US4406745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for high speed production of aromatic essential oils from perfume-generating plants or parts thereof
Assignee: Bpifrance Financement SA
•
Filing: 1980-10-06
•
Granted: 1983-09-27
•
Expires: 2000-10-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method and a device for high-speed production of aromatic essential oils from perfume-generating plants. The device comprises at least one enclosure 1 provided with means 2 for crushing said plants into a slurry, heating means 5, means 6 for feeding said plants thereto, means 7 for drawing off said slurry, a distillation column 9 and at least a condensing apparatus 15, 20 to form at least one condensate of essential oils. This device is applicable for industrially recovering essential oils from perfume-generating plants such as jasmine, orange flower, mint, ginger, aniseed, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Martel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:52
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11B; C11B9/00; C11B9/02; C11B9/027; B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0207; B01D11/0215; B01D11/0253; B01D11/0257; C11B9/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A device comprising elements designed, sized and positioned for high-speed production of aromatic essential oils from perfume-generating plants or parts thereof, including at least one enclosure provided with crushing means for crushing said plants into fine particles and forming therefrom an aqueous slurry; means for regulating the temperature prevailing within said enclosure to simultaneously heat said slurry as it is being formed to a temperature sufficiently high to form water vapors with a high content in essential oils from said plants, means for feeding said plants to said enclosure, means for drawing off said slurry; a distillation column in communication with the atmosphere comprising in particular inclined baffle plates forming trays and connected to said enclosure so as to collect and recover the vapors evolving from said slurry, said distillation column thereby constituting means for subjecting said formed vapors to fractionation under substantially atmospheric pressure thus concentrating the content of the essential oils therein to form enriched vapors; at least an apparatus for condensing the vapors issuing from the head of said column so as to form at least one condensate substantially saturated with essential oils; means for removing the essential oils from said condensate; and means for recycling at least a portion of the remaining condensate which is substantially free of essential oils to the top of the distillation column.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
221 words
A device comprising elements designed, sized and positioned for high-speed production of aromatic essential oils from perfume-generating plants or parts thereof, including at least one enclosure provided with crushing means for crushing said plants into fine particles and forming therefrom an aqueous slurry; means for regulating the temperature prevailing within said enclosure to simultaneously heat said slurry as it is being formed to a temperature sufficiently high to form water vapors with a high content in essential oils from said plants, means for feeding said plants to said enclosure, means for drawing off said slurry; a distillation column in communication with the atmosphere comprising in particular inclined baffle plates forming trays and connected to said enclosure so as to collect and recover the vapors evolving from said slurry, said distillation column thereby constituting means for subjecting said formed vapors to fractionation under substantially atmospheric pressure thus concentrating the content of the essential oils therein to form enriched vapors; at least an apparatus for condensing the vapors issuing from the head of said column so as to form at least one condensate substantially saturated with essential oils; means for removing the essential oils from said condensate; and means for recycling at least a portion of the remaining condensate which is substantially free of essential oils to the top of the distillation column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said crushing means comprise a turbo-defibrator or turbo-dilacerator including a rotor and a stator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said rotor is a rotor provided with discs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said rotor is a rotor provided with blade-knives.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said stator comprises blades or paddles in particular swivelling blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said heating means for regulating the temperature in said enclosure surround the area where the slurry of the crushed plants is being formed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said enclosure comprises a double-walled vessel, a pipe-line and a valve for supplying a heating fluid such for instance as steam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure, provided with crushing means, comprises an anti-vortex deflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1, comprising at least one apparatus for physically treating the condensate and in particular at least one settler or decanting device and/or at least one apparatus for extraction by means of a solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, comprising means for feeding water into said enclosure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 1, comprising a main condensing apparatus for the partial condensation of the vapors through heat exchange with a cooling fluid and a secondary apparatus for the final condensation of the vapors as well as a duct for recycling the extracting agent separated by said distillation column.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The device of claim 11, comprising a heating apparatus consisting of a common heat exchanger forming a heater for the water which flows through the coolant passage-way of said heat exchanger whereas through the heating medium passage-way thereof is flowing the cooling fluid which has flown through said main condensing apparatus and in that it comprises a control valve for adjusting the flow rate of said cooling fluid, said valve being connected into the pipe-line feeding the cooling fluid to the main apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the connection of said column to said enclosure has a cross-section which is dimensioned so as to limit the velocity of the vapors within the column and to avoid to the highest extent the entrainments of solid particles of the plants from the slurry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US885391A
Cited
US2522529A
Cited
US3280008A
Cited
US3334025A
Cited
US3862014A
Cited
DE2422780A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-26 | 1987-03-28 | 1987-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-26 | 1991-03-28 | 1991-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-26 | 1995-03-28 | 1995-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |