Material treatment system

A material treatment system comprising structure defining particle treatment zone, a gas flow system disposed above said particle treatment zone for placing particulate material in fluidized condition as they move through said treatment zone, and exhaust structure for moving gases from said treatment zone away from said particle treatment zone, said structure comprising:

• transport conveyor structure arranged for transporting said particulate material through said particle treatment zone, said conveyer structure including lower boundary structure defining a lower boundary of said particle treatment zone, conveying compartment structure cooperating with said lower boundary structure, for transporting said particulate material through said particle treatment zone, and foraminous retention structure disposed between said gas flow system and said conveying compartment structure, said foraminous retention structure for retention of particulate material within said conveying compartment structure, said gas flow system arranged to protect gaseous streams downwardly through said foraminous retention structure for fluidizing said particulate material within said conveying compartment structure, said conveying compartment structure comprising a series of individual conveying compartments,
• each said individual conveying compartment being defined by:
• said lower boundary structure of said transport conveyor structure, and
• a compartment subassembly attached to said lower boundary structure, said compartment subassembly comprising a vertically extending side wall extending across the width of the transport conveyor structure, vertically extending end walls extending along the sides of the travelling length of the transport conveyor structure, and said foraminous retention structure,
• a pair of said vertically extending end walls, and a said vertically extending side wall of one of said subassemblies and a said vertically extending side wall of an immediately adjacent compartment subassembly forming an individual conveying compartment.

A particle treatment system comprising:

• structure defining a particle treatment zone including a belt type conveyer that has an imperforate surface defining a lower boundary of the particle treatment zone and being arranged for transporting particulate material through the treatment zone,
• a supply plenum above said particle treatment zone,
• an array of nozzles arranged to project gaseous streams downwardly from said supply plenum against said conveyor surface for fluidizing particles on said conveyer,
• means for exhausting gases from said treatment zone upwardly away from said conveyer,
• conveying compartment structure secured to said belt type conveyer for transporting said particulate material through said particle treatment zone, and
• foraminous retention structure disposed between said nozzles and said conveying compartment structure, said foraminous retention structure travel with and retention of particulate material within said conveying compartment structure.

A particle treatment system comprising:

• structure defining a particle treatment zone including a belt type conveyer that has an imperforate surface defining a lower boundary of the particle treatment zone and being arrange for transporting particulate material through the treatment zone,
• a supply plenum above said particle treatment zone,
• an array of nozzles arranged to project gaseous streams downwardly from said supply plenum against said conveyor surface for fluidizing particles on said conveyer,
• means for exhausting gases from said treatment zone upwardly away from said conveyer,
• conveying compartment structure cooperating with said belt type conveyer for transporting said particulate material through said particle treatment zone, and
• foraminous retention structure disposed between said nozzles and said conveying compartment structure for travel with and retention of particulate material within said conveying compartment structure, each conveying compartment comprising a bottom defined by said belt type conveyor surface, a vertically extending side wall extending across the width of said belt type conveyor, and vertically extending end walls extending along the travelling length of said belt type conveyor structure, said end walls being transverse to said side wall, and said foraminous retention structure providing a compartment cover secured to said side wall and end walls.