temperature. The dried coal is then fed to a cooler where the temperature of the product is reduced to approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit and water is added to further passivate the coal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: RIVER BASIN ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Donald D. Dunlop, Clinton B. Camper, Vijay Sethi, Leon C. Kenyon, JR., David Dunlop, Dianne Wyss
  • Publication number: 20120192449
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing fluidization of nanoparticle and/or nanoagglomerates are provided. A fluidization chamber is provided with a fluidizing medium directed in a first fluidizing direction, e.g., upward into and through a bed containing a volume of nanoparticles and/or nanopowders. A second source of air/gas flow is provided with respect to the fluidization chamber, the secondary air/gas flow generally being oppositely directed relative to the fluidizing medium. Turbulence created by the secondary gas flow is advantageously effective to aerate the agglomerates and the shear generated by the jet is advantageously effective to break apart nanoagglomerates and/or reduce the tendency for nanoagglomerates to form or reform. A downwardly directed source of secondary gas flow located near the main gas distributor leads to full fluidization of the entire amount of powder in the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicants: EVONIK CARBON BLACK GMBH, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Robert Pfeffer, Jose A. Quevedo, Juergen Flesch
  • Publication number: 20120117816
    Abstract: A water-containing solid fuel drying apparatus that can efficiently dry with low energy consumption by effectively utilizing sensible heat and latent heat of a heating medium for drying, etc. is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yokohama, Kenichiro Kosaka, Keigo Matsumoto, Noboru Kawamoto, Yoshiki Yamaguchi, Masaaki Kinoshita, Koji Ohura, Atsushi Tsutsumi, Shozo Kaneko, Kazuhiro Mochizuki, Chihiro Fushimi, Yasuki Kansha
  • Patent number: 7998421
    Abstract: A method of processing a fluid and/or a particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the particulate material into a chamber; (b) providing a flow of fluid into said chamber for entraining the particulate material; and (c) removing processed fluid and/or particulate material from the chamber; wherein the chamber comprises a processing zone having a substantially circular transverse cross-section, the fluid flow being introduced into the processing zone at an angle of between 10° and 75° with respect to a tangent of the substantially circular transverse cross-section of the processing zone to establish a fluid flow following a substantially helical path in the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Mortimer Technology Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Edward Dodson
  • Patent number: 7987613
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the utilization of heated waste streams for fluidizing particulate matter such as coal in a fluidizing bed dryer. The control system includes a number of graphic user interfaces that allow an operator to more easily monitor and/or control the various regulator devices. The control system controls coal handling or transportation, fluid handling or flow, and the discharge of discarded or separated coal from the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Great River Energy
    Inventors: Mark A Ness, Matthew P Coughlin, John M Wheeldon, Adam M Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110138647
    Abstract: A dryer for drying objects of material has a container-like body. The body is substantially tight and material to be dried can be fed into it. The body may be substantially upright or inclined. The material to be dried is fed at the lower part of the body is discharged from the upper part thereof and drying gas is directed to the dryer substantially at the upper part of the body and taken off from the lower part thereof. This is achieved by shut-off arrangements of the feeding and discharge of the material to be dried and by the structure of the body. The drying gas circulates in the dryer in a substantially closed circulation. The drying gas taken off from the lower part of the body is heated by element of a heating device and the heated drying gas is fed to the upper part of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: CCM-POWER OY
    Inventors: Leo Ruokamo, Heikki Majava
  • Patent number: 7938271
    Abstract: This consists of the preparation of powdered still slops from concentrated liquid still slops dried and converted into a powder in a conventional dryer (1) and then fed to a powder collecting cyclone (4), featuring at the lower outlet aperture of the collecting cyclone (4) a circular or snail-shaped or logarithmic spiral-shaped device (7) fed with a cool, dry air draught which generates a downward suction effect counter to the upward suction effect of the collecting cyclone (4), bringing about the falling and separation of the powder from the draught of hot air which carries the same. The cool, dry air carries the powder to the exterior for bagging, and the hot air exits upwards via the collecting cyclone (4) towards the flue (6), using a device for the recovery of the heat which it still bears as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: HPD Process Engineering, S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel Irisarri Navalpotro
  • Publication number: 20100050468
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for the non-contact drying of a web of material. The apparatus includes air flotation nozzles for floating the web, and direct air impingement nozzles for enhanced drying of the web. The nozzle arrangement is particularly well-suited to float and dry light weight webs under moderate to high tension. Increased cushion pressure is created to support the web preferably with the same horsepower as conventional arrangements. The increased cushion pressure pad of the nozzle arrangement allows for good flotation with reduced velocities below about 11,500 FPM. Machine direction wrinkles are removed and the result is positive flotation with no marking on the web or ink build up on the air bars. The nozzle arrangement includes pairs of flotation nozzles directly opposing pairs of direct impingement nozzles. A perforated member can be positioned between flotation nozzles within a pair of flotation nozzles to control return air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Michael O. Rocheleau
  • Patent number: 7644716
    Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a carbonaceous heat source chip, capable of drying an extrusion-molded carbonaceous heat source rod to proper hardness and supplying the same to a heat insulating material-wrapping device. The apparatus includes a hollow pipe that forms a conveying path for transporting the carbonaceous heat source rod continuously extrusion-molded by an extrusion molding machine, to the heat insulating material-wrapping device. The apparatus forms an airflow running through the hollow pipe by means of an air amplifier, and transports the carbonaceous heat source rod while drying the rod by using the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuo Hosoya, Hajime Ohinata, Yasuo Baba, Masaaki Kobayashi, Kazuei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7003897
    Abstract: A coffee roaster is an oven with a roasting drum. The roasting drum turns on a horizontal axis within the oven to tumble coffee beans while roasting and to even out differences in heating. The roasting drum is fitted with a bearing journal at each end and just fits within the length of the oven. Opposite ends of the oven have four rollers each that receive the turning weight of the roasting drum by riding along the bearing journals. Each roller wheel is carried at the distal end of a rocker arm attached by its near end to the lower end wall of the oven below a corresponding drum opening. Each in a set of four roller wheels are height adjustable at the 4-o'clock, 5-o'clock, 7-o'clock, and 8-o'clock positions. The two outer rockers and wheel rollers adjust the lateral position of the roasting drum in the oven, and the two inner ones adjust the vertical height of rotation within the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventors: James B. Lingle, Alexandru Scantee
  • Patent number: 6962006
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20040200091
    Abstract: A process and means for drying sticky or gluey materials uses an arrangement of rotor arms that are adjusted so that feed materials are rapidly mixed into the bed material. The moisture content of the bed material is kept below the moisture limit of the glue zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Asbjorn Strand, Jon Alsaker
  • Patent number: 6770315
    Abstract: A roaster for roasting coffee beans includes a roasting chamber having a top and a bottom for holding coffee beans when the beans are being roasted, a cover seated on the top of the roasting chamber and a base on which the bottom of the roasting chamber is seated. A device is provided in the base for supplying airflow into the roasting chamber. A controller controls the airflow supplying device to generate a roasting temperature inside the roasting chamber that tracks a predetermined temperature curve. The temperature curve includes a first stage in which the roasting temperature is set to a first predetermined level for a first predetermined time period, and a second stage in which the roasting temperature is set to a second predetermined level that is higher than the first predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Kitak Chae, Jongrok Kim
  • Publication number: 20040139624
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20040139625
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing vinylpyrrolidone polymer powder, which has high bulk density and favorable powder flowability and can be handled with ease. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for preparing vinylpyrrolidone polymer powder, which comprises spraying an aqueous solution of a vinylpyrrolidone polymer into a drying tower using a disc atomizer and then drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Fujise
  • Publication number: 20040134091
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20040118007
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: ACUSPHERE, INC.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, Sridhar Narasimhan, David Altreuter, Paul Kopesky, Mark Keegan, Julie A. Straub, Howard Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6647640
    Abstract: A drying station for drying printed sheets transported by a transport belt includes an irradiation device for irradiating the printed sheets, a deflection section located in vicinity of the irradiation device for guiding the transport belt away from the irradiation device, and a shielding device disposed between the transport belt and the irradiation device for shielding the transport belt against radiation from the irradiation device while the sheets are exposed to the radiation. A printing machine including the drying station and a method for drying printed sheets are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Martin Greive
  • Patent number: 6607768
    Abstract: Coffee beans and the like are roasted in an enclosed, pressurized roaster under conditions which provide rapid heat transfer and close control of roasting time-temperature profiles. The roasting chamber desirably has a bottom screen, a top screen and a shutter adapted to momentarily occlude flow through the various portions of the top screen. Roasting gas passes upwardly through the beans, entrains some of the beans and forces them against the top screen. The beans drop back into the chamber when the shutter occludes a particular portion of the top screen holding the beans. Time-temperature profiles can be controlled by monitoring process conditions such as inlet and outlet gas enthalpies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Praxis Werke, Inc.
    Inventor: Joachim Eichner
  • Patent number: 6601315
    Abstract: A combined fluidized bed dryer and absorption bed allows an absorbant to be dried to remove any moisture therefrom immediately followed by treating a product material with the dried absorbant, all in the same vessel, such that the absorbant is at its optimum dryness prior to treating the product material therewith The invention has particular application in the ophthalmic lens production where the absorbant is alumina and is used to remove methacrylic acid from liquid monomer prior to using the monomer in producing lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventor: Ulick Stafford
  • Patent number: 6560897
    Abstract: Improved spray drying apparati, and methods of use thereof, have been developed. The spray drying equipment includes a primary drying chamber and a secondary drying apparatus which includes tubing having a length sufficient to increase the contact time between the drying gas and the droplets/particles to dry the particles to the extent desired, at a drying rate and temperature which would be too low to provide adequate drying without the secondary drying apparatus. The secondary drying apparatus increases the drying efficiency of the spray dryer system without increasing the drying rate, while minimizing loss in yield. Te secondary drying apparatus can include multiple secondary apparati, which are independently controlled for temperature and/or have different dimensions (cross-sectional areas and/or lengths), to allow for optimization of drying conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Mark J. Keegan, Greg Randall, Howard Bernstein, Julie Straub
  • Patent number: 6560896
    Abstract: Apparatus, method and system for the treatment of a wafer. After a treatment at elevated temperature, a wafer is taken out of the reactor in question with the help of a mechanical transport apparatus which preferably grips the wafer around the circumference and on the under side and consists of a wafer surrounding ring. The wafer is then placed in a floating wafer reactor where it is cooled in a controlled manner. Transport for further action or treatment then takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventors: Ernst Hendrik August Granneman, Vladimir Ivanovich Kuznetsov, Gert Jan Snijders
  • Patent number: 6505417
    Abstract: In a method for controlling airflow on a backside of a semiconductor wafer during spin processing, a wafer backing plate is first disposed below a semiconductor wafer. Air is then supplied to the volume defined by the wafer backing plate and the semiconductor wafer. The air may be supplied to the volume through a hollow core spindle, a rotary union, or apertures in the wafer backing plate. The separation distance between the wafer and the wafer backing plate and the flow rate of air supplied to the volume may be controlled to avoid any substantial recirculation of contaminated air into the volume. In addition to serving as one of the boundaries that define the volume, the wafer backing plate reduces particle recontamination on the backside of the wafer by preventing particles from contacting the backside of the wafer during spin processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Roy Winston Pascal, Brian M. Bliven
  • Patent number: 6470595
    Abstract: A process and a device for continuously drying protein-containing sludge, in particular sewage sludge, in a fluidised bed (20) inside a drying container (13). A drying gas flows through the fluidised bed (20) while partially de-watered sludge (6) in granulate form (21) is added to the fluidised bed (20) while dried sludge (10) is withdrawn therefrom. The granules (21) are formed without admixture of dried substances and are granulated preferably at the same time as they are pressed. Sewage sludge may thus be dried without admixture or recycling of dried substances, so that a highly efficient plant is obtained. In addition, a granulated dry material is produced which may be used in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Andritz-Patentverwaltungsgesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Peter Gaiser, Ulrich Plantikow, Dieter Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 6412190
    Abstract: A combined infrared and hot air dryer includes a pressurized hood which is fed with combustion air through an air delivery duct. Each cross-direction zone of the hood includes a mixer. The air enters the mixer without any direct connection between the delivery duct and the mixer. Gas is supplied to each mixer from a gas manifold having a gas supply tube for each mixer. Excess air from the hood is fed through thin-walled tubes into the IR exhaust duct in a counter flow fashion to provide pre-heated clean air for air bars trailing the infrared zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Smith
  • Patent number: 6308434
    Abstract: Improved spray drying methods of have been developed. The spray drying method includes use of a primary drying chamber and a secondary drying apparatus which includes tubing having a length sufficient to increase the contact time between the drying gas and the droplets/particles to dry the particles to the extent desired, at a drying rate and temperature which would be too low to provide adequate drying without the secondary drying apparatus. The secondary drying apparatus increases the drying efficiency of the spray dryer system without increasing the drying rate, while minimizing loss in yield. The ratio of the length of tubing to the length of the primary drying chamber is at least 2:1. The tubing diameter is substantially smaller than the diameter of the primary drying chamber, such that the particles move at higher velocity through the tubing to minimize product losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Acusphere, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Chickering, III, Mark J. Keegan, Greg Randall, Howard Bernstein, Julie Straub
  • Patent number: 6266894
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for processing a charge of a solid material under conditions which include high mass flow rate of gas through the apparatus and which produce liquid from the solid material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vessel having (i) an inlet end having an inlet for supplying the solid material to form a packed bed in the vessel; and (ii) an outlet end having at least one solids outlet, at least one liquids outlet. The apparatus is characterised by the at least one gas outlet being positioned above the solids/liquid outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: KFx Inc.
    Inventor: David Stewart Conochie
  • Patent number: 6233842
    Abstract: A method for operating a drying device which includes at least two chambers provided with bottoms for bulk material to be dried, and a means for supplying and discharging a gaseous medium to and from each chamber and wherein the bulk material is partially dried by the gaseous medium and is then transported from a first to a second chamber. The energy increase brought about by the energy supplied to the chamber by the gaseous medium, and the energy given out by the bulk material is determined for each chamber, after which the amount of moisture that has evaporated from the bulk material is determined on the basis of the energy increase and the amount of moisture expected to be present in the bulk material discharged from the device is determined on the basis of the difference between the amount of moisture present in the bulk material introduced into the device and the amount of moisture that has evaporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Geelen Techniek B.V.
    Inventor: Pierre Marie Lambért Geelen
  • Patent number: 6148541
    Abstract: A fluid-bed drying unit, particularly but not exclusively used in the field of tobacco drying comprising a drying chamber having a loading inlet and an outlet for discharging the product and provided with openings for the passage of a drying medium. The drying chamber has a substantially tubular shape extending along a longitudinal axis and a substantially triangular vertical cross-sectional shape; the longitudinal axis is substantially inclined with respect to a horizontal axis and means are provided to inject a drying fluid substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Garbuio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mansueto Favaro
  • Patent number: 6148540
    Abstract: The present invention provides a particulate drying method and drying apparatus, which can disperse particulates in the drying apparatus, prolong the particulate residence time, and improve the drying conditions, while retaining the advantages of conventional flash dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Ohmura, Takeshi Kato, Kenji Ono, Atsushi Omachi
  • Patent number: 6147327
    Abstract: A hot shelf tower dryer includes a casing having substantially parallel shelves which alternately extend from opposite ends of the tower casing. As configured, the dryer includes a repetitively convoluted passage. At least one of the shelves has a hollow interior or chamber. Disposed in the chamber is at least one electrical heating element, where the power supplied to the heating element is regulated by a control system. As controlled, the electrical heating elements provide sufficient output to the tower casing which result in a substantially constant temperature throughout the passage. With the heating elements, the hot shelf tower dryer does not require the burning of natural gas or some other fossil fuel to heat the tower dryer unless such heating is desired to heat the forced air that conveys the cotton through dryer. As a result, in comparison with hot shelf tower dryer's that use fossil fuels as a heating source, pollutant emissions, such as nitrous oxide (NO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: William E. Winn
  • Patent number: 6088934
    Abstract: A method for injecting a liquid directly into a fluidised bed and a configuration of at least one twin nozzle in which a gas is used to atomise the liquid and each nozzle permits a dispersion of liquid into a vessel containing the fluidised bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventor: David Newton
  • Patent number: 6076810
    Abstract: A gas distribution grid for a slurry reactor includes a plurality of gas injectors horizontally arrayed across, and extending through, an otherwise gas and liquid impervious plate. The injectors have a throat open at both ends, with a gas pressure reducing bore at one end which is the entrance end and with the other end opening into an upward opening cone. Flow diverting means in the injectors prevents slurry solids from entering the throat and being attrited by the high velocity gas jet exiting the bore into the throat. It is preferred that the gas injectors not protrude above the top surface of the grid and flat space is eliminated by means such as angular fillers, to prevent solids accumulation top of the grid. A chamfer may be present at the junction of the bore and throat to prevent unrestricted expansion of the gas jet entering the throat. This is useful for injecting gas into a reactive hydrocarbon synthesis slurry in a slurry reactor, with reduced catalyst attrition and deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Min Chang, Constantine A. Coulaloglou, Edward C. Hsu
  • Patent number: 6072158
    Abstract: A method and apparatus heats a thin sheet of material prior to subjecting the sheet to a process for forming the sheet into a desired shape, such as by vacuum forming. The sheet is supported in a generally horizontal manner during transport through the apparatus, for example on a pair of conveyor chains or belts which carry and provide support to the longitudinal edges of the sheet by gripping same. The sheet is heated from above and below by heating elements and a diffuser plate is located between the upper and lower heating elements, and beneath the downwardly facing side of the sheet. The diffuser plate permits air flow therethrough from an air source and forms a film of heated air adjacent the downwardly facing side of the sheet to support the sheet and prevent excessive downward sagging thereof during heating thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Konal Engineering and Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J. McNally
  • Patent number: 6000145
    Abstract: A method for the continuous treatment of particulate material, such as cement raw meal, in an apparatus comprising a stationary reactor (6) configured as a conical spouted bed, to which the material is fed and treated in a suspended bed by means of gas which, via a centrally arranged gas inlet (21), is injected at the bottom of the reactor (6) and flows upwards through the reactor (6), and wherefrom the material is discharged via an opening (21) at the bottom of the reactor (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co. A/S
    Inventor: Jorn Touborg
  • Patent number: 5996480
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for roasting raw coffee beans includes a main housing (10) having an air inlet (24). A blower assembly (18,20,22) is disposed within the housing (10) and is in fluid communication with the inlet (24). The blower assembly has a discharge location (32) whereat an electric heater (34) is located. A coffee bean receiving vessel (12) is removably mounted on the main housing (10) and in turn, a hull collector (14) disposed on the vessel (12). A control (FIG. 3), including a sensor (38,136), is located in the air stream upstream of the inlet (56,58) to the vessel (12) and downstream of the electric heating element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Kelley, J. R. Kim, Jay S. Moon, Daryl Osberg
  • Patent number: 5983597
    Abstract: A method and device for feeding sheet material, whereby the sheet material is fed in a given traveling direction along one face of a plate by a fluid bed movable along the face in the traveling direction; the fluid bed being formed by at least one jet of fluid, which is directed in a direction substantially tangent to the face and concordant with the traveling direction, and is fed inside a window formed through the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: G.D. Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Giuseppe Venturi, Fiorenzo Draghetti, Fulvio Boldrini, Marco Ghini
  • Patent number: 5943790
    Abstract: An exhaust particle and particulate containment system for a coffee roaster includes an exhaust duct for carrying exhaust coffee roasting by-products including air, gasses, smoke and chaff from the coffee roaster to a porous medium for separating chaff from the exhaust coffee roasting by-product flow and a filter for removing smoke particles from the exhaust coffee roasting by-product flow which passes through the porous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Harold A Gell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5867921
    Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus and process for using the same for drying or cooling powder. The apparatus includes a structure defining first and second fluidizing chambers separated by an air dispersing floor plate having a plurality of openings formed therethrough. The first fluidizing chamber receives fluidizing air introduced into the structure and passes the fluidizing air through the plurality of openings in the air dispersing floor plate to disperse the fluidized air. The second fluidizing chamber containing the powder receives the fluidized air dispersed by the air dispersing floor plate. The apparatus further includes a heat transfer unit including a plurality of rectangular heat transfer metal plates disposed vertically above the air dispersing floor plate. The heat transfer metal plates are arranged in parallel relationship to and horizontally spaced from each other to define vertically-extending external passages therebetween, which allow the fluidizing air to pass therethrough and suspend the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Powdering Japan K.K.
    Inventors: Harumasa Maruyama, Makio Matsusaka
  • Patent number: 5749288
    Abstract: A coffee bean roaster for home use in which a fan heater assembly in a housing blows hot air upwardly through a glass roasting chamber. The hot air escaping from the top of the chamber may be selectively recycled into the housing to raise the roasting temperature to compensate for low levels in available electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Tim Skaling