Abstract: A method for the pyrolytic extraction of hydrocarbons such as shale oil from kerogen. Oil shale containing kerogen which has been ground into particulate form, is cascaded downwardly between a plurality of rotating trays within a heated processing chamber. As the hydrocarbons are volatized within the chamber, the volatiles are collected and condensed within a condenser or other suitable recovery apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous gravity flow apparatus for heating and/or drying of particulate material is vertically disposed and is provided with an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom. The apparatus includes a flow passage for the particulate material which is defined between an outer housing and an inner housing. Each of the outer and inner housing defines perforated wall sections allowing for the flow of hot gas through the wall of one housing, into contact with the particulate material, and then out through the wall of the other housing. Manifolds are associated with the outer and inner housings to provide for uniform flow of the gas through the material. The perforated wall sections are positioned and designed to enhance particle-to-particle movement of the material to thereby avoid particle sticking and bridging problems.

Abstract: A metering unloader (101) for unloading a fluent material from a flow path (11) is disclosed. The flow path has a fluent material outlet (27). The metering unloader comprises an unloader body (103) having an outer cylindric wall (105) and an inner cylindric wall (107) spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall with the walls defining a chamber (126) therebetween. Means (117) is provided for rotating the unloader body about a vertical axis. Outer wall (105) has a fluent material inlet opening (119) such that with the fluent material inlet opening (119) in register with the flow path fluent material outlet (27), the fluent material will flow by gravity through the fluent material inlet opening (119) in the outer wall into the chamber (126). The inner wall (107) has a fluent material outlet opening (127) therein such that the fluent material in the chamber (126) will flow by gravity from the chamber to a fluent material discharge outlet (15).

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for de-watering a bead suspension of fragile beads having a high water content suspended in a liquid includes a staging vat, a metering vat, and a de-watering vat. The application of pressurized gas to the staging vat causes the bead suspension to move up a central feed tube which extends from the staging vat to the metering vat. The bead suspension is gravity fed from the metering vat through a transfer pipe and into the de-watering vat. The bottom portion of the de-watering vat has both an inner wall and an outer wall wherein the upper portion of the inner wall has perforations and the bottom portion is solid. Upon entering the de-watering vat, the bead suspension pours a short distance onto an inverted spreader cone. The bead suspension flows down the spreader cone and pours over the edge of the cone toward the perforated upper portion of the inner wall.

Abstract: A pellet conditioning device (10) for the cooling and/or drying of preformed discrete pellets (148) is provided which includes an upright pellet-receiving bin (12) with a dual grate assembly (18) therein. The assembly (18) includes a stationary first grate comprising a plurality of upright, apertured grate wall members (86), and a shiftable second grate including a plurality of elongated, obliquely oriented plates (106) located between and in spanning relationship to adjacent pairs of the wall members (86). Shifting structure (20) is provided for selective and sequential translational, rectilinear shifting movement of the lower margins (110) of the plates (106) so as to successively open and close a pellet passageway (117) adjacent each lower margin (110). A duct and fan arrangement (38) is also provided with the bin (12) so as to draw cooling air currents through the grate assembly (18) and pellets (148) therein.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling warm granular product. The apparatus includes a grate system having a first grate overlying and second grate. The first grate has a plurality of parallel generally spaced apart members, whereas the second grate has a plurality of parallel equally spaced apart beams. The first and second grate reciprocate relative to each other between a first position in which the product is retained on the grate system and a second position in which the product flows through the grate system. Each of the members in the first grate includes an air flow deflector defining a primary and secondary air outlets for dividing a flow of air into primary and secondary air streams. When the grates are in their relative second position, the secondary air stream is increased to minimize fluidization of the pellet product as it flows through the grate system.

Abstract: A static kiln includes an annular heating zone, the inner wall of which is defined by an approximately cylindrical core. The core and the outer wall of the heating zone are suspended to permit movement due to thermal expansion and contraction. Both the inner and outer walls of the heating zone include structures which transmit heat into a supply chamber so that particulate material introduced to the supply chamber is partially dried prior to entering the heating zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat treating a coating applied to an automobile body is disclosed. The apparatus includes radiant heating elements for generating radiant heat in a predetermined path and convection heating elements for generating the flow of heated air. The method comprises the stips of positioning a freshly coated automobile body within the apparatus and heating the body with the radiant heat for a time sufficient to set the coating on Class A surfaces of the body. After the Class A surfaces are set, heated air is flowed around the body to heat the body and cure the coating on the Class A surfaces and the non-Class A surfaces.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a modular drier.Each module comprises two fans each supplying a common diffusion chamber (14) disposed between two columns of a group of columns (12, 13). Said chambers (14) adjoin a perforated wall of said columns comprising vertical deflectors, with the opposite wall of these columns, likewise perforated, communicating with a common chamber (15) for exhausting the air used for drying.The invention relates to a modular drier for drying grains, in which gravity draws the grain down in parallel sheets within vertical columns crossed horizontally by the drying air.

Abstract: Grain is cleaned in a dry state and then admitted into a washing chamber for the removal of residual contaminants. The grain is then introduced into a centrifugal dryer where excess water is removed. Sufficient water remains in the grain so that it has a moisture content between 18 and 24% by weight. This moisture content is such that the outer layers of individual grains become swollen thereby activating enzymes in the outer layers which are capable of synthesizing vitamins while, however, initiation of germination of the grain is avoided. The grain is now conveyed into a heating chamber where it is heated to temperatures between 25.degree. and 35.degree. C. Thereafter, the grain is admitted into an insulated silo composed of corrosion-resistant material where it remains for a period of 5 to 30 hours while the moisture content and temperature are maintained within the respective ranges indicated above. In the silo, vitamins are synthesized by the activated enzymes.