Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A distributor for distributing a fluid substantially uniformly from an upstream side thereof to a downstream side, the distributor transversely disposed of the fluid passing from said upstream to said downstream side and comprising a plurality of elongate cylindrical members arranged in side-by-side contiguous relationship with the longitudinal axes of adjacent members being substantially parallel to each other, contiguous parts of the surfaces of adjacent members being disposed in mutual contact, at least some of the elongate members having circumferential recesses in their surfaces such that each said recess defines with a contiguous surface portion of an adjacent contacting elongate member an aperture for the passage of fluid from said upstream side to said downstream side, at least some of said elongate members being mounted for rotation about their respective longitudinal axes, drive means operatively connected with the rotatable elongate members for rotating said rotatable elongate members about their longitudinal axes, and deposit-removing means mounted and arranged for being at least partly received in said apertures at least intermittently for removing material deposited in said apertures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A distributor for distributing a fluid substantially uniformly from an upstream side thereof to a downstream side, the distributor transversely disposed of the fluid passing from said upstream to said downstream side and comprising a plurality of elongate cylindrical members arranged in side-by-side contiguous relationship with the longitudinal axes of adjacent members being substantially parallel to each other, contiguous parts of the surfaces of adjacent members being disposed in mutual contact, at least some of the elongate members having circumferential recesses in their surfaces such that each said recess defines with a contiguous surface portion of an adjacent contacting elongate member an aperture for the passage of fluid from said upstream side to said downstream side, at least some of said elongate members being mounted for rotation about their respective longitudinal axes, drive means operatively connected with the rotatable elongate members for rotating said rotatable elongate members about their longitudinal axes, and deposit-removing means mounted and arranged for being at least partly received in said apertures at least intermittently for removing material deposited in said apertures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A distributor according to claim 1 in which said deposit removing means is provided on said contiguous part of the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A distributor according to claim 2 in which said deposit-removing means is supported on said support members which are mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axes and said longitudinal axes extend substantially parallel to the elongate members and means for rotating said support members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A distributor according to claim 1 in which said elongate members are hollow for the passage therethrough of a heat exchange fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A distributor according to claim 1 comprising means for supporting the elongate members with one of their axial ends higher than the opposite end, whereby all of said elongate members slope downward towards said opposite end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A distributor according to claim 4 in which the apertures are smaller towards the higher end and larger towards the lower end of the sloping members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A distributor according to claim 1 in combination with a vessel including at least one said distributor mounted in said vessel between the top and bottom thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
A distributor according to claim 1 in combination with a vessel having a plurality of upper and lower distributors wherein said distributors are mounted in said vessel between the top and bottom thereof and said vessel includes weir means for defining the maximum level to which a bed of particles is supported on said upper one of said distributors and means for directing particles which have passed over the weir via said lower distributor into a space defined between said lower distributor and an upper distributor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A distributor according to claim 1 in which said drive means is operatively connected to said cylindrical elongate members for rotating said cylindrical elongate members in the same sense.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A distributor according to claim 1 in which the surface of each cylindrical member is substantially smooth, except where the surface is interrupted by a circumferential recess.