US4306829A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for distribution of a divided solid in an enclosure
Assignee: Compagnie Francaise de Raffinage SA
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Filing: 1979-07-17
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Granted: 1981-12-22
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Expires: 1999-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for distribution of particulate matter in a tank or similar enclosure, comprising a feed hopper, a discharge conduit integral with the hopper, a motor-driven rotating shaft disposed axially of the outlet opening of the conduit, and downstream of said outlet opening is at least one fairly soft deflecting means carried on the shaft and articulated thereto so as to diverge angularly by the effect of the centrifugal force when driven in rotation. The apparatus is for use particularly in charging a chemical reactor with catalyst particles and in the storage of grains in silos.
Inventors
- 👤 Roben Loutaty
- 👤 Yvon Haquet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:29
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/0015; B01J8/002; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/04; B65G69/0458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for distribution of divided particulate matter of the type including petrochemical catalysts and grain in an enclosure such as a chemical reactors, grain elevators or silos, comprising a feed hopper for the particles, a vertically disposed elongated discharge conduit of substantially uniform cross-section depending from said hopper, a motor means, a shaft driven by said motor means and extending substantially along the vertical axis of the discharge conduit, and a plurality of relatively soft deflecting means in the form of straps joined to said shaft and being disposed downstream of the outlet opening of said conduit and being articulated on said shaft in a manner adapted to diverge angularly from a downward position towards an outward position sweeping across said outlet opening by the effect of centrifugal force when said shaft is rotated by said motor means, said straps being of a length in the range of about 10 cm to several meters so as to be sufficient to give within said enclosure good distribution to particles impinged thereby at moderate speeds of rotation of said shaft, and at least one grating means for regulating the feed rate and distribution of the particles from said feed hopper through said discharge conduit to said deflecting means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for distribution of divided particulate matter of the type including petrochemical catalysts and grain in an enclosure such as a chemical reactors, grain elevators or silos, comprising a feed hopper for the particles, a vertically disposed elongated discharge conduit of substantially uniform cross-section depending from said hopper, a motor means, a shaft driven by said motor means and extending substantially along the vertical axis of the discharge conduit, and a plurality of relatively soft deflecting means in the form of straps joined to said shaft and being disposed downstream of the outlet opening of said conduit and being articulated on said shaft in a manner adapted to diverge angularly from a downward position towards an outward position sweeping across said outlet opening by the effect of centrifugal force when said shaft is rotated by said motor means, said straps being of a length in the range of about 10 cm to several meters so as to be sufficient to give within said enclosure good distribution to particles impinged thereby at moderate speeds of rotation of said shaft, and at least one grating means for regulating the feed rate and distribution of the particles from said feed hopper through said discharge conduit to said deflecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said straps are made of a semirigid material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the straps are made of reinforced rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting means are all of the same size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting means include straps of different sizes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting means are suspended from the shaft by means of hooks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting means are articulated to the shaft by means of pins whose ends are held in a bearing bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor means is located in the hopper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor means is located in the lower portion of said conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the motor means is an air motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the motor means is an air motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the location of the motor means relative to the hopper is variable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the motor is fastened to a cable inside the conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the conduit is formed of telescoping sections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the conduit is formed of telescoping sections.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a grating for regulation of the feed rate is disposed at the lower end of the conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a grating for regulation of the feed rate is disposed at the lower end of the conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, 9, or 11, wherein a grating for regulation of the feed rate is disposed at the bottom of the hopper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
227 words
Method of densely charging a chemical reactor with catalyst particles through a relatively small opening, comprising feeding said catalyst particles to a holding zone, flowing said particles essentially vertically downwardly by means of gravity from said holding zone through an elongated confined columnar zone, said flowing being at a regulated rate, said flowing further being such as to fall with substantially even distribution across said columnar zone, the lower end of said columnar zone defining an outlet within the upper central portion of said reactor and said columnar zone extending through said reactor opening, rotating a plurality of relatively soft deflecting means below said outlet and about the vertical axis of symmetry of said columnar zone and at a speed in a range sufficient to give good distribution of catalyst particles without causing undue attrition to such relatively fragile particles, said means being in the form of straps articulated to pass through said reactor opening when at rest and to diverge angularly from a downward hanging position towards an outward position sweeping across said outlet by the effect of centrifugal force when said shaft is rotated, said straps being of a length in the range of about 10 cm to several meters so as to be sufficient to give good distribution within said reactor of the particles impinged thereby at moderate speeds of rotation of said straps.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
227 words
Method of densely charging a chemical reactor with catalyst particles through a relatively small opening, comprising feeding said catalyst particles to a holding zone, flowing said particles essentially vertically downwardly by means of gravity from said holding zone through an elongated confined columnar zone, said flowing being at a regulated rate, said flowing further being such as to fall with substantially even distribution across said columnar zone, the lower end of said columnar zone defining an outlet within the upper central portion of said reactor and said columnar zone extending through said reactor opening, rotating a plurality of relatively soft deflecting means below said outlet and about the vertical axis of symmetry of said columnar zone and at a speed in a range sufficient to give good distribution of catalyst particles without causing undue attrition to such relatively fragile particles, said means being in the form of straps articulated to pass through said reactor opening when at rest and to diverge angularly from a downward hanging position towards an outward position sweeping across said outlet by the effect of centrifugal force when said shaft is rotated, said straps being of a length in the range of about 10 cm to several meters so as to be sufficient to give good distribution within said reactor of the particles impinged thereby at moderate speeds of rotation of said straps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-12-21 | 1985-06-22 | 1985-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-21 | 1989-06-22 | 1989-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-21 | 1993-06-22 | 1993-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |