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US 4,730,627 AGranted
Method and apparatus for treating particulate material
AssigneeR. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
InventorsWalter E. Burcham, Jr., Wilbur J. French, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for treating particulate material with a liquid additive in a rotatable cylinder involves the use of a pressurized fluid such as steam directed obliquely against the inner wall of the cylinder to effect a cleaning action on the inner wall as the cylinder is rotated and to augment agitation action produced by the rotational movement of the cylinder and gravitational forces acting on the particulate material. Strategically located spray nozzles apply controlled amounts of liquid additive to the particulate material as it is undergoing agitation by the combined effects of the applied forces. The method and apparatus disclosed are particularly suited to the treatment of tobacco with casing materials.
Claims15
Improved apparatus for treating particulate material with a liquid additive comprising in combination
- (a) an elongated rotatable cylinder whose longitudinal axis is disposed in a substantially horizontal position and having an entrance end for introducing particulate material into the cylinder and an exit end for discharging treated particulate material, said cylinder also having an inner wall that has associated therewith a plurality of flights designed to enhance the lifting action exerted on the particulate material as it is carried upwardly to a predetermined point by the portion of the inner wall that is rising during rotation the of cylinder,
- (b) means for rotating said elongated rotatable cylinder at a speed that is sufficient to cause said particulate material to be carried upwardly to said predetermined point,
- (c) a group of stationary nozzles arranged adjacent to the inner wall of the cylinder with the nozzles in said group of stationary nozzles extending in a longitudinal direction along a substantial length of the inner wall of the cylinder and being oriented so that fluid streams emerging from the nozzles impinge obliquely against a portion of the inner wall that is rising during rotation of the cylinder at or above said predetermined point and in a direction that is substantially opposite to the direction of movement of said inner wall thereby causing any particulate material adhering to the rising inner wall to be dislodged therefrom, said fluid streams emerging from the nozzles also serving to augment the agitation action resulting from the gravitational effect on the particulate material that has temporarily separated from the rising inner wall,
- (d) a plurality of liquid additive spray nozzles positioned within the cylinder at a location that permits liquid additive supplied to said plurality of nozzles to be sprayed onto the particulate material as it is subjected to said agitation action,
- (e) means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said group of stationary nozzles,
- (f) means for monitoring the feed rate of particulate material introduced into the entrance end of the cylinder and
- (g) means for supplying quantities of liquid additive to said plurality of liquid additive spray nozzles which are regulated with respect to said feed rate of the particulate material into the entrance end of the cylinder.
4 more elements
A method for uniformly applying a liquid additive to particulate material comprising the steps of
- (a) moving a continuous stream of particulate material through a rotating cylinder that is provided with an entrance end and an exit end for introducing and withdrawing, respectively, the particulate material, said rotating cylinder having its longitudinal axis disposed in a substantially horizontal position and having an inner wall with a plurality of flights associated therewith for contacting and effecting a lifting action on the particulate material as it moves through the cylinder,
- (b) regulating the rotational speed of the cylinder so that the angular velocity of the inner wall surface is maintained at a sufficient level to cause said particulate material to be carried upwardly by the rising inner wall of the cylinder to a predetermined point at which a major portion of the particulate material begins to separate from the inner wall due to the influence of gravity,
- (c) directing an elongated band of pressurized fluid obliquely against the rising inner wall in a direction that is substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the inner wall and at a location above said predetermined point at which a major portion of the particulate material begins to separate from the inner wall due to the influence of gravity, said band of pressurized fluid serving to dislodge any particulate material adhering to the inner wall surface and to augment the agitation action which is exerted on the particulate material by gravitational forces and the rotational movement of the cylinder,
- (d) subjecting the particulate material to a spray of the liquid additive as the particulate material is being agitated by the combined effects of gravitational forces, the rotational movement of the cylinder and the elongated band of pressurized fluid directed obliquely against the inner wall of the cylinder and
- (e) controlling the amount of liquid additive sprayed onto said particulate material with respect to the quantity of particulate material introduced into the rotating cylinder.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.