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US 2009/0215000 A1Published application
Method and Apparatus for Processing of Materials
OwnerCraig Gordon Boots, Robert D. Bartlett +2inventors
InventorsCraig Gordon Boots, Robert D. Bartlett, Ryan J. Bright, Mark C. Woodin
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Abstract
A method and apparatus processing materials including medical waste, municipal waste, along with other wastes, and processing materials; the apparatus comprising an elongate pressure vessel of generally cylindrical configuration having an inlet end, and an end cap for the inlet.
Claims45
A treatment vessel comprising:
- (a) a shell;
- (b) a drum, the drum being rotatively connected to the shell;
- (c) wherein pressure and heat can be added to the drum;
- (d) wherein the drum is supported by at least one bearing, the bearing being sealed from the pressure and heat added to the drum.
1 more element
A sealing unit comprising:
- a seal, the seal allowing a combination of angular and offset movement of an item being sealed.
(canceled)
A treatment vessel comprising:
- (a) a shell;
- (b) a drum, the drum being rotatively connected to the shell;
- (c) wherein pressure and heat can be added to the drum;
- (d) wherein the drum is supported by at least one bearing, the bearing being sealed from the pressure and heat added to the drum.
1 more element
A method of treating materials, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a treatment vessel, comprising:
- (i) a frame that includes a shell having an interior;
- (ii) a drum rotatably mounted within the shell interior, the drum having drum ends and an inner wall surface that surrounds a drum interior;
- (iii) at least one helical structure that tracks the drum inner wall surface along a helical path the helical structure providing a surface that slidably conveys objects to be treated along the helix as the drum is rotated;
- (iv) a plurality of obstructions attached at spaced apart positions to the helical structure, including positions that are circumferentially spaced relative to the drum inner wall surface;
- and
- (v) a heater that heats the drum interior;
- (b) placing items to be treated in the interior, and heating and rotating the drum, wherein the plurality of obstructions interrupt conveyance of the items along the helix.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.