Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of treating pourable material, comprising the steps of accommodating a body of the pourable material in a vessel having a lower end and a central, upright unobstructed passage provided with a bottom end portion which is surrounded by the material; directing a stream of gaseous fluid into the lower end of the vessel; splitting the stream into a high-speed first flow and a second flow; entraining the material surrounding the bottom end portion with the high-speed first flow and conveying it upwardly in the central passage, so that due to the repetition of such entraining the body of material becomes gradually turned over in the vessel; and directing the second flow through the body outside the central passage, so as to trickle through and treat the material of the body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of treating pourable material, comprising the steps of accommodating a body of the pourable material in a vessel having a lower end and a central, upright unobstructed passage provided with a bottom end portion which is surrounded by the material; directing a stream of gaseous fluid into the lower end of the vessel; splitting the stream into a high-speed first flow and a second flow; entraining the material surrounding the bottom end portion with the high-speed first flow and conveying it upwardly in the central passage, so that due to the repetition of such entraining the body of material becomes gradually turned over in the vessel; and directing the second flow through the body outside the central passage, so as to trickle through and treat the material of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the volumes into which said stream is split are dependent upon said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for treating pourable material, comprising an upright container having a bottom and a central upright tube which bounds with an inner wall surface of said container an annular gap having a lower open end and in which a body of pourable material is accomodated; means for admitting a stream of gaseous fluid under pressure into said container in the region of said bottom so that it entrains the portions of flowable material located at said lower end and conveys them at high speed through said central tube in upward direction to thereby effect a gradual turn-over of the body of pourable material in said clearance; and means for diverting some of the gaseous fluid of said stream in the region of said gap from said central tube into said annular clearance for trickle-flow through said body of pourable material in upward direction so as to treat the pourable material without fluidizing the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for treating pourable material, comprising an upright container having a bottom and a central upright tube which bounds with an inner wall surface of said container an annular gap having a lower open end and in which a body of pourable material is accomodated; means for admitting a stream of gaseous fluid under pressure into said container in the region of said bottom so that it entrains the portions of flowable material located at said lower end and conveys them at high speed through said central tube in upward direction to thereby effect a gradual turn-over of the body of pourable material in said clearance; and means for diverting some of the gaseous fluid of said stream in the region of said gap from said central tube into said annular clearance for trickle-flow through said body of pourable material in upward direction so as to treat the pourable material without fluidizing the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said bottom of said container comprises a funnel-shaped bottom wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for admitting comprises a central opening in said bottom wall, and a supply conduit communicating with said central opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, said container having an upper end portion and comprising port means at said upper end portion for communicating the exterior of said container with the interior thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, said central tube having a bottom end and said bottom of said container comprising a funnel-shaped bottom wall which defines with said bottom end an annular gap constituting said lower open end of said annular clearance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, said central tube having an upper open end; and further comprising baffle means above and spaced from said upper open end for intercepting and deflecting said stream of gaseous fluid which flows through said central tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, said baffle means comprising a baffle element having a surface facing towards said bottom of said container and configurated for deflecting the entrained pourable material in direction towards said bottom so as to deposit it on top of the pourable material accommodated in said annular clearance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said central tube has a bottom end and said bottom of said container comprises a funnel-shaped bottom wall defining with said bottom end an annular gap which constitutes said lower open end of said clearance, the width of said annular gap being adjustable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for directing comprises a gas-permeable lower end section of said central tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said lower end section is of a screen fabric.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the length of said gas-permeable end section is variable for varying the portion of said stream of gaseous fluid which is diverted from said central tube into said annular clearance.