US4221764A — Horizontal extractor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 253 words

Apparatus of the traveling basket type wherein a succession of uniformly spaced transverse percolating baskets are moved along a horizontally extending run beneath a discharge means disposed transversely of the line of travel of the baskets for charging a slurry of solid particles and liquid material into the baskets, the improvements comprising: (a) said discharge means is arranged to discharge material continuously into the path of travel of the full end-to-end length of the interior of the baskets moving beneath it; (b) there is a continuous succession of transversely extending stream splitters at least coextensive in length with the interior of the baskets movable with the baskets between said discharge means and the baskets; (c) said stream splitters being positioned to move in a path above the baskets with a splitter covering the space between each two baskets and shaped to divert the flow of material from the discharge means across the space between two adjacent baskets from the leading to the following basket; (d) fixed tray means below the baskets at least coextensive with the width of the interior of the baskets arranged to receive from the slurry the liquid extract that drains through the baskets; and (e) means for moving the succession of baskets and stream splitters in isochronism over the tray means with the stream splitters traveling with the trays in operative relation through the entire length in which means for feeding the slurry and any additional means for supplying liquid from above the baskets into the baskets are provided.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 253 words

Apparatus of the traveling basket type wherein a succession of uniformly spaced transverse percolating baskets are moved along a horizontally extending run beneath a discharge means disposed transversely of the line of travel of the baskets for charging a slurry of solid particles and liquid material into the baskets, the improvements comprising: (a) said discharge means is arranged to discharge material continuously into the path of travel of the full end-to-end length of the interior of the baskets moving beneath it; (b) there is a continuous succession of transversely extending stream splitters at least coextensive in length with the interior of the baskets movable with the baskets between said discharge means and the baskets; (c) said stream splitters being positioned to move in a path above the baskets with a splitter covering the space between each two baskets and shaped to divert the flow of material from the discharge means across the space between two adjacent baskets from the leading to the following basket; (d) fixed tray means below the baskets at least coextensive with the width of the interior of the baskets arranged to receive from the slurry the liquid extract that drains through the baskets; and (e) means for moving the succession of baskets and stream splitters in isochronism over the tray means with the stream splitters traveling with the trays in operative relation through the entire length in which means for feeding the slurry and any additional means for supplying liquid from above the baskets into the baskets are provided.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is a first material discharge means for discharging solids into the path of travel of the baskets moving beneath it followed by at least one liquid material discharge means similarly arranged.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 150 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is a feed material discharge means for charging a slurry comprising divided solid material and a liquid into the basket followed by at least one liquid material discharge means for flowing a liquid onto the residual feed material after some of the liquid has drained from the slurry, said means for discharging solid material into the baskets comprising a screw conveyor extending crosswise of the basket conveyor and lengthwise of the baskets and flow splitters, said screw conveyor being positioned between the upper and lower runs of said second conveyor and having an inlet supply connection at one end outside the space between said upper and lower runs of the second conveyor, said screw conveyor having a discharge opening lengthwise of the conveyor screw arranged to deliver the divided solid material substantially uniformly throughout the entire interior length of the baskets.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the screw conveyor in which the discharge opening is of progressively increasing width transversely of the length of the discharge opening with the wider end being at the end of the conveyor most remote from the inlet supply connection.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the screw conveyor has fluid inlet nozzle means arranged to dislodge compacted solids from the interior of the screw conveyor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 153 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the succession of baskets comprises a first endless chain basket conveyor means having an upper horizontal reach and a lower return reach with a vertical reach at each end wherein the baskets are maintained in a level position in the vertical travel at the terminal end of the upper reach and are temporarily inverted as they travel at the other end from the lower reach to the upper reach, and wherein there is a second endless chain conveyor above the upper reach of the first conveyor means by which the stream splitters of the lower reach move in operative position in relation above the spaces between successive baskets and in which there are spargers at intervals along the upper reach of the first conveyor arranged to continuously supply additional liquid across the full length of the interior of the succession of alternate baskets and splitters.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 208 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which there is a first material supply means for charging material comprising said slurry into baskets and onto the flow splitters followed by at least one liquid material discharge means for flowing a liquid solvent material after the wet solid material remaining in the basket after some of the liquid content of the slurry has drained through the basket to then percolate through such wet solid material, wherein said means for discharging liquid material comprises a sparger having a trough extending crosswise above the basket conveyor and lengthwise of the baskets and flow splitters, said trough having spaced side walls which extend parallel lengthwise of the trough, a bottom, a cover of less width than the trough above, and a baffle depending from the cover toward but not to the bottom of the trough, means for introducing the liquid material into the trough below the cover and between the baffle and one side wall of the trough, the other side wall of the trough being spaced from the baffle and being continuously serrated along its length from its top edge toward but not to the bottom of the trough and to a level above the lower edge of said depending baffle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-09-09	1984-03-10	1984-09-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-09-09	1988-03-10	1988-09-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-09-09	1992-03-10	1992-09-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Horizontal extractor

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