Densifying of a bulk particulate material
OwnerKevan Russel-Smithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of densifying a bulk particulate material includes at least partially confining the bulk particulate material, and mechanically agitating the confined bulk particulate material with at least two elongate rotatable members (14), (15) of which at least one is submerged in the confined bulk particulate material. The rotatable members each have an axis of rotation and include a plurality of axially spaced agitating formations (40) which project outwardly away from their axes of rotation. The rotatable members are transversely spaced.
Claims21
A method of densifying a bulk particulate material, the method including
- at least partially confining the bulk particulate material;
- and
- mechanically severely agitating the confined bulk particulate material with at least two elongate rotatable members submerged in the confined bulk particulate material, to provide a smaller average particle size and increased BET surface area, the rotatable members each having an axis of rotation and including a plurality of axially spaced agitating formations which project outwardly away from their axes of rotation, and the rotatable members being transversely spaced and arranged one above the other, thereby to densify the bulk particulate material.
Bulk particulate material densification and size reduction apparatus which includes
- a vessel to at least partially confine a body of a bulk particulate material, the vessel defining a bulk particulate material receiving or confining zone;
- at least two elongate rotatable members which are transversely spaced and arranged one above the other such that they will be submerged in use by bulk particulate material in the bulk particulate material receiving or confining zone mechanically severely to agitate the bulk particulate material, the rotatable members each having an axis of rotation and including a plurality of axially spaced agitating formations which project outwardly away from their axes of rotation;
- and
- drive means connected to the rotatable members capable of rotating the rotatable members at various elevations at different speeds about their axes of rotation to agitate bulk particulate material in the bulk particulate material receiving zone.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.