CN1099587A - Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides tobacco expansion processes and apparatus that can be employed for expanding tobacco at rapid throughput rates employing high pressure tobacco impregnation conditions. The processes and apparatus of the invention are particularly useful in tobacco expansion processes employing cycle times of less than 20 - 30 seconds; the use of preheated, prepressurized expansion agent such as propane; preheating of tobacco batches; and/or compression of tobacco within a high pressure impregnation zone for greatly improving use of available space in a high pressure impregnation vessel.

Description

Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus

The present invention relates to be used for the method and apparatus of expanding tobacco.More particularly, the present invention relates to be used for improving the output of expanding tobacco and the method and apparatus of economic benefit.

In the past twenty years, the method for expanding tobacco is a pith in the cigarette manufacturing process.The volume that tobacco expansion process is used to recover the tobacco bulk density or recovers to lose when tobacco leaf processing is handled and stored.In addition, expanding tobacco is an important component of many low tars and ultra-low tar cigarette.

The United States Patent (USP) 3,524,452 of the United States Patent (USP) 3,524,451 of Fredrickson and Moser etc. has disclosed tobacco is contacted with impregnating agent, heats to vapor away the method for impregnating agent and expanding tobacco rapidly then.The United States Patent (USP) 3,683,937 of Fredrickson etc. has disclosed the gaseous impregnation of tobacco, then heating or explosive decompression and make expanding tobacco.

United States Patent (USP) 4,235,250 at Utsch; Disclosed in expanding tobacco use in the United States Patent (USP) 4,336,814 of the United States Patent (USP) 4,258,729 of Burde etc. and Sykes etc. to carbon dioxide.In these and related methods, be gas form or liquid carbon dioxide and directly contact to be used as dipping with tobacco, impregnated tobacco is to expand under the heating condition rapidly.In known carbon dioxide expanded process, typically need excessively to heat tobacco to obtain remarkable and stable expansion.The taste of the heating entail dangers to tobacco that this is excessive and/or produce excessive tobacco fine powder.Can cause in technology that in addition dry ice is embedded in the phenomenon of forming lump in the tobacco of dipping, and these lump must be broken before heat treated, thereby increase the complexity of technology with liquid carbon dioxide dipping tobacco.

The United States Patent (USP) 4,388,932 of Meritt etc. has disclosed the method for the fill volume after the rearrangement that is used for increasing the expanding tobacco in early stage.Baking oven volatile matter (OV) content is less than 6% expanding tobacco in early stage to be heated and makes its OV content value be less than 3%.No more than tobacco weight 0.9% is volatilized outside owing to dewater, so the OV content of tobacco be it is said the content that is approximately equal to moisture content in the tobacco.Allow the tobacco of the extremely low OV content that from the expansion after-heating step, is recovered to stand to resequence its water content of increase of step, it is said this than disintegrating in the tobacco that does not carry out heat treated after the expansion more difficult dispersion in rearrangement, tobacco is solidified be considered to increase the tobacco of expanding stable reason in rearrangement in the heat treated stage.

The United States Patent (USP) 4 of White and Conrad, 531,529 have set forth the method that is used for increasing the tobacco fill volume, and wherein tobacco is with low boiling and high volatile volatile swelling agent, as the halohydrocarbon or the hydrocarbon of gas phase, be higher than or near the critical-temperature of swelling agent and critical pressure under flood.Rapidly pressure is reduced to atmospheric pressure, makes expanding tobacco and need not heating steps to come expanding tobacco or make tobacco be fixed in the state that it adds thermal expansion.The pressure limit of this method is 36kg/cm ²More than (512 handkerchief), but there is not known upper limit, once with being lower than 142kg/cm yet ²(2,000 handkerchief) carries out gratifying expanding tobacco and do not have too much fragmentation.

The United States Patent (USP) 4,554,932 of Conrad and White has been set forth a kind of hydraulic pressure treating apparatus, and it comprises a shell and a sliding plug device that round osmanthus is tubular, and is reciprocating between feed location that sliding plug can be outside shell and the processing position in the shell.When sliding plug is in shell, be contained on the shape end of sliding plug circle osmanthus the deformable seal ring radial force in the cannelure and outwards be close to, thereby form a balancing gate pit between the sliding in the enclosure plug two ends, working fluid is introduced the annular pressure chamber of formation in the enclosure with pipeline with the inwall of shell.Thereby can under high pressure make tobacco charging, discharging conveniently when flooding tobacco with swelling agent with this device, and can avoid and the relevant problem of closing and opening of conventional wiper seal locking machinery, as the pass of pivot autoclave pressure lid with open problem, thereby this pressure vessel can save time, and increased the economic benefit of expanding tobacco.

The process for expansion of tobacco that comprises above-mentioned and other method when use is significantly higher than atmospheric impregnation pressure, must be processed in batches.The treatment facility of batch processing arts demand complexity, owing to introduce and remove impregnating agent from container and the opening and closing container needs the time, it is long to put its cycle period.Reduce circulation timei to improve output by improving various device, but, in known batch processing system, significantly improving of output mainly is to obtain by volume that increases individual system and/or the quantity that increases the batch processing system that uses simultaneously according to routine techniques.

The invention provides process for expansion of tobacco and the device that can produce expanding tobacco under the condition of high-pressure impregnation tobacco fast, typical tobacco dipping of this method and apparatus and expansion cycles time are less than 20-30 second; And the swelling agent such as propane is carried out preheating, precharge; Each batch tobacco is carried out preheating and/or increases usage space high-pressure impregnation district compression tobacco greatly in the high-pressure impregnation container.

One aspect of the present invention is the degree that the tobacco fill volume increases in the process for expansion of tobacco that has significantly improved under the condition of high-pressure impregnation.Another method of the present invention has provided batch feed system fast, it can be reliably, economically the tobacco batch of material of pre-sizing is delivered to Dilvar zone and fast, preheating tobacco economically.The present invention also provides the device to high pressure/at a high speed, sliding shell mould tobacco immersion system beyond the Great Wall to improve.The present invention further provides and be used for producing fast and supply with high temp/high pressure dipping gas and comprise the improved device of air that holds such as the imflammable gas of propane.Improved air vessel can make the quality that whenever is present in this class gas in the system minimum, and has cancelled the motion parts of desired costliness of prior art air vessel and trouble.

According to a first aspect of the invention, by in high pressure tobacco Dilvar zone, flooding the tobacco of water content with swelling agent, impregnated tobacco expand under certain condition also to be the expanding tobacco of high water content, the tobacco of dry expansion again after expansion, thus significantly improved the value added of tobacco fill volume.Be preferably in the time short after the expansion, for example 5 minutes inner drying expanded tobacco after expansion.Though will improve the tobacco of water content is fed in the high-pressure impregnation district, tobacco can become broken in the technology that does not heat when expanding after expansion, but the value added of having found fill volume is the increase with humidity to be increased, and the increase of fill volume can be preserved by after expansion Tobacco drying to water content being less than 13%.Preferred dry the processing is to carry out under 350 (177 ℃) or lower temperature, and the water content of tobacco can not be less than 6-8%(weight) thus make tobacco can also protect the smell of volatilization fragrance.

In order to make the expanding tobacco degree that in essence increase be arranged, the water content of tobacco that is fed to Dilvar zone is advantageously greater than 20%(weight), be preferably weight) greater than 24%(.Be preferably before dipping, the tobacco of high-moisture is preheated to greater than 150 °F (66 ℃).According to the present invention, behind expanding tobacco, carry out the level that drying can be preserved the high fill volume of expanding tobacco.

Another aspect of the present invention is can make each batch tobacco quick feeding and put fixed its batch size in advance for dipping and then expansion.The device that is provided comprises the basic vertical gauge line of placing that is used for forming the tobacco vertical column according to this aspect of the invention, tobacco column separating device with a plurality of prongs is housed preferably, it matches with gauge line, and optionally engage in the tobacco column, tobacco is divided on separating device and to the top of separating device supporting, and the bottom under separating device.Stop member in the separating device bottom can be engaged when separating device leaves tobacco column and support tobacco column in the tobacco column.Stop member and tobacco column can be thrown off, and like this, when separating device embeds tobacco column, throw off stop member the bottom self-measuring pipe of tobacco column is emitted, and these tobaccos proceed to Dilvar zone as a batch of material then.Can control the size of tobacco batch at an easy rate by the interval between change separating device and the stop member.

Another aspect of the present invention is to come preheating to add to the tobacco of Dilvar zone with the vertical gauge line of placing.According to this aspect of the invention, thereby steam is injected into the position that is lower than the tobacco column top in the gauge line tobacco is heated to high temperature, is preferably 100 °F (38 ℃)-212 °F (100 ℃), the tobacco with heating is conveyed in the Dilvar zone then.Preferably use the defeated fast material of the invention described above and the system in batches that presets that the tobacco of preheating is sent into Dilvar zone as a batch of material.According to the present invention, the preheating of tobacco is very rapidly, because steam can scatter rapidly by tobacco.In addition, the steam preheating that the above tobacco in steam injection region is risen, they also can be used as the insulator of tobacco in the steam injection region, make thermal loss minimum.

Advantageously, the vertical gauge line of placing is placed on and is used for tobacco is transported to more than the last wall opening that transports pipeline of the horizontal positioned in the high pressure steeping device.Parts toward compound compression are installed in and are used in the pipeline pipeline is passed through in the tobacco transportation, and in the downstream of pipeline tobacco are pressed in the high-pressure treatment apparatus.The pipeline tapping that links to each other with gauge line is equipped with the pivot switch block that an energy is pressed into tobacco in pipeline.This makes the tobacco of different densities and batch volume enter Dilvar zone and need not to replace or change charging preparation.

The present invention has also done improvement to the sliding plug and the canning of the United States Patent (USP) 4,554,932 of Conrad and White, has improved its durability and speed.When this cunning plug and canning are used for better example of the present invention, they are preferably at one day 12 hours in circulation 3 with per minute circulation 4-5 time or faster speed operation, the sliding plug of such high pressure and canning, 000-3,600 times or higher, though this device has improved the speed and the economic benefit of expanding tobacco, but found the outwards expansion repeatedly of the elastic sealing ring on high temperature and high pressure downslide plug cylindrical end parts, can make the sealing ring premature failure.

According to the present invention, by reducing sliding plunger member and tubular shell inner surface in a contiguous elastic packing place or the radial clearance of many places operation and the life-span that can improve sealing ring not, this realizes by wear ring that at least one periphery enlarges is housed on each cylindrical end parts of sliding plug preferably.This wear ring is contained on the adjacent and contacted position of at least one section axial of axial end surface with elastic sealing ring.Be preferably and be placed on and two axial end faces of each elastic packing position contacting all enlarging wear ring, since the girth of wear ring than the big of sliding plug in case on-slip plug scraping shell, so fill in sliding of wearing terrain adjacent and shell between end play reduced.Elastic sealing ring is contained in and the wear ring position adjacent, encircles when expanding outside being pressed towards under high pressure at these, wear ring can give sealing an axial support.As a result, make the axial deformation at the peripheral position place of sealing ring damage minimum.

According to a further aspect in the invention, improve the usefulness of sliding plug and shell immersion system by the speed that is increased in annular high-pressure impregnation district mesohigh in the shell, the input of gas phase swelling agent and discharge.This can be by increase being communicated with air inlet inside and outside the housing and gas outlet total cross-sectional area and add that simultaneously the particulate blockage device makes that the tobacco that enters porthole is minimum realizes.

In one embodiment of the invention, pass through the porthole that is associated that shell and periphery be scattered on the cylindrical outer cover around ground and in shell, introduce and remove gases at high pressure by a plurality of, external manifold parts are looped around around the porthole and contain working fluid, and it can be added in the shell by the porthole of periphery.The diameter of shell each steam ports inside enters steam ports less than predetermined size to prevent tobacco.

In the embodiment of a replacement, its diameter of steam ports that has an expansion on housing at least is greater than tobacco particle.The outer surface of the stop member of elongation is wideer than steam ports diameter, and the stop member of this elongation carries out vertically linking to each other at the periphery place of the end component of sliding plug, and radially aims at the opening of steam ports.When the cell part of sliding plug, when promptly the part between the end component moved by shell, stop member had covered steam ports in case the tobacco in the on-slip plug cell enters in the steam ports of expansion.Be preferably the steam ports that at least two expansions are arranged and sliding the stop member that respective numbers is arranged beyond the Great Wall on shell.

Another aspect of the present invention has provided the many batches of gas phase swelling agents that are used for producing and storing high temperature, high pressure, is preferably production and storage and is higher than 250 °F (121 ℃) and is higher than 2, the high pressure air vessel of the propane of 500psig.High pressure, high temperature propane or the needs that past provides high pressure and high temperature propane need store the large volume amount with 4-5 above speed of per minute to Dilvar zone use the air vessel of the pressure vessel form that the cell that is separated by movable member is wherein arranged.The inertia gas-pressurized is placed in the cell, and propane storage is in another cell.Periodically add in container and discharge propane, movable member is just moving in container, but regular meeting breaks down.

Air vessel of the present invention has used the autoclave that contains the gentle phase pressure fluid of swelling agent, but does not have partition member between swelling agent and pressure fluid.In an example, still is remained on more than the critical-temperature of pressure fluid and swelling agent and hypertensor and swelling agent can be remained near under the highdensity high pressure of liquid.Selected hypertensor is with respect to the scattering nature of swelling agent, be to make keep in touch under the condition of two kinds of fluids in still and because of the mass transfer that diffusion produced between them considerably less.Adding preferably calms the anger is nitrogen, and swelling agent is a propane, is being higher than 2, under the temperature of the pressure of 500psig and 200 (93 ℃), these two kinds of gases can be separated from each other in still basically, and propane can add from still and remove circularly as a result, and little nitrogen is sneaked into propane and loss.

Hold in the example of gas at another, swelling agent and gaseous state pressure fluid are placed in the autoclave, this still comprises first and second districts, they are to arrange like this: two kinds of fluids are separated with being higher than under critical-temperature and the pressure approaching, and the 3rd district that all has fluid to be communicated with first and second districts, so that intervally keep one barrier fluid first and second.The barrier fluid can be a water, and this can prevent to take place between pressurized fluid and swelling agent significant mass transfer.

Accompanying drawing is a part that has constituted the original announcement scope of the present invention, wherein

Fig. 1 is used for the sectional view of impregnating equipment preferably of the present invention, and wherein all different operatings position part with dashed lines shows.

Figure 1A is the sectional view that can be advantageously used in the equipment of Fig. 1 with the air vessel of the impregnating agent of rapid raising temperature high pressure, this air vessel comprises first and second districts, they arrange to such an extent that two kinds of fluids can be separated with being higher than under critical-temperature and the pressure approaching, and have fluid to be communicated with first and second districts, so that in first and second interval the 3rd districts that keep one barrier fluid;

Fig. 2 is the sectional view of tobacco charging preferably and feeding device, and this device comprises a pair of vertical orientated gauge line, and they are to arrange to such an extent that can be used for the horizontal alignment pipeline charging that is in the immersion system upstream for a pair of in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 A be with Fig. 2 in the sectional view of amplification of the end of reciprocal tobacco compression member that matches of horizontal pipe in the tobacco feeding device;

Fig. 3 is the amplification sectional view at Fig. 2 center line 3-3 place, and shown with Fig. 2 in the gauge line associated with a better example of the steam injection device that in tobacco column, injects steam.

Fig. 4 is the amplification sectional view at Fig. 2 center line 4-4 place, and shown with Fig. 2 device in the example of a kind of different favourable steam injectors of gauge line associated.

Fig. 5 is the sectional view that amplify at Fig. 2 center line 5-5 place, and it has shown the better example of the tobacco column separating device relevant with gauge line in Fig. 2 equipment.

Fig. 6 is the part front view of gauge line lower position among demonstration Fig. 2 of taking out of Fig. 5 center line 6-6 place, and it has shown many brushes with Fig. 5 tobacco column separating device associated (wherein a part is broken away);

Fig. 7 is the part amplification sectional view of the feed arrangement among Fig. 2; Shown the tobacco of steaming injection device, tobacco column is separated and being used for the distributing predetermined obstruction part to the dipping expansion gear of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is the sliding plug of Fig. 1 and the sectional view of an end portion of canning, has shown and sealing ring and wear ring that sliding plug end component links to each other, has also shown to be used for working fluid is introduced the many through holes along circumferential distribution of Dilvar zone on shell wall;

Fig. 8 A be in the equipment shown in Figure 8 a part put very large sectional view, it has shown the sectional view preferably of each pore that passes through shell wall;

Fig. 9 is the sectional view in used Tobacco drying loop, the immersion system downstream of Fig. 1;

Figure 10 has shown the sectional view of the replacement change of current body introducing device of sliding plug and canning that is used for Fig. 1, sliding plug in the shown motion is between the reinforced of it and dipping position, the through hole that expansion is wherein arranged on shell, through hole obstructing part be contained in sliding beyond the Great Wall with the through hole radially aligned that enlarges;

Figure 11 is the sectional view at Figure 10 line 11-11 place, and it has shown when sliding plug moved through shell, sliding through hole obstructing part beyond the Great Wall was how to clog through hole;

Figure 12 is the perspective view of Figure 10 and the 11 equipment long obstructing part that decomposes out;

Figure 13 has all water content and the expanding tobacco curve of the preheating degree that respectively grows tobacco;

Figure 14 is that the different density of tobacco that is caused by swelling agent when expanding tobacco is described along with dipping reaches the expanding tobacco curve different along with different dip times;

Figure 15 is the curve with various expansion aggregation of data, demonstrating the flexibility of expanding method of the present invention and device, and as can be seen from the equipment of Fig. 1 the increase of available per hour tobacco volume (with m ³Hour the expression) be the function of dip time and tobacco compression degree.

Set forth the example of distinct methods of the present invention and device below.Though the present invention comprises that with reference to specific method and device the method and apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing illustrates, is understood that this is not used for limiting.Opposite, the present invention includes many replacements, modification and equivalent, this can be discussed and following detailed description is obviously found out by the front.

Fig. 1 illustrates the present invention dipping method and device preferably, comprises substantially according to United States Patent (USP) 4,554 932(Corrad, 1985.11.26 promulgation) the sliding plug and the shell of structure, quoted its whole disclosure here.4,554, disclosed all details in 932 patents, for for simplicity, just no longer repeated here, still, be visible this class details with reference to this patent.

As shown in Figure 1, what tobacco was handled in area in preparation 10 earlier preferably increases to 16%(weight with its water content), preferably in 20%(weight) more than.The tobacco that has increased water content will be arranged then by feed zone 12, the method that tobacco is heated therein will be done more detailed narration below, and then be fed in the high-pressure fluid treating apparatus of reciprocal sliding plug and shell.

Sliding plug and shell high-pressure fluid treating apparatus comprise by cylindrical shell or shell 14 and slide the pressure vessel that plug device 16 surrounds, shell 14 and sliding plug device 16 can be by any suitable materials, comprise that stainless steel and so on makes, the ad hoc structure of shell and sliding plug and size should be enough to bear the pressure of pressing in the affair still significantly.

Sliding plug device 16 comprises cylindrical end parts 18 and connecting rod 20.When sliding plug 16 is as shown in Figure 1 in shell 14, two end components 18 and connecting rod 20 and shell 14 surrounded predetermined is arranged annular space 22 to constitute the balancing gate pit or the district of sealing.Sliding plug device 16 is by horizontal positioned, can move back and forth at the feed location 24 that is represented by dotted lines and the device for discharging 26 that also is represented by dotted lines and dipping position intercropping as shown in Figure 1, the axle 28 that is shown in Fig. 1 by part axially is connected with hydraulic piston or similar motor apparatus (show and show), cunning is filled in move between 3 positions.

Sliding plug is 24 chargings in the position, and this will do more detailed narration below, move to the dipping position then.In the dipping position, be contained in being radially expanded of elastomeric seal ring 30 in the cannelure that forms in the sliding plug end component 18, sliding plug is sealed in the shell.The structure of elastomeric seal ring 30 will be made detailed begging in conjunction with Fig. 8.

Sealing ring is by deformable elastomeric material, is mounted to and can comes the acceptable solution press liquid by liquid line 32 as what vulcanized rubber formed.Hydraulic fluid such as edible oil is driven by pipeline 32 by hydraulic pressure storage or saving device 34.Hydraulic fluid is pressed into a sliding end of filling in by ground, a hole hydraulic fluid that passes connecting rod 36.Shown in Fig. 1 part, connecting rod 36 links to each other with at least one end of sliding plug 16.Hydraulic fluid has driven sealing ring inside and has outwards expanded and seal balancing gate pit 22 in case stopping leak leaks.

High pressure gas supply pipe 38 and flue gas leading 40 pass shell 14 by a plurality of mouthfuls 42 separately, and this will go through in conjunction with Fig. 8 below.As shown in Figure 8 or shown in the sectional views that Figure 10,11 and 12 amplifies, these mouthfuls can be around the circumferential distribution of shell 14, when sliding plunger member 16 can allow rich press liquid turnover balancing gate pit 22 during in the dipping position.External manifold 44 is around mouth 42 and contain working solution, it can be entered in the shell 14 by periphery mouthfuls 42, and flow of high-pressure fluid per os 42 enters the tobacco of loading and being compressed in around the sliding plug connecting rod 20 by a plurality of mouthfuls and sliding beyond the Great Wall passage then, as shown in Figure 8, and will discuss hereinafter.

A pair of quick-action valve 46 and 48 is used for fast introducing and emitting fluid in impregnation chamber 22.It is 0.5-1.5 inch or the ball valve bigger according to the size diameter of Dilvar zone 22 that these valves are preferably through-hole diameter, thereby can add basically instantaneously and remove high-pressure fluid from tobacco district 22.Valve comes opening and closing by snap-action hydraulic actuator (not shown).

At input, high pressure gas pipeline 38 links to each other with storage or saving device 50, will go through below, and the gas that heater 52 is used for will transporting in the storage or saving device 50 heats.Storage or saving device 50 also can by on the figure not device shown heat to remain on the fluid of storage or saving in the device and be in heated condition, the upstream that high-pressure pump 54 is installed in heater 52 is fed to high-pressure fluid in heater 52 and the storage or saving device 50 under the pressure of 500psig with for example 2.The pipeline 40 that is used for removing highly pressurised liquid from tobacco district 22 links to each other to reclaim from the fluid of Dilvar zone discharge with optional gas recovery area (not shown).

The Dilvar zone that storage or saving device 50 is used in sliding plug dipping shown in Figure 1 is supplied with the tobacco fluid, as 2, and the propane of 500psig.Storage or saving device 50 comprises the tubular still of being made by high temperature high-pressure resistant material 56.Top and end at the storage or saving device have mouth 58 and 60 to be used for admitting gases at high pressure successively.

Such as being higher than 2, under the 500psig pressure inertia gases at high pressure through port 58 of nitrogen enter container and because container in the pressure and temperature condition and be retained in dividually basically in the top 62 of container, and expansion fluid, enter container and at higher pressure as propane through port 60, as 2,500psig is with in the bottom 64 that is left on still under the upward pressure.Container 56 is maintained at the critical-temperature that is close to or higher than pressure fluid and swelling agent and the temperature and pressure of pressure.Under these conditions, and select such as nitrogen as pressure fluid, propane is as swelling agent, and the relative diffusion degree each other of the gas in two fluid zone 62 and 64 is enough low, thereby two kinds of liquid are separated separately substantially in storage or saving device 50.

When swelling agent is discharged from the storage or saving device, by the not reduction of pressure sensor of sensing device (not shown), the exciting pump 54 of controller makes pump at once with the high pressure swelling agent, is preferably propane, re-fill to the storage or saving device, pressure sensor can be contained in the storage or saving device or all in pump 54.During the Dilvar zone 22 dipping tobaccos, air vessel 50 can fill up in the short time of second at 5-30 again in using Fig. 1 of the present invention.

Pointed as Fig. 1 arrow 65, the level of swelling agent is discharged from still along with it adds to reach in the still in the air vessel 50, is changing circularly between predetermined upper level and the next water injustice.The next level has predetermined distance at the bottom of still, can not discharge fluid under pressure simultaneously thereby make when discharging swelling agent.The nextly also select to such an extent that can prevent to be discharged near the swelling agent at two kinds of liquid interface places.For propane and nitrogen, though can easily use different levels according to the size and the condition of still, the next level of propane liquid advantageously is chosen as an about English Foot.

Level control device LC can be used to auxiliary with swelling agent, is held within the preset range discussed above as the horizontal dimension of propane, be preferably use horizontal sensor of fluid interface and so on instrument to sense the position of interface between swelling agent and the pressure fluid.A control system one or that separate can the level of response sensor, and controls pressure fluid as required, adds or emits and hold gas as nitrogen.Swelling agent is remained between upper level and predetermined the next water.

After getting rid of swelling agent, the fresh swelling agent of blowback is until reaching predetermined upper stress level in air vessel.It is fixed that predetermined upper pressure comes based on total volume of the pipeline 38 of 22 of (1) air vessel, Dilvar zone 22 and air vessel 50 and Dilvar zones and the required pressure of (2) Dilvar zone.Increased owing to drain into Dilvar zone 22 gas volumes that also enter infuser in the flue 38 then with gas, the pressure of air vessel descends, and upper pressure must be enough to make the final pressure of swelling agent to reach the predetermined pressure that tobacco is flooded.Working as final pressure like this is 2, if the upper pressure of 500psig can be 2 according to above-mentioned factor, and 700-3000 pound/inch ²

Typically swelling agent when being present in pressure fluid in the air vessel simultaneously and contacting since pressurized stream know from experience and be inflated agent and absorb, so the loss to some extent of pressurized stream cognition along with the time.Though the diffusion of the gas between fluid is extremely low, can separate basically on two kinds of channel theories in air vessel, even but extremely low diffuseness values, also can be owing to these two kinds of fluid mixing to a certain degree, and small amount of pressurized fluid is discharged with each discharge of swelling agent.But the absorption of a spot of pressure fluid has no adverse effects to expanding tobacco usually.

This system can comprise a recovery system as swelling agent recirculation, reclaims normally the swelling agent after using to be separated and removed the pressure fluid that absorbs to be used for recirculation to obtain quite pure swelling agent.But, typically do not reclaim absorbed fluid under pressure; In addition, the pressure fluid that absorbs in swelling agent typically can reduce the quantity that can add the swelling agent of felicity after the use economically.The amount that is inflated the pressure fluid that agent absorbs is decided according to temperature and the diffuseness values under the pressure and the disturbance situation in the air vessel of two kinds of liquid in air vessel 50, preferably for being less than about 5%(weight).

The air vessel that is suitable for making swelling agent absorb the pressure fluid minimum is shown in Figure 1A.This air vessel 50 has the bigger fluid of the third density in the district of separating pressure fluid and swelling agent, as water, as the movably fluid barriers between two kinds of fluids.From Figure 1A as seen, first district 62 that air vessel 50 ' comprise is used for holding such as the pressure fluid of nitrogen ' and under high temperature and condition of high voltage, hold and keep dividually second district 64 of swelling agent '.There is fluid connection in the 3rd district 61 with first and second districts, and keeps dense fluid media (medium), as water, with between the fluid in the 1st and second district as barrier liquid.

Even make pressure fluid and swelling agent under the condition that disturbance increases at the barrier liquid that the air vessel of Figure 1A shows, it mixes minimum or eliminates fully.This feature has reduced the loss of pressure fluid, and the result has reduced the loss of swelling agent between its payoff period, because the separation of absorption fluids no longer is an important problem, this can simplify the design of swelling agent recovery system.In the air vessel of Figure 1A, the swelling agent of propane and so on generally can absorb a spot of barrier liquid, as water.

With water source and source nitrogen shown in Figure 1A, be switched to air vessel 50 ', the separating interface horizontal detector uses with control water and nitrogen with control device incorporate or that separate preferably and enters in the air vessel.These controllers can also can given pace add a certain amount of water by the level of response detector, make it totally be enough to remain in the upper and the next control limit predetermined in the air vessel.In addition, the signal of control device meeting detector response adds and removes nitrogen will or highly remaining in the expectant control scope as the position of a nitrogen interface.

Holding in the device of air of Figure 1A, the 3rd district that swelling agent is separated is basically partly surrounded by the cylindrical room that part in the top of autoclave is closed.This or similar arrangement is the optimum decision system when using than all big barrier liquid of pressure fluid or swelling agent density.Be understood that just structure more preferably of this structure and discharging, the container design of other barrier liquid that movable other liquid of separation is arranged in still also can be arranged.

Fig. 1 and 1A have shown the present invention's air vessel preferably, and still, other device that is used for discharging immediately basically high pressure, high temperature swelling agent also can be used.For example, also available contains the container that remains on the above high density swelling agent of critical-temperature.When comparing with the swelling agent quality of discharging in each circulation, the swelling agent quality in the container is very big, and remains on high density, when discharging swelling agent from container, has only quite few pressure drop in swelling agent.

For example, at 2750 pounds/inch ², under 300 °F (149 ℃), the density of propane is 23.76 pounds/Foot ³At identical temperature and 2,500 pounds/inch ²Under the pressure, the density of propane is 22.8 pounds/inch ³Like this, remain on 2,750psig and 300 (149 ℃) are 1 Foot down ³Propane in the container can be discharged 0.96 pound in 300 propane under (149 ℃) to Dilvar zone, and has only minimum pressure to descend, promptly from 2,750 pounds/inch ²To 2,500 pounds/inch ²

In another embodiment of the invention, the air vessel of available machinery provides swelling agent.Mechanical preferably air vessel here be " Metal Bellows, air vessel can be from Parker Bertea Aerospace, Paker Hamfin Corp., Metal Bellows Dwision, Moorpark, California obtains.

Get back to Fig. 1, the propane pressure that is used for Dilvar zone 22 is 2,000 pounds/inch more fortunately ²More than (gauge pressure), be more preferably 500-3,000 pound/inch 2 ²Scope in.According to the present invention, can find when using such high pressure, extremely short dip time with about 2-15 second floods the increase that tobacco just can obtain required tobacco fill volume, for example surpass the increase of the fill volume of 50-100%, the temperature of propane advantageously remains on more than 280 °F (138 ℃), being preferably between 300 °F (149 ℃) and 400 °F (204 ℃), for example can be about 300-315 °F (149-157 ℃).This has provided excessive sensible heat to be used in Dilvar zone heating tobacco.

For Fig. 2, charging of tobacco upstream and feeding device have preferably been set forth.The tobacco of various forms, comprise tobacco leaf form (comprise stalk and muscle), go to obstruct and tobacco leaf, cigar filler, cigarette chopping filler are used for (tobacco leaf fragment that is cut into or is torn into) of making cigarette and so on, it better is tobacco cut filler, by the known equipment of present technique field personnel in square frame 66 moist to water content at least about 13%, be preferably at least 20%, and be transported to by pneumatic transfer tube 68 and generally be called 70 metering device, advantageously, metering device 70 is formed by two gauge lines that separate 72 and 74.Every that is preferably gauge line 72 and 74 all is rectangle coarse stone face, and cross-sectional sizes slightly increases or disperses along the tobacco flow direction, and obviously, gauge line can be other configuration such as circular cross-section.

Entered inlet valve 76 from pipe 68 tobacco, and be allocated in two gauge lines 72 and 74 at the gauge line top.What available in the present invention this technical field was known will add any valve in the post such as the solid material of tobacco.The example of an inlet valve is many lobes rotary valve as shown in Figure 2.The tobacco of Fen Peiing has formed basic tobacco column vertical in gauge line 72 and 74 like this.These vertical tobacco column have predetermined height.Detect the height of every gauge line by extremely sensitive device 78.Be preferably, the height of tobacco column is about 3-4 Foot in every post, and when the height of arbitrary tobacco column was lower than required predetermined altitude, sensor can start inlet valve made additional tobacco enter the required height of Guan Zhongzhi.

After tobacco is distributed and enters in gauge line 72 and 74, it is carried out The pre-heat treatment, this also can further make the tobacco humidity.The preheating tobacco provides the heat condition that uses suitably short circulation timei in Dilvar zone.In addition, adding to moisture content excessive in the tobacco plays an important role to obtaining good expansion results and increasing the tobacco flexibility.According to the present invention, have now found that when tobacco enters Dilvar zone 22 its water content between 24-30%, is preheated to the expansion that can obtain increasing on about 150 (60 ℃) temperature preferably more than 20%.In the present invention, make tobacco humidity and preheating simultaneously by the every post that steam is injected gauge line preferably.Because steam can be effectively transfer of heat is given tobacco and can be increased its moisture degree level simultaneously, so be desirable with steam heated.In addition, because tobacco is to contact with steaming institute's gas in gauge line, thereby tobacco can be used as insulator and has increased to use and inject steam and heat the usefulness of tobacco in the pipe more than the steam injection region.

Steam is injected in a certain position in pipe below the tobacco column top in gauge line 72 and 74.Two kinds preferably the steam injector in Fig. 2, be called 80 and 82.To talk out below, these injectors need dry flue gas, and this can be by overheated or steam pipe and manifold external heat prevented that condensation from providing.In addition, the temperature of injecting steam should be enough to tobacco is heated to more than the atmosphere temperature, is preferably more than 125 °F (52 ℃), and is best more than 150 °F (66 ℃), for example in the temperature of 150-200 (66-93 ℃).

Fig. 3 and 4 has shown and has been used for steam is injected two embodiments of tobacco column.Fig. 3 is the top view of Fig. 2 line 3-3 place steam injector 80.Steam is around in the external manifold 86 of gauge line 72 by pipeline 84 injection rings.The outer wall of manifold and gauge line separates, formed one around closed space 88.Contain the injection steam between being somebody's turn to do, manifold 86 links to each other with the inside of gauge line by a plurality of mouthfuls of being distributed on the pipeline opposite face, and the steam of through port 90 infiltrates in the tobacco shown in the arrow among Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 has shown and has been used for steam is injected another preferred embodiments of the steam injection device of tobacco column.In Fig. 4, the steam injection device is the plug-in type band fork part that is made of the hollow crane span structure 92 that has a plurality of hollow prongs 94.The steam injection device is by horizontal positioned, with reciprocating between the primary importance of gauge line 72 outsides and the second place in the pipe.Make the steam post go into device between two positions, to move thereby can hydraulic piston or similar motor apparatus be done axially to connect by axle, prong 94 inserts and shifts out tobacco column by the direction shown in Fig. 4 arrow as a result, when prong inserts tobacco column, steam injects crane span structure by pipeline 96, but enter then in each prong of insertion parts, enter tobacco column by a plurality of mouthfuls 98 on each prong by illustrated arrow again.

Though Fig. 2 has shown the use of two examples of steam injector, the personnel that are familiar with this technical field can know that the steam injector can use separately.But, advantageously two kinds of steam injectors are combined use and can penetrate the width of full post to guarantee steam.

Steam injector of the present invention is preferably along the height of tobacco column and is placed on a position that chooses, thereby make all enter all condensations basically before arriving the tobacco top of the interior steam of post, the steam that injects heats tobacco in upwards operation of tobacco column in tobacco column when it rises.After the heat of steam loses gradually, steam be condensed on the tobacco little till the whole condensations of all steams.

After preheating and humidity, tobacco is operation downwards in post, as shown in Figure 2, and to send in the feeding tube 110 as a batch of material.Have among Fig. 2 and be called 112 tobacco column isolated part and match with gauge line 72 and 74.As the steam injector 82 of shape again, tobacco column spacer assembly horizontal positioned is so that the reciprocating motion of the second place intercropping level in primary importance outside post and the post.

Fig. 5 has shown the top view of the better example of tobacco osmanthus isolated part.As shown in Figure 5, tobacco spacer assembly 112 comprises an actuating rod 114, crane span structure 116 and a plurality of prong 118 that leans on very closely mutually.Between first and second positions, move on the isolated part, thereby tobacco column is divided into top and lower part, to measure predetermined amount of tobacco of distributing from the tobacco column bottom.When prong 118 inserts tobacco column by opening described below, be positioned at the above tobacco column top of spacer assembly and support by prong.Correspondingly prong is separated by very closely, and the bottom that about 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch of for example being separated by is positioned at the tobacco column below the prong is distributed to charge pipe 110 subsequently.

Forked tobacco isolated part 112 is preferably adjustable in vertical direction, optionally to be engaged in a plurality of predetermined upright position of tobacco column.Fig. 7 has shown that the tobacco column spacer assembly can regulate in the scope of height H.Can regulate from the tobacco inlet amount of column bottom distribution because regulate the position of isolated part, so it is flexibly when selection is distributed to the amount of tobacco in the charge pipe 110.

The prong 118 of isolated part 112 enters in the tobacco column by the slot of a plurality of vertical elongated, and these slots align with prong 118 by the double-walled of gauge line, preferably shown in Fig. 6 and 7.Fig. 6 has shown has vertical extension slot 122 to be formed at wherein first lateral wall 120.In Fig. 6 lateral wall 120 has been done partly analysis, to demonstrate second madial wall 124 that separates with it, this madial wall comprises second row's vertical slits road 126 that aligns with vertical slits road 122 and a plurality of horizontal brush 128 that are attached thereto.In addition, advantageously also there are many brushes 130 to link to each other with outer wall 120.Double-walled construction can be used as the collection basin and adheres to the tobacco particle that spacer assembly is stuck to collect from tobacco column when fork takes out.Brush is assisted and is removed the tobacco particle of sticking.When fork was taken out to position outside the wall 120 from tobacco column, they contacted brushing away tobacco particle from fork with two row brushes are sub, and dropped between wall in the space 132.Tobacco particle falls to its underpart in space 132, and goes out from the mouth 134 of bottom, space.

Obstructing part is the form of rotary valve 140 preferably, and links to each other with the bottom of each gauge line.Obstructing part 140 can be in the position of spacer assembly 112 vertical lower incision tobacco column, when separator leaves post, it can be used to support tobacco column obstructing part 140 also can deviate from from tobacco column, thereby the bottom that tobacco column is lower than spacer assembly 112 is released in the feeding tube 110.

Obstructing part 140 is preferably gas lock safety rotary valve.Gas lock safety rotary valve can be the known any valves of this technical field personnel, advantageously vaneless rotary valve, and as shown in Figure 7, it is operated each reception one batch of material discontinuously and throws in a batch of material.The on-bladed of Fig. 7 comprises that one supports the basket that can rotate or the valve seat 142 of bag 144 in valve seat.Also available continuous gas lock rotary valve has the valve of a plurality of blades as use.

Fig. 7 has shown the obstructing part 140 at the tobacco column bearing position of turned letter.When new a tobacco will be when distribute the column bottom, forked isolated part 112 is inserted in the tobacco column, obstructing part is rotated 180 ℃, goes to tobacco from its closed position and accepts the position and make basket 144 openend 146 upwards, is in the position that is connected with tobacco column.In this position, basket is received in the tobacco of post bottom, and then changes 180 ℃, and predetermined tobacco in batches is distributed in the feeding tube 110.Using the gas lock rotary valve is desirable as obstructing part ten thousand, because in its distribution tobacco position (as shown in Figure 7), valve blocks and the supporting tobacco column, and sealing 148 also is provided between tobacco column and breathing space Dilvar zone.

Batch of material dissemination system of the present invention has many benefits.The amount that is distributed to the tobacco of Dilvar zone can be controlled easily and accurately.Isolated part can be placed in the different vertical position like this, for dipping provides all differences predetermined tobacco in batches.In addition, use gauge line can make every batch of tobacco be uniformly distributed in the width of following charge pipe.Tobacco is very fast with the batch of material distribution, every batch of tobacco is proceeded in the Dilvar zone fast, to cooperate the short dipping cycle of the present invention.

See Fig. 2 again, the tobacco of scheduled volume is distributed in the charge pipe 110 the sliding plug with the immersion system of packing into then.As shown in Figure 2, each of separating batch tobacco material 150 is reinforced and compression member 152 feed location 24(Fig. 1 by a pair of half round post in opposite directions) be loaded into sliding beyond the Great Wall, this is reinforced reach that compression member dresses up can be reciprocating in horizontal pipe 110.Being preferably feeding tube 110 has the square-section, is to make with tolerating reinforced parts reciprocating material in feed compartment, for example with the aluminium that hardens.In addition, advantageously shown in Fig. 2 A, the upper and lower surface of reinforced compression member is covered by the plastic bushing of sclerosis, to provide slip to prevent the feed material warpage or to block between the outer surface of the inwall of feed compartment and reinforced compression member.The examples material that is used for making lining comprises the polyether-ether-ketone of being produced by ICI America and RTR Co. (PEEK).

Reinforced parts 152 are connected on the reciprocating drive unit such as hydraulic piston 157 to make shuttling movement stepping back between position and the extended position by bar 156.The tobacco material is gone in the charge pipe 110 by opening 158 distributions of wall thereon.Opening 158 extends the width of charge pipe basically and is between the going-back position and extended position thereof of reinforced parts 152.The pivot start or stop parts that are used for closing this opening can be pressed into tobacco forage in the feed compartment at the place, closed position that is in shown in Fig. 2 dotted line.Advantageously, can be that a pair of obstructing part 162 of fork-shaped element is used for feed compartment is separated from immersion system.Obstructing part 162 can move between second closed position in outside first disengaged position of charge pipe and the charge pipe, to prevent that tobacco is blown along pipeline when shut-off block is closed.

For tobacco material being added on the sliding plug 16, tobacco batch of material 150 is distributed from rotary valve 140 by opening 158 and is entered the charge pipe 110.Obstructing part is inserted in the pipeline 110, and pivot shut-off block 160, is packed the tobacco material into and the phase can be compressed in the charge pipe when needed covering opening 158 to ShiShimonoseki.Half-cylindrical then reinforced parts 152 move to extended position.The tobacco material was pushed away feeding tube by reinforced parts 152 levels and was depressed on the sliding plug 16.The reinforced parts of relative half round post cooperate at its complete extended position, have formed a housing around the sliding connecting rod of filling in 20, thereby make compressed tobacco still remain on sliding the plug on the connecting rod during sliding plug moves to the dipping position, will discuss below.The cylindrical housings that is formed by reinforced parts also can be partly surrounded by one or a pair of longitudinal framing parts (not shown), these parts can be contained in sliding plug spool more than and/or below.These class framework parts advantageously can be equipped with mutually with the edge of the reinforced parts of half round post material and form a closed cylindrical space around the tobacco of compression.

Load good sliding plug and be moved into as Fig. 1 and dipping position shown in Figure 8, the sealing ring 30 at sliding plug two ends prevents seepage by radially press to the outside from the stream hydraulic fluid of fluid hose 32 with confining pressure chamber 22.Advantageously sealing ring be sclerosis or stick in the cannelure that the terminal periphery of sliding plug forms.There is one deformable or be with 153 at the intersection of elastomeric seal ring and fluid hose 32, makes the sealing ring can not be bonding in this point, thereby outside being pressed towards.

The annular element 160 of wear ring, drag ring and so on also can be contained in the cannelure, and cannelure is to form in each columniform sliding periphery of filling in end component.They are that at least one end face with elastomeric seal member 30 is to adjacent.The girth of wear ring is greater than the cylinder tip parts of each sliding plug, and this makes the annular space or the gap stenosis of 14 of sliding plunger member 16 and housings.By this gap that narrows, the elastomer of elastic sealing ring 30 is being used for obtaining better axially mounting during the sealing.It is minimum that this can make sealing ring " cross and distribute or extrude " the destructiveness distortion that is caused to the cylindrical end parts of sliding plug assembly and the annular space between shell because its surrounding edge.

Be preferably, each sealing ring 30 is connected on the face of wearing terrain 160 and is connected on the surface of sliding plug end component periphery.Best is, wearing terrain 160 be contained in elastomeric seal ring 30 two axial position adjacent of end surfaces and with link to each other.Wearing and tearing are bad can be connected on the elastomeric seal member by the class methods of welding, adhesion, hardening process.

Fig. 8 has also shown allows high-pressure gas pipe 38 and 40 make the swelling agent preferred through-hole structure of release fast by shell 14.A plurality of through holes 42 along circumferential distribution in shell 14 around, the sectional area of the opening of the expansion of through hole 42 as one group, when sliding plunger member 16 during in the dipping position, accelerates the speed of high-pressure fluid turnover balancing gate pit 22.Advantageously, through hole 42 is along diagonal orientation and is tapered to the less opening of diameter, when a position moves to another position, enter the through hole at sliding plug assembly to block tobacco particle, as shown in Figure 88 and 8A shown in.

The external manifold 45 that is surrounded on shell 14 has formed and has centered on along the annular space of each through hole of circumferential distribution.Through hole 42 aligns with cannelure 162 in sliding plug end, and it links to each other by many radially divergent shape passages 164 and axial passage 166 and the groove 170 that forms on the surface of connecting rod 20.In case after flue 38 introducings, high-pressure fluid passes through through hole 42 flow channels 164 and 166 until groove 170.Here, fluid is exposed to the tobacco of loading and being compressed on the sliding plug connecting rod 22, and enters in the tobacco by the arrow flow pass of Fig. 8, has one or more sieve (not shown)s to stop up groove 170 to prevent tobacco in 20 cycles of connecting rod.

Figure 10,11 and 12 has shown a kind of alternative that can improve sliding plug and shell infuser usefulness, and it is realized by the speed that increases annular high-pressure impregnation district in high pressure, the gaseous expansion agent turnover shell.Shown in Figure 10 and 12, the equipment that has sliding plug assembly 16 moves between feed location and dipping position.Shown like this assembly 16 parts are on 14 li on shell, partly outside shell 14.In this device, each through hole 42 by shell 14 advantageously is the form with the long-pending slot of enlarged cross section, that is, sectional area be preferably with by to supply with and remove the sectional area of the flue 38 of swelling agent and 40 valves 46 and 48 split sheds identical for infuser at flue 38 and 40.This reduces the friction between hole and expansion fluid, expansion fluid is entered and the speed of leaving infuser accelerates.

Because the diameter of the through hole 42 that enlarges is greater than tobacco particle, for example, greater than the size of chopping smokable filler, the device of Figure 10-12 comprises a through hole obstructing part 260, and (can see clearly in Figure 11) enters the through hole or the inlet minimum of expansion to prevent tobacco.The through hole obstructing part is the width ratio mouthful big elongated member of diameter of outer surface 262.In Figure 11 and 12 as seen, obstructing part 260 between the peripheral part of two end components 18 of sliding plug assembly 16, do vertically to connect and with via openings 42 radially aligneds (Figure 12) by shell.

As shown in figure 11, obstructing part has been crossed over the part of the connecting rod 20 of sliding plug 16, and this part has formed " chamber " of preserving tobacco in sliding plug.When this cunning plug portion was passed through shell, obstructing part 14 covered by the through hole 42 of shell in case the indoor tobacco of on-slip plug enters in the through hole 42 of expansion.Know as Figure 11 and 12 and to illustrate.The outer surface 262 of obstructing part 260 is preferably the crooked inner surface with shell 14 and matches.The lower part of obstructing part preferably diminishes gradually so that the space maximum that can supply tobacco to occupy.

Be preferably, as seen in Fig., load onto the through hole of at least two expansions, at the sliding obstructing part of loading onto respective numbers beyond the Great Wall by shell.Manifold 45 is around the exterior circumferential of shell 14 and surrounded the annular space 44 that all links to each other with two through holes 42, and the swelling agent of introducing by manifold ports 38 can contact with sliding the plug by two outer casing through hole 42 simultaneously like this.Similar is, swelling agent is also discharged shells by two through holes 42 after the use of getting rid of from manifold ports 40.This has also increased swelling agent charging and speed of removing from sliding plug and shell infuser, and has reduced circulation timei.

See Fig. 1 again, after swelling agent entered immersion system, compression and impregnated tobacco kept 1-2 second until short time of 20 seconds under the condition of dipping.Then, release pressure.Be preferably release pressure basically instantaneously, promptly in 1 second or shorter time, discharge.This can have bigbore fastoperation valve release pressure partly to reach this purpose by use.Advantageously load onto a sensor that does not show with the pressure in the sensing infuser, when wherein pressure has reached the predetermined atmosphere pressure that is higher than, as 5psig(pound/inch ²) pressure the time, begin to make 30 decompressions of sliding cock body upper sealing ring.Come sensing will proceed to the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the pipeline 36 of sealing ring with second pressure sensor.Before pressure reaches atmosphere pressure, as reach 5 pounds/inch ²When (gauge pressure), this sensor makes the mobile sliding cock body of the hydraulic piston operation that links to each other with axle 28.Sliding then plug moves to discharge position 26 to implement expanding tobacco basically instantaneously.

When sliding plug moves to and moves apart when unloading position 26, be contained in that the pneumatic discharge device (not shown) such as oilless (oil free) compressor will blow on the tobacco that is surrounded on reel 16 such as the fluid of pressure-air or nitrogen in the tobacco discharge zone.The tobacco of removing is expanded at discharge position 26 basically instantaneously, and is fed to recovery skewed slot 172 as shown in Figure 1, then to conveyer 174, as screw conveyer device and so on.The tobacco that contains suitable moisture preferably is as being transported to dry section 176 greater than 13% by transporter 174.

As shown in Figure 9, expanded tobacco is fed in the pipeline 178 in the dry section, and the hot-air that is moved upward there drives upwards.Advantageously Jia Re air is lower than 350 °F (177 ℃), preferably between the temperature of about 200 (93 ℃) and 300 (149 ℃).Tobacco all is enough to make its water content to be reduced at temperature and time and is less than 13%, is preferably the weight at 6-12%() condition under transmit and to pass through dry section.Dry, expanded tobacco reaches Disengagement zone 180 then.Here, various fluids comprise swelling agent, by sieve 182 or another kind of such as cyclone separator separator and enter and reclaim loop 184.

Be preferably nitrogen or another kind of inert gas by the gas that reclaims the loop, and by in 186 infusion circuits of gas injection region.Nitrogen, by fan 190 and then is moved in the loop to drive tobacco by heater 188 heating.Remove air-flow 192 and constantly remove and pass to the thermal oxide district from the loop, wherein the propane in the nitrogen is burned falls.

From the tobacco of Disengagement zone 180 by by the empty locking-valve 194 of a pair of rotation and 196,198 recovery in the recovery area then.The function of two valves is to guarantee that no propane gas escapes into the recovery area.Therefore, between two valves, charge into inert gas such as nitrogen.As shown in Figure 2, because similar reason also can charge into nitrogen in other zone of this system.In this respect, pointed as Fig. 2 dotted line, can load onto Secure Shell 200 in the bottom of device.This shell is used for reclaiming any propane of the system that overflows in use.The different local nitrogen that constantly adds in system.The propane of effusion system reclaims in shell, and burns in feeding thermal oxide district.

Return dry the processing, though propane or United States Patent (USP) 4 on swelling agent, 531, during the similar swelling agent that disclosed 529(White h Conrad), do not need to heat tobacco in order to make cigarette fixedly remain on its expanded form, but, have found that the tobacco of high-moisture is bigger than the expanding tobacco degree of normal water content.But, also find because the high-moisture tobacco can be broken, so the expansion that increases can partly or entirely lose.It is found that the dry swell increment that to preserve increase of handling of the present invention.

Dry preferably the processing behind expanding tobacco carried out at once, for example, carries out in back 5 minutes in expansion, is less than after expansion in about 1 minute time preferably and carries out.In fact, drying can be carried out after expansion basically instantaneously.For example, be used for the air blast that unloads expanded tobacco beyond the Great Wall from sliding, also available heated nitrogen when needing, tobacco can be sent into dry section at once.

With reference to the Figure 13 that illustrates the expanding tobacco of various water content and tobacco preheating degree, water content is to the influence of expanding tobacco as can be known.In each case, tobacco is with about 2,500 pounds/inch ²Pressure under be preheated to the propane dipping 15 seconds of 300 (149 ℃).Before the expansion, the filling value of tobacco is 450cm ³/ 100g as shown in figure 13, when tobacco is preheated to about 150 (66 ℃) or higher temperature, increases to the water content of tobacco about more than 20%, can promote the expansion of tobacco greatly.

When propane is used as immersion fluid, from the accumulation heat of the supply Dilvar zone of the propane of heating and the tobacco of preheating should be enough to make Dilvar zone reach, between 240 °F (116 ℃) and 270 °F (132 ℃), be the immersion condition of 260 (127 ℃) preferably.Have now found that when supplying with heat jointly, can reach temperature and pressure in 5 seconds or in the shorter time and be respectively about 267 (127 ℃) and 2,500 pounds/inch by preheating tobacco and preheating propane ²Immersion condition.

The compression degree of tobacco has also influenced degrees of expansion during dipping, and the compression ratio that is preferably tobacco at least 1.5: 1 when dipping is compressed.Compression ratio is fixed according to the volume letter of the preceding tobacco of compression.The loose packing volume of tobacco volume or tobacco is measured by measuring the density of tobacco in cube container of 1 Foot * 1 Foot * 1 Foot before the compression.Pour into tobacco in cube container and weigh to measure the loose packed density of tobacco.The loose packing volume of tobacco material decides from the weight of material and the loose density value of tobacco then before being compressed to sliding plug.Loose packing volume is divided by the compression volume of tobacco material, and promptly the volume of handling in the immersion system such as sliding plug just can determine compression ratio.All values are fed under the actual water content of tobacco in the Dilvar zone and measure, or are corrected to the value under this water content.Like this, be 25 inch for the dipping body ²Sliding plug, the packing volume that will loosen is 50cm ³Tobacco be compressed to sliding beyond the Great Wall, the compression ratio that obtains is 2: 1.

Advantageously, tobacco is with greater than 2: 1, compress until 3: 1 or bigger compression ratio, the compression tobacco can increase the density of tobacco, make the density of tobacco that is fed to Dilvar zone significantly greater than the density of tobacco before the compression, those skilled in the art person should know that it is leaf or chopping form of bio-carrier that loose density of tobacco is looked tobacco; The water content of tobacco type, tobacco and other factor are different and decide.Be that to buy density be 20-35 pound/Foot for the pressure calculated on 12% the basis in water content ³Can be used among the present invention.Though increasing compacted density can increase to a certain extent and obtain same swell increment required circulation timei, but it is 12% or the compacted density of the higher basis 25-30 pound/cubic feet of calculating that the present invention has also successfully used with water content, and dip time is less than 20 seconds, and the fill volume recruitment surpasses 50-100%.

Figure 14 be presented at when dipping different density of tobacco to make expansion can be different, and to expand with different dip times be the curve map different as where.The figure shows water content and be 27% tobacco sample with the dipping of propane under above-mentioned the same terms.Dip time is from 4-20 difference second.The initial loose packed density under 12% humidity and 76 (24 ℃) of tobacco sample is 6.2 pounds/Foot ², being pressed into density is 20,25,30 and 35 pounds/Foot ³(all density is calculated by 102% water content, or is corrected to this water content).As can be seen from Fig. 14, the expansion of tobacco increases with the increase of dip time and the decline of tobacco compression.But, even under high compacted density and 10 seconds or shorter dip time, also can obtain good expansion.

Figure 15 has shown the flexibility of expanding method of the present invention and device.This figure is the comprehensive of many expansion data, and shows the increase (m of the per hour tobacco volume that obtains from the device of Fig. 1 ³/ hour), this is the function of dip time and tobacco compression, the volume that this data hypothesis can occupy for tobacco is 400 inch ³, processing procedure is to move continuously illustrated circulation timei.Be apparent that, shorten that when the tobacco compression increased, the output quantity of tobacco increased from Figure 15 also as can be seen, the volume dosage maximum of tobacco per hour in short circulation timei and when increasing the tobacco compression when circulation timei.Here because increased output, although the every batch of expanding tobacco amount not as than low-density and/or longer circulation timei institute getable big like that.Like this, the invention provides degrees of expansion of tobacco and the flexible way that the output level can change.

Process for expansion of tobacco described here and all aspects be in conjunction with propane as the agent of expansion facilitating impregnation, and with the dipping temperature condition that is close to or higher than critical-temperature and near or surpass the elevated pressure condition of critical pressure, and do concrete the discussion in conjunction with preferred device.Be understood that method and apparatus of the present invention can have many kinds to change.For example, when the swelling agent that does not need to be reclaimed, during as propane, swelling agent can be burnt after use.In addition, here the various important expanding method and the device of Jie Shiing, though be particularly suitable under supercritical temperature, using the process for expansion of tobacco and the equipment of high density swelling agent and the short dip time of employing, be considered to also be suitable for using the situation of other different expanding method, expansion fluid and device.

Here the tobacco fill volume of indication is fixed with the automatic fill volume instrumentation of electronics, and wherein the solid piston of 3.625 inch diameters is placed in the cylinder of a similar size slidably, and adds 2.6 pounds/inch for the tobacco sample that is placed in the post ²Pressure added for 5 seconds, it is believed that these parameters are to have simulated tobacco tobacco compacting condition in the equipment of system cigarette when forming cigarette.Heavily make sample for expanding tobacco usefulness for the tested tobacco of 50g.For expanding tobacco not, make sample with the tobacco of 100g.By then basket being put into air themperature in the basket that the 100g tobacco sample is placed on wire screen is to put 3 minutes in 200 the forced ventilation baking oven.Weigh before and after tobacco and wire baskets heated in baking oven, use the loss in weight of recently representing for the percentage of tobacco weight before the heating as the percentage of moisture.

The present invention with reference to preferred embodiments carried out elaboration.But under the condition that does not deviate from aforementioned specification and the defined spirit and scope of back claims, can make many changes and modification.

Claims (42)

1, a kind of tobacco that is used for heating is distributed to the device in the Dilvar zone, and it comprises;

The tobacco supply pipe;

Link to each other with the tobacco supply pipe, be used for measuring the metering device that adds to the Dilvar zone amount of tobacco;

Be used for steam is injected the steam dispensing device that tobacco is expected; And

The tobacco of heating is input into the device of Dilvar zone.

2, device according to claim 1, the wherein said device that is used for tobacco is input into Dilvar zone is included in the pipeline that upper wall has the horizontal positioned of opening, and it arranges to such an extent that tobacco can be delivered to Dilvar zone.

3, device according to claim 2, wherein the opening of horizontal pipe is equipped with the pivot shut-off block that can be pressed into tobacco described horizontal pipe.

4, according to the described device of one of claim 1-3, steam injection device wherein comprise make steam be passed at least one with wall that described tobacco material contacts on the device in a plurality of holes.

5, according to the described device of one of claim 1-4, wherein the steam injection device comprises and is used for injecting the device of tobacco being enough to make tobacco to be heated to the steam that temperature is at least under the temperature of 125 (52 ℃).

6, according to the described device of one of claim 1-4, wherein said steam injection device comprises that the steam that the temperature that is used for being enough to making tobacco rises under 150 (66 ℃) above temperature injects the device of tobacco.

7, a kind of device that is used for tobacco is pressed into Dilvar zone comprises:

A pair of relative pipeline;

At least can and be in reciprocating sliding plug device between the dipping position in the cylindrical shell body in the primary importance in the middle of being in two openends of described relative duct size;

Described sliding plug device comprises the first and second cylindrical end parts and the connecting rod between first and second end components, and described end component and described connecting rod have surrounded an annular space around connecting rod;

In described every pipeline, stepping back between position and extended position and moving around, making tobacco pass through pipeline and the tobacco compression set in the annular space of the described sliding plug of tobacco pressure;

Described tobacco compression set comprises half-cylindrical end surface separately, and the size of these two end surface and shape just in time cooperate the face of cylinder of formation around the described annular space of described sliding plug.

8, device according to claim 7 further comprises:

Be used at the opening of tobacco being introduced every ducted every described pipeline upper wall place corresponding to the place between going-back position and the extended position; And

Tobacco can be pressed into pipeline and close the pivot shut-off block of described opening.

9, according to claim 7 or 8 described devices, it further comprises and is used for steam is injected the steam injection device of tobacco.

10, according to the described device of one of claim 7-9, one step comprised during wherein said sliding plug device: when described roll device when handling the position, be suitable between described cylindrical end parts and described shell inner surface, forming the sealing device of sealing, so that described shell, end component and obturator form a balancing gate pit;

In described housing, form, be used for working fluid is introduced the lane device of described balancing gate pit when sliding plug is in described processing position, the total cross section of described lane device is enough to make described working fluid to flow into apace in the described chamber; And

The particulates plug device is so that the solid matter that enters in the described lane device is minimum.

11, device according to claim 10, wherein said lane device comprises a plurality of passages around the periphery that is distributed in tubular shell, described a plurality of passages of wherein said particulates plug device comprise the opening littler than preliminary dimension separately, enter described passage to block particle.

12, device according to claim 11 also comprises being around in described a plurality of external manifold parts that pass through the passage of shell in addition, passes through described each passage simultaneously with the guiding working fluid.

13, device according to claim 10, wherein said lane device comprises that at least one diameter is significantly greater than the expansion mouth of tobacco cut filler, wherein said particulates plug device comprises the elongation obstructing part that the width of at least one outer surface is bigger than the diameter of described at least one passage, and described obstructing part vertically is connected between the part of described sliding described two end components of filling in.

14, device according to claim 13, the passage radially aligned of wherein said obstructing part and described at least one enlarged diameter.

15, device according to claim 14 comprises that passage that at least two enlarged cross section by described shell are long-pending and one are surrounded on described each passage outside, are used for guiding working fluid simultaneously, by the manifold part of described at least two passages.

16, according to the described device of one of claim 10-15, wherein said sliding plug device further comprises the elastomeric seal ring in the cannelure that is contained on each cylindrical end parts;

When described sliding plug device when handling the position, be used for making the elastomeric seal ring radially to my distortion, device that the sealing ring is contacted with the inner periphery of shell along circumference, described shell, end component and sealing ring have formed a balancing gate pit when pressurisation of pressure chambers; And

At least one is contained in the part of cylindricality end component, girth greater than end component and with the adjacent annular element of at least one end face axial that is contained in the described elastomeric seal ring on the described end component.

17, device according to claim 16, wherein each described elastomeric seal ring and described axially adjacent annular element are connected.

18, according to claim 16 or 17 described devices, wherein each described elastomeric seal ring is bonded in the week of described sliding plug end component and connects in the cannelure that forms.

19, according to the described device of one of claim 16-18, wherein each surface of sealing ring all has one of described annular element axially adjacent and link with it with it.

20, a kind of method that is used for expanding tobacco comprises:

With water content greater than about 13%(weight) pre-expanding tobacco material put into impregnation chamber;

Flood described tobacco at the indoor swelling agent of described dipping;

From described impregnation chamber, take out the tobacco of described dipping, and the tobacco of dipping is in is enough to make expanding tobacco, and obtain under the condition of water content greater than 13% expanding tobacco; And

Expanded tobacco is dried to the back water content that expands less than 13%(weight) be in the tobacco that keeps dipping that the expansion condition is following to be carried and swell increment.

21, method according to claim 20, wherein said drying steps are to be less than in time of 5 minutes to carry out after making described expanding tobacco.

22, method according to claim 21, wherein said drying steps are to be less than in time of 1 minute to carry out behind described expanding tobacco.

23, according to the described method of one of claim 20-22, wherein said drying steps is to carry out under about 350 (177 ℃) or lower temperature.

24, according to the described method of claim 20-23, wherein with the water content of the tobacco of gained in the drying steps greater than about 6%(weight).

25, according to the described method of claim 20-24, the water content that wherein is placed on the tobacco in the impregnation chamber is greater than 20%(weight).

26, according to the described method of one of claim 20-24, the water content that wherein is placed on tobacco in the impregnation chamber is greater than 24%.

27, according to the described method of one of claim 20-26, the temperature that wherein is placed on tobacco in the impregnation chamber is greater than 150 °F (66 ℃).

28, according to the described method of one of claim 20-27, wherein said drying steps is by handling expanded tobacco with the steam flow of heating.

29, method according to claim 28, the temperature of wherein said heated air stream are between about 200 °F (93 ℃) to 300 °F (149 ℃).

30, according to 29 described methods among claim 28 worker, wherein described tobacco is transmitted time by dry section with heated air stream, be enough to make the water content of tobacco to reduce to about 6-12%(weight).

31, according to the described method of one of claim 20-30, wherein said impregnation steps comprise make tobacco with greater than 2,000 pounds/inch ²(psig) propane under the pressure contacts about 15 seconds or shorter.

32,, wherein be used for handling 270 (132 ℃) the above temperature of propane that are placed on tobacco in the impregnation chamber according to the described method of one of claim 20-31.

33, method according to claim 32 wherein is enough to make the condition of flooding in the Dilvar zone between 240 °F (116 ℃) and 270 °F (132 ℃) by the heat that the propane and the propane of preheating of heating offers the tobacco in the impregnation chamber.

34, according to the described method of one of claim 20-33, the wherein said tobacco that is placed on impregnation chamber has been compressed into compression ratio and had been at least 1.5: 1.

35, method according to claim 34, the wherein said tobacco that is placed in the impregnation chamber has been compressed into compression ratio and had been at least 2: 1.

36, method according to claim 34, the wherein said tobacco that is placed in the impregnation chamber have been compressed into that compression ratio was at least 3: 1 or are bigger.

37, a kind ofly be used for that its density of fast supply equals or near the air vessel of the liquid density expansion fluid of fluid, it is included in gaseous state pressure fluid and swelling agent is included in pressure vessel in the single not compartment, described pressure vessel has first and second districts, be suitable under pressurized conditions, separately keeping two kinds of fluids, and described fluid is remained under the critical-temperature that is close to or higher than described swelling agent.

38, according to the described air vessel of claim 37, described container comprises the 3rd district that has fluid to be communicated with first district and second district in addition, to keep all contacting the barrier fluid with first district's fluid with second district's fluid.

39, according to the described air vessel of claim 37, wherein said the 3rd district comprises a barrier liquid movably, in described container described swelling agent and described pressure fluid are separated.

40, according to the described air vessel of one of claim 37-39, wherein said gas-pressurized is a nitrogen, and described swelling agent is a propane.

41, according to claim 39 or 40 described air vessels, the fluid that wherein forms liquid barrier is a water.

42, according to the described air vessel of one of claim 38-41, wherein said container remains on and is higher than 2,500 pounds/inch ²The pressure of (gauge pressure) and being higher than under the temperature of 200 (93 ℃).

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