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US 4,363,575 AGranted
Liquid-solid contacting apparatus
AssigneeFrito-Lay, Inc.
InventorsLawrence W. Wisdom, Gordon R. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for uniformly, downwardly moving in a vessel a compact bed of solid particles in contact with a liquid. Within the vessel there is provided a rotatable lower disc which has a radially extending opening for the passage of solids therethrough. The lower disc carries a member adjacent the opening for directing solids through the opening during rotation of the lower disc. This member preferably extends above the lower disc. A system is provided to maintain the liquid within the vessel while the solid particles pass out of the bottom portion of the vessel. A rotatable upper disc having a radially extending opening may be present to distribute solids charged to the vessel onto the upper surface of the bed of solid particles.
Claims11
Apparatus suitable for providing movement of a bed of solid particles substantially uniformly therethrough in a downwardly direction in contact with liquid comprising:
- (a) a generally vertically-disposed vessel for containing a compact bed of solid particles for contact with liquid;
- (b) a rotatable, generally horizontally-disposed lower disc means extending substantially throughout the cross-sectional area of a lower portion of said bed for supporting said bed, said lower disc means having at least one opening for passage of solids therethrough from said bed;
- (c) means for rotating said lower disc means;
- and
- (d) means for discharging solid particles from the lower portion of said vessel while maintaining liquid in said vessel to a substantial height above said lower disc means, comprising an outlet opening in the lower portion of said vessel and below said lower disc means, flow means communicating with said outlet opening for passing liquid across said outlet opening to receive and carry solid particles away from said outlet opening, and means for substantially equalizing liquid pressure in said flow means with the liquid pressure in said outlet opening to maintain liquid in said vessel during discharge of solid particles therefrom.
2 more elements
Apparatus suitable for providing movement of a bed of solid particles substantially uniformly therethrough in a downwardly direction in contact with liquid comprising:
- (a) a generally vertically-disposed vessel for containing a compact bed of solid particles for contact with liquid;
- (b) a rotatable, generally horizontally-disposed lower disc means extending substantially throughout the cross-sectional area of a lower portion of said bed for supporting said bed, said lower disc means having at least one opening for passage of solids therethrough from said bed;
- (c) means for rotating said lower disc means;
- (d) means for discharging solid particles from the lower portion of said vessel while maintaining liquid in said vessel to a substantial height above said lower disc means, comprising an outlet opening in the lower portion of said vessel and below said lower disc means, and flow means in communication with said outlet opening for passing liquid across said outlet opening to receive and carry solid particles away from said outlet opening while maintaining liquid in said vessel during discharge of solid particles therefrom, said flow means including a conduit associated with means at an upstream position for supplying liquid under pressure to said conduit, said conduit being in fluid communication with said vessel through said outlet opening, said conduit having an upwardly-extending portion downstream of said communication with said outlet opening, said upwardly-extending portion having a height sufficient to maintain a liquid level in said vessel substantially above said lower disc means;
- (e) a downwardly-extending conduit in flow communication with said upwardly-extending portion for discharging said solid particles;
- and
- (f) a vent to the atmosphere being located in said downwardly-extending conduit for preventing siphoning of liquid from said vessel.
4 more elements
Apparatus suitable for providing movement of a bed of solid particles substantially uniformly therethrough in a downwardly direction in contact with liquid comprising:
- (a) a generally vertically-disposed vessel for containing a compact bed of solid particles for contact with liquid;
- (b) a rotatable, generally horizontally-disposed lower disc means extending substantially throughout the cross-sectional area of a lower portion of said bed for supporting said bed, said lower disc means having at least one opening for passage of solids therethrough from said bed, said opening extending substantially the entire radius of said bed area;
- (c) means for controlling the passage of solid particles from said bed through said opening in said lower disc means for substantially uniform downward gravity flow of said solids in said vessel as a compact bed across substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the bed;
- (d) means for rotating said lower disc means;
- (e) stabilizing means for countering rotational movement of said bed across substantially its entire cross-sectional area, said stabilizing means being fixedly positioned above and in the vicinity of said means (c) and comprising one or more vertically-positioned plates extending across substantially the entire radius of said bed area;
- and
- (f) means for discharging solid particles from the lower portion of said vessel while maintaining liquid in said vessel to a substantial height above said lower disc means, said discharging means comprising an outlet opening in the lower portion of said vessel and below said lower disc means, flow means communicating with said outlet opening for passing liquid across said outlet opening to receive and carry solid particles away from said outlet opening, and means for substantially equalizing liquid pressure in said flow means with the liquid pressure in said outlet opening to maintain liquid in said vessel during discharge of solid particles therefrom.
4 more elements
Apparatus suitable for providing movement of a bed of solid particles substantially uniformly therethrough in a downwardly direction in contact with liquid comprising:
- (a) a generally vertically-disposed vessel for containing a compact bed of solid particles for contact within liquid;
- (b) a rotatable, generally horizontally-disposed lower disc means extending substantially throughout the cross-sectional area of a lower portion of said bed for supporting said bed, said lower disc means having at least one opening for passage of solids therethrough from said bed, said opening extending substantially the entire radius of said bed area;
- (c) means for controlling the passage of solid particles from said bed through said opening in said lower disc means for substantially uniform downward gravity flow of said solids in said vessel as a compact bed across substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the bed;
- (d) means for rotating said lower disc means;
- (e) stabilizing means for countering rotational movement of said bed across substantially its entire cross-sectional area, said stabilizing means being fixedly positioned above and in the vicinity of said means (c) and comprising at least one fixed member extending across substantially the entire radius of said bed area, and an extendable portion adjustably secured to the fixed member, said extendable portion being movable toward and away from said lower disc means;
- (f) means for discharging solid particles from the lower portion of said vessel while maintaining liquid in said vessel to a substantial height above said lower disc means, said means comprising an outlet opening in the lower portion of said vessel and below said lower disc means, and flow means in communication with said outlet opening for passing liquid across said outlet opening to receive and carry solid particles away from said outlet opening while maintaining liquid in said vessel during discharge of solid particles therefrom.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.