Apparatus for the preparation of solids containing liquid hydrocarbons

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SOLIDS CONTAINING HYDROCARBONS, THE COMBINATION FOR TRANSFORMING AN EMULSION OF A COLLOIDAL SOLUTION AND A HYDROCARBON INTO SMALL SOLID PARTICLES COMPRISING A CHAMBER HAVING APERFORATED BOTTOM ADAPTED TO RECEIVE CHARGES OF SAID EMULSION, A PLURALITY OF OBTURATORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID BOTTOM ADAPTED TO ALLOW SMALL PARTICLES OF SAID EMULSION TO PASS THROUGH SAID BOTTOM, A SECOND CHAMBER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECIEVE SAID SMALL PARTICLES OF SAID EMULSION AND TO BE PERIODICALLY FILLED WITH A SOLIDIFYING LIQUID, A CONVEYOR MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID SECOND CHAMBER, A THIRD CHAMBER, MEANS FOR DRAINING SAID SECOND CHAMBER INTO SAID THIRD CHAMBER AT SUITABLE INTERVALS, MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN OPENING AT SUITABLE INTERVALS IN THE OUTER WALL OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER WHEN THE LATTER CHAMBER HAS BEEN DRAINED, AND MEANS FOR RETURNING THE SOLDIFYING LIQUID TO SAID SECOND CHAMBER AT SUITABLE INTERVALS.