US3620776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spray drying process
Assignee: Nestec SA
•
Filing: 1968-06-28
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1988-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A drying method for liquids is provided in which the liquid is sprayed, together with a gaseous fluid such as steam, into a lowpressure zone to cause freezing of the liquid in small particle form, and the frozen particles are then freeze-dried. The liquid may be a bioliggical solution, fruit juice or tea or coffee extract. An apparatus is also provided, comprising a freezing chamber, a two fluid nozzle simultaneously spraying liquid and gas into the chamber, a vacuum system with condensers for maintaining a low pressure within the chamber and a freeze-drying chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham Rudolph Mishkin
- 👤 William Stephen Symbolik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:07
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B5/00; F26B5/04; F26B5/06; F26B5/065; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/90; A23B2/92; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/24; A23F5/28; A23F5/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/05; Y10S159/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the gaseous fluid is air, an inert gas or steam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the liquid and the gaseous fluid are sprayed together through a two-fluid nozzle of the suction type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 3 in which liquid and gaseous fluid are sprayed codirectionally from said nozzle in paths which intersect at a short distance from the nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 4 in which the gaseous fluid is sprayed as an annular curtain around the liquid which is sprayed as a conical sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A process for drying solids-containing liquids which comprises simultaneously spraying into a freezing zone of subatmospheric pressure codirectionally from a two-fluid nozzle of the suction type, a conical stream of the liquid and an annular current of steam encircling said stream, said current of steam intersecting the path of said stream a short distance from the nozzle to move said stream away from said nozzle and to break up said stream and thereby form frozen particles of said liquid, and subsequently freeze-drying said frozen particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 1 which comprises spraying an aqueous solution containing 20 to 60 percent by weight of soluble solids of roasted coffee into a zone which is maintained at an absolute pressure not exceeding 150 microns of mercury, said solution being sprayed into said zone at a temperature between 50* and 60* C. while simultaneously spraying a current of steam against said solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 7 in which said solution contains 30 to 50 percent by weight of soluble coffee solids and is sprayed into a zone which is maintained at an absolute pressure not exceeding 100 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process according to claim 1 which comprises spraying an aqueous solution containing 20 to 60 percent by weight of soluble solids of tea into a zone which is maintained at an absolute pressure not exceeding 180 microns of mercury, said solution being sprayed into said zone at a temperature between 50* and 60* C. while simultaneously spraying a current of steam against said solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 9 in which said solution contains 30 to 50 percent by weight of soluble tea solids and is sprayed into a zone which is maintained at an absolute pressure not exceeding 100 microns.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |