US2981608A - Counter-current contactor - Google Patents

Description

April 1961 D- M. CUNNINGHAM 2,981,608

COUNTER-CURRENT CONTACTOR Filed May 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DENNIS M. CUNNINGHAM ATTORNEYS April 1961 D. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,981,608

COUNTER-CURRENT CONTACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1958 INVENTOR. DENMS CUNNWGHAM ATTORNEYS scale in section taken on the lines IIII and III-III United States Patent COUNTER-CURRENT CONTACTOR Dennis M. Cunningham, Louisville, Ky., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 7, 1958, Ser. No. 733,748

6 Claims. c1. 23-270 and apparatus for producing a completely saturated ,liquor from solid and liquid components.

' .Another object is to facilitate further treatment of residues.

Another object is to facilitate the final removal of residues and impurities. I

,A further object is to provide means for receiving components and conveying them into and through each other and discharging resulting products all within closely circumscribed space.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent upon perusal-of the following specification as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. I is a side elevational view, partly schematic an with some portions omitted, of a preferred form of apparatus embodying this invention;

Figs. H and III are fragmentary details on a large of Fig. I;

Fig- IV is a side elevational somewhat schematic ,view of a modified form of the apparatus;

Fig. V is a somewhat schematic plan view of another modification; and

Fig. V1 is a side elevational somewhat schematic view of still another modification.

In apparatus of the formillustrated in Figs. I, II and III, a series of curved channel segments 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are arranged around a hollow column or support tube 21, each of the channel segments 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 being fixed to the hollow column 21. Projecting from the upper end of the column 21 is a spindle. 22

, which is journaled in a bearing 23 that is yieldably held in place by flexible struts 24 by which the'bearing is connected to stationary framework 25.

such that the platform 26 is guided over a limited range of helical movement relative to the stationary base 27. The platform 26 and the parts of the apparatus carried 1 by the said platform are vibrated by means of a motor same time through the same channel in the opposite direction. ,.It is an object of the invention to provide a method Patented Apr. 25, 1961 of the shaft 34 acts through the connecting rod 36 and lever 37 to transmit vibratory motion to the platform 26 and this motion is guided by the inclined links 29 into a helical vibratory pattern. The plunger and cylinder 39 allow the platform 26, the column 21, the channels 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 and other parts supported thereby to settle with increase of load in the channels. The connecting rod 36 transmits helical vibration whether or not the platform, column and channels have settled under load. While only one connecting rod 36 and lever 37 are illustrated, two are customarily employed, one one each side of the platform 26, both connecting rods being driven from the same shaft 34. V

While only five channel segments are shown in Fig. I the apparatus may have various numbers of channel segments ranging from one upwardly. Each channel segment may be regarded as one flight of a helix one end of the flight being somewhat above the other end so that liquid fed to a point in a channel segment anywhere between the ends thereof flows to the lower end of the channel segment whether or not the channel segment is vibrating. From the lower end of that channel segment the liquid runs through a screened outlet 40 and a discharge pipe 41 to a point intermediate the ends of a succeeding channel segment. Thus, the flow of liquid is repeated in channel section after channel section.

In the meanwhile solid material is being fed into the end of the uppermost channel segment in which the screened liquid outlet 40 is located. The spiral vibratory movement of thechannel segments as well as the column 21 and the platform 26 causes the solid material to move uphill in small jumps until it reaches a discharge conduit 42 which conducts it into the lower end of the succeeding channel segment in which it is conveyed up stream through the liquid running downstream.

While the liquid components and the solid components are moving in opposite directions through the channels they are being agitated together. The rates at which the liquid components and the rates at which the solid components are fed into the channels are adjusted to keep the oppositely flowing streams of liquids and solids .of such depth and at such relative rates of flow as to accomplish the desired degree of saturation of the liquids and the desired rate of attenuation of the solids.

The solid components should be particulate but need neither be finely comminuted nor in granules of uniform size. The best results are obtained with solids that are comminuted into bits which are coarse enough to permit the liquid to flow through them rather freely.

In installations where'the liquid becomes sufficiently saturated upon passage through an early flight orfiights it may be drawn off at an early outlet 40, and fresh liquid supplied to treat the partially spent solids'as they are conveyed through the subsequent flight or flights. Further saturation of liquid which has been passed through and agitated ,with partially spent solids may be accomplished by processing it with fresh solids. Such liquid product as clings to spent solids can, in most cases, be recovered by supplying water to the last flight for agitation while it is flowing through the solids to rinse on the liquid product.

,31 that is connected through a belt 32 to a pulley 33 While the channels and channel segments of the various forms disclosed herein are described as sloping fed into a channel or channel segment at one will flow to an outlet at the other end even if the channel or segment is level; therefore it is not always essential that'the channel or segment be sloping, especially if it is short.

In the form of device illustrated in Fig- IV, a series of straight channel segments 51, 52 and 53 are employed. The form of device shown in Fig. IV thus has adaptability similar to that of the form shown in Fig. I but it is less compact than the form shown in Fig. I. All of the straight channel segments 51, 52 and 53 and such other channel segments as may be assembled therewith can be rigidly connected to each other by mounting them upon the same frame, which'can be'vibrated by a single motor, or they can be vibrated by individual motors 54, 55 and 56 in the manner indicated in Fig; IV. Employment of individual motors increases the adaptability of the installation; With the straight vibrato'rychannel segments 51, 52 and 53 arranged in echelon as they are in the form of device shown in Fig. IV, it is necessary to elevate the liquid from segment to segment by means of pumps 57 and 58.. The solid material, though it moves uphill as it passes through each channel, can flow by gravity from channel to channel so. that no channel to channel elevators are needed.

In the form. of device shown in Fig. V channels 61, 62, 63 and 64 and their mountings and vibration imparting mechanisms are similar to those shown in Fig. IV but the directions in which the components are conveyed change through 90 as they move from each channel to the succeeding channel. Hence, they enter the apparatus and are discharged therefrom at nearly the same place. The solid components pass slightly uphill through-the channel 61 and discharge into the channel 62 which extends along a vertical plane at right angles to the vertical plane along which the channel 61 extends; they then are conveyed slightly uphill through the channel 62 and discharged into the lower end of the channel 63 which extends along a vertical .planeat right angles to the vertical plane along'which the channel 62. extends; then they are discharged into the lower end of channel 64, through which they are conveyed uphill, and from which they are discharged close to Where they entered the apparatus.

The liquid component is fed from a conduit 65 into the channel 64 from whence it flows through a screened outlet 66 to a pump 67 which. pumps it through a pipe 68 to the higher end of the, channel 63. Likewise, the partially saturated. liquid is transferred from the lower end of the channel 63 through anoutlet 69, a pump 76 and a pipe 71 to the higher end of the channel 62, and through an outlet 72, a pump 73 and a pipe 74 from the lower end of the channel 62 to the higher end of the channel 61. Finally the saturated liquid is delivered from a screened outlet 75 in the lower end of the channel 61.

The form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. VI comprises a single straight channel 80 of considerable length. The cannnel 80 is supported from a stationary base 81 by means of coil springs 82 and links 83 to be vibrated by power from a motor 84, the power being applied through pulleys 85 and 86 and a shaft 87 having a crank or eccentric upon which is journaled one end of a connecting link 88, the other end of the connecting link 83 being pivoted to the channel 80. The channel slopes at an angle appropriate for the materials to be processed and the conditions under which the apparatus is to be operated, e.g., at an angle ofabout 1 to the horizontal, and has a discharge opening for broken solid material at its higher end toward which such solid material is conveyed in small jumps when the channel is. vibrated. The channel 80 also has a screened outlet 89 for liquid material at its lower end.

In the operation of this form of apparatus granular or broken solid material is fed into the vibratory channel 80 at its lower end while liquid material capable of dissolving or reacting with the so id material or parts thereof is fed into the upper end of the channel, so that the liquid and solid materials are agitated with each other as they move in opposite directions through each other, the spent or partially spent solids being discharged from the higher end of the channel while the liquid composition is drawn from the outlet 89 at the lower end of the channel.

The invention can be employed in other arrangements than those shown in Figs. 1, IV, V and VI.

