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US3832128A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process and apparatus for preheating solid particulate materials

Assignee: Fuller Co
•
Filing: 1973-07-11
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-07-11
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for preheating solid particulate materials such as limestone and materials used in the process of making sealed surface lightweight aggregate. It includes a vessel having an inlet for solid particulate material and an outlet for solid particulate material, an inlet for hot gases and an outlet for gases. A preheating zone is defined by a bridge, the floor of the vessel and the vessel sidewalls. A valve arrangement is provided for controlling the length of the gas flow path through the preheating zone. When the valve is in one extreme position, the flow path through the gas-solids contact zone is the longest, and when the valve is in the other extreme position, the flow path through the gas-solids zone is at its shortest. The position of the valve may be controlled in response to either the pressure drop across the preheating apparatus or the temperature of the material discharged from the preheater.

Inventors

  • 👤 K Paul

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 03:50
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27B; F27B1/00; F27B1/10; F27D; F27D13/00; F28; F28C; F28C3/00; F28C3/10; F28C3/12; F28C3/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus comprising: a vessel having an inlet for solid particulate material, an outlet for solid particulate material, an inlet for gaseous fluid and an outlet for gaseous fluid; means defining a gas-solids contact zone intermediate said inlet and said outlet for gaseous fluid and intermediate said inlet and said outlet for solid particulate material whereby solid particulate material which moves from said inlet for solid particulate material to said outlet for solid particulate material passes through the gas-solids contact zone; means for directing substantially all of the gaseous fluid through the gas-solids contact zone for heat exchange contact with the solid particulate material; and means for varying the length of the gas-solids contact zone through which substantially all of gaseous fluid is directed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 127 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus comprising: a vessel having an inlet for solid particulate material, an outlet for solid particulate material, an inlet for gaseous fluid and an outlet for gaseous fluid; means defining a gas-solids contact zone intermediate said inlet and said outlet for gaseous fluid and intermediate said inlet and said outlet for solid particulate material whereby solid particulate material which moves from said inlet for solid particulate material to said outlet for solid particulate material passes through the gas-solids contact zone; means for directing substantially all of the gaseous fluid through the gas-solids contact zone for heat exchange contact with the solid particulate material; and means for varying the length of the gas-solids contact zone through which substantially all of gaseous fluid is directed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for varying the length of the gas-solids contact zone includes valve means mounted in said vessel for controlling the length of the flow path of gaseous fluid from said inlet for gaseous fluid to said outlet for gaseous fluid through said gas-solids contact zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 90 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said vessel includes a sidewall, a floor and a downwardly and outwardly extending wall means positioned with respect to each other and with respect to the inlet and the outlet for solid particulate material so that solid particulate material moves from said inlet for solid particulate material along said downwardly and outwardly sloping wall means and forms the natural material angle of repose between said inlet for solid particulate material and said sidewall to thereby define the gas-solids contact zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 74 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said outlet for gaseous fluid is positioned above the natural material angle of repose between said inlet for solid particulate material and said sidewall and said valve means extends from said sidewall upwardly toward said inlet for solid particulate material between the outlet for gaseous fluid and the natural material angle of repose formed between the inlet for solid particulate material and the sidewall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising means for moving solid particulate material along said floor toward said outlet for solid partiCulate material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising means for adjusting the position of said valve means relative to the natural material angle of repose to thereby provide the means for varying the effective length of the gas-solids contact zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 119 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vessel includes a sidewall, end wall and a floor; a downwardly and outwardly sloping wall means mounted in said vessel and spaced from said sidewall and floor, a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall means extending from said sidewall toward but spaced from said downwardly and outwardly sloping wall means; said inlet for gaseous fluid being positioned under said downwardly and outwardly sloping wall means; said outlet for gaseous fluid being positioned under said downwardly and inwardly sloping wall means; said gas-solids contact zone being defined by said downwardly and outwardly sloping wall means, said downwardly and inwardly sloping wall means, said floor, said sidewall and said valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 62 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for varying the length of said gas-solids contact zone includes valve means mounted in said vessel for controlling the flow path of gaseous fluid from said gaseous fluid inlet to said gaseous fluid outlet through said gas-solids contact zone; said gas-solids contact zone being further defined by said valve means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
A gas-solids heat exchange apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said outlet for solid particulate material is in said floor and further comprising means for moving solid particulate material along said floor to said outlet for solid particulate material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 66 words
In a process of preheating solid particulate material by direct contact with hot gases as the solid particulate material moves through a preheating zone and discharging the gases from the preheating zone by passing them into a space overlying the preheating zone, controlling the preheating operation by passing all of the hot gases completely through the preheating zone and varying the length of the preheating zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 66 words
In a process of preheating solid particulate material by direct contact with hot gases as the solid particulate material moves through a preheating zone and discharging the gases from the preheating zone by passing them into a space overlying the preheating zone, controlling the preheating operation by passing all of the hot gases completely through the preheating zone and varying the length of the preheating zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 42 words
In a process according to claim 10 wherein the length of the preheating zone is varied by controlling the direction of flow of gases through the preheating zone to thereby control the length of the gas flow path through the preheating zone.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 64 words
A method of achieving heat exchange between solid bulk material and gas comprising the steps of passing the solid bulk material through a gas-solids contact zone; passing the gas through the gas-solids contact zone in a generally countercurrent direction to the direction in which the solid bulk material passes through the gas-solids contact zone, and controlling the effective length of said gas-solids contact zone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 64 words
A method of achieving heat exchange between solid bulk material and gas comprising the steps of passing the solid bulk material through a gas-solids contact zone; passing the gas through the gas-solids contact zone in a generally countercurrent direction to the direction in which the solid bulk material passes through the gas-solids contact zone, and controlling the effective length of said gas-solids contact zone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method of achieving heat exchange according to claim 12 wherein the effective length of said gas-solids contact zone is controlled by controlling the direction in which the gas passes through said gas-solids contact zone.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1669012A Cited
US2785885A Cited
US2799489A Cited
US3260514A Cited
US3601376A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-08-26 1978-02-25 1978-08-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-08-26 1982-02-25 1982-08-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-08-26 1986-02-25 1986-08-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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