US3890424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of treating solid substances with a vapor
Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
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Filing: 1971-11-08
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1991-11-08
Abstract
Abstract Liquid is vaporized under reduced pressure, and the vapors are swept over solid material, especially nuclear fuel containing bodies, containing unwanted solid evaporable substances in a heated furnace. The vapor helps sweep out vaporized unwanted solid substances and also excludes other unwanted gases.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy Alan Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:38
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/623; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A METHOD OF REMOVING UNWANTED EVAPORABLE SOLID SUBSTANCES FROM A SOLID MATERIAL, COMPRISING PLACING SAID SOLID MATERIAL IN A CLOSED FURNACE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELYDISPOSED OPENINGS SO THAT SAID MATERIAL IS BETWEEN SAID OPENINGS, CONNECTING ONE OF SAID OPENINGS WITH A VESSEL CONTAINING LIQUID OPERATING THE FURNACE SO AS TO HEAT THE MATERIAL AND CONTINUOUSLY EVACUATING THE FURNACE BY WAY OF THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS IN ORDER TO REDUCE PRESSURE IN SAID LIQUID CONTAINING VESSEL TO PROMOTE BOILING OF THE LIQUID IN SAID VESSEL WHEREBY VAPOR GENERATED BY BOILING IS DRAWN OVER THE MATERIAL IN SAID FURNACE SO AS TO FACILITATE EVAPORATION OF SAID UNWANTED SUBSTANCES FROM SAID MATERIAL, THE EVAPORATED MATERIAL BEING REMOVED THROUGH SAID OTHER OPENING.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A METHOD OF REMOVING UNWANTED EVAPORABLE SOLID SUBSTANCES FROM A SOLID MATERIAL, COMPRISING PLACING SAID SOLID MATERIAL IN A CLOSED FURNACE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELYDISPOSED OPENINGS SO THAT SAID MATERIAL IS BETWEEN SAID OPENINGS, CONNECTING ONE OF SAID OPENINGS WITH A VESSEL CONTAINING LIQUID OPERATING THE FURNACE SO AS TO HEAT THE MATERIAL AND CONTINUOUSLY EVACUATING THE FURNACE BY WAY OF THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS IN ORDER TO REDUCE PRESSURE IN SAID LIQUID CONTAINING VESSEL TO PROMOTE BOILING OF THE LIQUID IN SAID VESSEL WHEREBY VAPOR GENERATED BY BOILING IS DRAWN OVER THE MATERIAL IN SAID FURNACE SO AS TO FACILITATE EVAPORATION OF SAID UNWANTED SUBSTANCES FROM SAID MATERIAL, THE EVAPORATED MATERIAL BEING REMOVED THROUGH SAID OTHER OPENING.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid is water, said solid material comprises nuclear fuel-containing bodies and said unwanted substances comprise evaporable seeds on which said nuclear fuel has been agglomerated.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of removing unwanted carbon from uranium dioxide-containing bodies incorporating the unwanted carbon, comprising placing said bodies in a closed furnace having a pair of oppositely-disposed openings so that said bodies are between said openings, connecting one of said openings with a vessel containing water, operating the furnace so as to heat the bodies and continuously evacuating the furnace by way of the other of said openings in order to reduce pressure in said liquid containing vessel to promote boiling of the water whereby water vapor generated by said boiling is drawn over the bodies in said furnace so as to facilitate evaporation of the unwanted carbon from said material, the evaporated material being removed through said other opening.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of removing unwanted carbon from uranium dioxide-containing bodies incorporating the unwanted carbon, comprising placing said bodies in a closed furnace having a pair of oppositely-disposed openings so that said bodies are between said openings, connecting one of said openings with a vessel containing water, operating the furnace so as to heat the bodies and continuously evacuating the furnace by way of the other of said openings in order to reduce pressure in said liquid containing vessel to promote boiling of the water whereby water vapor generated by said boiling is drawn over the bodies in said furnace so as to facilitate evaporation of the unwanted carbon from said material, the evaporated material being removed through said other opening.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of removing unwanted stearic acid binder from uranium dioxide-containing bodies incorporating the unwanted binder, comprising placing said bodies in a closed furnace having a pair of oppositely-disposed openings so that said bodies are between said openings, connecting one of said openings with a vessel containing water, operating the furnace so as to heat the bodies and continuously evacuating the furnace by way of the other of said openings in order to reduce pressure in said liquid containing vessel to promote boiling of the water whereby water vapor generated by said boiling is drawn over the bodies in said furnace so as to facilitate evaporation of the unwanted stearic acid from said material, the evaporated material being removed through said other opening.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of removing unwanted stearic acid binder from uranium dioxide-containing bodies incorporating the unwanted binder, comprising placing said bodies in a closed furnace having a pair of oppositely-disposed openings so that said bodies are between said openings, connecting one of said openings with a vessel containing water, operating the furnace so as to heat the bodies and continuously evacuating the furnace by way of the other of said openings in order to reduce pressure in said liquid containing vessel to promote boiling of the water whereby water vapor generated by said boiling is drawn over the bodies in said furnace so as to facilitate evaporation of the unwanted stearic acid from said material, the evaporated material being removed through said other opening.
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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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |