Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, the combination comprising a rotatable center shaft extending up through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, a chain disposed between the rabble arms associated with the uppermost of said hearths to move the material being processed over the hearth when said center shaft is rotated, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed towards the outer periphery thereof, whereby when said center shaft is rotated the material being processed is moved across the hearth to a drop hole and dropped down onto the next lower hearth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, the combination comprising a rotatable center shaft extending up through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, a chain disposed between the rabble arms associated with the uppermost of said hearths to move the material being processed over the hearth when said center shaft is rotated, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed towards the outer periphery thereof, whereby when said center shaft is rotated the material being processed is moved across the hearth to a drop hole and dropped down onto the next lower hearth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the tension of said rabble chains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said rabble chain are connected between the outer end portion of one rabble arm and the inner end portion of the adjacent rabble arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one end of said rabble chain is connected to said center shaft and the other end of the chain is connected outwardly of the middle of one rabble arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising rabble teeth extending downwardly from the rabble arms into the material being processed on each hearth.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for continuously processing material in a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, a rotatable center shaft extending up through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, a chain disposed between the rabble arms associated with the uppermost of said hearths, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed towards the outer periphery thereof, said method comprising the steps of continuously introducing said material at the top of said furnace, evenly moving said material across the uppermost of said hearths by virtue of the movement of said chain to its drip hole, and dropping said material down through said drop hole onto the next lower hearth.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for continuously processing material in a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, a rotatable center shaft extending up through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, a chain disposed between the rabble arms associated with the uppermost of said hearths, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed towards the outer periphery thereof, said method comprising the steps of continuously introducing said material at the top of said furnace, evenly moving said material across the uppermost of said hearths by virtue of the movement of said chain to its drip hole, and dropping said material down through said drop hole onto the next lower hearth.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of continuously processing material in a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, a rotatable center shaft extending up through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, rabble teeth extending downwardly from the rabble arms into the material being processed on each hearth, a chain disposed between adjacent rabble arms, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed towards the outer periphery thereof, said method comprising the steps of continuously introducing said material at the top of said furnace, evenly moving said material across the uppermost of said hearths by virtue of the movement of its associated chains to its drop hole, and dropping said material down through said drop hole onto the next lower hearth, and thence evenly moving said material across this hearth by virtue of the movement of its associated chains to thereby move the material through the furnace from the top to the bottom thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of continuously processing material in a multiple hearth furnace having a plurality of vertically spaced hearths, a rotatable center shaft extending up through the center of the furnace and passing through each hearth, a plurality of spaced rabble arms secured to the center shaft and extending radially outwardly over each hearth, rabble teeth extending downwardly from the rabble arms into the material being processed on each hearth, a chain disposed between adjacent rabble arms, alternate hearths having drop holes disposed towards the center shaft and the other hearths having drop holes disposed towards the outer periphery thereof, said method comprising the steps of continuously introducing said material at the top of said furnace, evenly moving said material across the uppermost of said hearths by virtue of the movement of its associated chains to its drop hole, and dropping said material down through said drop hole onto the next lower hearth, and thence evenly moving said material across this hearth by virtue of the movement of its associated chains to thereby move the material through the furnace from the top to the bottom thereof.