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, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2002
Gordon Herman Bokelman, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Maria Skandaliaris Shulleeta, Richmond, VA (US);
Alfred Shahmoradian, Richmond, VA (US);
Boris Lydell Kizzie, Hopewell, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A facility and method steps for air curing tobacco in an enclosure include hanging the tobacco in the enclosure having at least one vertically arranged air duct positioned in a central portion of the enclosure, at least one in-line fan positioned in a vertical portion of the at least one vertically arranged air duct, at least one ventilating fan located in an upper portion of the enclosure and at least one openable and closeable opening in at least one side wall of the enclosure. The humidity within the enclosure is lowered by opening the openable and closeable openings in at least one side wall of the enclosure and forcing warm air from the top of the enclosure down through the tobacco within the enclosure by operating the ventilation fans located in a top portion of the enclosure. Humidity is raised within the enclosure by closing the openable and closeable side openings and introducing water or other aqueous solutions into the vertical air ducts while operating the in-line fans within the air ducts to diffuse the moisture and drive it upwards for warming and uniform distribution throughout the barn.