Abstract The method of reducing and substantially eliminating water contamination of hygroscopic materials of the type being processed by a series of enclosed material-processing machines and conveyed from each material-processing machine to the next machine through closed material conveyance passages extending between and continuously communicated with the enclosed materialprocessing machines. The method comprises the step of pumping heated air of low relative humidity under pressure into the enclosed area of the last material-processing machine to which the material is conveyed and allowing the heated air to flow upstream, relative to the direction of material flow, through the material-processing machines and closed conveyance passages to the material-processing machine into which the material to be processed is first discharged.
Inventors
👤 Tomas Hernandez
👤 Valentin E Lorenzo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-09 15:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of pumping a heated atmosphere of low relative humidity into the last material-processing means to which the material is conveyed includes the step of pumping said heated atmosphere in sufficient quantities and under sufficient pressure whereby to maintain the enclosed areas of said processing means and said conveyance means under pressure at least slightly greater than the pressure of the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of pumping heated atmosphere of low relative humidity into the enclosed area of the last material-processing means to which the material is conveyed includes the step of retarding the escape of heated dry atmosphere from within the enclosed material-processing and conveyance means to the extent that the pressure of the heated dry atmosphere within the enclosed material-processing and conveyance means is maintained higher than the pressure of the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
145 words
The method of reducing and substantially eliminating water contamination of hygroscopic materials being processed by a material-processing machine having material inlet and openings, said method comprising the steps of erecting a relatively fluidtight enclosure about those working components of said machine which act upon the material being handled by the machine and through which the outlet for the machine opens, providing the enclosure with a variable flow outlet opening and a closable material inlet opening through which material from outside the enclosure may be directed to the material inlet of the machine, pumping a heated atmosphere of low relative humidity and under pressure into said enclosure, and controlling the flow of said heated atmosphere out through said variable flow outlet opening in a manner to maintain the atmosphere within said enclosure at a pressure at least slightly greater than the pressure of the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of pumping heated atmosphere into said enclosure includes the step of pumping said heated atmosphere into said enclosure through said material outlet opening.