R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Other

Reynolds Leasing Corporation

Lucas J Conrad

Jackie L White

James Edward Lovette

Hoyt Sturdivant Beard

Robert Calvin Johnson

Donald A Newton

J Edward Crook

Hamid Neshan

Robert Eugene Grubbs

Wayne David Detwiler

William Samuel Simmons

John Edward Crook

Franklin Allan Strump, Jr

An apparatus for impregnating tobacco with an expansion agent includes a chamber for confining a charge of tobacco under elevated pressure conditions. An accumulator connected to the chamber maintains a supply of an expansion agent in fluid form under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure but less than the desired tobacco impregnation temperature and pressure. The expansion agent is forcibly and rapidly moved from the accumulator and introduced into the chamber under conditions such that the pressure and temperature of the expansion agent are increased to the desired impregnation temperature and pressure, preferably including a pressure approaching or above the supercritical pressure thereof.

Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus

A process and apparatus for tobacco expansion is employed for expanding tobacco at rapid throughput rates. The apparatus includes a spool and shell assembly wherein the spool is moveable within the shell between loading, impregnating, and unloading positions. In the impregnating position, sealing assemblies seal the radial clearance between shell and the end members of the spool to provide a pressure vessel for tobacco impregnation. The sealing assemblies includes at least one elastically deformable sealing ring associated with the circumferential exterior of the end member. A pressure applying member is operatively associated with an axial end of each of the sealing members to releasably impart axial pressure onto the axial end of the sealing member when the spool is in the treating position to cause radial expansion of the deformable sealing ring and thereby accomplish sealing of the spool within the shell.

Spool and shell with pressurizing fluid activated seal

An apparatus for expanding tobacco includes a chamber having a spool and shell arrangement and a device for compressing tobacco into the shell for impregnation. The spool includes first and second cylindrical end members and a connecting rod between the first and second end members. A seal is provided between the outer surface of the end members and the shell. Expansion agent is introduced into the chamber to impregnate the tobacco for expansion.

Tobacco expansion apparatus

This invention provides tobacco expansion processes and apparatus that can be employed for expanding tobacco at rapid throughput rates employing high pressure tobacco impregnation conditions. The processes and apparatus of the invention are particularly useful in tobacco expansion processes employing cycle times of less than 20-30 seconds; the use of preheated, prepressurized expansion agent such as propane; preheating of tobacco batches; and/or compression of tobacco within a high pressure impregnation zone for greatly improving use of available space in a high pressure impregnation vessel.

A weed pulling device designed to apply a substantially vertical force to the stem of a weed engaged by the device comprises a tubular body having a first end that is bifurcated to provide two opposing members having edges that define two cooperating V-shaped slots or openings positioned in confronting relationship. One of the V-shaped slots or openings is designed to engage and retain the stem of a weed while the second V-shaped slot or opening is designed to contact the stem of the weed in a non-cutting manner as the device is manipulated to cause the weed stem to wrap around the bifurcated end of the tubular body. Also disclosed is a modification that additionally includes an elongated tine offset from an associated collar that is mounted on the side of the tubular body to provide sufficient space between the elongated tine and the tubular body to engage the stem of a weed in that space preparatory to wrapping the weed stem around the device by rotating it so that a pulling force can be applied to the stem of the weed.

Weed pulling device

A process and apparatus for tobacco expansion is employed for expanding tobacco at rapid throughput rates. The apparatus includes a spool and shell assembly wherein the spool is moveable into and out of the shell between loading, impregnating, and unloading positions. In the impregnating position, sealing assemblies seal the radial clearance between the spool and shell to provide a pressure vessel for tobacco impregnation. The sealing assemblies include at least one elastically deformable sealing ring and an annularly shaped axial pressure applying member to releasably impart axial pressure to the sealing ring. The axial pressure applying member receives fluid pressure from a hydraulic fluid and preferably receives additional fluid pressure from the expansion agent used to expand the tobacco.

Component spool and shell pressure vessel with hydraulic fluid actuated

A portable chair commode for either male or female medical patients with limited mobility is disclosed which comprises a frame structure designed to support an open slot toilet seat. The underside surface of the toilet seat is provided with means for removably attaching a receptacle for collection of bowel and bladder discharge. The frame structure includes a pair of substantially vertical extensions connected to the rear legs for supporting a backrest and a pair of cantilevered armrests. A preferred embodiment has the cantilevered armrests pivotally mounted so that the armrests can be moved from a horizontal rest position to a substantially vertical position to improve ease of access to the open slot toilet seat. The preferred embodiment also includes means for adjusting the height of each leg and an adjustably mounted footrest associated with the front legs of the chair commode.

Portable chair commode

This invention provides improvements in tobacco expansion processes which are capable of dramatically improving tobacco throughput in high pressure tobacco impregnation systems. In accordance with various aspects of the invention, tobacco can be impregnated in a high pressure impregnation zone and removed from the zone for expansion in complete cycle times of less than one minute, typically less than about 15-30 seconds. In addition, tobacco throughputs are further improved in accordance with other aspects of the invention by achieving dramatically improved use of the available treatment space in a high pressure impregnation zone. In addition, the invention provides processes for minimizing the amount of expansion agent used to treat tobacco.

Cigarettes which heat but do not burn tobacco are described, preferably having a carbonaceous fuel element extruded around a physically separate aerosol generating means, comprising an aerosol forming material. These cigarettes are capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the article, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products. Preferably, a barrier member is provided to substantially prevent fluid flow between the aerosol generating means and the fuel element. The barrier member is disposable as the cigarette burns back. Also described are embodiments wherein the aerosol generating means encircles at least a portion of the extruded fuel element. In addition, apparatus and method for making smoking articles are described.

Extruded cigarette

A fluid pressure treating apparatus including a cylindrical tubular shell with a reciprocal spool assembly mounted for movement between a loading position outside the shell and a treating position within the shell, sealing members on said spool assembly for engaging the shell to form the pressure chamber. Conduits are provided to introduce processing fluid into the pressure chamber.

Pressure vessel and method of using same

An improved process for increasing the filling capacity of tobacco is provided in which tobacco is contacted with vapors of an expansion agent such as, for example, a low-boiling highly volatile hydrocarbon and/or halocarbon, at elevated temperature and pressure conditions, then releasing the pressure to about atmospheric pressure in a relatively short time period, such as from one second to ten minutes, so that the tobacco is expanded so as to increase its filling capacity in the absence of a subsequent heating step.

Process for increasing filling capacity of tobacco

Apparatus for preventing the escape of volatile treating agents into ambient air from a rotary treating drum used in treatment of particulate solids such as tobacco is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a flange on each end of the drum against which a washer is urged while a gas, such as air, is introduced between each flange and its associated washer ring.

End seal for rotary treating drum

The method of transferring the material between a first and second zone having different atmospheres of a first and second fluid utilizing spaced sealing members and a liner extending between sealing members, said sealing members and liner adapted to be manipulated in a sequence to permit the material to pass from the first zone to the second zone without an admixing of the atmosphere.

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Lucas J Conrad