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US 9,810,480 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic processing of phyllosilicate minerals
AssigneeTargeted Microwave Solutions Inc.
InventorsSteve E. Sears, Larry Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for processing phyllosilicate minerals are provided. In some embodiments, the phyllosilicate mineral is clay. In some embodiments, the phyllosilicate mineral is bentonite clay.
Claims18
An apparatus for drying a phyllosilicate mineral, the apparatus comprising:
- a vertically extending housing defining a drying chamber;
- an inlet proximate the top of the housing for receiving phyllosilicate mineral to be dried;
- at least one angled protrusion extending from the housing, the angled protrusion comprising an electromagnetic energy induction coupling plate for transferring electromagnetic energy from a source of electromagnetic energy to the drying chamber;
- and
- an outlet proximate the bottom of the housing for passing dried phyllosilicate mineral out of the drying chamber.
2 more elements
A method of drying a phyllosilicate mineral, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing the phyllosilicate mineral to be dried at an upper portion of a vertical drying chamber;
- filling the drying chamber with the phyllosilicate mineral to be dried;
- exposing the phyllosilicate mineral to be dried to non-ionizing electromagnetic energy to dewater the phyllosilicate mineral;
- and
- passing dried phyllosilicate mineral through an outlet at a lower portion of the vertical drying chamber.
2 more elements
A method of drying a phyllosilicate mineral, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing the phyllosilicate mineral to be dried in an upper portion of a vertically extending housing;
- passing non-ionizing electromagnetic energy through the phyllosilicate mineral to generate a mechanical electromotive force to drive water out of the phyllosilicate mineral;
- removing the water from the housing;
- and
- passing dried phyllosilicate mineral from an outlet in a lower portion of the housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.