Patent US321887A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4167191A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4167191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tobacco drying process
Assignee: Brown and Williamson Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1977-09-27
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Granted: 1979-09-11
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Expires: 1997-09-27
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is of a process for reducing the moisture content of expanded tobacco while minimizing yield losses and reducing particle lamination while maintaining filling power. The process comprises drying the expanded tobacco at a temperature within the range of from about 250 DEG F. to about 650 DEG F. in the presence of an absolute humidity at a level above that which will provide a wet-bulb temperature of at least about 150 DEG F.
Inventors
- 👤 John N. Jewell
- 👤 Ardath B. Canon
- 👤 Richard P. Newton, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:03
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of reducing the moisture content of an expanded tobacco, which comprises: heating the expanded tobacco in a gas, said gas having an initial temperature within the range of from about 250° F. to about 650° F., in the presence of an absolute humidity at a level above that which will provide a wet-bulb temperature reading of at least about 150° F.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of reducing the moisture content of an expanded tobacco, which comprises: heating the expanded tobacco in a gas, said gas having an initial temperature within the range of from about 250° F. to about 650° F., in the presence of an absolute humidity at a level above that which will provide a wet-bulb temperature reading of at least about 150° F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is about 500° F. and said reading is at least about 180° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heated tobacco is then subjected to cooler gas at a temperature of from 170° F. to 600° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said cooler gas temperature is about 275° F. and said reading is circa 210° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is about 500° F. and said reading is at least about 205° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is about 275° F. and said reading is circa 205° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tobacco is tobacco lamina.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tobacco is tobacco stem.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tobacco is reconstituted tobacco.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tobacco is a blend of tobacco lamina, reconstituted tobacco and stem.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is circa 500° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the expanded tobacco to be dried has a moisture content of from 18 to 90 percent by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gas is super-heated steam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reading is circa 205° F. to 210° F.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the expanded tobacco to be dried has a temperature of from ambient to 215° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tobacco is dried to a moisture content of from 5 to 25 percent by weight.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said percent is from 10 to 16.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein expanded stem is dried to between 18-26 percent moisture content, added to expanded lamina to create a blend and subjected to the method of claim 1 and dried to a moisture of 5-25 percent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tobacco is harvested green tobacco in its fully expanded state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein lamina is dried to a moisture content of from 5-25 percent; stem is dried to a moisture content of from 5-25 percent; and the dried lamina and stem are blended together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1982-09-10 | 1983-03-12 | 1983-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-10 | 1987-03-12 | 1987-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-10 | 1991-03-12 | 1991-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |