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:
Sep. 28, 1976
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1975
Roger Z de la Burde, Powhatan, VA (US);
Patrick E Aument, Hopewell, VA (US);
Ray F Dawson, Princeton, NJ (US);
Ronald A Tamol, Richmond, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
This disclosure relates to a process for expanding tobacco which comprises the steps of (1) subjecting tobacco, preferably in cut or particulate form, to a vacuum, (2) contacting the tobacco, while under vacuum, with water, preferably as a mist or spray, to impregnate the tobacco with water, (3) freezing the water-impregnated tobacco while it is maintained under vacuum, and (4) rapidly heating the frozen water-impregnated tobacco, preferably by direct contact with superheated steam. The first three steps may be, and preferably are, conducted in the same chamber. The fourth step may be conducted in a heating or drying chamber or tower, in a cyclone dryer or in similar equipment which will provide good gas-particle contact.