Fluidized bed apparatus and method using same
AssigneeBGK Finishing Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames E. Heath, John R. Eppeland, James S. Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for heat treating a product. The apparatus includes a retort having a volume sized to receive a bed of fluidized particles having a predetermined elevation within the volume and a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation sources. The sources are submerged within the bed of fluidized particles. Use of the apparatus to reclaim foundry sand is also disclosed.
Claims15
A method for reclaiming used foundry sand within a retort having walls for defining a volume for receiving a bed of said sand disposed within said volume, said method comprising the steps of:
- admitting used foundry sand, containing binders, into said volume so as to define a bed of said foundry sand within said volume;
- disposing a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation generating lamps, for generating infrared radiation heat for heating said bed of said used foundry sand, within said bed with each of said lamps disposed submerged within said bed and surrounded by said sand for said sand surrounding said lamps to be exposed to infrared radiation generated by said lamps;
- energizing said lamps so as to generate infrared radiation for said radiation from said lamps to project onto opposing sand and with said lamps having an intensity for said radiation to heat said sand to separate said sand from said binders to as to reclaim said sand;
- fluidizing said bed of said used foundry sand while heating said bed of said used foundry sand by means of said lamps;
- and
- discharging said heat treated reclaimed sand from said bed of said used foundry sand such that said reclaimed foundry sand can again be used as foundry sand in forming sand casting molds.
Apparatus for reclaiming used foundry sand, comprising:
- a retort having walls for defining a volume;
- means for charging used foundry sand containing binders into said volume so as to form a bed of said used foundry sand disposed within said volume;
- a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation generating lamps, for generating infrared radiation heat for heating said bed of said used foundry sand to a temperature level so as to separate said sand from said binders so as to reclaim said sand, each of said lamps disposed submerged within said bed and surrounded by said sand for said sand surrounding said lamps to be exposed to infrared radiation generated by said lamps;
- means for introducing a fluidizing gas into said bed of said used foundry sand;
- and
- means for discharging said heat treated reclaimed sand from said means defining said volume such that said reclaimed foundry sand can again be used as foundry sand for forming sand casting molds.
An apparatus for reclaiming use of foundry sand, comprising:
- means defining a volume for receiving a bed of used foundry sand containing binders;
- means for charging said used foundry sand into said means defining said volume as to form a bed of said used foundry sand having an elevation disposed with said volume, said means for charging said used foundry sand into said means defining said volume including providing an entrance end of said volume and a discharge end of said volume;
- a plurality of electrically powered infrared radiation generating lamps, for generating infrared radiation heat for heating said bed of said used foundry sand to a temperature level so as to separate said sand from said binders, said lamps disposed within said bed with said sand surrounding each of said lamps for said sand opposing said lamps to be exposed to infrared radiation generated by said lamps;
- said plurality of lamps divided into a plurality of separately controllable zones of said lamps extending from said entrance end to said discharge end with lamps of each zone operable independent of others of said zones to permit varying infrared intensity between lamps of different zones;
- a plurality of infrared transparent conduits surrounding each of said lamps;
- and
- means for introducing a fluidizing gas into said bed of said used foundry sand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.