Patent US2288862A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4129768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for microwave heating of flowable material
Assignee: Gerling Moore Inc
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Filing: 1977-01-07
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Granted: 1978-12-12
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Expires: 1997-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A microwave oven is provided with a rotatable microwave transparent tube or drum positioned within the same and at an angle to the horizontal, through which material is introduced at the upper end and which flows in continuous agitation to the lower end while being subjected to microwave fields within said oven. In a preferred embodiment uniform heatingof scrap rubber particles to cause devulcanization is disclosed as an immediate useful application.
Inventors
- 👤 Eldon E. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:26
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/80; H05B6/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
In a method for heating flowable material in a microwave oven having a microwave transparent tube extending therethrough, the steps of rotating said tube, said tube being inclined at an angle to the horizontal such that the material will flow through the tube as the tube is rotated, feeding material into the upper end of said tube, and removing material having passed through said tube from its lower end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a method for heating flowable material in a microwave oven having a microwave transparent tube extending therethrough, the steps of rotating said tube, said tube being inclined at an angle to the horizontal such that the material will flow through the tube as the tube is rotated, feeding material into the upper end of said tube, and removing material having passed through said tube from its lower end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for heating flowable material as in claim 1 in which the angle of inclination of said tube and the speed of rotation thereof, are adjusted such that said material is maintained in constant agitation while being progressively moved through said tube from its upper to lower end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the angle of inclination of said tube for a given range of rotation speed is large enough to prevent build-up of load material from filling the tube cross-section, but less than that in which the material falls through the tube without mixing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 further including the step of insulating said tube throughout a portion of its length in said cavity to lessen the escape of heat therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the angle of inclination of said tube is selected from about 5° to 11° to the horizontal and in which said speed of rotation is selected from the range of approximately 8 to 20 revolutions per minute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the flowable material is in particulate form and the angle of inclination of said tube for a given range of rotation speeds is large enough to prevent a build-up of particles from filling said tube cross-section, but less than that in which the particles fall through said tube without mixing, so that said particles collect and accumulate over a partial cross-section of the tube and fall off the upper side of said collected cross-section in continuous mixing action as the same progress through said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 6 in which said angle of inclination of said tube is selected from about 5° to 11° to the horizontal and in which said speed of rotation is selected from the range of approximately 8 to 20 revolutions per minute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the flowable material comprises rubber particles on the order of 1/8 inch - 1/4 inch in size, the angle of inclination of said tube is selected to be approximately 8°, and the speed of rotation is selected approximately in the range of 12 to 14 revolutions per minute.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 in which said microwave energy is supplied at a frequency of about 2450 megahertz.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
In apparatus for heating flowable material, a microwave oven having a cavity therein, means for supplying microwave power to said cavity, means forming a cylindrical tube transparent to microwave energy in said cavity at a predetermined angle to the horizontal therein, means for supporting said tube for rotation in said cavity, means for rotating said tube, means for delivering material to the upper end of said tube and means for removing material having passed through said tube from its lower end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
In apparatus for heating flowable material, a microwave oven having a cavity therein, means for supplying microwave power to said cavity, means forming a cylindrical tube transparent to microwave energy in said cavity at a predetermined angle to the horizontal therein, means for supporting said tube for rotation in said cavity, means for rotating said tube, means for delivering material to the upper end of said tube and means for removing material having passed through said tube from its lower end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said oven has outer walls through which said tube extends, together with end-loads surrounding the portion of said tube extending beyond the outer walls for minimizing leakage of microwave radiation from said oven.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 further including insulating material surrounding said tube along a predetermined length thereof within said oven.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said means for supporting said tube and for rotating said tube are located externally of said microwave oven.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 in which said tube is circularly cylindrical and the end-loads have a circularly cylindrical bore extending therethrough for permitting passage of said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 further including means for supporting said tube internally of said oven at a position intermediate its length therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 in which the angle of inclination of said tube and the speed of rotation of said tube are such that the material passing through the tube is maintained in constant agitation while being progressively moved downwardly through said tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a method for heating flowable material by microwave energy in an oven having a microwave transparent tube therein inclined at an angle to the horizontal such that said material will flow through the tube as the tube is rotated, the steps of: rotating said tube, feeding the material into the upper end of said tube, removing the material having passed through said tube from the lower end of the tube, and passing microwave energy through the cylindrical side wall of the tube to the material passing through the tube to effect heating of said material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a method for heating flowable material by microwave energy in an oven having a microwave transparent tube therein inclined at an angle to the horizontal such that said material will flow through the tube as the tube is rotated, the steps of: rotating said tube, feeding the material into the upper end of said tube, removing the material having passed through said tube from the lower end of the tube, and passing microwave energy through the cylindrical side wall of the tube to the material passing through the tube to effect heating of said material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3626838A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-11 | 1982-06-12 | 1982-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-11 | 1986-06-12 | 1986-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-11 | 1990-06-12 | 1990-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |