Vibratory apparatus with segmented distributor deck
AssigneeGeneral Kinematics Corporation
InventorsOscar L. Mathis, Jr., Yong Wei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibratory fluidized bed dryer includes a deck with a surface on which a bed of materials is formed, the deck having apertures through which air passes to fluidize the bed of materials on the deck, a source of air coupled to the apertures in the deck to supply air to the bed through the apertures in the deck, and a vibration generator coupled to the deck. The deck has at least two zones, each zone having a different open area percentage, such that the air passing through each zone produces a different superficial velocity.
Claims14
A vibratory fluidized bed dryer comprising:
- a deck with a surface on which a bed of materials is formed, the deck having apertures through which air passes to fluidize the bed of materials on the deck;
- first and second opposing side walls depending from the deck;
- a source of air coupled to the apertures in the deck to supply air to the bed through the apertures in the deck;
- and
- a vibration generator coupled to the deck configured to move the bed of materials along the deck,
- wherein the deck has at least two zones, each zone extending between the first opposing side wall and the second opposing side wall and between a first upstream interface and a second downstream interface spaced from the first upstream interface along a length of the deck, and each zone having a different open area percentage defined by the apertures in the deck, such that the air passing through each zone produces a different superficial velocity
- wherein the deck has a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including a first zone having a first open area percentage and a plurality of second zones having a second open area percentage, the first zone disposed between at least two of the second zones.
A method of drying materials exhibiting extended falling rate drying and/or case hardening characteristics, comprising:
- disposing a bed of material on a deck, the deck having apertures through which air passes to fluidize the bed of materials on the deck arranged into at least two zones, each zone extending between a first opposing side wall and a second opposing side wall and between a first upstream interface and a second downstream interface spaced from the first upstream interface along a length of the deck, and each zone having a different open area percentage defined by the apertures in the deck, such that the air passing through each zone produces a different superficial velocity;
- wherein the deck has a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including a first zone having a first open area percentage and a plurality of second zones having a second open area percentage, the first zone disposed between at least two of the second zones;
- passing air through the apertures of the at least two zones;
- and
- operating a vibration generator coupled to the deck to cause the bed of material to move across the deck from an inlet end to an outlet end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.