US3885575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of a smoking material
Assignee: Imperial Group PLC
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Filing: 1973-08-07
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A method for manufacture of a smoking material is disclosed which involves impregnating a non-toxic carbohydrate base material with 2.5-10% by weight of a degradation catalyst in aqueous solution, partially drying the base to a water content of 1-15% and then catalytically degrading the carbohydrate by microwave heat so that the weight of the degraded material is less than 90% of the original carbohydrates. The microwave energy employed in the degradation process is supplied at a rate of 100300 calories for each gram of carbohydrate.
Inventors
- 👤 James Brown Parker
- 👤 John Evan Philip Hicks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:49
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B15/00; A24B15/10; A24B15/16; A24B15/165; C; C08; C08B; C08B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
IN A PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A MODIFIED NON-TOXIC CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR SMOKING MIXTURES WHICH COMPRISES THE CATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF A CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL BY IMPREGNATING SAID MATERIAL WITH FROM 2.5 TO 10% BY WEIGHT OF A DEGRATION CATALYST IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION FOLLOWED BY DRYING AND HEATING UNTIL THE WEIGHT OF THE DEGRADED MATERIAL IS LESS THAN 90% OF THE WEIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ONLY PARTIALLY DRYING THE IMPREGNATED MATERIAL SO THAT THE PARTIALLY DRIED MATERIAL CONTAINS FROM 1 TO 15% BY WEIGHT OF WATER, AND CATALYTICALLY DEGRADING SAID PARTIALLY DRIED CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL BY EXPOSING THE SAME TO MICROWAVE ENERGY AT THE RATE OF 100 TO 300 CALORIES FOR EACH GRAM OF CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL UNTIL THE DESIRED DEGREE OF DEGRADATION IS ATTAINED.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
IN A PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A MODIFIED NON-TOXIC CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR SMOKING MIXTURES WHICH COMPRISES THE CATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF A CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL BY IMPREGNATING SAID MATERIAL WITH FROM 2.5 TO 10% BY WEIGHT OF A DEGRATION CATALYST IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION FOLLOWED BY DRYING AND HEATING UNTIL THE WEIGHT OF THE DEGRADED MATERIAL IS LESS THAN 90% OF THE WEIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ONLY PARTIALLY DRYING THE IMPREGNATED MATERIAL SO THAT THE PARTIALLY DRIED MATERIAL CONTAINS FROM 1 TO 15% BY WEIGHT OF WATER, AND CATALYTICALLY DEGRADING SAID PARTIALLY DRIED CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL BY EXPOSING THE SAME TO MICROWAVE ENERGY AT THE RATE OF 100 TO 300 CALORIES FOR EACH GRAM OF CARBOHYDRATE MATERIAL UNTIL THE DESIRED DEGREE OF DEGRADATION IS ATTAINED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate material is partially dried to contain from 1 to 8% by weight of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein microwave energy is supplied to the carbohydrate material at the rate of 120 to 200 calories for each gram of carbohydrate material entering the zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate material is cellulose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the degradation catalyst is ammonium sulphamate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein a non-reactive gas is swept through the microwave zone at a rate sufficient to sweep out volatile degradation products.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process according to claim 6 wherein the non-reactive gas is heated above 100*C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Process according to claim 6 wherein the non-reactive gas is heated in the range 150* to 200*C.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |