US3837271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat treatment of flowable solids
Assignee: SPX Flow Technology Crawley Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-05-26
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1992-05-26
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a method and apparatus for heat treatment, particularly sterilizing particulate solid material such as meat cubes or beans. The particles of solid material are positively fed by a conveyor, such as a screw conveyor, through a chamber with an atmosphere of steam or other heating gas, and the residence time determined by the positive feeding is such as to ensure that the required treatment in the chamber is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 D Shore
- 👤 G Starkie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:45
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/20; A23B2/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
In apparatus for heat treating particulate solid materials including a pressure vessel and means for maintaining an atmosphere of hot gas in the pressure vessel, means for conveying the solid particles through the pressure vessel comprising a generally horizontally disposed cylinder and a screw conveyor within said cylinder, means for rotating said screw conveyor so as to establish a residence time of the particles passing through the pressure vessel as determined by the speed of rotation of said screw conveyor, means for rotating said cylinder in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said screw conveyor whereby both the movement of the particles through the cylinder by the screw conveyor is positively controlled and the residence time of the particles passing through the pressure vessel is accurately controllable by the speed of rotation of said cylinder and said screw coNveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
In apparatus for heat treating particulate solid materials including a pressure vessel and means for maintaining an atmosphere of hot gas in the pressure vessel, means for conveying the solid particles through the pressure vessel comprising a generally horizontally disposed cylinder and a screw conveyor within said cylinder, means for rotating said screw conveyor so as to establish a residence time of the particles passing through the pressure vessel as determined by the speed of rotation of said screw conveyor, means for rotating said cylinder in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said screw conveyor whereby both the movement of the particles through the cylinder by the screw conveyor is positively controlled and the residence time of the particles passing through the pressure vessel is accurately controllable by the speed of rotation of said cylinder and said screw coNveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said conveyor operates with minimal clearance in said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylinder has a feed end, said apparatus comprising a static chamber forming an extension at the feed end of the cylinder, the screw conveyor extending into the said static chamber, and an inlet line extending through a wall in the static chamber for feeding solid particles into the said static chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including an inlet for emitting heating gas to the pressure vessel to provide the said atmosphere of hot gas, and wherein the cylinder is provided with apertures to allow ingress of the said hot gas to the interior of the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, having an outlet adjacent one end of the cylinder, in which at least some of the apertures are provided adjacent the outlet end of the screw conveyor and are large enough to allow the particles to pass out of the cylinder to the outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylinder is provided with apertures to allow ingress of hot gas to the interior of said cylinder and to allow egress of liquid from the interior of said cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |