Patent ID: 8763273
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: B29B,F26B

Abstract:
1. A hopper structure for the dehumidification of granular plastic material by means of a dehumidifying process fluid, including: a main body, bearing, at the top in use, a closure wall with loading opening or mouth for the granular plastic material to be treated; at least one discharge mouth or opening for the process fluid provided on said main body or on said closure wall, a tapered lower section terminating with a discharge opening for the dehumidified granular plastic material, an insert member fluid-sealed and positionable in the main body and in the tapered section so as to delimit an annular air space therewith, said insert member comprising at least one conical or frustoconical lower part, which tapers towards a bottom thereof, and an upper part, and at least one dehumidifying process fluid feed duct to said annular air space, wherein the tapered lower section comprises at least one pair of walls or wall segments comprising: a wall or wall segment at least partially enclosing the other wall or wall segment, so as to delimit at least one chamber therewith that is outside said annular air space and in fluid communication therewith, said at least one chamber being feedable with dehumidifying process fluid from said at least one dehumidifying process fluid feed duct oriented tangentially or parallel to said enclosing wall or wall segment, and said tapered lower section comprises an upper frustoconical segment, an intermediate segment and a lower frustoconical segment, the upper frustoconical segment having conicity different from the conicity of said lower frustoconical segment and being extended therein so as to delimit said chamber, a top of the upper frustoconical segment having a greater radius than the intermediate segment.