The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 13, 1976
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1975
Frederick C Stuchberry, Calgary, CA;
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A rotating drum type muller is described for initial conditioning of mined tar sands by the hot water method for separation of bitumen from the sands wherein ablation of mined tar sand lumps into pulp is effected through the addition of hot water, steam and caustic. This conditioning drum comprises a horizontally disposed cylindrical drum of a length to diameter ratio of about 1:1 or less, rotatable around its longitudinal axis and having axial openings at its inlet end for introduction of mined tar sand lumps, water and caustic and at its outlet end for rejection of oversize and discharge of mulled tar sands pulp, said axial opening at its outlet end being divided by a coaxial grate member, extending along the longitudinal axis of the drum, into an outer annular opening for discharge of tar sands pulp and an inner axial opening for rejection of oversize, said grate size being sufficient to allow ready passage of tar sands pulp into a discharge passageway defined by the outer annular opening while retaining the oversize; and a plurality of downwardly projecting steam conduits affixed to a stationary steam header extending substantially over the length of the drum interior along the longitudinal axis of the drum, said conduits being perforated for injecting steam into said cylindrical drum.