Patent US4621437A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4621437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for drying a solid material wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture
Assignee: Glatt GmbH
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Filing: 1984-12-12
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Granted: 1986-11-11
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Expires: 2004-12-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method of drying a solid wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture by causing superheated vapour of the solvent or solvent mixture as a carrier medium to flow through the material to be dried in an evaporation room, the solvent or solvent mixture evaporating and being carried along with the carrier medium, and by then causing the evaporated solvent or solvent mixture to condense from the carrier medium, if desired after compression thereof, in a cooling device. During this drying process a sub-ambient pressure is provided in the evaporation room and the temperature in the evaporation room is controlled by adjusting the sub-ambient pressure, if desired, in combination with an additional temperature controlling means. The inventiona also relates to a device for using the above method.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Grande
- 👤 Cornelis J. de Kluizenaar
- 👤 Dietmar C. Naunapper
- 👤 Karlheinz J. Wehrle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:37
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B25/00; F26B25/005; F26B25/006; F26B21/00; F26B21/40; F26B3/00; F26B3/02; F26B3/06; F26B3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of drying a solid material wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture, wherein said material is in particulate form, comprising providing said wetted material in an evaporation chamber, providing a subatmospheric pressure in said evaporation chamber and adjusting said subatmospheric pressure to control the temperature in said evaporation chamber, flowing a superheated vapor of said solvent or solvent mixture as a carrier medium through said material in said evaporation chamber to evaporate said solvent or solvent mixture and carry said evaporated solvent or solvent mixture along with said carrier medium, and condensing said evaporated solvent or solvent mixture from said carrier medium in a cooling apparatus, wherein said step of flowing said vapor through said material fluidizes said material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of drying a solid material wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture, wherein said material is in particulate form, comprising providing said wetted material in an evaporation chamber, providing a subatmospheric pressure in said evaporation chamber and adjusting said subatmospheric pressure to control the temperature in said evaporation chamber, flowing a superheated vapor of said solvent or solvent mixture as a carrier medium through said material in said evaporation chamber to evaporate said solvent or solvent mixture and carry said evaporated solvent or solvent mixture along with said carrier medium, and condensing said evaporated solvent or solvent mixture from said carrier medium in a cooling apparatus, wherein said step of flowing said vapor through said material fluidizes said material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wehrein said subatmospheric pressure is lower than about 50 kPa.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising spraying said material with a liquid in said evaporation chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising adding a pulverulent substance to said material in said evaporation chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3, further comprising adding a pulverulent substance to said material in said evaporation chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said material is a powder, said liquid comprises at least one solvent or solution, and said spraying causes said powder to agglomerate or instantize.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said material is in the form of tablets, cores, pellets, or other shaped articles, wherein said liquid comprises at least one solution of at least one coating forming substance, and wherein said spraying coats said material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said material is in the form of preformed particles, said pulverulent substance comprises at least one powder suspension, and said adding causes a layer of said powder suspension to build up on said preformed particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said material is in the form of preformed particles, said pulverulent substance comprises at least one powder suspension, said liquid comprises at least one binder solution, and said spraying and adding cause a layer to build up on said preformed particles.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for drying, under fluidized conditions, a solid material, in particulate form, wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture, utilizing a superheated vapor of said solvent or solvent mixture as a carrier medium, said apparatus comprising: (a) evaporation chamber means for containing said particulate material to be dried; (b) vacuum pump means operatively connected to said evaporation chamber for reducing the pressure in said evaporation chamber means to a selected subatmospheric pressure; (c) pressure control means operatively connected to said vacuum pump means to maintain the pressure in said evaporation chamber means to said selected subatmospheric pressure; (d) circulating means in communication with said evaporation chamber means for flowing said carrier medium through said particulate material while said particulate material is in said evaporation chamber means to bring said paritculate material into a fluidized condition; (e) heating means connected to said evaporation chamber means for heating said carrier medium prior to entry to said evaporation chamber means; and (f) cooling means operating connected to said vacuum pump means for condensing evaporated solvent or solvent mixture in said carrier medium received from said evaporation chamber means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for drying, under fluidized conditions, a solid material, in particulate form, wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture, utilizing a superheated vapor of said solvent or solvent mixture as a carrier medium, said apparatus comprising: (a) evaporation chamber means for containing said particulate material to be dried; (b) vacuum pump means operatively connected to said evaporation chamber for reducing the pressure in said evaporation chamber means to a selected subatmospheric pressure; (c) pressure control means operatively connected to said vacuum pump means to maintain the pressure in said evaporation chamber means to said selected subatmospheric pressure; (d) circulating means in communication with said evaporation chamber means for flowing said carrier medium through said particulate material while said particulate material is in said evaporation chamber means to bring said paritculate material into a fluidized condition; (e) heating means connected to said evaporation chamber means for heating said carrier medium prior to entry to said evaporation chamber means; and (f) cooling means operating connected to said vacuum pump means for condensing evaporated solvent or solvent mixture in said carrier medium received from said evaporation chamber means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said circulating means is a fan.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said circulating means is a compressor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising temperature controlling means for controlling the temperature in said evaporation chamber means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for circulating a cooling or heating medium through both of said heating means and said cooling means, whereby the energy delivered in said cooling means during condensation is used in said heating means for heating said carrier medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said heating means and said cooling means constitute a single heat exchanger means for directly heating said carrier medium with energy delivered by said condensation of said evaporated solvent or solvent mixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one means for applying at least one liquid to said material in said evaporation chamber means, and reservoir means outside said evaporation chamber means for supplying said liquid applying means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising at least one means for applying a powder to said material in said evaporation chamber means, and reservoir means outside said evaporation chamber means for supplying said powder applying means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one means for moving said material in said evaporation chamber means in a predetermined pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said moving means is a vertically or horizontally acting agitator or stirrer means for causing a steady motion of said material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said moving means is a horizontal rotary disc means for moving said material in an inwardly directed circular pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said moving means is a vertically oriented partition tube means for moving said material in an outwardly directed circular pattern.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-11-10 | 1990-05-12 | 1990-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-11-10 | 1994-05-12 | 1994-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-11-10 | 1998-05-12 | 1998-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |