Expanding and drying tobacco
OwnerLaszlo Egriinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and an apparatus for expanding and drying tobacco by means of vapor and/or hot gas are described, in accordance with which the tobacco is metered into an interior space (4) delimited by at least two flat jets (3, 3'). The flat jets flow into the channel from mutually opposing slotted nozzles (2, 2') and are directed towards one another at an acute angle and take up and consequently accelerate the tobacco suddenly. After the velocity acceleration by the flat jets, the tobacco is deflected by means of transverse flow, accelerated again, expanded and dried.
Claims14
A process for expanding and drying moist tobacco by means of vapor or hot gas, said process comprising the steps of:
- metering said moist tobacco into an interior space which is delimited by at least two flat jets, said flat jets for providing vapor or hot gas which effects expansion of said moist tobacco, said flat jets being directed towards one another at an acute angle;
- consequently suddenly taking up and accelerating said expanded tobacco to be treated in a first transport channel in order to generate a flow velocity associated with said expanded tobacco,
- substantially reducing said flow velocity at least by the removal of a portion of said vapor, and
- subsequently supplying said expanded tobacco to a drying means.
An apparatus for expanding and drying tobacco, said apparatus comprising:
- at least a tobacco-metering sluice gate,
- a rectangular expansion channel section which is connected to said sluice gate, said rectangular expansion channel extending vertically downward and having a respective blanket-like vapor or hot gas containing flat jet flowing in through flat nozzles arranged in or outside wall of said rectangular expansion channel and opposite one another, said two flat jets intersecting one another at an acute angle for taking up said tobacco in an interior space delimited by said rectangular expansion channel, said rectangular expansion channel continues from a vertical to a horizontal direction, respective vertical or horizontal channel section being provided to create a transporting channel, said transporting channel provided with a gas-permeable section therein, said horizontal channel section opening into a separate vertical channel section which is surrounded by a pipe having a large internal cross-section, and from said vertical channel section said tobacco emerging downward in an expanded and dried state and said vapor or hot gas emerging upward through a screen by means of suction removal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.