Grid support for fluidized solids vessels

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR CONTACTING SOLIDS AND GASES AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE ABOUT 900*F. WHICH COMPRISES A VERTICALLY DISPOSED CIRCULAR VESSEL, OUTLET MEANS IN THE THE BOTTOM PORTION, A FORAMINOUS PLATE POSITIONED WITHIN THE LOWER PORTION, A FORAMINUOS PLATE POSITIONED WITHIN A BED OF FLUIDIZED SOLIDS THEREON, SAID PLATE BEING IN HORIZONTALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE WALLS OF SAID VESSEL, AND PARTICLE OUTLET MEANS EXTENDING BENEATH SAID PLATE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES EMPLOYING A DOWNWARDLY DISHED FORAMINOUS PLATE SUPPORTED FROM ABOVE BY AN IN-PART VERTICALLY DISPOSED, GAS IMPERVIOUS, CIRCULAR SUPPORT, SAID SUPPORT BEING ATTACHED TO THE WALLS OF SAID VESSEL ONLY IN THE REGION OF THE UPPER END OF SAID SUPPORT, SAID SUPPORT BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED AS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FOR THE MAJOR PORTION OF ITS LENGTH AND INWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID VESSEL WALLS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO, ITS LOWER END TERMINATING AT AND ENCOMPASSING SAID PLATE, WHEREBY GAS FROM BENEATH SAID PLATE IS DENIED PASSAGE AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PLATE, AND THE VOLUME OF REACTOR SPACE BELOW SAID PLATE AND SOLIDS BED IS REDUCED IN AMOUNT.