Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A process for manufacturing absorbent gypsum granules of a predetermined size which comprises the steps of providing a rotating, substantially cylindrical pan of predetermined depth and having the axis of rotation thereof inclined from vertical; providing in said pan wet seed granules having a predetermined moisture content in an amount sufficient to form a particular circulating mass within the pan while the pan is rotating, said circulating mass including seed granules of said predetermined size; rotating said pan at an inclination and rotational speed so as to produce within said circulating mass a substantially stable eye, said eye being situated substantially within the ascending half of the circular pan; feeding a dry mixture of calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder and calcium sulfate dihydrate fines onto said particulate circulating mass at the base of said eye; spraying water on the particulate circulating mass situated in the central region of the pan and adjacent to said eye in an amount sufficient to maintain independent movement of the particles constituting the particulate circulating mass while agglomerating said calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder and calcium sulfate dihydrate fines into granules of predetermined size and initiating hydration of the calcium sulfate hemihydrate to gypsum; recovering the produced granules as these granules roll off the edges of said rotating pan; drying the recovered granules; classifying the recovered granules and segregating oversize granules from granules of said predetermined size; crushing at least a portion of the oversize granules into calcium sulfate dihydrate fines; and recycling said fines to said rotating pan.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A process for manufacturing absorbent gypsum granules of a predetermined size which comprises the steps of providing a rotating, substantially cylindrical pan of predetermined depth and having the axis of rotation thereof inclined from vertical; providing in said pan wet seed granules having a predetermined moisture content in an amount sufficient to form a particular circulating mass within the pan while the pan is rotating, said circulating mass including seed granules of said predetermined size; rotating said pan at an inclination and rotational speed so as to produce within said circulating mass a substantially stable eye, said eye being situated substantially within the ascending half of the circular pan; feeding a dry mixture of calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder and calcium sulfate dihydrate fines onto said particulate circulating mass at the base of said eye; spraying water on the particulate circulating mass situated in the central region of the pan and adjacent to said eye in an amount sufficient to maintain independent movement of the particles constituting the particulate circulating mass while agglomerating said calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder and calcium sulfate dihydrate fines into granules of predetermined size and initiating hydration of the calcium sulfate hemihydrate to gypsum; recovering the produced granules as these granules roll off the edges of said rotating pan; drying the recovered granules; classifying the recovered granules and segregating oversize granules from granules of said predetermined size; crushing at least a portion of the oversize granules into calcium sulfate dihydrate fines; and recycling said fines to said rotating pan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said calcium sulfate dihydrate fines constitute up to about 20 weight percent of the dry mixture fed onto said particulate circulating mass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
375 words
A process for manufacturing synthetic liquid absorbent gypsum granules wherein calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder particles are converted to calcium sulfate dihydrate in the course of producing granules of a desired size substantially larger than said powder particles, said granules being usable for liquid absorbent purposes such as in animal toilet boxes, to absorb undesirable accumulations of oils, greases and other liquids, and to serve as carriers for agricultural chemicals which are to be distributed with said granules as the carriers therefor, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rotatable disc positionable at selected inclinations relative to the horizontal for receiving said powder particles and forming said granules therein, (b) providing seed granules of varying sizes in said disc in a quantity to substantially fill said disc in an inclined position, (c) rotating said disc at a selected speed to cause said seed granules to move therein in accordance with a relative uniform pattern of movement and to define an eye, (d) feeding said powder particles at a controlled rate into said rotating disc at the base of said eye, (e) introducing water to said rotating disc for wetting seed granules and powder particles therein and mixing with the same, (f) combining said seed granules with wet powder particles and growing to a size such that the resulting granules are discharged from said rotating disc, (g) growing calcium sulfate dihydrate granules in said rotating disc from a powder particle size to said desired size and moving said granules within said disc while growing until said granules drop from said rotating disc at said desired size, (h) drying said granules dropped from said disc to remove excess water therefrom while retaining said dihydrate chemical composition in said granules, (i) screening said dried granules and separating from those of a desired size the granules that are undersized and oversized relative to said desired size, (j) crushing said oversized granules to produce granules of desired size and fines, and (k) recycling said undersized granules and fines in controlled quantities with controlled quantities of said powder particles and mixing the same in said rotary disc with water to form and complete granules in accordance with the steps defined in paragraphs (g) and (h) above for use in liquid absorbent purposes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
375 words
A process for manufacturing synthetic liquid absorbent gypsum granules wherein calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder particles are converted to calcium sulfate dihydrate in the course of producing granules of a desired size substantially larger than said powder particles, said granules being usable for liquid absorbent purposes such as in animal toilet boxes, to absorb undesirable accumulations of oils, greases and other liquids, and to serve as carriers for agricultural chemicals which are to be distributed with said granules as the carriers therefor, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rotatable disc positionable at selected inclinations relative to the horizontal for receiving said powder particles and forming said granules therein, (b) providing seed granules of varying sizes in said disc in a quantity to substantially fill said disc in an inclined position, (c) rotating said disc at a selected speed to cause said seed granules to move therein in accordance with a relative uniform pattern of movement and to define an eye, (d) feeding said powder particles at a controlled rate into said rotating disc at the base of said eye, (e) introducing water to said rotating disc for wetting seed granules and powder particles therein and mixing with the same, (f) combining said seed granules with wet powder particles and growing to a size such that the resulting granules are discharged from said rotating disc, (g) growing calcium sulfate dihydrate granules in said rotating disc from a powder particle size to said desired size and moving said granules within said disc while growing until said granules drop from said rotating disc at said desired size, (h) drying said granules dropped from said disc to remove excess water therefrom while retaining said dihydrate chemical composition in said granules, (i) screening said dried granules and separating from those of a desired size the granules that are undersized and oversized relative to said desired size, (j) crushing said oversized granules to produce granules of desired size and fines, and (k) recycling said undersized granules and fines in controlled quantities with controlled quantities of said powder particles and mixing the same in said rotary disc with water to form and complete granules in accordance with the steps defined in paragraphs (g) and (h) above for use in liquid absorbent purposes.