Continuous vapor processing system

A continuous vapor phase processing system of the type wherein a work product is selectively heated by a processing vapor in a processing vapor zone to a preselected temperature for vapor phase processing, comprising:

• a vessel containing a processing vapor zone having a processing vapor therein, a first aperture in the vessel side wall within the vapor zone and below the upper level of the processing vapor zone and by which a work product is introduced into the processing vapor, and a second aperture in the confronting vessel side wall within the vapor zone and below the upper level of the processing vapor zone and by which a work product is removed from the processing vapor;
• a first conduit in communication with the first aperture and outwardly extending from the vessel side wall and having an outer end open to the atmosphere;
• a second conduit in communication with the second aperture and outwardly extending from the confronting vessel side wall substantially in alignment with the first conduit and having an outer end open to the atmosphere;
• first means positioned proximate to each of said apertures for cooling said processing vapor to below the condensation temperature of said vapor to minimize the flow of said processing vapor from the vessel into the conduits;
• second means positioned along at least a portion of the length of the first and the second conduits outwardly of said first means for cooling said processing vapor in said conduits to below the condensation temperature of said processing vapor to prevent significant vapor loss from the outer end of the conduits to the atmosphere;
• means for conveying a work product through said first conduit to the processing zone of said vessel and out of the vessel through said second conduit;
• and
• each of said conduits having a length and a cross-section selected to allow work product passage and to provide an intended flow resistance to the primary processing vapor therein to minimize the flow of the primary vapor therealong to significantly prevent the exit thereof to the atmosphere.

A continuous vapor phase processing system, comprising:

• a vessel containing a primary processing vapor in a processing vapor zone and a secondary vapor in a secondary vapor zone above the processing vapor zone;
• a first conduit outwardly extending from one side wall of the vessel and having an inner end in communication with the processing vapor and below the upper level of the processing vapor zone and an outer end open to the atmosphere;
• a second conduit outwardly extending from the opposite side wall of the vessel substantially in alignment with the first conduit and having an inner end in communication with the processing vapor and below the upper level of the processing vapor zone and an outer end open to the atmosphere;
• first means at the inner end of each of said conduits for cooling said primary vapor to below the condensation temperature therefor to minimize the flow of said primary processing vapor from the vessel into the conduits;
• second means extending along at least a portion of the length of each of said conduits, outwardly of said first means, for cooling said primary processing vapor to below the condensation temperature therefor to minimize the flow of said primary processing vapor in respective conduits to the atmosphere;
• third means disposed along each of said conduits, outwardly of said second means, for cooling said secondary vapor within said conduits to a temperature below the condensation temperature therefor to minimize the flow thereof to the atmosphere and to provide a secondary vapor seal for the primary vapors;
• and
• each of said conduits having a preselected length and cross-section selected to allow work product passage therethrough and to provide an intended flow resistance to the vapors therein to minimize the exit thereof to the atmosphere.

A continuous vapor phase processing system of the type wherein work is selectively heated by a processing vapor to a preselected temperature for vapor phase processing, comprising:

• a vessel containing a processing vapor is a processing vapor zone and having a first aperture in the vessel side wall within the processing vapor and below the upper level of the processing vapor by which a work product is introduced into the processing vapor for vapor phase processing, and having a second aperture in the confronting vessel side wall within the processing vapor below the upper level of the processing vapor by which a work product is removed from the processing vapor after vapor phase processing;
• a first conduit in communication with the first aperture and extending generally outwardly from the vessel side wall and having an outer end open to the atmosphere;
• a second conduit in communication with the second aperture and extending generally outwardly from the confronting vessel side wall substantially in alignment with the first conduit and having an outer end open to the atmosphere;
• each of said conduits having a preselected cross-section selected to just allow passage of a work product therethrough and a preselected length selected to provide an intended flow resistance to the processing vapor in the conduits or preventing significant processing vapor flow therealong;
• means associated with each of said conduits for condensing the primary vapor to below the condensation temperature therefor to prevent significant vapor loss from the outer end of the conduits to the atmosphere;
• and
• means for conveying a work product through said first conduit into the processing vapor and through said second conduit out of the vessel.