Method and apparatus for expanding loose fill material, such as expandable polystrene pellets

Apparatus for expanding loose fill material, comprising:

• hopper means for receiving and storing the loose fill material to be expanded;
• an expansion chamber;
• perforated platform means mounted within said expansion chamber for receiving said loose fill material to be expanded from said hopper means;
• track means for conveying said loose fill material received from said hopper means across said platform means and for simultaneously tumbling said loose fill material on said platform means;
• means for generating steam;
• and
• means for distributing steam generated by said generating means through said platform means to expand said loose fill material conveyed across and tumbled on said platform means by said track means.

Apparatus for expanding loose fill material, comprising:

• hopper means for receiving and storing the loose fill material to be expanded;
• an expansion chamber;
• a platform disposed within said expansion chamber for receiving said loose fill material to be expanded from said hopper means, said platform being permeable to steam;
• conveying and tumbling means for simultaneously conveying said loose fill material across said platform and tumbling said loose fill material thereon;
• means for generating steam;
• and
• means for distributing steam generated by said generating means through said platform to expand said loose fill material conveyed across and tumbled on said platform by said conveying and tumbling means;
• wherein said loose fill material thereby is exposed on said platform to the stream from said steam distributing means in a substantially uniform manner as a result of being conveyed across and tumbled on said platform by said conveyed and tumbling means.

Apparatus for expanding loose fill material;

• comprising:
• automatic feed means having a fan and venturi chamber arrangement for inducting loose fill material;
• hopper means for receiving and storing loose fill material from said automatic feed means;
• means for receiving said loose fill material from said hopper means;
• steam distribution means for distributing steam to loose fill material received by said receiving means thereby for expanding said loose fill material;
• and
• an open mesh cage having an upper opening for receiving loose fill material from said automatic feed means and a lower opening for supplying said loose fill material to said hopper means, said mesh cage channeling force to inducted loose fill material from said automatic feed means to said hopper means and dissipating excessive pressure through the open mesh thereof.

Appartus for expanding loose fill material, comprising:

• hopper means for receiving and storing the loose fill material to be expanded;
• an expansion chamber;
• a platform disposed within said expansion chamber for receiving said loose fill material to be expanded from said hopper means, being permeable to steam, said platform being stepped having first and second steps;
• conveying and tumbling means for simultaneously conveying said loose fill material across said first step of said platform and tumbling said loose fill material thereon, for tumbling said loose fill material in free fall by gravity to said second step of said platform, and for simultaneously conveying said loose fill material across said second step of said platform and tumbling said loose fill material thereon;
• means for generating steam;
• and
• means for distributing steam generated by said generating means through said platform to expand said loose fill material conveyed across and tumbled on said platform by said conveying and tumbling means, wherein said loose fill material thereby is exposed on said platform to the steam from said steam distributing means in a substantially uniform manner as a result of being conveyed across and tumbled on said platform by said conveying and tumbling means.

Apparatus for expanding loose fill material, comprising:

• hopper means for receiving and storing the loose fill material to be expanded;
• an expansion chamber;
• a platform disposed within said expansion chamber for receiving said loose fill material to be expanded from said hooper means, said platform being permeable to steam;
• conveying and tumbling means for simultaneously conveying said loose fill material across said platform and tumbling said loose fill material thereon, said conveying and tumbling means including at least one tumbling bar, and chain means affixed to said at least one tumbling bar for advancing said at least one tumbling bar across said platform in the direction in which said loose fill material is to be conveyed, thus to convey said loose fill material across said platform and to simultaneously tumble said loose fill material thereby;
• means for generating steam;
• and
• means for distributing steam generated by said generating means through said platform to expand said loose fill material conveyed across and tumbled on said platform by said conveying and tumbling means, wherein said loose fill material thereby is exposed on said platform to the steam from said steam distributing means in a substantially uniform manner as a result of being conveyed across and tumbled on said platform by said conveying and tumbling means.

Apparatus for expanding loose fill material, comprising:

• hopper means for receiving and storing the loose fill material to be expanded;
• an expansion chamber;
• perforated platform means mounted within said expansion chamber for receiving said loose fill material to be expanded from said hopper means;
• track means for conveying said loose fill material received from said hopper means across said platform means and for simultaneously tumbling said loose fill material on said platform means;
• means for generating steam;
• means for distributing steam generated by said generating means through said platform means to expand said loose fill material conveyed across and tumbled on said platform means by said track means;
• and
• condensing means disposed above said track means for condensing the steam from said steam generating means after it has passed through said loose fill material, wherein said loose fill material remains substantially dry.