Material treating apparatus

Claim 2

A treating apparatus comprising: a housing with a treating chamber therein, means for circulating a treating gas through treating chamber, a plurality of trays within the treating chamber spaced helically along and mounted for rotation about an axis that is inclined from the vertical sufficiently for gravity to cause movement of the material down the face of the tray, each tray having rims for confining and lifting the material as the tray rotates about the inclined axis, a transfer means between adjacent trays for transferring material from an upper tray to the outer section of a lower tray, outlet means on each tray located in the tray section adjacent the axis of rotation for discharging material from each tray onto a lower transfer means, means for rotating the trays, material inlet means in the treating chamber located to deposit material on the uppermost tray between the outlet means and the periphery of the uppermost tray, and means for conducting material from the treating chamber after it has been discharged from the lowermost tray.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each tray has at least one upstanding baffle on the surface thereof for dispersing the material across the surface of the tray.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a gas heating means is connected to the treating chamber along the length thereof and receives gas directly from each tray section and gas is delivered from the heating means in parallel flow to each tray.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each tray has means for breaking chunks of material into smaller pieces.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with: a roller section through which grain is passed upon exiting the treating chamber, lifting means for lifting the processed grain to storage including an exhaust air - product line, grain inlet means for introducing the grain into the line after it passes through the roller section, means for taking exhaust air from the treating chamber and driving it through the exhaust - air product line, and means for adjustably controlling the cross sectional area of the exhaust air - product line upstream of the grain inlet means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tray is pie shaped defining an aperture therethrough generally adjacent the axis of revolution, the tray having a first and second lifting rim and an outer rim, a first baffle extending from the first lifting rim toward the second lifting rim defining a gap there between, a second baffle extending from the second lifting rim and disposed between the gap and the aperture of the tray such that material sliding through the gap from the periphery of the tray cannot fall directly through the aperture, but is retained on the tray for another revolution.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a heater means is disposed along the exterior of the treating chamber such that the heater means and the treating chamber define a duct through which spent air is taken directly from the treating chamber and reheated and recirculated through the flume member and nozzles into the treating chamber.

Claim 9

A treating apparatus comprising: a housing with a treating chamber therein, means for recirculating heated gas through the treating chamber, a plurality of stacked tray aggregates mounted within the treating chamber about an axis inclined from the vertical sufficiently for gravity to cause movement of the material down the face of the trays, each tray of the aggregate having rims for confining and lifting the material as the tray rotates about the inclined axis, transfer means between adjacent tray aggregates for transferring material from an upper tray to the outer section of a lower tray, outlet means on each tray for discharging material from the tray onto a lower tray, means for rotating the aggregates of trays, material inlet means into the treating chamber located to deposit material on the uppermost aggregate of trays with the material being deposited between the outlet means and the periphery of the trays of the uppermost tray aggregate, means for conducting material from the treating chamber after it has been discharged from the lowermost tray aggregate.

Claim 10

A treating apparatus comprising: a housing with a treating chamber therein, means for recirculating heated gas through the treating chamber, a plurality of stacked tray aggregates mounted within the treating chamber about an axis inclined from the vertical sufficiently for gravity to cause movement of the material down the face of the trays, each tray of the aggregate having rims for confining and lifting the material as the tray rotates about the inclined axis, transfer means between adjacent tray aggregates for transferring material from an upper tray to the outer section of a lower tray, outlet means on each tray for discharging material from the tray onto a lower tray, means for rotating the aggregates of trays, material inlet means into the treating chamber located to deposit material on the uppermost aggregate of trays with the material being deposited between the outlet means and the periphery of the trays of the uppermost tray aggregate, means for conducting material from the treating chamber after it has been discharged from the lowermost tray aggregate.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each tray of each tray aggregate has upstanding baffles spaced along the periphery of the tray for dispersing the material across the surface of the tray.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for recirculating heated air includes a heater means for heating the air circulated through treating chamber, and means for introducing air from the heater into the treating chamber in parallel flow over the tray aggregates.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each tray of the tray aggregate has means for breaking chunks of material into smaller pieces.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the gas circulating means includes: a flume member extending along the exterior of the treating chamber with nozzles spaced along the flume that place the flume in communication with the interior of the treating chamber such that the treating gas can be introduced across the top of the material carried on the tray elements.

Claim 15

A treating apparatus comprising: a housing with a treating chamber therein, means for circulating a treating gas through the treating chamber, a plurality of trays within the treating chamber spaced helically along and mounted for rotation about an axis that is inclined from the vertical sufficiently for gravity to cause movement of the material down the face of the tray, each tray having rims for confining and lifting the material as the tray rotates about the inclined axis, said tray being pie shaped with the apex of the pie at the axis of rotation, an outlet located at the leading rim of each tray and spaced from said apex, a baffle extending from said leading rim to a point on the trailing rim side of the outlet which is inboard of the outlet, means for rotating the trays, material inlet means in the treating chamber located to deposit material on the uppermost tray, and means for conducting material from the treating chamber after it has been discharged from the lowermost tray.

Claim 16

A treating apparatus comprising: a housing with a treating chamber therein, means for circulating a treating gas through the treating chamber, a plurality of trays within the treating chamber spaced helically along and mounted for rotation about an axis that is inclined from the vertical sufficiently for gravity to cause movement of the material down the face of the tray, each tray having rims for confining and lifting the material as the tray rotates about the inclined axis, said tray being pie shaped with the apex of the pie at the axis of rotation, an outlet located at the leading rim of each tray and spaced from said apex, a baffle extending from said leading rim to a point on the trailing rim side of the outlet which is inboard of the outlet, means for rotating the trays, material inlet means in the treating chamber located to deposit material on the uppermost tray, and means for conducting material from the treating chamber after it has been discharged from the lowermost tray.