Apparatus for continuous and uniform contacting of fluids and solids

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR CONTACTING FLUIDS AND SOLIDS IN WHICH THE SOLIDS ARE FED VERTICALLY DOWNWARD FROM LEVEL TO LEVEL IN AN ENCLOSED PRESSURIZED VESSEL AND ARE SELECTIVELY CONTACTED WITH GASEOUS FLUIDS, THE IMPROVEMENT THAT COMPRISES, A GYRATING SHELF MECHANISM AT EACH VERICAL LEVEL FOR SUPPORTING THE SOLIDS AND KEEPING THEM IN HEAVING MOVEMEMT, MEANS FOR DRIVING EACH INDIVIDUAL SHELF TO ACCOMPLISH GYRATING MOVEMENT, AND AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF THE VESSEL DIRECTLY ABOVE THE GYRATORY SHELF POSITIONED IN RELATION TO THE SHELF SO THAT SOLIDS CARRIED ON THE SHELF WILL NOT FLOW OFF THE SHELF BY GRAVITY ALONE BUT WILL BE POSITIVELY FED OFF THE PEROPHERY OF THE SHELF DURING THE GYTATING MOVEMENT OF THE SHELF TO CAUSE THE