US3749382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crop dehydrator and method
Assignee: Beloit Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-19
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1991-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for dehydrating agricultural crops utilizes the product gases from the combustible dryer fuel as the medium for pneumatically conveying the crop through the drying zone. A horizontally disposed drying drum has an inlet at one end and an outlet at the opposite end. The inlet communicates with the fuel source and the outlet is coupled with a cyclone separator for removing the dried crop from the conveying medium. Structure disposed at the top of the separator returns the combustion gases to the drying drum. A blower fan at the outlet end of the drum assures a continuous flow of gases and fresh air throughout the apparatus. By utilizing the combustion gases as the conveying medium, the oxygen content within the drum is reduced and the combustion of foreign contaminants and dry, thin, particles of the crop is minimized.
Inventors
- 👤 S Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:04
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B17/00; F26B17/10; F26B17/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Dehydrating apparatus comprising: a dryer having a material inlet at one end and a material outlet at the opposite end; a furnace for said dryer disposed adjacent to and on the same side of the dryer as said material inlet and immediately ahead of the latter; said furnace comprising a source of combustible fuel which produces gases upon combustion and a combustion zone adjacent to said source; gas inlet means disposed on the same side of the dryer as said material inlet and in communication with the latter; means disposed externally of the dryer for directing said gases from said material outlet to said gas inlet means and bypassing said combustion zone; and air circulating means disposed on the same side of the dryer as said material inlet and in communication with the latter for conveying a product to be dried through the dryer whereby said gases comprise a portion of the conveying medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
Dehydrating apparatus comprising: a dryer having a material inlet at one end and a material outlet at the opposite end; a furnace for said dryer disposed adjacent to and on the same side of the dryer as said material inlet and immediately ahead of the latter; said furnace comprising a source of combustible fuel which produces gases upon combustion and a combustion zone adjacent to said source; gas inlet means disposed on the same side of the dryer as said material inlet and in communication with the latter; means disposed externally of the dryer for directing said gases from said material outlet to said gas inlet means and bypassing said combustion zone; and air circulating means disposed on the same side of the dryer as said material inlet and in communication with the latter for conveying a product to be dried through the dryer whereby said gases comprise a portion of the conveying medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted for use in drying agricultural crops, and including a collector in communication with said outlet for separating the dehydrated crop from the air stream of said air circulating means, said gas directing means being disposed in communication with said separator at a location whereby said gases are recycled through the dryer free from said dried crop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 2, wherein said separator comprises a cyclone separator and said gas directing means includes a conduit having an intake section disposed within said separator and facing away from the direction of travel of the dehydrated crop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claiM 3, wherein said cyclone separator includes an upper cylindrical portion and wherein is included a dehydrated product delivery line communicating said outlet with said portion, said intake section extending through said portion in circumferentially spaced relationship to said delivery line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention of claim 4, wherein is included a return conduit for returning residual crop particles from subsequent processing operations to said cyclone separator, said return conduit communicating with said portion at a point circumferentially spaced from said intake section in the opposite direction from said delivery line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein the distance between said intake section and the delivery line is greater than the corresponding distance between the delivery line and the return line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1, said gas inlet means comprising a manifold circumscribing said dryer inlet and communicating therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2319673A
Cited
US2952452A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |