US3589691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of material on a moving support
Assignee: Arthur G McKee and Co
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Filing: 1968-10-07
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-10-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for treating particulate material, such as ore agglomerates, on a traveling support by treating gases that pass through the bed of particulate material on the support and through the support an even number of times that provides important benefits. Particular advantages are provided in the application of the invention to a circular grate in which a permeable grate travels in a circular path through various treating zones in which treating gases are passed through the grate and bed of particulate material on the grate, since higher pressure gases can bed used on only one side of the grate. This makes possible the use of a high-pressure resistant grate seal, such as a liquid seal, on only such side of the grate and lower pressure resistant seal on the other side of the grate. This method is inherently more thermally efficient than conventional methods used for pelletizing iron ore and solves the problem of inadequate cooling that is troubling many plants now in operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin J Greaves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:03
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27B; F27B21/00; F27B21/06; C; C22; C22B; C22B1/00; C22B1/14; C22B1/24; C22B1/2406; C22B1/2413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A process for treating particulate material on a generally horizontal gas-permeable circular traveling grate on which the particulate material is supported, comprising passing treating gases through the material on the grate sequentially in at least four and an even number of zones extending in series along the grate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process for treating particulate material on a generally horizontal gas-permeable circular traveling grate on which the particulate material is supported, comprising passing treating gases through the material on the grate sequentially in at least four and an even number of zones extending in series along the grate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the number of zones is four.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said treating gases are introduced under pressure in the last of said zones and exhausted from the first of said zones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process according to claim 1 incluDing the steps of operating pump means in only one of the end zones of said series of zones to pass treating gases through the material on the grate, and operating exhaust means in only the other end zone of said series of zones to exhaust said treating gases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for treating particulate material on a generally horizontal gas-permeable traveling grate on which the particulate material is supported, comprising passing treating gases through the material on the grate in each of at least four and an even number of zones along the grate, operating pump means in only one of said zones along said grate to pass said treating gas through the material on the grate, and operating exhaust means in only one of the other of said zones along said grate to exhaust said treating gases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for treating particulate material on a generally horizontal gas-permeable traveling grate on which the particulate material is supported, comprising passing treating gases through the material on the grate in each of at least four and an even number of zones along the grate, operating pump means in only one of said zones along said grate to pass said treating gas through the material on the grate, and operating exhaust means in only one of the other of said zones along said grate to exhaust said treating gases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 5 including the steps of operating pump means in only the last of said zones to pass said treating gases through the material on the grate and operating exhaust means in only the first of said zones to exhaust said treating gases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the zones through which the material passes in sequence are drying, heating, precooling and cooling zones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein the zones through which material passes are in sequence drying, heating, precooling and cooling zones, and in which said pump means is operated in said cooling zone and said exhaust means is operated in said drying zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for treating particulate material on a generally horizontal gas-permeable traveling grate on which the particulate material is supported, comprising passing treating gases through the material on the grate in each of at least four and an even number of zones along the grate, said zones along the grate through which the material passes in sequence being drying, heating, precooling and cooling zones, in which process cool gas is passed under pressure into said cooling zone and passed downdraft through said material and said grate in said cooling zone to cool said material in said gas, then passed updraft through said material and said grate in said precooling zone, then passed downdraft through said material on said grate in said heating zone, and then passed updraft through said material on said grate in said drying zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A process for treating particulate material on a generally horizontal gas-permeable traveling grate on which the particulate material is supported, comprising passing treating gases through the material on the grate in each of at least four and an even number of zones along the grate, said zones along the grate through which the material passes in sequence being drying, heating, precooling and cooling zones, in which process cool gas is passed under pressure into said cooling zone and passed downdraft through said material and said grate in said cooling zone to cool said material in said gas, then passed updraft through said material and said grate in said precooling zone, then passed downdraft through said material on said grate in said heating zone, and then passed updraft through said material on said grate in said drying zone.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a generally circular traveling grate having a gas-permeable bottom hearth portion, gas enclosing means mounted on one side of said traveling grate and gas-enclosing means mounted on the other side of said grate, a trough containing liquid carried by one of said grate and said gas-enclosing means, shield means extending from one of said gas-enclosing means and said grate into said liquid to form an essentially gas-impervious seal, mechanical sealing means coacting between the other of said gas-enclosing means and said grate to form an essentially gas-impervious seal, means associated with said gas-enclosing means to provide a series of treating zones along said grate, and means for passing treating gas through the material on the grate sequentially through said zones.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a generally circular traveling grate having a gas-permeable bottom hearth portion, gas enclosing means mounted on one side of said traveling grate and gas-enclosing means mounted on the other side of said grate, a trough containing liquid carried by one of said grate and said gas-enclosing means, shield means extending from one of said gas-enclosing means and said grate into said liquid to form an essentially gas-impervious seal, mechanical sealing means coacting between the other of said gas-enclosing means and said grate to form an essentially gas-impervious seal, means associated with said gas-enclosing means to provide a series of treating zones along said grate, and means for passing treating gas through the material on the grate sequentially through said zones.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said trough is carried by said grate and said shield means extends from said gas-enclosing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said trough is carried by said gas-enclosing means and said shield means extends from said grate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said gas-enclosing means is stationary and said shield means are disposed at each side of one of said gas enclosing means, and said mechanical sealing means are disposed at each side of the other of said gas enclosing means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a generally circular traveling grate having a gas permeable bottom hearth portion, gas-enclosing means mounted above said grate and gas-enclosing means mounted below said grate, a trough containing liquid carried by one of said grate aNd said gas-enclosing means, said trough being below said gas enclosing means that is disposed above said grate, shield means extending from one of said gas-enclosing means and said grate into said liquid to form an essentially gas-impervious seal said shield means being disposed at each side of said gas enclosing means, and mechanical sealing means coacting between the other of said gas-enclosing means and said grate to form an essentially gas-impervious seal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a generally circular traveling grate having a gas permeable bottom hearth portion, gas-enclosing means mounted above said grate and gas-enclosing means mounted below said grate, a trough containing liquid carried by one of said grate aNd said gas-enclosing means, said trough being below said gas enclosing means that is disposed above said grate, shield means extending from one of said gas-enclosing means and said grate into said liquid to form an essentially gas-impervious seal said shield means being disposed at each side of said gas enclosing means, and mechanical sealing means coacting between the other of said gas-enclosing means and said grate to form an essentially gas-impervious seal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 in which said gas-enclosing means is disposed above said grate and said trough, said gas-enclosing means being stationary and extending over said grate, said shield means being disposed at each side of said gas-enclosing means, and said other gas-enclosing means being disposed below said grate.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a traveling gas-permeable generally circular grate, means for depositing particulate material on said grate, means providing an even number of treating zones sequentially disposed on said grate in the direction of grate travel, means through which gas enters the last of said zones and means for supplying gas to said last zone under superatmospheric pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass through said grate in each of said zones.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a traveling gas-permeable generally circular grate, means for depositing particulate material on said grate, means providing an even number of treating zones sequentially disposed on said grate in the direction of grate travel, means through which gas enters the last of said zones and means for supplying gas to said last zone under superatmospheric pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass through said grate in each of said zones.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said last-named means comprises pumping means operated at a pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass through said zones without passing through additional pumping means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein four zones are provided.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 in which said treating zones are drying, heating, precooling and cooling zones.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said treating zones include gas enclosing means above said grate, gas enclosing means below said grate, a trough containing liquid carried by said grate, shield means extending from said gas-enclosing means above said grate into said liquid to form an essentially gas-impervious seal, and mechanical sealing means coacting between the circular grate and the gas-enclosing means below the grate to form an essentially gas-impervious seal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein sealing means are provided above and below said grate between said precooling and cooling zones to prevent passage of gas along said grate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein additional sealing means are provided between said heating and drying zones above and below said grate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the superatmospheric gas flows countercurrent to the movement of the material on said grate.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
248 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a traveling gas-permeable circular grate, means for depositing particulate material on said grate in a bed, gas-enclosing means above said grate, gas-enclosing means below said grate, said enclosing means being constructed and arranged to provide a drying zone, a heating zone, a precooling zone and a cooling zone, a trough containing liquid carried by said grate, shield means extending from gas-enclosing means above said grate into said liquid, sealing means encircling and connected to said gas-enclosing means below said grate, sealing means encircling and connected to said grate and constructed and arranged to maintain sliding and gas sealing contact with said sealing means carried by said gas-enclosing means, means for supplying gas to said cooling zone at superatmospheric pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass downdraft through said grate in said cooling zone and maintain the gas at superatmospheric pressure at the same side of said grate in said heating zone, sealing means above and below said grate between the precooling and cooling zones, means for withdrawing gas from said cooling zone and passing it updraft through said grate in said precooling zone, means for withdrawing gas from said heating zone after it has passed downdraft through said grate and passing it updraft through the grate in said drying zone, and means for withdrawing gas from said drying zone after it has passed through said grate, and means for discharging said particulate material after it has passed through said zones.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
248 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a traveling gas-permeable circular grate, means for depositing particulate material on said grate in a bed, gas-enclosing means above said grate, gas-enclosing means below said grate, said enclosing means being constructed and arranged to provide a drying zone, a heating zone, a precooling zone and a cooling zone, a trough containing liquid carried by said grate, shield means extending from gas-enclosing means above said grate into said liquid, sealing means encircling and connected to said gas-enclosing means below said grate, sealing means encircling and connected to said grate and constructed and arranged to maintain sliding and gas sealing contact with said sealing means carried by said gas-enclosing means, means for supplying gas to said cooling zone at superatmospheric pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass downdraft through said grate in said cooling zone and maintain the gas at superatmospheric pressure at the same side of said grate in said heating zone, sealing means above and below said grate between the precooling and cooling zones, means for withdrawing gas from said cooling zone and passing it updraft through said grate in said precooling zone, means for withdrawing gas from said heating zone after it has passed downdraft through said grate and passing it updraft through the grate in said drying zone, and means for withdrawing gas from said drying zone after it has passed through said grate, and means for discharging said particulate material after it has passed through said zones.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said gas-enclosing means extend from the means for depositing particulate material on said grate to the means for discharging the material from said grate.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a traveling gas-permeable circular grate, means for depositing particulate material on said grate in a bed, gas-enclosing means above said grate, gas-enclosing means below said grate, said gas-enclosing means being constructed and arranged to provide at least four zones the last of which is a cooling zone, liquid-sealing means coacting between the circular grate and one of said gas-enclosing means, mechanical sealing means coacting between the circular grate and the other of said gas enclosing means whereby the zones defined by said gas-enclosing means above and below said grate are sealed at their marginal edges from the ambient atmosphere, means for supplying cooling gas to said cooling zone, means for maintaining essentially only in the gas-enclosing means sealed by liquid sealing means to the grate the pressure differential that forces treating gas including gas supplied in said cooling zone through said grate in said zones, and means for discharging said particulate material after it has passed through said zones.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for treating particulate material comprising a traveling gas-permeable circular grate, means for depositing particulate material on said grate in a bed, gas-enclosing means above said grate, gas-enclosing means below said grate, said gas-enclosing means being constructed and arranged to provide at least four zones the last of which is a cooling zone, liquid-sealing means coacting between the circular grate and one of said gas-enclosing means, mechanical sealing means coacting between the circular grate and the other of said gas enclosing means whereby the zones defined by said gas-enclosing means above and below said grate are sealed at their marginal edges from the ambient atmosphere, means for supplying cooling gas to said cooling zone, means for maintaining essentially only in the gas-enclosing means sealed by liquid sealing means to the grate the pressure differential that forces treating gas including gas supplied in said cooling zone through said grate in said zones, and means for discharging said particulate material after it has passed through said zones.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
139 words
A horizontally disposed circular traveling grate machine comprising a circular grate, stationary gas-confining hood means disposed above said grate covering at least a major portion of said grate, stationary gas confining wind box means disposed below said grate in chamber forming relationship with said hood means, liquid sealing means coacting between the circular grate and said stationary hood means, mechanical sealing means coacting between the circular grate and said stationary wind box means whereby the chamber defined by the hood means and the wind box means is sealed at its marginal edges from the ambient atmosphere, means separating the said chamber into at four and equal in number treating zones, and means for introducing gas into the last of said zones under superatmospheric pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass through said grate in each of said zones.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
139 words
A horizontally disposed circular traveling grate machine comprising a circular grate, stationary gas-confining hood means disposed above said grate covering at least a major portion of said grate, stationary gas confining wind box means disposed below said grate in chamber forming relationship with said hood means, liquid sealing means coacting between the circular grate and said stationary hood means, mechanical sealing means coacting between the circular grate and said stationary wind box means whereby the chamber defined by the hood means and the wind box means is sealed at its marginal edges from the ambient atmosphere, means separating the said chamber into at four and equal in number treating zones, and means for introducing gas into the last of said zones under superatmospheric pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass through said grate in each of said zones.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circular grate machine according to claim 27 wherein said last-named means comprises pumping means operated at a pressure sufficient to cause the gas to pass through said zones without passing through additional pumping means and including gas exhausting means only in the first of said treating zones.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |