Steam/water static mixer injector for extrusion equipment
AssigneeWenger Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsScott Eugene VanDalsem, Brian D. Streit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.
Claims11
A preconditioner comprising:
- an elongated housing having sidewall structure, a material inlet, a spaced material outlet, and a fluid passageway through said sidewall structure and presenting an innermost injection opening in communication with the interior of the housing;
- at least one elongated, axially rotatable shaft extending along the length of said housing and having a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements secured to the shaft;
- apparatus for the injection of fluid into said housing, comprising an injector valve operably coupled with said fluid passageway in order to permit selective injection of fluid into the housing during processing of material therein, said injector valve including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and shiftable valve structure permitting selective control of the flow of fluid from the fluid inlet to and through the fluid outlet,
- the axial distance between said valve fluid outlet and said housing sidewall innermost injection opening being less than about three inches;
- and
- an elongated static mixer having a mixed fluid outlet operably coupled with said injector valve in order to deliver a mixed fluid to said injector valve fluid inlet.
A preconditioner for preconditioning comestible materials, comprising:
- an elongated housing having sidewall structure, a comestible material inlet, a spaced preconditioned material outlet, and a fluid passageway through said sidewall structure and presenting an innermost opening in communication with the interior of the housing;
- at least one elongated, axially rotatable shaft extending along the length of said housing and having a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements secured to the shaft;
- apparatus for the injection of fluid into said housing, comprising an injector valve operably coupled with said fluid passageway in order to permit selective injection of fluid into the housing during processing of material therein, said injector valve including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and shiftable valve structure permitting selective control of the flow of fluid from the fluid inlet to and through the fluid outlet;
- and
- an elongated static mixer having a plurality of fluid inlets, one of said fluid inlets being a water or steam inlet, and a mixed fluid outlet operably coupled with said injector valve in order to deliver a mixed fluid to said injector valve fluid inlet,
- the preconditioner operable to mix said comestible materials with said fluids and water, in order to moisturize the comestible materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.