It is 'to be understood that the forms hereinabove described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are exemplary only and that they are subject to variation within the spirit and scope of thesubjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids with each other comprising, in combination, a series of superposed helical channels, each channel having a screened outlet for liquids at one end thereof and having a discharge opening for particulate solids at the other end thereof positioned to discharge into the next lower helical channel, each of said channels sloping downwardly somewhat toward said screened outlet, a support for said channels, means for sinusoidally vibrating the channels. along a helical path that is steeper than the channels to convey solids upwardly along the channels, a conduit leading from said screened outlet of. each of said channels, the conduits from each of said outlets except that of the lowest channel of said series emptying into a succeeding lower channel, whereby, when liquids are fed into the first channel of the series at a point remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids are fed into the same channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet and when the said channel so fed is vibrated, such particulate solids will be conveyed along said channel in one direction and such liquids will flow along the same channel at the same timebut in the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in opposite directions among each other and being agitated with each other, and whereby resulting solids and liquids movethrough each other in opposite directions along each channel of said series to separate points of discharge from each channel.

2. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate. solids with each other comprising, in combination, a frame, means for supporting said frame for sinusoidal vibration along a helical path, power operated means for causing such vibratory movement, a series of superposed helical channels on said frame, said frame and said series of channels being rigidly secured together, whereby said series of channels vibrates with said frame, each channel having a screened outlet for liquids at one end thereof and havinga discharge opening for particulate solids at the other end thereof in position to discharge into the lower end of. the next lower channel, a conduit leading from said screened outlet of each of said channels, the conduits from each of said outletsexcept that of the last channel of said series emptying into a succeeding channel, whereby, when liquids are fed into the first channel of the series at a point remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids are fed into the same channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet and when the said channel so fed is vibrated along said helical path, such particulate solids will be conveyed along said channel in one direction and such liquids will flow alongthe same channel at .the same time but in the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in opposite directions among each .other and being agitated with each other, .and whereby resulting solids and liquids move through each other in opposite directions along each channel of the series to separate points of discharge from each channel. a v

3. Apparatus for. treating liquids and particulate solids with each other comprising, in combination, a base, a frame, means for supporting said frame from said base forhelical vibratory movement of said frame'relative to said base, power operated means for causing such helical vibratory movement, at least one helical channel mounted on said frame and rigidly secured thereto, whereby said channel vibrates with said frame, said channel having a screened outlet forliquids at its lower end and having a discharge opening for particulate solids at its upper end, whereby, when liquids are fed into the channel at a point remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids are fed into the same channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet and when the said channel so fed is vibrated, such particulate solids will be conveyed along said channel in one direction and such liquids will flow along the same channel at the same time but in the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in opposite directions among each other and being agitated with each other, and whereby resulting solids and liquids move through each other in opposite directions along each channel of the series to separate points of discharge from each channel.

4. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids with each other comprising, in combination, a base, a frame, means for supporting and guiding said frame from said base for vibratory movement of said frame such that peripheral portions of the frame move along short sections of spiral paths curved about a vertical axis, power operated means for causing such vibratory movement, said frame including a columnar member having a vertical axis, a vertical series of segmental helical channels carried by said columnar member, each of said segmental channels being curved helically about such vertical axis, said frame and said series of segmental channels being rigidly secured together, whereby said series of segmental channels vibrates with said frame, each channel having a screened outlet for liquids at its lower end and having a discharge opening for particulate solids at its other end, a conduit leading from said screened outlet of each of said segmental channels, the conduits from each of said outlets except that of the last segmental channel of said series emptying into a succeeding segmental channel, whereby, when liquids are fed into the first segmental channel of the series at a point remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids are fed into the same segmental channel at a point adjacent its screen outlet and when the said segmental channel so fed is vibrated, such particulate solids will be conveyed along said segmental channel in one direction and such liquids will flow along the same segmental channel at the same time but in the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in opposite directions among each other and being agitated with each other, and whereby resulting solids and liquids move through each other in opposite directions along each segmental channel to separate points of discharge from each segmental channel.

5. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids with each other comprising, in combination, a base, a frame, means so supporting said frame from said base as to permit vibratory movement of said frame relative to said base to move peripheral portions of the frame along short sections of helical paths curved about a vertical axis, power operated means for causing such vibratory movement, means for automatically adjusting connections between said power operated means and said frame to compensate for changes in load upon said frame, said frame including a columnar member having a vertical axis, a vertical series of segmental channels carried by said columnar member, each of said segmental channels being curved helically about such vertical axis, said frame and said series of segmental channels being rigidly secured together, whereby said series of segmental channels vibrates with said frame, each channel having a screened outlet for liquids at its lower end and having a discharge opening for particulate solids at its other end, each of said segmental channels sloping downwardly somewhat toward said screened outlet, a conduit leading from said screened outlet of each of said segmental channels, the conduits from each of said outlets except that of the last segmental channel of said series emptying into a succeeding segmental channel, whereby, when liquids are fed into the first segmental channel of the series at a point remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids are fed into the same segmental channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet and when the said segmental channel so fed is vibrated, such particulate solids will be conveyed along said segmental channel in one direction and such liquids will flow along the same segmental channel at the same time but in the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in opposite directions among each other and being agitated with each other, and whereby resulting solids and liquids move through each other in opposite directions along the same segmental channel to separate points of discharge into a succeeding segmental channel and to separate points of discharge from the final channel of the series.

6. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids witheach other comprising, in combination, a frame, a series of superposed helical channels mounted on said frame about a common vertical axis, each of said channels having its higher end in discharging relation to the lower end of the next lower channel, means for vibrat ing the channels along a helical path about a vertical axis that extends in the same direction and is steeper than said helical channels to convey solid material upwardly along such channels, a conduit for liquids connecting the lower end of one channel to the upper end of the next lower channel, and means for feeding particulate solid material and liquid into the upper channel, said particulate solids and liquid traversing said series of channels in the same order but in counterflow relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 435.530 Talley Sept. 2, 1890 750,281 Hicks Jan. 26, 1904 2,735,795 Weiss et al. Feb. 21, 1956 2,782,104 Glinka Feb. 19, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,981,608 April 25, 1961 Dennis M. Cunningham It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3-, line 1, after "one" insert end Signed and sealed this 19th day of December 1961,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS AND PARTICULATE SOLIDS WITH EACH OTHER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SERIES OF SUPERPOSED HELICAL CHANNELS, EACH CHANNEL HAVING A SCREENED OUTLET FOR LIQUIDS AT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING FOR PARTICULATE SOLIDS AT THE OTHER END THEREOF POSITIONED TO DISCHARGE INTO THE NEXT LOWER HELICAL CHANNEL, EACH OF SAID CHANNELS SLOPING DOWNWARDLY SOMEWHAT TOWARD SAID SCREENED OUTLET, A SUPPORT FOR SAID CHANNELS, MEANS FOR SINUSOIDALLY VIBRATING THE CHANNELS ALONG A HELICAL PATH THAT IS STEEPER THAN THE CHANNELS TO CONVEY SOLIDS UPWARDLY ALONG THE CHANNELS, A CONDUIT LEADING FROM SAID SCREENED OUTLET OF EACH OF SAID CHANNELS, THE CONDUITS FROM EACH OF SAID OUTLETS EXCEPT THAT OF THE LOWEST CHANNEL OF SAID SERIES EMPTYING INTO A SUCCEEDING LOWER CHANNEL, WHEREBY, WHEN LIQUIDS ARE FED INTO THE FIRST CHANNEL OF THE SERIES AT A POINT REMOTE FROM ITS SCREENED OUTLET AND WHEN PARTICULATE SOLIDS ARE FED INTO THE SAME CHANNEL AT A POINT ADJACENT ITS SCREENED OUTLET AND WHEN THE SAID CHANNEL SO FED IS VIBRATED, SUCH PARTICULATE SOLIDS WILL BE CONVEYED ALONG SAID CHANNEL IN ONE DIRECTION AND SUCH LIQUIDS WILL FLOW ALONG THE SAME CHANNEL AT THE SAME TIME BUT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SUCH SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS MOVING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AMONG EACH OTHER AND BEING AGITATED WITH EACH OTHER, AND WHEREBY RESULTING SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS MOVE THROUGH EACH OTHER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ALONG EACH CHANNEL OF SAID SERIES TO SEPARATE POINTS OF DISCHARGE FROM EACH CHANNEL.

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