# US 2014/0193303 A1 · Apparatus for Extracting Oil From Oil-Bearing Plant Material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193303 A1 - Document ID: US20140193303A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,915 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Inventors: Matthew A. Ellis; Marcus J. Fauth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193303A1 ## CPC - B01D 11/0203: {with a supercritical fluid} - B01D 11/0207: {Control systems} - C11B 1/10: by extracting - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C11B: PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F) ## Abstract A system for extracting oil from oil-bearing plant parts has an extraction vessel supported by an upright stand and a separator vessel mounted below the extraction vessel. A source of hydrocarbon solvent supplies liquid gas to the top of the extraction vessel, while a recycling pump connected to the separator vessel facilitates transport of the solvent through the plant material in the extraction vessel. The solvent is recovered and re-circulated, while extracted oil is removed from the separator. A thermal jacket is mounted on the separator; the thermal jacket supplies heat and cold to the interior of the separator and helps evaporate and condense the solvent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for extracting oil from oil-bearing plant material, comprising: a source of hydrocarbon solvent; an extraction assembly having an extraction vessel receiving the oil-bearing plant material; a separator assembly operationally connected to the extraction assembly, the separator assembly separating the hydrocarbon solvent from oil extracted in the extraction vessel; an upright stand supporting the extraction vessel; and a solvent recovery assembly operationally connected to the separator assembly and the source of hydrocarbon solvent, the solvent recovery assembly comprising a gas recovery/control unit having a recycling pump and a condenser unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the extraction assembly comprising a tubular hollow extraction vessel having an open top and an open bottom, a top cup detachably engageable with the open top and a bottom cup detachably engageable with the open bottom of the extraction vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top cup has longitudinal dimensions at least slightly greater than longitudinal dimensions of the bottom cup. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top cup has longitudinal dimensions twice as great as longitudinal dimensions of the bottom cup. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a peripheral flange extends outwardly from the open top and a peripheral flange extends outwardly from the open bottom of the extraction vessel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the top cup is provided with a peripheral flange matching in configuration the peripheral flange of the top cup, and wherein the bottom cup is provided with a peripheral flange matching in configuration the peripheral flange of the bottom cup. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a top sealing clamp is removably secured to the peripheral flanges of the top end and the top cup, and a bottom sealing clamp is removably secured to the peripheral flanges of the bottom end and the bottom cup of the extraction vessel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a top perforated gasket is sandwiched between the top cup and the open top of the extraction vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a bottom perforated gasket and a fine filter is sandwiched between the bottom end and the bottom cup of the extraction vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the top cup has a top plate closing an upper end of the top cup, the top plate carrying a connector assembly, the connector assembly comprising operationally connected, an extractor connector conduit, a gas inlet valve fitted in the extractor connector conduit, and a pressure gauge connected to the gas inlet valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, the connector assembly is mounted in fluid communication between the source of hydrocarbon solvent and the top cup. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one end of the extractor connector conduit is provided with a quick connect male connector member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bottom cup has a bottom plate closing a lower end of the bottom cup, the bottom plate being provided with a liquid outlet conduit in fluid communication with interior of the extraction vessel and an extractor outlet valve operationally connected with the liquid outlet conduit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a quick connector member is secured to a lower end of the liquid outlet conduit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the separator assembly is mounted below the extraction assembly and in fluid communication therewith. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, the separator assembly comprising a hollow separator vessel having an open top and a closed bottom, and a separator vessel cap detachably sealingly engageable with the open top of the separator vessel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the separator vessel cap carries a separator connector conduit mounted for sealing engagement with the liquid outlet conduit of the bottom cup. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, comprising a separator vessel sealing clamp detachably engageable with the separator vessel cap and the separator vessel, and wherein a sealing gasket is fitted between the separator vessel cap and the separator vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, the separator vessel cap carrying a gas outlet conduit in fluid communication with interior of the separator vessel, a pressure gauge, and a gas outlet valve operationally connected to the solvent recovery assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, the separator vessel cap carrying a thermal probe member detecting temperature conditions inside the separator vessel, the thermal probe being operationally connected to a temperature monitoring member supported by the upright stand. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the separator assembly comprises a thermal jacket secured on exterior of the separator vessel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the thermal jacket is operationally connected to a heat source and transferring heat to the separator vessel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the heat source is a re-circulating water heater. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, the gas recovery/control unit is mounted between the separator assembly and the source of hydrocarbon solvent. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the gas recovery/control unit has an inlet side connected to the separator vessel and an outlet side connected to the source of hydrocarbon solvent. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the recycling pump has a pump control knob and a pressure indicator, and the condenser having a condenser control knob and a monitor, the condenser being adapted to condense gas evacuated from the separator vessel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the source of hydrocarbon solvent comprises a gas tank retaining a hydrocarbon solvent, the gas tank being operationally connected, on an outlet side, to an inlet of the extraction assembly. ### Claim 28 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, the upright stand comprises a pair of horizontal base members configured for positioning on a horizontal surface and secured in a spaced-apart parallel relationship by a first cross bar, a pair of upright supports extending upwardly from the base members, and a plurality of spaced apart parallel cross members extending between the upright members. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a Y-shaped upper yoke is secured to a cross member and extends horizontally outwardly from the cross member, said upper yoke engaging the extraction vessel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, comprising a pair of bottom support bars secured in a spaced-apart relationship to a second cross member, the bottom support bars extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the second cross member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the bottom cup rests on the bottom support bars when the extraction vessel is mounted on the upright stand. ### Claim 32 An apparatus for extracting oil from oil-bearing plant material, comprising: a source of hydrocarbon solvent comprising a gas tank retaining the hydrocarbon solvent; an extraction assembly having an extraction vessel receiving the oil-bearing plant material, the extraction assembly comprising a tubular hollow extraction vessel having an open top and an open bottom, a top cup detachably engageable with the open top and a bottom cup detachably engageable with the open bottom of the extraction vessel a separator assembly operationally connected to the extraction assembly, the separator assembly separating the hydrocarbon solvent from oil extracted in the extraction vessel, the separator assembly comprising a hollow separator vessel having an open top and a closed bottom, and a separator vessel cap detachably sealingly engageable with the open top of the separator vessel; an upright stand supporting the extraction vessel; and a solvent recovery assembly operationally connected to the separator assembly and the source of hydrocarbon solvent, the solvent recovery assembly comprising gas recovery/control unit having a recycling pump and a condenser unit, gas recovery/control unit mounted between the separator assembly and the gas tank. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the gas recovery/control unit has an inlet side connected to the separator vessel and an outlet side connected to the gas tank. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, the upright stand comprising a pair of horizontal base members configured for positioning on a horizontal surface and secured in a spaced-apart parallel relationship by a first cross bar, a pair of upright supports extending upwardly from the base members, and a plurality of spaced apart parallel cross members extending between the upright members. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a Y-shaped upper yoke is secured to a cross member and extends horizontally outwardly from the cross member, said upper yoke engaging the extraction vessel. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, comprising a pair of bottom support bars secured in a spaced-apart relationship to a second cross member, the bottom support bars extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the second cross member. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the bottom cup rests on the bottom support bars when the extraction vessel is mounted on the upright stand. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a top perforated gasket is sandwiched between the top cup and the open top of the extraction vessel, and a bottom perforated gasket and a fine filter are sandwiched between the bottom end and the bottom cup of the extraction vessel. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the top cup has longitudinal dimensions at least slightly greater than longitudinal dimensions of the bottom cup. ### Claim 40 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the top cup has longitudinal dimensions twice as great as longitudinal dimensions of the bottom cup. ### Claim 41 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the top cup has a top plate closing an upper end of the top cup, the top plate carrying a connector assembly, the connector assembly comprising operationally connected, an extractor connector conduit, a gas inlet valve fitted in the extractor connector conduit, and a pressure gauge connected to the gas inlet valve, the connector assembly being mounted in fluid communication between the gas tank and the top cup. ### Claim 42 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the separator assembly comprises a thermal jacket secured on exterior of the separator vessel. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the thermal jacket is operationally connected to a heat source and transferring heat to the separator vessel. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the heat source is a re-circulating water heater. ### Claim 45 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the separator vessel cap carries a separator connector conduit mounted for sealing engagement with the liquid outlet conduit of the bottom cup. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The apparatus of claim 45, comprising a separator vessel sealing clamp detachably engageable with the separator vessel cap and the separator vessel, and wherein a sealing gasket is fitted between the separator vessel cap and the separator vessel. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The apparatus of claim 45, the separator vessel cap carrying a gas outlet conduit in fluid communication with interior of the separator vessel, a pressure gauge, and a gas outlet valve operationally connected to the solvent recovery assembly.