Patent US3775863A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3775863A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for drying particulate materials
Assignee: JH Day Co
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Filing: 1972-07-20
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for drying a particulate material such as resin pellets, fine chemicals, pigments, cosmetic powders and the like. The method involves mechanically agitating the material while sweeping it with pre-dried, heated air. The preferred form of apparatus includes a frustoconical tank having an agitator screw which is rotated upon its own axis to lift material and is simultaneously orbited around the wall of the tank. Air or other gas which has been heated and dried is introduced at the bottom of the tank and flows upwardly through the material. The air, carrying with it moisture released by the material, is discharged at the top of the mixer. The material can be mixed, granulated and dried in a single operation.
Inventors
- 👤 L Updegrove
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:44
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B11/00; F26B11/12; B; B01; B01F; B01F27/00; B01F27/80; B01F27/95; B01F27/953; B01F33/00; B01F33/40; B01F33/402; B01F35/00; B01F35/90; B01F35/91; B01F27/05; B01F27/11; B01F27/114; B01F27/1143; B01F27/23; B01F27/232; B01F27/2324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of simultaneously mixing granulating and drying material, comprising the steps of: placing said material in a vessel having conical walls sloping inwardly toward a bottom wall, agitating said material by means of a screw agitator rotating upon its own axis and having its axis moved within the container, whereby said material is elevated and moved away from the container wall, and simultaneously introducing into the lower portion of said container pre-dried, heated air at a flow rate less than the flow rate required to cause spouting of said material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of simultaneously mixing granulating and drying material, comprising the steps of: placing said material in a vessel having conical walls sloping inwardly toward a bottom wall, agitating said material by means of a screw agitator rotating upon its own axis and having its axis moved within the container, whereby said material is elevated and moved away from the container wall, and simultaneously introducing into the lower portion of said container pre-dried, heated air at a flow rate less than the flow rate required to cause spouting of said material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which the air temperature is less than that required to raise the material to a temperature at which the material would degrade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 in which the air temperature is above the temperature at which the material would degrade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which the agitation is effective to maintain the entire quantity of material at a substantially uniform temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 in which the material is heated to a final temperature and the air emerges from contact with the material at a temperature not appreciably above the final material temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 in which air is swept over said material at a rate of from one to 13 cubic feet of air per cubic foot of material per minute.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
116 words
A device for simultaneously granulating and drying material comprising: a mixing vessel having a frustoconical side wall tapering inwardly toward a bottom wall, an agitator screw, means rotatably supporting the lower end of said agitator screw adjacent to the bottom wall, a support arm disposed in the upper portion of the vessel, means shifting said support arm in a plane transverse to the axis of the vessel, said support arm carrying the upper end of said agitator screw, means for rotating said screw about its own axis, means for introducing pre-dried, heated air under relatively low pressure to the lower portion of said vessel, and means for discharging air from the upper portion of said vessel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
116 words
A device for simultaneously granulating and drying material comprising: a mixing vessel having a frustoconical side wall tapering inwardly toward a bottom wall, an agitator screw, means rotatably supporting the lower end of said agitator screw adjacent to the bottom wall, a support arm disposed in the upper portion of the vessel, means shifting said support arm in a plane transverse to the axis of the vessel, said support arm carrying the upper end of said agitator screw, means for rotating said screw about its own axis, means for introducing pre-dried, heated air under relatively low pressure to the lower portion of said vessel, and means for discharging air from the upper portion of said vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the means for introducing air comprises a porous plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said porous plate is disposed closely adjacent to the bottom wall of said mixer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for drying materials, said system comprising: a mixing vessel having a frustoconical side wall tapering inwardly toward a bottom wall, an agitator screw, means rotatably supporting the lower end of said agitator screw adjacent to the bottom wall, a support arm disposed in the upper portion of the vessel, means shifting said support arm in a plane transverse to the axis of the vessel, said support arm carrying the upper end of said agitator screw, means for rotating saiD screw about its own axis, an air inlet disposed adjacent to the lower portion of said vessel, means for discharging air from the upper portion of said vessel, an air dryer, means for supplying air under pressure to said air dryer, an air heater interconnected to said air dryer for heating said air, and conduit means interconnecting said air heater and said air inlet.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for drying materials, said system comprising: a mixing vessel having a frustoconical side wall tapering inwardly toward a bottom wall, an agitator screw, means rotatably supporting the lower end of said agitator screw adjacent to the bottom wall, a support arm disposed in the upper portion of the vessel, means shifting said support arm in a plane transverse to the axis of the vessel, said support arm carrying the upper end of said agitator screw, means for rotating saiD screw about its own axis, an air inlet disposed adjacent to the lower portion of said vessel, means for discharging air from the upper portion of said vessel, an air dryer, means for supplying air under pressure to said air dryer, an air heater interconnected to said air dryer for heating said air, and conduit means interconnecting said air heater and said air inlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 10 in which said air inlet includes a porous plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10 in which said air dryer is effective to dry said air to a dew point of from -10* F. to -40* F.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 10 in which said air is supplied to the vessel at a flow rate below the flow rate which would cause spouting of the material in the vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 10 in which air is supplied to the vessel at a rate of from one cubic foot of air to 13 cubic feet of air per cubic foot of material in the vessel per minute.
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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |