Heat exchanger using hollow metal pellets as heat carrier

Claim 1

IN A HEAT EXCHANGER WHEREIN A MULTITUDE OF PELLETS FALL IN COUNTERFLOW TO A RISING FLUID STREAM AT A TEMPERATURE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE PELLETS INCLUDING A CLOSED UPRIGHT CHAMBER HAVING A FIRST OPENING NEAR ITS BOTTOM FOR RECEIVING A STREAM OF SAID FLUID, A SECOND OPENING NEAR ITS TOP FOR DISCHARGING SAID FLUID, A THIRD OPENING NEAR ITS TOP FOR RECEIVING A STREAM OF PELLETS, A FOURTH OPENING AT ITS BOTTOM FOR DISCHARGING SAID STREAM OF PELLETS, FIRST CONDUIT MEANS FOR LEADING SAID FLUID INTO SAID FIRST OPENING, SECOND CONDUIT MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THE FLUID FROM SAID SECOND OPENING AFTER IT HAS PASSED THROUGH THE SAID CHAMBER IN UPWARD DIRECTION, FIRST PELLET PIPE MEANS FOR LEADING A STREAM OF PELLETS FROM A SOURCE INTO SAID THIRD OPENING, SECOND PELLET PIPE MEANS FOR LEADING SAID STREAM OF PELLETS, AFTER IT HAS PASSED AT LEAST PARTLY UNDER GRAVITY IN FREE FALL THROUGH THE SAID CHAMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT OF EMPLOYING CUP-SHAPED PELLETS MADE OF THIN-WALLED METAL HAVING IDENTICAL INNER AND OUTER CONTOURS, AND HAVING THEIR CENTERS OF GRAVITY DISPOSED BELOW THE PLANE ACROSS THE CUP OPENING WHILE THE CUPS ARE IN UPRIGHT POSITION, SO AS TO AUTOMATICALLY STABILIZE ALL PELLETS DURING THEIR FALL THROUGH SAID CHAMBER WITH THE CUP OPENINGS IN UPPERMOST POSITIONS.