초록 ▼

In an insulated mixing and cooling chamber having a feed auger to deliver cooled particles to a grinder and an intromitter auger rotatable around the feed auger to mix the particles within the chamber, independent variable speed, reversible motors operate the intromitter and feed augers, whereby the

In an insulated mixing and cooling chamber having a feed auger to deliver cooled particles to a grinder and an intromitter auger rotatable around the feed auger to mix the particles within the chamber, independent variable speed, reversible motors operate the intromitter and feed augers, whereby the relative rotation of the augers may be precisely adjusted even while the mixing apparatus and associated grinding apparatus are operating. Electronic and or pneumatic control of cryogenic liquid inflow, as well as electronic control of the auger drive motors, may be used to optimize cooling and mixing conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for mixing and cooling particulate material comprising an elongated mixing chamber having particulate material inlet means, cryogenic liquid inlet means connected to a supply of cryogenic liquid and disposed downstream of said particulate material inlet means to spray cryogenic liquid on t

Apparatus for mixing and cooling particulate material comprising an elongated mixing chamber having particulate material inlet means, cryogenic liquid inlet means connected to a supply of cryogenic liquid and disposed downstream of said particulate material inlet means to spray cryogenic liquid on the particulate material, and particulate material outlet means at the downstream end of said chamber through which cooled particulate material is delivered, feed auger means having a shaft and a blade supported thereby, said feed auger means being disposed in said chamber and rotatable about an axis to move cooled particulate material through said chamber and through said outlet means, intromitter auger means coaxial with said feed auger means having a shaft rotatable independently of the rotation of said feed auger shaft and a blade supported by said intromitter auger shaft and disposed around said feed auger blade, first variable speed drive means connected to said feed auger shaft to rotate the same, second variable speed drive means connected to said intromitter auger shaft to rotate the same, said second variable speed drive means being operable to rotate said intromitter auger means in either rotational direction, a first surface of said intromitter auger blade being configured to move particles within said chamber in a downstream direction when said intromitter auger shaft is rotated in a first direction and a second surface of said intromitter auger blade being configured to move particles within said chamber in an upstream direction when said intromitter auger shaft is rotated in a second direction, and control means is connected to said first variable speed drive means for operating said first drive means during certain times at a desired feed rate and for operating said first drive means during other times to prevent feeding of particulate material when additional residence time of particulate material within said mixing chamber is required, and is also connected to said second variable speed drive means for operating said second drive means independently of said first drive means, providing for independent adjustment of the speed and direction of rotation of said feed auger means and said intromitter auger means.