Method and apparatus for catalytic hydrocarbon conversion system

Claim 1

APPRATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF HYDROCARBONS TO LOWER BOILING HYDROCARBONS COMPRISING: A SUPPLY HOPPER, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FEED LEG LOCATED BELOW SAID HOPPER, A VALVE IN SAID FEED LEG ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF CONTACT MATERIAL THERETHROUGH, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL MIXING VESSEL, THE BOTTOM OF SAID FEED LEG BEING LOCATED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID MIXING VESSEL, MEANS FOR FEEDING VAPORS INTO SAID MIXING VESSEL AT SUFFICIENT VELOCITY TO FLUIDIZE CONTACT MATERIAL INTRODUCED INTO SAID VESSEL FROM SAID FEED LEG, SAID MIXING VESSEL BEING OPEN AT THE TOP TO PERMIT THE CONTACT MATERIAL AND GASES TO DISCHARGE THEREFROM, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL VESSEL SURROUNDING SAID MIXING VESSEL, A HORIZONTAL PLATE IN SAID VERTICAL VESSEL ADAPTED TO DEFINE A FLOW NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID MIXING VESSEL AND PROVIDE A SUPPORT FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPACT CONTINUOUS COLUMN OF CONTACT MATERIAL IN THE ANNULUS SURROUNDING SAID MIXING VESSEL, A MULTIPLICITY OF DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED CONDUITS THROUGH SAID FLOW PLATE ADAPTED TO FEED CONTACT MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY COMPACT COLUMN TO A HOLLOW DISCHARGE CAP, AND AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL INVERTED ENDLESS TROUGH-SHAPED MEMBER LOCATED IN THE ANNULUS SURROUNDING SAID MIXING VESSEL AT A LOCATION JUST ABOVE THE HORIZONTAL PLATE AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING VAPORS FROM SAID TROUGH SHAPED MEMBER.