US4015951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel pellets and method for making them from organic fibrous materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-05
•
Granted: 1977-04-05
•
Expires: 1996-01-05
Abstract
Abstract Pellets adapted to be burned in industrial applications are prepared by adjusting the particle size of organic fibrous material to not more than about 85% of the minimum dimension of the pellets to be produced, adjusting the moisture content of the fibrous particles to about 16% to about 28% by weight, pelletizing the particles into substantially symmetrical pellets having a maximum dimension of about one-half inch at a pressure whereby constituents of the particles exude and form a coating of wax-like material on the surface of the pellets, and adjusting the moisture of the pellets to a content which is in equilibrium with the atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf Wilhelm Gunnerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:52
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L5/00; C10L5/40; C10L5/44; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/10; Y02E50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A process for making fuel pellets from organic fibrous material which comprises adjusting the moisture content of comminuted fibrous material to from 16 to about 28% by weight, compressing the material in a die into a substantially symmetrical shape while at the said moisture content at a pressure whereby the temperature of the resulting pellet as it emerges from the die is from about 325° to 350° F. and drying the pellets to a moisture content which is approximately in equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A process for making fuel pellets from organic fibrous material which comprises adjusting the moisture content of comminuted fibrous material to from 16 to about 28% by weight, compressing the material in a die into a substantially symmetrical shape while at the said moisture content at a pressure whereby the temperature of the resulting pellet as it emerges from the die is from about 325° to 350° F. and drying the pellets to a moisture content which is approximately in equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the organic fibrous material is comminuted in a hammer mill.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The process of claim 1 wherein fragments of organic fibrous material are conveyed in a pneumatic conveyor to a hammer mill where they are comminuted to a particle size of not more than about 85% of the minimum dimension of the pellet to be produced, the comminuted material is transported to a means for adjusting the moisture content to from about 20 to about 24% by weight, pelletized at a temperature of about 325° F. to about 350° F. and dried to a moisture content which is in approximate equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
An uninterrupted process for making fuel pellets which comprises conveying fragments of organic fibrous material to a means for comminuting the fragments to a maximum dimension of 85% of the minimum dimension of the pellets to be produced, adjusting the moisture content of the resulting particles to from about 20 to about 24% by weight, pelletizing the particles at a temperature of from about 325° to about 350° F. to a density of above about 65 pounds per cubic foot, and adjusting the moisture content of the pellets to approximate equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
An uninterrupted process for making fuel pellets which comprises conveying fragments of organic fibrous material to a means for comminuting the fragments to a maximum dimension of 85% of the minimum dimension of the pellets to be produced, adjusting the moisture content of the resulting particles to from about 20 to about 24% by weight, pelletizing the particles at a temperature of from about 325° to about 350° F. to a density of above about 65 pounds per cubic foot, and adjusting the moisture content of the pellets to approximate equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combustible organic fibrous pellet having a substantially symmetrical configuration with a maximum dimension in cross-section of not more than about one-half inch, a density above about 65 pounds per cubic foot and a substantially smooth protective surface coating of natural substances which have exuded from the organic fibrous material adapted to burn substantially uniformly and develop a BTU of from about 8,500 - 9,000 per pound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combustible organic fibrous pellet having a substantially symmetrical configuration with a maximum dimension in cross-section of not more than about one-half inch, a density above about 65 pounds per cubic foot and a substantially smooth protective surface coating of natural substances which have exuded from the organic fibrous material adapted to burn substantially uniformly and develop a BTU of from about 8,500 - 9,000 per pound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the resulting pellets have a maximum dimension in cross-section of about one-half inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The product of claim 5 wherein the maximum dimension in cross-section of the pellets is one-eighth to one-half inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the pressure is about 8,000 pounds or higher.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the maximum dimensions in cross-section of the resulting pellet is about one-half inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the pellets are dried with heated air to a moisture content of about 7-8% by weight.
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) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |