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:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1998
Charles S. Alack, St. Louis, MO (US);
Semi-Bulk Systems, Inc., Fenton, MO (US);
Abstract
An eductor-mixer has a first inlet which receives dry particulate sugar from a sugar feed system and has a second inlet which receives a pressurized working liquid adapted to mix with the dry particulate sugar to form a liquified sugar solution. The eductor-mixer also has a discharge adapted for discharging the liquified sugar solution. A tank system receives the solution discharged from the eductor-mixer. A working fluid circuit conducts pressurized working fluid to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer and includes a solution recycle line for conducting solution from the tank system to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer, and a water supply line for adding water to the solution conducted to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer. A heater adds heat to the system to increase the temperature of the solution to a temperature at or above a specified temperature. A measuring device measures the sugar content of liquified sugar solution. A control system automatically adjusts the amount of sugar supplied to the first inlet of the eductor-mixer and/or the amount of water added to the solution supplied as working fluid to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer if the sugar content of the solution, as measured by the measuring device, is different from a target sugar content. A finished solution outfeed line transfers the finished solution from the tank system to a desired location when the sugar content of the solution is substantially at the target sugar content.