Fluidized particle production system and process
First Claim
1. A fluidized particle production system, comprising:
- a solidifying unit for solidifying a solidifiable medium;
said solidifying unit having a solidifying surface for supporting a solidified layer of the medium and a drive for displacing said solidifying surface;
a treatment apparatus for removing the solidified medium from said solidifying surface;
said treatment apparatus comprising a sizing roller co-operating with said solidifying surface,said sizing roller having peripheral projections co-operating with said solidifying surface and said sizing roller being located sufficiently close to said solidifying surface to define therewith a nip dimensioned to form the solidified layer on said solidifying surface into fluidizable particles as said solidifying surface advances past said sizing roller;
a sealed housing enclosing said solidifying unit and said treatment apparatus;
an outlet duct communicating with the interior of said housing;
a sweep fluid outlet positioned to discharge a flow of the sweep fluid between said sizing roller and aid solidifying surface and towards said outlet duct for fluidizing said particles and transporting the fluidized particles through said outlet duct; and
sweep fluid supply source connected to said outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluidized particle production system includes a solidifying unit having a forming surface for supporting a solidified layer of a medium, e.g. ice and a treatment apparatus for removing the solidified medium from the solidifying surface and sizing the removed solidified medium into particles of desired dimensions. The treatment apparatus comprising a sizing device co-operating and moving with the solidifying surface for effecting therebetween the sizing of the particles. A housing encloses the solidifying unit and the treatment apparatus and a sweep fluid outlet is positioned to discharge sweep fluid towards the sizing device for fluidizing the particles and transporting the fluidized particles through an outlet duct from the housing.
31 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A fluidized particle production system, comprising:
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a solidifying unit for solidifying a solidifiable medium; said solidifying unit having a solidifying surface for supporting a solidified layer of the medium and a drive for displacing said solidifying surface; a treatment apparatus for removing the solidified medium from said solidifying surface; said treatment apparatus comprising a sizing roller co-operating with said solidifying surface, said sizing roller having peripheral projections co-operating with said solidifying surface and said sizing roller being located sufficiently close to said solidifying surface to define therewith a nip dimensioned to form the solidified layer on said solidifying surface into fluidizable particles as said solidifying surface advances past said sizing roller; a sealed housing enclosing said solidifying unit and said treatment apparatus; an outlet duct communicating with the interior of said housing; a sweep fluid outlet positioned to discharge a flow of the sweep fluid between said sizing roller and aid solidifying surface and towards said outlet duct for fluidizing said particles and transporting the fluidized particles through said outlet duct; and sweep fluid supply source connected to said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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- 3. A fluidized ice particle production system, comprising an ice forming unit for freezing water, said ice forming unit including a drum and a refrigeration apparatus for cooling said drum, said drum having an ice forming surface, a water outlet for discharging water onto said ice forming surface, a water supply connected to-said-water outlet, a sizing roller defining with said solidifying surface a nip, a drive connected to counter-rotate said drum and said sizing roller, said nip being dimensioned to form the ice into fluidizable particles, a sealed housing enclosing said ice forming unit and said sizing roller, a fluidized ice particle outlet duct communicating with the interior of said housing, a gas outlet located within said housing for directing a flow of gas through said nip towards said outlet duct for fluidizing the ice particles and transporting the fluidized ice particles through said outlet duct, a source of compressed gas for supplying the gas under pressure to said gas outlet and a valve between said source and said gas outlet for controlling the pressure of the gas.
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11. A process for the production of fluidized ice particles, comprising the steps of:
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freezing water on a peripheral surface of a rotating drum to form a layer of ice on the surface; crushing the ice in a nip between the drum surface and a sizing roller to form fluidizable ice particles; enclosing said drum and said sizing roller in a sealed enclosure; supplying a flow of gas at a controlled pressure to the interior of said enclosure; discharging the gas through the nip towards an outlet from said enclosure and thereby fluidizing the particles and transporting the fluidized particles from said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification