Diffuser

Details Diffuser Diffuser

1999-02-03

2001-02-27

Brunsman, David (Department: 1755)

Sugar, starch, and carbohydrates

Apparatus

Treating sacchariferous material

C422S267000, C422S268000, C422S269000, C422S273000, C422S281000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06193805

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Although this specification makes particular reference to the extraction of sucrose from sugar cane, it must be understood that the invention also covers the extraction of any suitable soluble substances from any type of sub-divided solids containing such substances.
The extraction of sucrose from sugar cane generally comprises two major stages: firstly, a particle size reduction stage, during which the cane is prepared to a certain fineness; and secondly, the crushing and/or the diffusion, or lixiviating, stage. In this latter stage, the prepared cane or bagasse is conveyed and by percolation and/or countercurrent flowing of a suitable water mixture, the residual sucrose is dissolved and extracted. The present invention is directed to the second stage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various apparatus and methods are known to effect the diffusion stages.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for solvent extraction by means of which the movement of the prepared cane or bagasse is relatively simplified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a diffusion apparatus comprising a vertically-disposed annular extracting compartment, a means of feeding the compartment with the material being processed, a means to move the material around and within this compartment, and a means of removing the material from the compartment.
The extraction stage may comprise a revolving screen deck contained within a fixed inner column, or shell, and a fixed outer column, or shell. The revolving screen is supported on rollers and is caused to revolve by suitable drives, such as hydraulic motors or rams, or by electrical geardrives. More than one drive mechanism may be employed.
The material being processed rests on the screen deck and is transported from the feed inlet of the annular compartment to the discharge outlet of the compartment as the screen deck revolves.
The material is fed into the annular compartment by means of a distributing conveyor and is removed at the discharge outlet by means of discharge screws, or other means of discharging the material, such as discharge chain conveyors, or a suitably shaped discharge plate. The discharge mechanism feeds the material into a discharge chute in the outer fixed column, or shell.
In a preferred form of the invention the outer and inner shells of the apparatus are fixed. Within the two shells is a rotating screen deck supported over several fixed trays. During the passage of the material to be processed from the inlet to the discharge stages the material is subjected to a countercurrent spraying of a solvent, the solute being collected in the trays beneath the screen deck and pumped in a countercurrent fashion from the discharge stage where the solute is least concentrated to the inlet stage where the solute is most highly concentrated. The solute is then sent for further processing and the material is discharged for final solvent removal. In the case where the material prepared is cane the solute can be water or cane sugar juice of varying sugar concentration.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3533837 (1970-10-01), Strich
patent: 4182632 (1980-01-01), Cargill
patent: 4956125 (1990-09-01), Kawamata et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Diffuser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Diffuser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Diffuser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2611008