# US 7,743,912 B2 · Liquid seal bulk feeder for destructive distillation of lightweight materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,912 B2 - Document ID: US7743912B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/494,877 - Filed: 2006-07-28 - Published: 2007-02-08 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-05 - Inventors: Dana J. Finley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743912B2 ## CPC - C10B 53/07: {of solid raw materials consisting} of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres (recovery or working-up of waste materials of organic macromolecular compounds or compositions based thereon by dry-heat treatment for obtaining partially depolymerised materials C08J11/10; production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from rubber or rubber waste C10G1/10) - F23G 5/444: {for solid waste (F23G5/448 takes precedence)} - F27D 3/08: Screw feeders; Screw dischargers - F23G 2205/121: Screw conveyor - F23G 2205/18: using airlock systems - F23G 2209/281: Tyres - Y02P 20/143: the feedstock being recycled material, e.g. plastics - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - F27D: DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A conveyor feeding system for reliably and continuously supplying particulate matter as feedstock, such as rubber tire chips, to a reactor or distillation unit. The feeding system includes a pair of inclined spiral augers having their lower ends submerged in oil or other liquid to provide a liquid seal, thereby preventing undesirable back flow of distillation gases through the feeding system. The push auger acts to push lightweight feedstock downward, submerging it through the liquid seal. The material thereafter is taken up by the partially submerged feed auger, for withdrawal up out of the liquid seal for delivery to further processing, such as a pyrolytic reactor. Buoyant material, which otherwise might float upon the liquid of the seal reservoir, accordingly may be effectively processed through the system. An inlet valve, through which feedstock is introduced into the push auger, can be opened and closed in coordination with the rotation of the push auger, so that material is fed smoothly into the liquid seal reservoir. The inlet valve also may be of a type which prevents back-flow of gas from the push auger to material inlet valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid sealed conveyor apparatus for continuously feeding particulate material, such as chips of used automobile tires, to a reactor or distillation unit while maintaining a seal against the exchange of distillation gases and atmospheric air comprising: an inclined pusher auger having an outlet at a lower end thereof and an inlet; an inclined feed auger having an inlet at a lower end thereof and an outlet at an upper end thereof, said feed auger inlet being connected to and in liquid communication with said pusher auger outlet; said pusher auger and said feed auger being partially filled with a liquid to an operating reservoir liquid level and an operating feed auger liquid level, respectively, wherein said pusher auger inlet is above, and said pusher auger outlet is below, said operating reservoir liquid level; whereby action of the rotation of said pusher auger pushes particulate material entering said pusher auger inlet into said liquid, beneath said operating reservoir liquid level and to said feed auger inlet, and whereby the particulate material then is engaged and transported by action of the rotation of said feed auger to a point above said feed auger liquid level, and is discharged through said feed auger outlet for delivery to said reactor or distillation unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid is oil. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said pusher auger and said feed auger comprises a cylindrical auger casing and a corresponding rotatable spiral auger flight disposed therein, and wherein each said cylindrical auger casing and corresponding spiral flight has a small clearance of about 3 millimeters there-between, whereby said cylindrical auger casing and said rotatable spiral auger act as a seal against the flow there-through of gas surges from said reactor or distillation unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a makeup liquid inlet in the vicinity of said push auger outlet; a makeup liquid pump for introducing makeup liquid to said makeup liquid inlet; and a makeup liquid valve for controlling the introduction of makeup liquid from said pump through said makeup liquid inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a level control float in operative communication with said liquid within said push auger, said level control float being free to rise and fall with the liquid level in said pusher auger, said level control float operable to indicate the level of liquid in said fluid reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an inlet valve in operative connection with said pusher auger, above said operating reservoir liquid level, for regulating the feeding of particulate material into said pusher auger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an auger drive motor for powering said push auger, wherein said inlet valve is in signal communication with said auger drive motor, whereby that the actuation of said inlet valve is coordinated with the rotation of said push auger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said signal communication is aided by a digital central processing unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a feed auger drive motor for powering said feed auger, wherein said push auger is in signal communication with said feed auger drive motor, whereby the actuation of said feed auger is coordinated with the rotation of said push auger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: an apparatus inlet through which material may be introduced to said inlet valve; and a duct for directing material from said inlet valve to said pusher auger; wherein said inlet valve provides for continuous sealing of the duct against uninterrupted air flow from said inlet, yet permits periodic passage of material from said inlet to said duct. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said inlet valve comprises a compartmentalized rotary valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said inlet valve comprises a double alternating flat gate. ### Claim 13 A liquid sealed conveyor apparatus for continuously feeding particulate material, such as chips of used automobile tires, to a reactor or distillation unit while maintaining a seal against the exchange of distillation gases and atmospheric air comprising: an inclined pusher auger having an outlet at a lower end thereof and an inlet; an inclined feed auger having an inlet at a lower end thereof and an outlet at an upper end thereof, said feed auger inlet being connected to and in liquid communication with said pusher auger outlet; and an inlet valve in operative connection with said pusher auger, above said operating reservoir liquid level, for regulating the feeding of particulate material into said pusher auger; said pusher auger and said feed auger being partially filled with a liquid to an operating reservoir liquid level and an operating feed auger liquid level, respectively, wherein said feeder auger inlet is below, and said feeder auger outlet is above, said operating feed auger liquid level; whereby action of the rotation of said pusher auger pushes particulate material entering said pusher auger inlet into said liquid, beneath said operating reservoir liquid level and to said feed auger inlet, and whereby the particulate material then is engaged and transported by action of the rotation of said feed auger to a point above said feed auger liquid level, and is discharged through said feed auger outlet for delivery to said reactor or distillation unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising an auger drive motor for powering said push auger, wherein said inlet valve is in signal communication with said auger drive motor, whereby that the actuation of said inlet valve is coordinated with the rotation of said push auger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said signal communication is aided by a digital central processing unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a feed auger drive motor for powering said feed auger, wherein said push auger is in signal communication with said feed auger drive motor, whereby the actuation of said feed auger is coordinated with the rotation of said push auger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) An apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising: an apparatus inlet through which material may be introduced to said inlet valve; and a duct for directing material from said inlet valve to said pusher auger; wherein said inlet valve provides for continuous sealing of the duct against uninterrupted air flow from said inlet, yet permits periodic passage of material from said inlet to said duct. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said inlet valve comprises a compartmentalized rotary valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said inlet valve comprises a double alternating flat gate.