Patent ID: 8426784
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
1. A waveguide applicator system comprising: a first waveguide applicator stage having walls with one or more outward juts and a microwave exposure region into which electromagnetic energy propagates; a second waveguide applicator stage having walls with one or more outward juts and a microwave exposure region into which electromagnetic energy propagates; tubing extending through the microwave exposure regions of the first and second waveguide applicator stages and defining a material flow path through which a material to be exposed to the electromagnetic energy flows sequentially through the first and second waveguide applicator stages; wherein the one or more outward juts in the first waveguide applicator stage are positioned relative to the material flow path differently from the one or more outward juts in the second waveguide applicator stage to cause the heating pattern of the material as it flows through the first waveguide applicator stage to differ from the heating pattern of the material as it flows through the second waveguide applicator stage to prevent hot spots from forming in the material at the same positions in both stages.