Solids flow control device

Claim 2

A solids flow control device for controlling the rate of flow and the distribution of flow of solids in a continuous counter current contact between liquid and solids, comprising a. a vessel provided with liquid intake means near its bottom receiving upwardly directed liquid for interaction with a bed of solids free to move downwardly in the vessel, b. a series of rotatable rolls occupying the total cross section of the bottom of the vessel, said rolls being axially parallel and grouped in pairs in which the rolls of each pair turn counter to one another, each pair being spaced from an adjacent pair, c. a series of horizontal baffles located above the spaces between pairs of rolls, said baffles extending the length of the rolls and over the two nearest rolls to about their vertical center lines, and d. means rotating the rolls.

Claim 3

The device defined by claim 1, which includes a hopper connected to the vessel below the series of rolls for receiving interacted liquid-solids, and a lift conduit communicating with the hopper.

Claim 4

The device defined by claim 1, in which the vessel is cylindrical and is uniform in diameter throughout its height including the portion occupied by said rolls and baffles.

Claim 5

The device defined by claim 1, in which the rolls comprise a metallic tubular body and a resilient sleeve covering the body.

Claim 6

The device defined by claim 1, in which each baffle comprises a horizontal base member spaced from the rolls and an upper angle strip spaced from and parallel to said base member, said angle strip supporting solids in said moving bed and guiding the solids to passage in fluid between the baffle base member and rolls and into the spaces between adjacent pairs of rolls.

Claim 7

The device defined by claim 5, in which each baffle includes longitudinal side walls extending upwardly from the base member and spaced from the angle strip for distribution of liquid evenly over the horizontal cross section of the vessel through the spaces between side walls and angle strip.

Claim 8

The device defined by claim 5, in which the baffles are movable to adjust the space between baffles and rolls so that the angle of repose of the solids in the liquid passing between the baffles and nearest rolls is not exceeded by the angle of a line drawn from the bottom edge of the baffle tangentially to the nearest roll.

Claim 9

The device defined by claim 7, in which the baffles are movable relatively to the rolls in vertical directions, and a line drawn from the bottom edge of the baffle tangentially to the nearest roll may be varied by altering the width of the baffle base member.

Claim 10

A solids flow control for controlling the rate of flow and the distribution of flow of solids in a continuous counter current contact between liquid and solids comprising a. a vessel uniform in horizontal cross section throughout its height provided with liquid intake means near its bottom receiving upwardly directed liquid for interaction with a bed of solids free to move downwardly in the vessel, b. a series of rotatable rolls occupying the total cross section of the bottom of the vessel, said rolls being axially parallel and grouped in pairs in which the rolls of each pair turn counter to one another, each pair being spaced from an adjacent pair of rolls, c. a series of horizontal baffles located above the spaces between pairs of rolls, said baffles having base members which extend the length of the rolls and over the two nearest rolls to about their vertical center lines, side walls extending upwardly from the base members and forming with said base members conduits for liquid, and upper angle strips spaced from the side walls supporting solids in their passage downwardly to the rolls and between pairs of rolls, d. a liquid-solids receiving hopper connected to the bottom of the vessel below the rolls, and e. means rotating the rolls.

Claim 11

A solids flow control for controlling the rate of flow and the distribution of flow of solids in a continuous counter current contact between liquid and solids comprising a. a vessel uniform in horizontal cross section throughout its height provided with liquid intake means near its bottom receiving upwardly directed liquid for interaction with a bed of solids free to move downwardly in the vessel, b. a series of rotatable rolls occupying the total cross section of the bottom of the vessel, said rolls being axially parallel and grouped in pairs in which the rolls of each pair turn counter to one another, each pair being spaced from an adjacent pair of rolls, c. a series of horizontal baffles located above the spaces between pairs of rolls, said baffles having base members which extend the length of the rolls and over the two nearest rolls to about their vertical center lines, side walls extending upwardly from the base members and forming with said base members conduits for liquid, and upper angle strips spaced from the side walls supporting solids in their passage downwardly to the rolls and between pairs of rolls, d. a liquid-solids receiving hopper connected to the bottom of the vessel below the rolls, and e. means rotating the rolls.

Claim 12

The device defined by claim 9, in which the means rotating the rolls comprises a sprocket wheel on an end of each roll, a chain engaging said sprockets, and a motor driving the chain.

Claim 13

The device defined by claim 9, in which the baffles are movable to adjust the space between the baffles and rolls so that the angle of a line drawn from the bottom edge of the baffle tangentially to the nearest roll exceeds the angle of repose of the solids in the liquid passing between the baffles and nearest rolls.

Claim 14

The device defined by claim 11, in which the baffles are movable relatively to the rolls in vertical directions, and a line drawn from the bottom edge of the baffle tangentially to the nearest roll may be varied by altering the width of the baffle base member.