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. 07, 1982
Filed:
Nov. 28, 1980
Frederick C Wear, St. Louis, MO (US);
Dick Q Durant, Manchester, MO (US);
Howard F McKinney, Edwardsville, IL (US);
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for drying seeds and other granular products includes a drying vessel that is connected to a vacuum pump which evacuates air from its interiors. The drying vessel has an enclosing side wall and a tubular portion which is surrounded by the side wall, all such that an annular drying cavity is formed within the vessel. The tubular portion is made from a material that is transparent to microwave energy and houses waveguide-radiators, each of which is connected to a different microwave launcher that is located at the lower end of the transparent tubular portion. The launchers produce microwave energy that is directed into their respective waveguide-radiators which in turn allow the energy to escape through apertures in their side walls. This energy passes through the transparent tubular portion of the drying vessel and into the drying cavity of the vessel. Within the annular drying cavity, the vessel contains drying columns into which the granular product is directed. The columns are formed from a material that is transparent to the microwave energy and are offset angularly with respect to the waveguide-radiators, so the microwave energy emitted from the apertures for the most part reflects from the side wall of the vessel. This minimizes first pass energy impingement on the product and thereby provides a more uniform field for drying the product within the columns. The rate at which the granular product descends through the columns is controlled by vaned rotors. The moisture released from the product in the form of steam passes through a condenser where it condenses to water, and this serves to maintain the vacuum in the drying cavity.