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US 5,173,122 AGranted
Apparatus for washing sugarcane billets
OwnerSydney E. Tilby, David G. Janssoninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sugarcane billet washing apparatus tumbles and thorougly washes billets moving through a container in a continuous stream. Washing is by sprayers extending along the container. Preferred embodiments include the container being tilted to facilitate throughput, and a used water handling apparatus. The apparatus is suitable for use with continuous, integrated sugarcane processing systems.
Claims5
Apparatus for washing sugarcane billets comprising:
- a container for receiving sugarcane billets to be washed and having a discharge end with a quiescent region adjacent thereto;
- a used-water handling apparatus for collection of water already used for washing;
- a spray bar having a first input end for receiving used water from the used-water tank and a second input end for receiving fresh water thereby to selectively emit fresh and recycled water in a spray in such container;
- valve means to adjust the relative quantities of fresh water and used water being sprayed;
- and,
- means to randomly re-orient such billets moving toward the quiescent region,
- whereby substantially the entire surface of each billet is washed to remove dirt adhering thereto and such billets are easily discharged from the apparatus.
4 more elements
Apparatus for washing sugarcane billets comprising:
- a container for receiving sugarcane billets to be washed:
- a spray bar to emit water in a spray in such container;
- used water handling apparatus including (a) a settling tank for separation of reusable water from sludge and having a weir feeding a conduit (b) a drawing tank adjacent to the settling tank and having a conduit fed by the weir and extending from the drawing tank to the spray bar;
- and endless conveyor in the settling tank for removing sludge therefrom;
- means within the container to randomly re-orient such billets and expose all portions thereof to sprayed water,
- whereby substantially the entire surface of each billet is washed to remove dirt adhering thereto.
3 more elements
Apparatus for washing sugarcane billets comprising:
- a container for receiving sugarcane billets to be washed and having a discharge end with a quiescent region adjacent thereto;
- means for selectively emitting fresh and recycled water in a spray in such container, the means including a spray bar with a plurality of spray outlets spaced therealong and a water input at each end thereof;
- and,
- means to randomly re-orient such billets moving toward the quiescent region to expose all portions of the billets to sprayed water,
- whereby substantially the entire surface of each billet is washed to remove dirt adhering thereto.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.