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:
Jun. 01, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 09, 1996
Dale Bowman Poindexter, East Bend, NC (US);
Russell Dean Barnes, Belews Creek, NC (US);
Hoyt Sturdivant Beard, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Keith Rowan Guy, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Ricky Harris Laurence, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Harold Eugene Richardson, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Tony Dean Stewart, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Douglas Edwin Wilhelm, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
A method of and an apparatus for expanding tobacco, particularly tobacco impregnated with solid carbon dioxide are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an arcuate, generally C-shaped duct for conveying the tobacco material in a hot gaseous medium to sublimate the solid carbon dioxide and expand the tobacco. The duct has a non-circular cross-section, preferably a rectangular cross-section, with a high width-to-depth ratio and an increasing depth from the inlet to an intermediate portion of the duct then a decreasing depth from the intermediate portion to the outlet of the duct. A winnower device infeeds the tobacco material into the duct adjacent the throat of a venturi section connected to the inlet of the conveying duct. A tangential separator with an adjustable baffle at the inlet thereof for controlling velocity in the separator is used to separate the expanded tobacco from the gaseous medium.