Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said vent means being formed as a series of screen bars and separators providing slit-like opEnings through the walls of said cage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including housings around said vent sections for collecting the escaping volatile substance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the internal volume of said vent sections is substantially greater than the volume of the cage sections preceding said rings whereby the mechanical pressure on the polymer is relaxed within said vent sections.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for the removal of a volatile substance from a polymer, said apparatus including a cylindrical cage having an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable shaft carrying screw members arranged to convey the polymer through said cage, collars on said shaft intermediate said screw members and breaker lugs adjacent said collars, rings within said cage cooperating with certain of said collars forming spaced apart annular restrictions at which the polymer is subjected to locally increased pressure, the improvement comprising injectors located upstream from each of said rings providing for addition of a desolventizing agent to the polymer, the screw members between said injectors and said restructions having notched screw flights to mix the desolventizing agent into the polymer, vent means in the form of small openings around said cage immediately downstream from each of said restrictions defining vent sections for allowing escape of the volatile substance and desolventizing agent from said cage while containing the polymer, the screw members extending through said vent sections having screw flights of increased pitch to accelrate the conveying of the polymer through said vent sections, and a housing surrounding at least said vent sections to collect the escaping volatile substance and desolventizing agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including a further injector located downstream from the last of said vent sections and adapted to inject a compounding substance into the polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for the removal of a volatile solvent from a solution polymerized elastomeric polymer, comprising an elongated closed cage, a rotatable shaft extending through said cage, a plurality of spaced apart screw members carried on and connected to said shaft, said screw members having screw flights extending into closely spaced proximity to the walls of said cage, collars on said shaft between said screw members, vent means formed in said cage immediately downstream of one of said collars providing a vent section, the screw member preceding said one collar having a notched flight to promote mixing and working of the polymer, and an adjustable ring cooperating with said one collar to form a small orifice through which the polymer must enter said vent section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, including an injector located upstream of said notched flight for adding a desolventizing agent to the polymer as it is mixed and worked by said notched flight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, including a compounding device receiving the desolventized polymer and having a further injector adapted to add a compounding substance to the polymer and mixing means for mixing the compounding substance into the polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said compounding device is a separate screw press receiving desolventized polymer from said cage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said compounding device is incorporated in said cage downstream of said vent means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, including a compounding screw press preceding said cage and discharging thereinto, means for supplying the solvent-polymer mixture to said compounding press, means for supplying a solid compounding agent into said compounding press for mixing into the solvent-polymer mixture prior to desolventizing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means for injecting a liquid compounding substance into the solvent-polymer mixture in said compounding press.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means for adding an accelerator substance to the desolventized polymer downstream from said vent section.