Patent ID: 6189234
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: F26B

Abstract:
A continuous flow fluid bed dryer for drying of particulate product, comprising:a dryer housing having housing walls defining a drying chamber and a plenum chamber located beneath the drying chamber;a product inlet to the drying chamber and a product outlet from the drying chamber;a porous screen separating the drying chamber from the plenum chamber between the product inlet and the product outlet;an heated air inlet to the plenum chamber for introduction of heated air for movement through the plenum chamber to the drying chamber;a rotor shaft mounted for axial rotation in the drying chamber, and means for rotation of the shaft;a plurality of paddles connected to the rotor shaft for movement about a path whereby the paddle ends sequentially sweep over the surface of the screen to move product away from the screen permitting a rush of heated air into the drying chamber from the plenum chamber;said paddles connected to the shaft in an arrangement whereby the chords of adjacent paddles overlap along the length of the shaft; andmeans for movement of the product in a downstream direction between the product inlet of the drying chamber and the product outlet.