US3800858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Railway car thawing system
Assignee: Van Dorn Co
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Filing: 1972-01-20
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-01-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods are disclosed for thawing frozen particulate material such as coal disposed in a railway car. Thawing is achieved by heating the sidewalls and bottom of the car and the exposed upper surface of the particulate material by means of a heat source such as infra-red generators and flowing water downwardly through the particulate matter. The water functions to cool the heated surfaces of the car, the exposed surface of the particulate material and areas of the particulate material inwardly adjacent these surfaces and to transfer heat from these areas to inner regions of the mass of particulate material in the car to enhance thawing of the material. The bottom of the car is heated by directing heat downwardly and inwardly beneath the car and reflecting or reradiating the heat upwardly towards the bottom of the car by means of suitable reflective material, or a bed of heat radiating particulate material.
Inventors
- 👤 E Placek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:57
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D7/00; B61D7/14; B61D7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for thawing particulate material, comprising means supporting the material, said support means and material having exposed eXternal surfaces, means for radiantly heating at least a surface area of the exposed external surfaces of said support means and/or particulate material, and means for introducing liquid onto said exposed external surface of said particulate material for flow therethrough and transfer of heat from said heated surface area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for thawing particulate material, comprising means supporting the material, said support means and material having exposed eXternal surfaces, means for radiantly heating at least a surface area of the exposed external surfaces of said support means and/or particulate material, and means for introducing liquid onto said exposed external surface of said particulate material for flow therethrough and transfer of heat from said heated surface area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said support means is a receptacle having sidewalls and bottom wall means and said means for heating includes one or more radiant heaters for heating at least an exposed exterior surface area of at least one of said side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for heating includes one or more radiant heaters for heating at least a portion of the exposed external surface of said material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said support means is a receptacle having side walls and bottom wall means and said means for heating further includes one or more radiant heaters for heating at least an exposed exterior surface area of at least one of said sidewalls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said radiant heaters are infra-red generators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said exposed external surface of said particulate material is an exposed upper surface and said means for introducing liquid includes means for delivering liquid downwardly onto the exposed surface of the material for gravity flow through the material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said liquid is water and said means for delivering includes spray means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said support means is a receptacle including bottom wall means, and wherein said means for heating includes one or more radiant heaters for directing heat downwardly toward an area beneath the receptacle, and means in the path of the directed heat for directing heat upwardly toward said bottom wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said means for directing heat upwardly toward said bottom wall means is reflective material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said means for directing heat upwardly toward said bottom wall means is reflecting and/or radiating means defined by a bed of particulate material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said receptacle further includes side walls and said means for heating further includes one or more radiant heaters for heating at least an exposed exterior surface area of at least one of said side walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 11, wherein all of said heaters are infra-red generators.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
66 words
A system for thawing particulate material disposed in an open top railway car having side walls and bottom wall means comprising, means for radiantly heating at least an exposed exterior surface area of said car and/or particulate material, and means for introducing liquid onto the exposed exterior surface of said particulate material for flow through the particulate material and transfer of heat from said surface area.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
66 words
A system for thawing particulate material disposed in an open top railway car having side walls and bottom wall means comprising, means for radiantly heating at least an exposed exterior surface area of said car and/or particulate material, and means for introducing liquid onto the exposed exterior surface of said particulate material for flow through the particulate material and transfer of heat from said surface area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said heating means includes a plurality of heaters for directing heat toward at least one of said side walls and the exposed surface of said particulate material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said heating means includes a plurality of heaters for directing heat toward the exposed exterior surface of at least one of said side walls and a plurality of heaters for directing heat downwardly toward the exposed surface of said particulate material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said heating means further includes a plurality of heaters for directing heat downwardly and inwardly beneath said bottom wall means and means in the path of said downwardly and inwardly directed heat to direct heat upwardly toward said bottom wall means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said means to direct heat upwardly toward said bottom wall means is reflective material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said means to direct heat upwardly toward said bottom wall means is reflecting and/or radiating means defined by a bed of particulate material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The systEm of claim 16, wherein said means for introducing the liquid includes header means positioned above the open top of said car and having outlet means for directing the liquid toward said material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 19, wherein all of said heaters are infra-red generators.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 19, and enclosure means for said railway car including outlet means, said pluralities of heaters being disposed in said enclosure means and being gas fired infra-red generators, and means for circulating the heated products of combustion of said gas fired generators relative to a car in said enclosure means and out said outlet means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of thawing a mass of particulate material having an outer surface comprising, radiantly heating at at least an area of said exposed outer surface of said material, and flowing liquid onto said outer surface of said material for at least a portion of the liquid to flow in heat transfer relationship relative to said surface area to transfer heat from said surface area.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of thawing a mass of particulate material having an outer surface comprising, radiantly heating at at least an area of said exposed outer surface of said material, and flowing liquid onto said outer surface of said material for at least a portion of the liquid to flow in heat transfer relationship relative to said surface area to transfer heat from said surface area.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said heat is radiant heat.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of thawing a mass of particulate material disposed in a receptacle comprising, radiantly heating at least an exposed external surface area of said receptacle and/or material, and flowing a liquid onto the exposed surface area of said material for flow through the material to transfer heat from said surface area.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of thawing a mass of particulate material disposed in a receptacle comprising, radiantly heating at least an exposed external surface area of said receptacle and/or material, and flowing a liquid onto the exposed surface area of said material for flow through the material to transfer heat from said surface area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 25, said receptacle having side and bottom wall means, and heating an exposed exterior surface area of said receptacle by directing heat toward at least one of said side and bottom wall means, and flowing said liquid downwardly through said material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 26, and heating said exposed exterior surface area of said material by directing heat downwardly toward said material in said receptacle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 25, said receptacle having bottom wall means, and heating an exposed exterior surface area of said receptacle by directing heat toward said bottom wall means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 28, said receptacle having side wall means, and heating an exposed exterior surface area of said receptacle by directing heat toward said side wall means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29, and heating said exposed exterior surface area of said material by directing heat downwardly toward said material in said receptacle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27, and directing heat toward said one of said side and bottom wall means and toward said material by infra-red radiating means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 30, and directing heat toward said bottom wall means and side wall means and toward said material by infra-red radiating means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |