Grid support and seal for fluidized solids systems

Claim 1

IN A FLUIDIZED SOLIDS CONTACTING SYSTEM WHICH COMPRISES A CONTACTING VESSEL, A DISTRIBUTOR GRID NEAR THE BASE OF SAID VESSEL,A GAS INLET BELOW THE GRID AND A GAS OUTLET IN THE UPPER PART OF THE VESSEL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SKIRT OF SMALLER OUTSIDE DIAMETER THAN THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE VESSEL AND EXTENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE GRID TO A HIGHER LEVEL IN THE VESSEL, SAID SKIRT BEING SECURED TO THE VESSEL WALLS AT ITS UPPER END AND BEING SECURED TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE GRID AT ITS LOWER END TO SERVE THE COMBINED FUNCTIONS OF SUPPORTING THE GRID AND SEALING THE SPACE BEWTWEEN THE GRID AND THE VESSEL WALLS, A SOLIDS OUTLET CONDUIT LEADING FROM SAID VESSEL IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE GRID, AN OPENING IN SAID SKIRT ALIGNED WITH SAID OUTLET, AND AN EXPANSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER SECURED TO THE SKIRT AROUND SAID OPENING AND MOVABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID CONDUIT.