Patent US4148325A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4148325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of tobacco
Assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
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Filing: 1976-08-06
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Granted: 1979-04-10
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Expires: 1996-08-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a method and apparatus for conditioning and/or drying or otherwise treating tobacco, in which cut tobacco is treated with a liquid and/or vapour medium in a chamber in which a columnar bed of the tobacco is maintained in a fluidized state by air, which may be heated. The treatment medium may comprise water, which is introduced as a spray into the bed and/or in co-current with the fluidizing air through diffusing means at the bottom of the bed, and/or steam. The tobacco may be treated in continuous flow or batchwise.
Inventors
- 👤 Graeme R. Solomon
- 👤 Eric J. Churcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:20
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for treating tobacco, comprising treating cut tobacco with a fluid medium in a chamber in which a columnar bed of the tobacco, that is a bed whose depth is greater than its mean horizontal dimension, is maintained in a fluidized state by air, the air flowing through the bed of tobacco with a velocity higher than the incipient fluidizing velocity but lower than the entrainment velocity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for treating tobacco, comprising treating cut tobacco with a fluid medium in a chamber in which a columnar bed of the tobacco, that is a bed whose depth is greater than its mean horizontal dimension, is maintained in a fluidized state by air, the air flowing through the bed of tobacco with a velocity higher than the incipient fluidizing velocity but lower than the entrainment velocity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for conditioning tobacco according to claim 1, wherein the treatment medium comprises water which is introduced as a spray into the fluidized columnar bed in the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for conditioning tobacco according to claim 1, wherein the treatment medium comprises water which is introduced in co-current with the fluidizing air through diffusing means at the bottom of the fluidized columnar bed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein steam is introduced into the fluidized columnar bed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein steam is introduced into the fluidized columnar bed in co-current with the fluidizing air through diffusing means at the bottom of the bed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the fluidizing air is heated air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco is treated as a fluidized columnar batch in the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of increasing the filling power of tobacco according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco is treated with steam or with steam and heated air in a columnar bed maintained in a fluidized state by air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for treating tobacco, comprising a columnar chamber, means for introducing air to the bottom of the chamber for maintaining a columnar bed of cut tobacco, that is a bed whose depth is greater than its mean horizontal dimension, in a fluidized state in the said chamber, the air flowing through the bed of cut tobacco with a velocity higher than the incipient fluidizing velocity but lower than the entrainment velocity, and means for introducing a treatment medium into the said fluidized bed in the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for treating tobacco, comprising a columnar chamber, means for introducing air to the bottom of the chamber for maintaining a columnar bed of cut tobacco, that is a bed whose depth is greater than its mean horizontal dimension, in a fluidized state in the said chamber, the air flowing through the bed of cut tobacco with a velocity higher than the incipient fluidizing velocity but lower than the entrainment velocity, and means for introducing a treatment medium into the said fluidized bed in the chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for introducing the treatment medium comprises means for spraying water into the columnar fluidized bed in the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for introducing the treatment medium comprises means for introducing water in co-current with the fluidizing air through a diffuser at the bottom of the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 and comprising means for introducing steam into the chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 and comprising means for heating the air supplied to the chamber for fluidizing the bed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 and comprising continuously operating tobacco-feeding and discharge means, whereby the tobacco is caused to pass continuously through the chamber in counter current to the fluidizing air.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for treating tobacco, comprising treating cut tobacco with a fluid medium in a chamber in which a columnar bed of the tobacco, that is a bed which depth is greater than its mean horizontal dimension, is maintained in a fluidized state by air, and the tobacco passes through the chamber in a continuous flow counter to the direction of the fluidizing air.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for treating tobacco, comprising treating cut tobacco with a fluid medium in a chamber in which a columnar bed of the tobacco, that is a bed which depth is greater than its mean horizontal dimension, is maintained in a fluidized state by air, and the tobacco passes through the chamber in a continuous flow counter to the direction of the fluidizing air.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-09 | 1982-10-09 | 1983-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-10-09 | 1987-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-09 | 1990-10-09 | 1991-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |