Patent ID: 6193858
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B01J,C02F,C25C,C25D

Abstract:
An apparatus for contacting a plurality of objects with a fluid, said apparatus comprising:a vessel having at least one bottom wall inclined downwardly from at least one sidewall toward a fluid inlet arranged to provide an upwardly directed stream of said fluid for causing said objects to flow upward from a feed position adjacent to said inlet to a disengaging position at which said objects are disengaged from said streama distribution shield mounted in said vessel and having an upper surface inclined downwardly and extending away from the vicinity of said disengaging position to a return position such that said disengaged objects fall on the upper surface of said distribution shield and move downwardly thereon away from said disengaging position to said return positions, said return position being arranged above an upper portion of said inclined bottom wall to deposit said disengaged objects onto the upper portion of said inclined bottom wall, and said inclined bottom wall being arranged to cause a bed of said deposited objects to move downward along said inclined bottom wall from the upper portion toward said feed position; anda conduit mounted in said vessel and arranged above said fluid inlet for receiving said upward flow of objects, said conduit extending upwardly to confine the flow of said objects from the vicinity of said feed position to at least the vicinity of said distribution shield and being arranged to cause said upward flow of objects to pass through an opening in said distribution shield.