US3854850A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary means for forming solid granules from liquid supply means
Assignee: Osaka Gas Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-04-11
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1992-04-11
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a granulating apparatus, wherein a material which is solid at room temperature and becomes molten upon heating is heated to be melted, the resulting molten material is repeatedly caught little by little to be dropped, and the dropped molten material is cooled, whereby the molten material is formed into roundish granular solid bodies of suitable and substantially uniform size.
Inventors
- 👤 K Ueda
- 👤 Z Kimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:32
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for reducing molten material to substantially uniform granular form comprising a supply means of meltable material, means for maintaining the meltable material at a predetermined flowable temperature, conduit means associated with said last-named means for transporting the flowable material to a bath in a substantially closed chamber, rotary means positioned in said chamber, a plurality of pin members extending radially from said rotary means and having respective end portions thereof operatively positioned for scooping up limited, substantial uniform, separate portions of said molten material from said bath and for flinging off separately said limited portions of molten material scooped up through space and thence into a trough-like member positioned adjacent to said chamber, a coolant in said trough-like member for cooling said portions of material to solidify same in form of substantially uniform spheres, and means for advancing the granular material through said coolant to a means for separating the granules from the coolant, whereby the granules of substantially uniform diameter and relatively large size are produced.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for reducing molten material to substantially uniform granular form comprising a supply means of meltable material, means for maintaining the meltable material at a predetermined flowable temperature, conduit means associated with said last-named means for transporting the flowable material to a bath in a substantially closed chamber, rotary means positioned in said chamber, a plurality of pin members extending radially from said rotary means and having respective end portions thereof operatively positioned for scooping up limited, substantial uniform, separate portions of said molten material from said bath and for flinging off separately said limited portions of molten material scooped up through space and thence into a trough-like member positioned adjacent to said chamber, a coolant in said trough-like member for cooling said portions of material to solidify same in form of substantially uniform spheres, and means for advancing the granular material through said coolant to a means for separating the granules from the coolant, whereby the granules of substantially uniform diameter and relatively large size are produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the pin members are disposed in staggered relation in alternate rows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for separating the granules from the coolant is a vibratory screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising control means for maintaining the flowable material fed to said bath substantially at a predetermined substantially constant level therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including heat exchanger means for maintaining the flowable material at a substantially constant temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said pin members have a shank portion for association with said rotary means and a modified terminal end portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which each said pin member is thin in a shank portion for association with said rotary means and is thicker in a modified terminal end portion than in said shank portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pin members project from an outside surface of a peripheral wall of said rotary means driven for rotation around its horizontal axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shaft for rotating said rotary means, and wherein said pin members are arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having a driving mechanism for driving said pin members while changing their speed in such a manner that when they dip into the molten material in said bath they are moving at a relatively low speed but when the molten material is flung off by said pin members they are moving at a relatively high speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said driving mechanism for changing speed of said pin members comprises a rotary drum driven at a constant speed and having said pin members attached thereto so as to be swingable in the direction of rotation, a suitable number of springs for maintaining the position of said pin members normally fixed, an abutment means which, prior to the flinging off of the molten material, temporarily delays rotation of each of said pin members in turn against the forces of said springs and then releases said pin members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said driving mechanism for changing speed of said pin members comprises a drum having a central axis of rotation, and containing a shaft co-directionally spaced from said axis of rotation mounting said pin members, said drum driven at a constant rotational speed, said pin members being telescopically inserted in openings in a peripheral wall of said drum, whereby as said pin members are rotated, the length of projection of said pin members outwardly of the drum is changed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |