US3790334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of lightweight aggregate
Assignee: Fuller Co
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Filing: 1972-05-22
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for making sealed surface fine lightweight aggregate particles in a fluid bed reactor which includes a method and apparatus for preheating the raw feed material. The reactor includes a gas permeable grid which supports a bed of material. Fluidizing air is supplied to the plenum below the grid for passage through the grid for fluidizing the particles of material in the vessel. Fuel is supplied to the fluidized bed for combustion therein to heat the material to a temperature range such that a pyroplastic surface will be formed on the surface of the particles of material and at same temperature range, gas forming components in the material will release a bloating gas. The material is then rapidly cooled. The preheater is of the suspension type and includes a plurality of serially flow connected gas-solids separators such as cyclones. Raw feed material having a particle size range up to 3/8 inch is supplied to a stream of hot gases and it is entrained in those hot gases and then separated in a cyclone. The material discharged from the one cyclone is reentrained in other hot gases and separated in a second cyclone. From the second cyclone, the material is discharged to the reactor. The original source of hot gases is the hot spent fluidizing gas from the reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 S Cohen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:44
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B20/00; C04B20/02; C04B20/04; C04B20/06; C04B20/065; B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/18; B01J8/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for manufacturing fine particles of lightweight aggregate comprising: a preTreater for drying and preheating raw feed material including a gas-solids separator, means for supplying hot gases to said separator, means for supplying particles of feed material from a source to said means for supplying hot gases whereby the feed material is entrained in the hot gases and conveyed to said separator and said feed material and hot gases are separated in said separator, means for discharging separated gases from said separator, and means for discharging separated feed material from said separator; a fluidized bed reactor including a vessel, a gas permeable grid dividing the vessel into an upper material chamber and a lower plenum chamber, means flow connected to the means for discharging separated feed material from said separator for supplying said separated feed material to said upper material chamber, means for supplying gaseous fluid to said lower plenum chamber for passage through the gas permeable grid to fluidize material in the material chamber, means for supplying fuel to the material chamber for combustion therein for heating the material to a temperature sufficient to achieve a pyroplastic condition in the particles of material, means for discharging material from the material chamber, and means for discharging hot, spent fluidizing gases from the upper material chamber; said means for discharging hot, spent fluidizing gases being flow connected to said means for supplying hot gases to said separator; and means flow connected to said means for discharging material from the material chamber for cooling the material discharged from said material chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for manufacturing fine particles of lightweight aggregate comprising: a preTreater for drying and preheating raw feed material including a gas-solids separator, means for supplying hot gases to said separator, means for supplying particles of feed material from a source to said means for supplying hot gases whereby the feed material is entrained in the hot gases and conveyed to said separator and said feed material and hot gases are separated in said separator, means for discharging separated gases from said separator, and means for discharging separated feed material from said separator; a fluidized bed reactor including a vessel, a gas permeable grid dividing the vessel into an upper material chamber and a lower plenum chamber, means flow connected to the means for discharging separated feed material from said separator for supplying said separated feed material to said upper material chamber, means for supplying gaseous fluid to said lower plenum chamber for passage through the gas permeable grid to fluidize material in the material chamber, means for supplying fuel to the material chamber for combustion therein for heating the material to a temperature sufficient to achieve a pyroplastic condition in the particles of material, means for discharging material from the material chamber, and means for discharging hot, spent fluidizing gases from the upper material chamber; said means for discharging hot, spent fluidizing gases being flow connected to said means for supplying hot gases to said separator; and means flow connected to said means for discharging material from the material chamber for cooling the material discharged from said material chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for manufacturing fine particles of lightweight aggregate according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of serially flow connected gas-solids separators each including an inlet for gaseous entrained solids, an outlet for separated solids and an outlet for separated gases; the most downstream separator in the direction of material flow adapted to discharge separated solids into the upper chamber of the fluidized bed reactor and adapted to receive particles of material from the adjacent upstream separator entrained in hot, spent fluidizing gases discharged from the upper material chamber of the fluidized bed reactor, and the most upstream separator in the direction of material flow adapted to receive raw feed material from a source entrained in gases discharged from the adjacent downstream separator and discharge separated material into the stream of gases supplied to the adjacent downstream separator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for manufacturing fine particles of lightweight aggregate according to claim 2 further comprising indirect heat exchanger means including inlet means for receiving hot, spent fluidizing gases from said reactor and outlet means for discharging hot, spent fluidizing gases to the most downstream separator, and conduit means flow connecting a source of gaseous fluid and said means for supplying gaseous fluid to said lower plenum chamber whereby the hot, spent fluidizing gases are in heat exchange contact with the conduit means flow connecting the source of gaseous fluid and said means supplying gaseous fluid to said lower plenum chamber and said gaseous fluid in said conduit means is heated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for manufacturing fine particles of lightweight aggregate according to claim 1 wherein said means for cooling material discharged from said upper material chamber includes a vessel having a gas permeable grid dividing the vessel into upper and lower chambers, means for supplying material to be cooled to the upper chamber, means for supplying gaseous fluid to the lower chamber for passage through said gas permeable grid for cooling material in said upper chamber, and means for discharging cooled material from said upper chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus for manufacturing fine particles of lightweight aggregate according to claim 4 wherein said means for cooling material further includes means for selectively supplying quench water to the surface of material in the uppeR chamber.
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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |