Combination dryer and surge bin
AssigneeMiller Hofft, Inc.
InventorPaul J. Haeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combination surge and drying apparatus is described which includes first and second bins, a jacket surrounding the first bin for passage of a hot fluid therethrough, and air coils positioned within the jacket to be heated by the hot fluid. Air within the coils is directed into and through a hollow, apertured auger positioned to discharge material from the first bin to the second bin. An overflow port is included for returning excess material from the discharge auger back to the first bin to handle surges in demand for the material and also to facilitate drying.
Claims12
A combination surge and drying apparatus for use in handling a bulk material, which comprises:
- first and second bins, said second bin being located above said first bin;
- heat transfer means, surrounding at least a portion of said bin, for providing heat transfer from a hot fluid within said heat transfer means to the material received within said first bin;
- discharge means for receiving and discharging material from within said first bin into said second bin;
- gas introduction means for directing a drying gas into the material within sid first bin prior to discharge of the material from said first bin;
- overflow means for returning excess material in said second bin to said first bin, said overflow means including a passageway communicating between said first bin and said second bin separately from said discharge means;
- and
- control means for controlling the passage of material through said overflow means, whereby material is selectively maintained within said second bin or is allowed to pass through said overflow means back to said lower, first bin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.