# US 9,427,018 B2 · Equipment for tobacco treatment or another bulk material sensitive to mechanical stress

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- Number: US 9,427,018 B2
- Document ID: US9427018B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/429,609
- Filed: 2013-10-16
- Published: 2015-11-19
- Granted: 2016-08-30
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-16
- Assignees: Souza Cruz S.A.
- Applicants: Souza Cruz S.A.
- Inventors: Geraldo Henrique Nunes De Oliveira; Gilson Rufino Sant'anna; Carlos Adriano Costa Urbano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9427018B2

## CPC

- A24B 3/04: Humidifying or drying tobacco bunches or cut tobacco (A24B3/12 takes precedence)
- A24B 3/12: Steaming, curing, or flavouring tobacco
- A24B: MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF

## Abstract

Equipment for treatment of tobacco or another bulk material sensitive to mechanical stress, the equipment having: (i) a rotatable treatment drum with a material inlet and a material outlet; (ii) a treatment fluid inlet; (iii) a treatment fluid excess outlet; (iv) a drive motor for the rotatable treatment drum; and (v) a temperature sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Equipment for treatment of tobacco or another bulk material sensitive to mechanical stress, said equipment comprising:
(i) a rotatable treatment drum disposed on support structure such that a geometric axis thereof is substantially horizontal, and having an inlet end comprising a material inlet, and a material outlet, and the inlet end having an adjustable elevation via the support structure to aid in loading and/or unloading of the rotatable treatment drum;
(ii) a treatment fluid inlet for a treatment fluid;
(iii) a treatment fluid excess outlet;
(iv) a temperature sensor;
wherein the equipment is configured for non-continuous operation and the rotatable treatment drum is configured to be rotated at a velocity within the range of 2 rpm to 20 rpm;
wherein said support structure includes a hydraulic system for adjusting the elevation of the inlet end, and wherein the support structure is movable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising:
(vi) the support structure of said rotatable treatment drum coupling the drive motor to the rotatable treatment drum;
(vii) a control panel:
(viii) sealing ports for the material inlet and the material outlet;
(ix) tubes disposed in an interior of the rotatable treatment drum; and
(x) a thermal insulation cover disposed around the rotatable treatment drum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is configured to thermally treat a material received therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said treatment fluid is steam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said treatment fluid inlet is through a flow regulating device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The equipment according to claim 5, wherein said flow regulating device is a valve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said treatment fluid excess outlet is configured to drain a condensate excess.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The equipment according to claim 7, wherein said treatment fluid excess outlet is a purger.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The equipment according to claim 2, wherein said support structure includes casters.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The equipment according to claim 1, said temperature sensor configured to maintain a treatment temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 120° C.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The equipment according to claim 2, wherein said control panel is configured to monitor at least one of: a rotating velocity of the rotatable treatment drum, a temperature, a moisture content inside the rotatable treatment drum, and a time of treatment.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The equipment according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the tubes is a coil for circulation of a treatment fluid.