US3751267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Material treating method
Assignee: RANGE ENG DEV CORP
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Filing: 1971-08-19
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-08-19
Abstract
Abstract This patent discloses a method for treating material such as grain, manure, alfalfa, lightweight aggregate, etc. Hot air circulates throughout the entire system. Heat is first added where desired to the product in a preheater. Additional heat is then added in a heater section where the material is further heated and material such as grain may be popped if desired. The grain may then be passed through conventional rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 N Sachnik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:11
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23N; A23N12/00; A23N12/08; A23L; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/161; A23L7/174; A23L7/183; F; F26; F26B; F26B17/00; F26B17/10; F26B21/00; F26B21/20; F26B21/25; F26B23/00; F26B23/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
The method of popping grain, comprising moving grain along a selected path while adding heat thereto until said grain pops while continuously agitating said grain, separating at least a portion of the popped grain from the remainder of the grain and accelerating its movement relative to the remainder of the grain and returning it to said path at selected downstream points therealong to thereby reduce retention time of early popping grain on said path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
The method of popping grain, comprising moving grain along a selected path while adding heat thereto until said grain pops, said path having a plurality of upwardly and downwardly directed sections, movement of said grain along said upwardly directed sections of said path provided by entraining said grain in an upwardly moving stream of air, separating at least a portion of the popped grain from unpopped grain at the upper end of upwardly directed sections of said path, and accelerating movement of said portion of popped grain relative to the remainder of the grain to the next upwardly directed section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said stream of air is heated and recirculated to retain heat and maintain a relatively high dew point.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
127 words
The method of popping grain comprising, moving grain along a selected path while adding heat thereto until said grain pops, said path having a plurality of upwardly and downwardly directly sections and extending in a direction transverse to said upwardly and downwardly directed sections, movement of said grain along said upwardly directed sections of said path provided by entraining said grain in an upwardly moving stream of air, movement of said grain downwardly affected by gravity, separating at least a portion of said popped grain from the remainder of the grain at the upper end of upwardly directed sections of said path, and accelerating movement of said portion of popped grain relative to the remainder of the grain to the next upwardly directed section of said path.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
74 words
The method of popping grain comprising, preheating grain for a controlled period of time by adding thereto substantially all of the sensible heat for vaporizing moisture in the grain in a first area, then rapidly heating the grain for a period of time less than said controlled period to add any remaining sensible heat necessary and the latent heat necessary to vaporize moisture in the grain and pop the grain in a second area.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
65 words
The method of popping grain comprising, preheating grain by adding thereto at least a portion of the sensible heat for vaporizing moisture in the grain in a substantially saturated atmosphere in a first area, then rapidly heating the grain to add any remaining sensible heat necessary and the latent heat necessary to vaporize moisture in the grain and pop the grain in a second area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the second area is a substantially saturated atmosphere.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of popping grain comprising, preheating grain by adding thereto at least a portion of the sensible heat for vaporizing moisture in the grain, then moving the Grain along a selected path while adding thereto any remaining sensible heat necessary and the latent heat necessary to vaporize moisture in the grain and pop the grain, said path having a plurality of upwardly and downwardly directed sections, movement of said grain along said upwardly directed section of said path provided by entraining said grain in an upwardly moving stream of air, separating at least a portion of the popped grain from the remainder of the grain at the upper end of upwardly directed sections of said path, and accelerating movement of said portion of grain to the next upwardly directed section of said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the air flowing along said upwardly directed sections of the path is at a temperature greater than grain-popping temperature, and a portion of said air provides heat for preheating the grain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9 wherein air moving along said upwardly directed sections of said path is heated and recirculated to maintain it slightly under-saturated, and wherein a portion of said air flows in direct heat exchange relation with incoming grain and provides the heat for preheating incoming grain in a substantially saturated atmosphere.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
69 words
The method of popping grain comprising, preheating grain by adding thereto a majority of the sensible heat for vaporizing moisture in the grain in a first area, then rapidly heating the grain to add any remaining sensible heat necessary and the latent heat necessary to vaporize moisture in the grain and pop the grain in a second area, and then rolling the grain to pop any remaining unpopped grain.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
79 words
The method of treating particular material of nonuniform density or material which becomes nonuniform in density during treatment comprising, moving material along a selected path while adding heat thereto, separating at least a portion of the lighter density material from the remainder of the material and accelerating its movement relative to the remainder of the material, and returning it to said path at selected downstream points therealong to thereby reduce retention time of lighter density material on said path.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
115 words
The method of treating particular material of nonuniform density or material which becomes nonuniform in density during treatment comprising, moving material along a selected path while adding heat thereto, said path having a plurality of upwardly and downwardly directed sections, movement of said material along said upwardly directed sections of said path provided by entraining said material in an upwardly moving stream of air, separating at least a portion of the lighter density material from the remainder of the material at the upper end of upwardly directed sections of said path, and accelerating movement of said separated portion of lighter density material relative to the remainder of the material to the next upwardly directed section.
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) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |