Patent ID: 8668879

Claim:
A low layer solvent extractor comprising: a housing ( 12 ); an upper deck ( 18 ) and a lower deck ( 24 ) located within said housing ( 12 ), wherein said upper deck ( 18 ) has a first upstream end ( 20 ) and a first downstream end ( 22 ) and said lower deck ( 24 ) has a second upstream end ( 26 ) and a second downstream end ( 28 ); an elbow ( 30 ) located within said housing ( 12 ), said elbow ( 30 ) extending between said first downstream end ( 22 ) and said second upstream end ( 26 ); a return ( 32 ) located within said housing ( 12 ), said return ( 32 ) operatively extending between said first upstream end ( 20 ) and said second downstream end ( 28 ), and said upper deck ( 18 ), said elbow ( 30 ), said lower deck ( 24 ), and said return ( 32 ) form a loop; a feed inlet ( 40 ) positioned adjacent to said first upstream end ( 20 ), wherein oleaginous material ( 56 ) is introducible to said upper deck ( 18 ) through said feed inlet ( 40 ); a chute ( 58 ) operatively connecting said upper deck ( 18 ) and said lower deck ( 24 ), wherein said oleaginous material ( 56 ) is transferrable from said upper deck ( 18 ) to said lower deck ( 24 ) through said chute ( 58 ); an outlet ( 66 ) positioned adjacent to said second downstream end ( 28 ), wherein said oleaginous material ( 56 ) exits said housing ( 12 ) through said outlet ( 66 ); a chain assembly ( 42 ) disposed along said loop for guiding said oleaginous material ( 56 ) between said feed inlet ( 40 ) and said outlet ( 66 ); a drive system ( 86 ) operatively connected to said chain assembly ( 42 ) for driving said chain assembly ( 42 ) about said loop; and a register plate ( 54 ) located within said housing ( 12 ) and positioned above said oleaginous material ( 56 ) in said upper deck ( 18 ) adjacent to said feed inlet ( 4 ), said register plate ( 54 ) configured to level said oleaginous material ( 54 ) introducible into said housing ( 12 ).