Microwave heating applied to mining and related features
AssigneeA.L.M. Holding Company
InventorsDrew J. Frederixon, Gerald H. Reinke, Jacob G. Hehir, Michael R. Byrnes, Vernon R. Hegg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for processing precursor material, including at least one microwave generator, at least one microwave guide operatively connecting the at least one microwave generator to at least a first conveyor unit, and the first conveyor unit provided in a first housing that comprises at least one opening configured to receive microwave energy via a first microwave guide. The first conveyor unit is configured to receive and process a quantity of precursor material, which includes heating the precursor material to a first temperature by applying microwave energy to the precursor material within the first housing.
Claims20
A system for processing precursor material, comprising:
- at least one microwave generator;
- a first conveyor unit;
- at least a first microwave guide operatively connecting the at least one microwave generator to at least the first conveyor unit;
- the first conveyor unit provided in a first housing that comprises at least one opening configured to receive microwave energy via the first microwave guide;
- and
- at least one microwave suppression tunnel comprising at least one flexible and/or movable microwave reflecting component within the tunnel, wherein the microwave reflecting component comprises a mesh flap configured to absorb, deflect, and/or block microwave energy,
- wherein the first conveyor unit is configured to receive and process a quantity of precursor material comprising at least two constituent substances, the system being configured to apply microwave energy to the precursor material within the first housing at a first processing step,
- wherein at least a portion of the microwave reflecting component is configured to be deflected as the precursor material passes through the tunnel and then to return to a resting, closed position when the precursor material is no longer passing through the tunnel, and
- wherein the precursor material comprises at least a) a first constituent substance with a first rate of reaction or expansion when microwave energy is applied, and b) a second constituent substance with a second rate of reaction or expansion when microwave energy is applied.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a quantity of precursor material comprising at least two constituent substances at a first conveyor unit, wherein the quantity of precursor material passes through at an inlet microwave suppression tunnel before entering the first conveyor unit;
- transporting the quantity of precursor material along the first conveyor unit;
- causing microwaves emitted by at least one microwave generator operatively connected to a respective microwave guide to process the quantity of precursor material within the first conveyor unit when the emitted microwaves are absorbed by at least a portion of the quantity of precursor material at a first processing step within the first conveyor unit;
- and
- causing the processed quantity of precursor material to exit through an outlet microwave suppression tunnel,
- wherein at least one of the inlet and the outlet microwave suppression tunnel comprises at least one flexible and/or movable mesh flap within the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel, wherein the at least one mesh flap is configured to absorb, deflect, and/or block microwave energy,
- wherein at least a portion of the mesh flap is configured to be deflected as the quantity of precursor material passes through the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel and then to return to a resting, closed position when the quantity of precursor material is no longer passing through the respective inlet/outlet microwave suppression tunnel, and
- wherein the quantity of precursor material comprises at least a) a first constituent substance with a first rate of reaction or expansion when microwave energy is applied, and b) a second constituent substance with a second rate of reaction or expansion when microwave energy is applied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.