US4084387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process for refrigerating materials
Assignee: Union Corp USA
•
Filing: 1977-03-11
•
Granted: 1978-04-18
•
Expires: 1997-03-11
Abstract
Abstract Material is fed into a revolving drum which has an interior configuration, preferably in the form of a helical blade, to convey the material at a controlled rate through the drum. A low temperature gas, such as nitrogen, is introduced into the drum downstream when viewed in the direction of travel of the material, in a liquid state at a controlled rate through a spray nozzle system, thereby continuously exposing the material to the cooling effect of the gas. A portion of the gas is recirculated from the upstream end to the downstream end of the drum. The material is pre-cooled in the upstream portion of the drum. After exiting from the drum, the material may be crushed or impacted and separated.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Schorsch
- 👤 William E. Graul
- 👤 David Barash
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:29
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D25/00; F25D25/04; B; B02; B02C; B02C19/00; B02C19/18; B02C19/186; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25D3/11; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S241/00; Y10S241/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A process for refrigerating material, comprising the steps of: introducing the material into a drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material through the drum upon rotation of the drum; rotating said drum so that said material is transported through said drum; and simultaneously introducing a refrigerant into said drum so as to refrigerate said material, said refrigerant being introduced in the form of a low temperature gas and causing said gas to flow in a direction counter to the direction of travel of said material through said drum by withdrawing some of the gas and re-introducing it at and through the end of the drum which is downstream when viewed in the direction of travel of material through said drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process for refrigerating material, comprising the steps of: introducing the material into a drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material through the drum upon rotation of the drum; rotating said drum so that said material is transported through said drum; and simultaneously introducing a refrigerant into said drum so as to refrigerate said material, said refrigerant being introduced in the form of a low temperature gas and causing said gas to flow in a direction counter to the direction of travel of said material through said drum by withdrawing some of the gas and re-introducing it at and through the end of the drum which is downstream when viewed in the direction of travel of material through said drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention of claim 1 with the additional steps of providing a chamber about the discharge end of said drum and ejecting said some of the gas in such a way as to cause the air and gas in said chamber to be ejected therewith into said drum.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of cryogenically cooling scrap materials prior to crushing, comprising the steps of: (a) feeding the materials to be cooled into a cooling zone defined by the interior of a drum; (b) transporting said materials through said drum while: (i) exposing said materials to a liquid refrigerant which becomes a gas within said drum, (ii) producng a recirculating flow of said gas counter-current to the direction of movement of material within said drum, (iii) rotating said drum at a speed which determines the rate of movement of material within said drum, and (iv) tumbling said materials within said drum to re-expose the surfaces thereof to said refrigerant within the drum.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of cryogenically cooling scrap materials prior to crushing, comprising the steps of: (a) feeding the materials to be cooled into a cooling zone defined by the interior of a drum; (b) transporting said materials through said drum while: (i) exposing said materials to a liquid refrigerant which becomes a gas within said drum, (ii) producng a recirculating flow of said gas counter-current to the direction of movement of material within said drum, (iii) rotating said drum at a speed which determines the rate of movement of material within said drum, and (iv) tumbling said materials within said drum to re-expose the surfaces thereof to said refrigerant within the drum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein said gases precool said materials prior to the introduction of said materials into said cooling zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein said materials are loosely shaken into said cooling zone at a controlled rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2609150A
Cited
US2879005A
Cited
US3015219A
Cited
US3091099A
Cited
US3213634A
Cited
US3446030A
Cited
US3395549A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-17 | 1981-10-17 | 1982-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-17 | 1985-10-17 | 1986-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-10-17 | 1990-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |