US2570363A

US2570363A - Bucket elevator for hydrocarbon conversion systems

Info

Publication number: US2570363A
Application number: US700928A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley M Mercier
Original assignee: Jeffrey Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Jeffrey Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1946-10-03
Filing date: 1946-10-03
Publication date: 1951-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-09

Description

Oct. 9, 1951 s. M. MERCIER 2,570,363

BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS" Filed Oct'. 5, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 SP NT CATALYST 3q EEGENEEATED CATALYST K\LN 35 OUTLET o E QEGENEEATED CATALYST I v INLET b m t. v T SPENT LE A CATALYST fxvvs/vroe;

"STANLEY M. M52052.

ATTK

S. M. ME RCIER Oct. 9, 1951 BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS Filed 001:. 3, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NVE/VTUQ,

STANLEY MMERUER,

ATTY

Oct. 9, 1951 s. M. MERCIER BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS 8 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed 001;. 5, 1946 [AWE/V7012:

STANLEY M. MERCER,

ATTY

Oct. 9, 1951 s c 2,570,363

BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS INVENTOB.

STANLEY M. MERGER,

ATTY.

Oct. 9, 1951 s, MERGER I 2,570,363

BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 5, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 f/VVE/VTOQ,

STANLEY M. MERGER.

v ax 4m ATTY.

Qct. 9, 1951 s. M. MERCIER BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 5, 1946 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTY.

STANLEY M. Manama,

Oct, 9,1951 s, MERGER 2,570,363

' BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 5, 1946 j a Sheets-Sheet 7 3H v INVENTOE,

STANLEY M. MERGER,

AT X

5. M. MERCIER Oct. 9, 1951 BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 5, 1946 'INVENTOR. STANLEY M. MERGER ATTX ,line J -4 of Fig. .the arrows;

atented Oct. 9, i951 BUCKET ELEVATOR FOR HYDROCARBON CONVERSION SYSTEMS Stanley M. Mercier, Bexley, Ohio, assignor to The J cffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application October 3, 1946, Serial No. 700,928

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bucket elevator or conveyer as well as a system involving a bucket elevator and a conveyer.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved bucket elevator for elevating two materials which differ in characteristics, such as temperatures, while maintaining the different materials separated, said materials being received along different paths, conveyed to the elevator along different or parallel paths, and discharged along different paths to flow to different units in a complete system.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system for handling two materials of different characteristics, such as spent and regenerated catalyst materials, which may have different temperatures. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple path or compartment bucket elevator and in the specific form one in which there is a series of centrally located bucket compartments and two series of adjacent bucket compartments, the central compartments preferably carrying relatively high temperature regenerated catalyst material or the like, while the 'two outside series of compartments carry lower temperature spent catalyst material, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved chute means for feeding a conveyor or elevator particularly of the above mentioned'type.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing a system or installation incorporating the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the elevator showing a portion of the guiding and supporting superstructure, the casing insulation being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of elevator;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view taken onthe 2, looking in the direction of Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing particularly the skirt which supports the head section and associated mechanism in the elevator of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6i-s an elevational view of the boot or foot section of the elevation of Fig, 4, the showing also generally applying to the elevator of Fig. 2 'except for the supporting skirt;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 1---'! of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the 1ine8-8 of Fig. 6 of the drawings;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the elevator casing of Fig. 2 showing also associated feed chute and observation window;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of the feed chute, with the elevator casing omitted;

Fig. '11 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail taken on the line I I of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the discharge chutes taken substantially along line I3l3 of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line |4-I4 of Fig. 13, looking in the direction of the arrow-s; e

Fig. 15 is an, enlarged sectional elevational view showing the foot shaft and associated mechanism;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged View of the casing adjacent the foot shaft showing the shaft indicator mechanism, parts being broken away;

Fig. 17 is a somewhat schematic-combination sectional and elevational view of the head section of the elevator designed particularly to show the relation of the buckets while passing over the headshaft, some of the bucket details-also being illustrated;

Fig. 18 is a front elevational view of the bucket conveyer showing the buckets as they travel upwardly carrying material;

Fig. 19 is a view taken along the line [9-19 of Fig. 17, with parts omitted, showing particularly one of the buckets as it moves downwardly adjacent the discharge chute and also showing parts of the chute partitions;

, somewhat diagrammatically a system or installation involving my invention in one of its aspects which also includes the particular elevator which as a whole and in various constituent parts represents other aspects of my invention. The system illustrated is one involved in the process of catalytic cracking of oil or hydrocarbon. As there illustrated, there is a reactor 30 provided with inlets and outlets within which catalytic cracking takes place under the stimulating action of a catalyst, from which the spent catalyst is discharged by way of conduit or pipe 3| to a feed or loading chute designated generally 32, the structure of which forms an important feature of my invention and is described in detail hereinafter.

The spent catalyst received by the loading or feed chute 32 is divided into two paths and fed to two series of outside bucket compartments in a bucket elevator 33 by which the spent catalyst is elevated to the top of said elevator 33 and discharged over a pipe or conduit 34 to a catalyst regenerative device or kiln 35 from which the regenerated catalyst is delivered by pipe or conduit 36 to a central compartment of the loading or feed chute 32 with which it is fed to a series of centrally located compartments in the elevator or conveyer or the bucket elevator 33 by which said regenerated catalyst is also elevated while being conducted between pockets of spent catalyst, the regenerated catalyst being discharged from the top of the elevator 33 to a pipe or conduit 31 and delivered to the reactor 30.

As hereinafter described more completely, while the spent and regenerated catalyst is simultaneously elevated 'inthe bucket elevator 33 it is maintained segregated at all times, and the regenerated catalyst which has a higher temperature than the spent catalyst is conveyed by the bucket elevator in a central series of bucket compartments, with cooler spent catalyst in bucket a heat insulator to protect the endless elevating chains -'of the elevator 33. fig. '2 of the drawings illustrates particularly the casing and its mounting means for the elevator '33, Figs. 4, 5 and -6 illustrating another formof elevator 1-33 which may be employed,.it being understood that the elevators 33 and I33 are similar in construction except forsuch dinerences as are obvious or are pointed out hereinafter. Figs. 7 and '8 also-show sections through the bottom portions of the elevators 33 and I33, respectively, it being understood that for all practical purposes these sections show the construction of both the elevators-33 and I33.

Each of the elevators 33 and I33 includes a generally cylindrical elongated upstanding casing or housing 38 which provides a complete enclosure for endless chain bucket elevator conveyer mechanism 39 which is shown in detail in Figs. 18 to 20, inclusive, of the drawings.

In the completed unit the exterior surface of the casing or housing 38 includes :a layer of insulating material which -has not been shown in the drawings. This -is because of the fact that the catalytic material both in its regenerated and spent form is very hot, as a consequence of which there is a high temperature within the 'casing 38 whenthesystem is in operation. Because of the temperature differences which exist within the casing '38 when it is in operation, as compared with when it is shut down and particular'ly 'in view of the fact that the casing has appreciable height, for example, in one installation it is approximately one hundred-and seventy-fivefeet high, it is necessary to provide for the free expansion and contraction of said cas ing 33, particularly along itslength. To this end I provide novel supporting or suspending and guiding features in said casings 38 of elevators 33 and I33.

In elevator 33 thi supporting or suspending mechanism is in the form of a peripheral frustoconical petticoat, skirt or flange 43 which is located near the top of said elevator and adjacent the bottom of the head section 41 of said casing or housing 38. The top of the skirt 43 is rigidly attached, as by welding, preferably around its entire periphery, to a supporting and reinforcing ring or belt 42 which in turn is rigidly attached to and forms a reinforcement of the periphery of the casing or housing 33. The bottom of the skirt 40 is provided with an integral circumferential bearing flange or ring 43 about which it is rigidly attached, as by welding, which flange or ring 43 rests upon a supporting superstructure 44 which may include a pair of :sp'aced I-beams and interconnecting cross-beams which form a part of or are attached to a building or other independent supporting structure.

The entire load or weight of the casing 38, including the head section- 4 of the elevator 33, is supported by the superstructure 44 through the skirt 4i) and ring 42. As a consequence of this fact it is evident that the casing 38, including the head section M, is rigidly 'connected to the external supporting superstructure 44 in only one horizontal plane which is the plane of connection of the skirt 43 and the ring 42, and consequently the casing 38 is free to expand without strain under the conditions of varying temperature which occur particularly between operating and non-operating conditions. For example, if the head section 4| expands it will expand upwardly from the ring 42. If the casing '38 below the ring 42 expands it can freely expand downwardly therefrom since it is hanging free except for its connection to skirt 43 through ring 42.

The skirt '40 also provides for diametric expansion of the casing '33. As previously set forth, the skirt 48 is in the form @of a peripheral frustoconical p'ettic'oat or flange, the' small diameter end of which is attached to th'ering 42 and the base or large diameter end of which rests upon the stationary I-beams of the superstructure.

E In'providing for'theexpansion of the casing relative to the superstructure the skirt functions as an upstandingload'supporting moment member which connects the casing 38 with thesuperstructure. Because-the ends of the skirt substantially follow the temperatures of those members to which they are connectedthrough conduction, the ends will expand and/or contract according to the temperatures of those members and since the superstructure is never as hot as the casing 38 the smaller end of the skirt will expand and contract with the casing while the large end of the skirt Will remain more nearly at a constant temperature.

In view of the height of the casing-'33-it isdesirable to provide guidemeans 45 at spacedvertical intervals to guide and bracesaidcasing 38 against excessive lateral movement'which, for'example, may be caused by the wind,-since"in most installations these elevators are built outdoors and are merely supported by open frames, of which the superstructure 44 'is a part; The details-of these guide means 45 are shown in Fig.4 of the drawings and are described hereinafter in connection with the description of themodification of Fig. 4. I

tion Ser. No. 570,950, filed January 1, 1945, now

Patent No. 2,430,236," dated November 4, 1947. The shaft 46 is preferably covered with insulating material 49 (see Fig. 21) and preferably includes a pair of frictionrings 50 which are built up of a plurality of interconnected welded rings to form friction traction wheels which support and drive endless spaced-apart chains 52 (see Fig. 18). The structure of the traction wheels 5| and associated chains 52 preferably follows in general the construction disclosed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 607,115, filed July 26, 1945, which has issued as Patent No. 2,525,041.

Of particular significance in connection with this phase of the invention is the fact that the complete casing or housing 38, including the head section 4|, is supported from the superstructure 44, while'the bucket conveyer mechanism 39 and head shaft 46 are supported from a spaced part of the superstructure including the I-beams 48. In view of the temperature variations to which the casing head 4| is subjected it is necessary to provide for relative movement between said shaft 46 and the casing head 4| so that the side walls of the head section 4| can move in planes at right angles to the axis of head shaft 46. To provide for this and still preserve the enclosing characteristic of thecasing 38 I employ a novel seal 53 which is disclosed in detail in Fig. 21 of the drawings and hereinafter fully described.

The head shaft 46 is driven from an appropriate motor and speed reducing drive mechanism 54 mounted on the I-beams 48. I also preferably provide a normally closed explosion.

door 55 adjacent the top of the head section 4|. Said head section 4| also includes a discharge chute 54 which is provided with spaced partitions 51 (see Figs. 3 and 19) which effectively form three chutes or chute compartments, the outer two of which are connected to deliver material to the spent catalyst pipe or conduit 34, and the center or intermediate one of which is .connected to deliver material to the regenperature spent catalyst so that both the spent and regenerated catalyst is elevated simultaneously in the same casing 38 while being main- 4 tained segregated at all times and being discharged over different paths and led to different.

receptacles, such as reactor 35 and kiln 35, respectively. The normal temperature of the regenerated catalyst is generally higher by from twenty to thirty'percent than the temperature of the spent catalyst, though they are both normally at relatively high temperatures. It is desired, however, to convey the higher temperature regenerated catalyst in the buckets or bucket compartments between spent'catalyst to obtain the benefit of the heat insulating effect of the spent catalyst, thereby keeping the temperature on the chains 52 to a minimum. There is also another important reason for conveying the regenerated catalyst in the bucket compartments between spent catalyst. Because the temperature differential between the spent and regenerated catalyst is relatively small, as compared with the temperature differential between the regenerated catalyst and the walls of the casing and other parts of the elevator, and because the regenerated catalyst is flanked by hot spent catalyst the regenerated catalyst will give up or lose a smaller percentage of its heat. These are important features of my invention.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings and to certain details by which the elevator I33 differs from the elevator 33 and to certain particulars in which they are similar. Except for differences in the construction of the head section I4I of the elevator I33, as compared with the head section 4| of elevator 33 and the method of supporting the casing 38 of the two elevators 33 and I33,

both elevators are of substantially similar construction. The, differences in support, however, provide for one difference in the relation of parts previously described in connection with the elevator 33, in that the head shaft 46 and supported conveyer mechanism 33 in the elevator I 33 is supported directly from the casing 38 through the head section I4I instead of being supported independently thereof from superstructure I-beams 48. This will be evident from the following detailed description of elevator I33.

Said elevator I33 includes a petticoat, skirt or flange I46, similar to the skirt 45 of elevator 33, with which there is an associated ring I42 and ring or flange I43, the elements I40, I42 and I43 having essentially the same relative relation as the

elements

40, 42 and 43. Ring I42, however, is rigidly attached to the casing 38 of elevator I33 adjacent its bottomrather than adjacent its top, and ring I43 is supported by I-beams of superstructure I44 which are adjacent the bottom thereof rather than adjacent its top. As a consequence, the casing 38 of elevator I33 is suspended or supported by the skirt I44 from the superstructure I44. with the major portion thereof projecting above the plane of support and only the foot section or bottom thereof hanging down from said plane of support.

The head shaft 43 of the elevator I33 is supported through bearings 41 and associated bearing blocks which are mounted upon channels of a head framework 53 which in turn is supported on a torsion ring 59 which circumscribes the top of casing 38 and which is attached thereto by a frusto-conical petticoat, skirt or flange 50, the bottom of which is welded to the torsion ring 59 and the top of which is welded to the top of the casing 38 and to the bottom of the head section I4I thereof. It is thus evident that the frame 58 as well as the head shaft 46 and bucket elevator mechanism is directly supported from the casing 33 in this form of the invention. The drive mechanism I54 for the head shaft 46 is supported by the framework 58 and is similar to the drive mechanism 54. Other features of the head section I4I follow those of head section 4| which were previously described. 7

In elevator I33 guides 45 are provided between the head and foot sections and, of course, in this instance they are above the supporting skirt Hill, while they are below the supporting skirt 48 in elevator 33. They are, however, of similar construction in each instance. Said guides are provided by forming circumferential bands or belts 62 preferably constructed of angles, which belts 62 are rigidly attached to the casing 38 by welding. ltmay be pointed out that the casing 38 is preferably formed of a plurality of interconnected tubular sections which are bolted or welded together by top and bottom section flanges which are clearly seen in both Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

At spaced intervals around the belt 62 are upstanding guide bars 63 which are welded to the outwardly projecting legs of the angle belts 62 and which slidably extend into notches 64 formed in brackets or clips 65 which are mounted on channeled members 264 of the superstructure 44, there preferably being guides located at 90 degree intervals around the periphery of the frame 38 adjacent each of the belts 62. It is thus evident that the bars 63 are rigidly attached to the casing 38 and are free to slide upwardly and downwardly in the notches E4 of the brackets which are rigid with the superstructure i l. These guides 45, of course, help brace the casing 38 and prevent undesirable lateral movement or twisting thereof under atmospheric influences or under the influence of the high temperature gases within said housing 38. It is to be noted that there is a small space or clearance between the outer edges of the bars 63 and the bottoms of the notches 64 of the brackets that permits diametrical expansion of the casing 33.

Attention is now directed to Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 15 and to the structure of the foot shaft and its associated mechanism, which structure is applicable to both elevators 33 and I33. In the bottom of the casing 38 there is foot shaft 56 (see Figs. 7 and 8), provided with spaced wheels 6? adjacent opposite ends thereof which receive and guide the chains 52 of the elevator mechanism 39, the

knuckles of said chains contacting the peripheries of the wheels 61 and the side straps thereof overlapping the wheel rims. Opposite ends of the shaft 166 are supported in roller bearings 68 which are carried in a floating framework 69. The framework 66 is mounted for free vertical or up and down movement while being restrained against all other movement, it being mounted on a pair of upstanding rods or shafts ill, there being a rod or shaft 10 adjacent each side of the casing 38, as clearly illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings, both said rods 76 being on one side of the shaft 66. The rods 10 are attached by appropriate plates or brackets I! both at the top and bottom (see Figs. '7 and 9) to the frame 38.

Upper and lower guide sleeves '12 (see Figs. 7, 8

.and 9) are carried by and form a part of the floating frame 69 and are adapted to receive the rods 18 and slide freely therealong, thus providing for guidingof the floating frame 69 so that the shaft 86 is always in proper position to maintain the chains 52 of the bucket elevator mechanism 39 in proper alignment with chain guides 13 which are .adj ustably mounted by supporting brackets on t the bearing .68.

8 through substantially the entire length of the casing 38. V

The details of the bearings 68 can be seen loy reference to Fig. 15 of the drawings, the other bearing and associated mechanism being of substantially identical construction. Each said bearing 68 therefore includes a block, casting or shell l4 removably bolted to frame 69 and roller bear ings 15 which include inner and outer rages mounted on the shaft 66 and casting 14. 13511 0- tively. A set screw 16 holds the outerrace against rotation. A disc or plate 11 is attached by screw means 18 to the end of shaft 66 and holds the inner race of the bearing 15 in place. A thrust washer 1.9 is interposed betwen a disc ii and a removable cover plate or cap for the casting 14. Thrust Washer 79 is heldagainst rotation and can be adjusted toward and from the .disc 11 by a pair of set screws that. extend into recesses in the washer 19, one of which set screws is lsee rr at 8| in Fig. 16 of the drawings.

It is to be particularly noted that the shaft 66 and the bearings .68 are entirely within the easing 38, as a consequence of which there is no need for cooling said shaft .66 since it and the bearings 68 are subject to substantially the same temperature. Furthermore, this eliminates all of the normally present intricate mechanism involyed providing a seal between the shaft 66 and the casing 38 which would otherwise be necessary to retain the totally enclosing characteristic ofsaid casing 38. Access to the bearings .68 and associated mechanism is provided by removable .eircular or disc-like cover plates 82, there being one such cover plate adjacent each side of the'casing, or, in other words, adjacent each end of the shaft 66. These cover plates are provided on the ends of projecting drums83 .(see Figs. 6, '7, 8, and 15) which are formed near the bottom of the foot sectionof the elevator 33 or I33, as the casemay be.

In order to indicate the position of the shaft 66 at all times and also to provide means for keepi lthe bearings lii free of grit, dirt, foreign material, catalyst dust or the like and preferably simultaneously to lubricate them, I provide mechanism which is shown particularly in Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings and which will now be described. Each bearing cover plate 88 is provided with a bracket 84% which extends into a drum 83 and is attached to the bottom of a drilled rod 85. Rod 35 extends through the top of drum 8}; through a stuffing box 86 and carries an outwardly extending arm 8? which in turn carries a downwardly extending pointer arm 88 which c0- operates with an indicating scale 89 carried on as indicated by bore 98 and adjacent its bottom is connected by a flexible tube 9| which is preferably coiled ab out the rod and communicates with the bore .96, said tube 9.! leading through a fitting provided in a hole located centrally in plate 88 so that a fluid, such as air, flue gas, or the like, may be introduced under pressure into Such fluid will create pressure within the bearing .68 and flow inwardly therethrough through a non-positive seal 92, thus acting to prevent the entry of foreign material into the bearing and to blow out any grit or abrasive material or any other foreign matter which may have worked past the seal.92.

In addition to cleaning out and maintaining the bearing 68 free of foreign substances, it is possible to lubricate itby utilizing the flowing fluid as a carrier medium for a lubricant. To this end a graphite pct 93 is provided which is connected to the bore 90 through pipe 94 and control valve 95 the previously mentioned source of fluid pressure being derived by pipe or conduit 90 and control valve 91. A control valve 98 is interposed between

valves

95 and 97 and the bore 30. If control valve 95 is closed and

valves

97 and 98 open, it is evident that cleaning fluid or gas will be delivered to the bearing 68. If valve 91 is closed and valve 95 is open, lubricating material, such as graphite, oil or the like, will be delivered to the pipe leading'from valve 91 and some of it may find its way into bore 90. Thereafter, when valve 95 is closed and valves 01 and 98 are both open, any such graphite or lubricating material will, of course, be carried by the flowing fluid to lubricate the bearing 68. If valve 98 is closed all access to the bore 90 is shut off.

It is thus evident that the position of the shaft -66 at each side of the elevator may be determined at all times by visual indication outside the elevator casing, that the shaft 66 and associated bearings are totally enclosed, and that they may be cleaned and lubricated or just cleaned without opening the enclosing casing 38, as a consequence of which they may be cleaned and lubricated and then maintained clean while the unit is in operation.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 9 through 14 of the drawings and to the construction of the loading or feed chute 32, it being understood that this construction is applicable to both elevators 33 and I33. A number of problems have to be considered in connection with the construction of this feed chute. First of all, since the casin or housing 38 is subject to temperature variations there is relative movement between it and said "paths by said feed chute and delivered into three series of buckets or bucket compartments at the bottom of the elevator mechanism '39. In addition, individual control valves are provided for each of the separate chutes or chute compartments.

Said chute 32 include laterally spaced and downwardly sloping side walls 99 between which is a pair of partitions I00. Adjacent their tops the partitions I converge, as illustrated in Fig. '10 of the drawings, and come to a point so that they split the feed pipe or conduit 3| which re- 'ceives the spent catalyst from reactor and thus the spent catalyst is divided between the twooutside ways, troughs, chutes, or compartments IOI and I32 of the multiple way chute 32. The central compartment, trough or way I03 of said chute 32 is fed by the regenerated catalyst pipe or conduit 36 and thus the regenerated catalyst flows centrally through the feed chute 32, with spent catalyst fiOWing on both sides thereof to troughs Iel and I02. Troughs or compartments IOI and I02 are provided with individually operable control valves I04 and I05, respectively, which are controlled by individual operating shafts and handles I00 and I01, respectively, which project from opposite sides of the trough, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings. Central trough I03 is also provided with an individually controlled valve I08 .provided with an operating shaft and lever I 09.

It is evident by reference to Figs. 13 and 14,

of the drawings that the valves I04, I05 and I08 are swingable about horizontal axes provided by their operating shafts I00, I01 and I09, respectively, and that said valves may be respectively open and closed in variable amounts, being swingable upwardly behind stationary partition means IIO (see Fig. 14). The bottom plate III of the chute 32 is provided with three removable wear plates II2, one for each chute IOI, I02 and I03, said wear plates being removable as a unit with the upper portion of said bottom plate III, said bottom plate III being split between its ends along the split line II3, as best seen in Fig. 14 of the drawings.

The feed chute 32 also includes a vertical or upstanding frame or seal plate II4 which is rigidly attached to and forms a part of said chute 32. The lower portion of the chute ways IOI, I02 and I03 is of reduced height, as compared to the upper or feed portion, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 14 of the drawings, and this lower portion projects through a frame opening II 5 formed in the foot or feed section of the casing 38. This lower reduced height portion of the chute 32 is .free to move upwardly and downwardly in the opening H5 which has appreciably greater height than the-adjacent height of the feed chute 32, thus providing for the relative movement of the casing 38 with respect to the feed chute 32 with changing thermal conditions within casing 38.

The face of the opening H5 is provided with an upstanding seal or slide plate II6 having an opening III therein comparable in dimensions to the opening I I5 through which the lower portion of chute 32 projects and with which it has relative up and down movement. Since the seal or slide plate IIS is'fixed to and moves with the casing 38 and the frame or seal plate H4 is fixed to the chute 32 it is obvious that they will have relative sliding movement in an upright or vertical plane as the casing 38 expands and contracts and thus moves rectilinearly upwardly and downwardly with respect to chute 32.

To effectuate a seal for all relative positions of plates II 4 and II 6, the plate H4 is provided along opposite sides with upper and lower guide brackets I I8 (see Fig. 11) which are provided on their insides with notches II9 which receive interlocking outer edges of the plate I I6. In addition, a spring-pressed packing I20 is carried in a groove around the periphery of the seal plate I I4 and is pressed against the seal plate I I6, thus insuring an effective seal between the casing 38 and the feed chute 32 for all relative positions thereof.

In addition, to prevent abrasive material accumulating between the two plates II 4 and I I6 which might cause damage to the seal I20 or cause undue wear on either of them, blowout pipe I2I, which may be supplied with flue gas or other fluid or gas under pressure, communicates through spaced branch pipes I22 (see Fig.

12) to a transverse groove or conduit I23 formed adjacent the bottom of the plate H4 and above the bottom part of seal I20. By introducing fluid, such as air, flue gas and the like into the groove I23, abrasive material, such as catalyst dust, may be blown upwardly from the space between said plates I I4 and H6.

As best seen by reference to Fig. 13 of the drawings, the lower portions of the compart- :ments or individual chutes IOI, I02 and I03 are provided with supplementary converging wall l 1 plates I24. The function of thes converging wall plates I24 is progressively to decrease the efiective width of the chutes or compartments I0 I I02 and I03 so that as the material flows through them and discharges from their lower edges there will be an appreciable space between the flowing material of each trough. Consequently the material in each trough or way IOI, I02 and I03 will be effectively segregated without appreciable intermingling and will be separately received in individual buckets or bucket compartments of each vertical series of elevator conveyor mechanism 39, as above mentioned and as hereinafter explained in more detail.

Also, to assist in the loading of the buckets, there is a loading plate I25 (see Figs. 7 and 14) located adjacent the discharge edge of the feed chute 32 which is essentially stationary with re.- spect to casing 38 and is provided with three laterally spaced elongated windows or openings I26,v one for each of the ways or compartments IOI, I02 and I33. The upper end of the loading plate I25 is rigidly connected to a bracket on the lower section of casing 38 (see Fig. 14), and the bottom is provided with a pair of pins I21 (see Fig. 9) which extend through holes in brackets I28 attached to the bottom of the lower casing section 38, there being one adjacent each side. Since there may be some difference in thermal expansion of the loading plate I25 and the casing 38 to which it is attached, the pins I2? compensate for this by being readily slidable in the holes in brackets I28, while at the same time the loading plate I25 is held essentially rigid with the lower section of casing 38.

Directly above the feed chute 32 is an observation window I29. This window I29 makes it possible for an operator to view the material within the buckets of the elevator mechanism 39 without disturbing the enclosing character ofthe casing 38. It has heretofore been used by me in connection with earlier elevators and therefore will not be described except briefly. In addition to the observation housing there is provided a window frame I30 which is slidable with respect r to a stationary frame of the observation housing. The top portion of this window frame I30 is opaque, while the bottom portion is provided with a pair of adjacent transparent glass panels, one above the other. has a lamp [31 positioned so as to direct light through it to the interior of the casing 38 so as to illuminate the bucket elevator mechanism 39. Below lamp I 3I is a second window through which an observer may look to see the interior of the lighted casing 38. By sliding the frame I30 downwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings the two glass panels are directly exposed and may be readily cleaned, after which they may be returned to their operating position by sliding the frame I30 upwardly.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 17 to 20 of the drawings and to certain structural features of the bucket elevator mechanism 39. Extending between and rigidly attached at opposite sides to the previously mentioned elevator chains 52 is a series of overlapping multiple compartment buckets I32 which are preferably in substantially overlapping relation, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 17 of the drawings. Each of the buckets I32 is provided with three cells, compartments or sections I 34, I35 and I33. Viewed in a slightly different manner, the compartments I34, I35 and I36 may be considered as. separate One of these glass panels l2 buckets integrally formed to form a unit of three buckets.

It is evident that the buckets or cells I34 of a complete series along the longitudinal length of the chains 52 form one working series adapted to receive one type of material, maintaining it separate from the other buckets or compartments and discharging it along any particular chute path of the discharge chute 5B. The same is true of the series of buckets or cells I35 and the serie of buckets or cells I36. In other words, in the particular installation here involved, chute trough IOI delivers spent catalyst to the series of compartments or buckets I30, chute compartment I03 delivers regenerated catalyst to buckets, cells or compartments I35, and chute compartment I02 delivers spent catalyst to buckets or compartments I34, all at the bottom of the elevator. The materials thus segregated in the buckets of elevator mechanism 39 will be maintained in this relation and individually discharged to the three compartments of the discharge chute 56 adjacent the elevator top, the spent catalyst being delivered from both streams to conduit 34 and kiln 35, while the regenerated catalyst is delivered to the conduit 31 and reactor 30.

The separate compartments of the multiple buckets I32 are formed by partitions I3'I. which are best illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings. These partitions I3'I are bifurcated at their outer ends, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings, and, as illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18 of the drawings, the outer bifurcated end of each partition I3! overlaps or receives between its spaced parts an aligned guide fin, partition or plate. I38 on the front of the preceding bucket so that cooperation between a partition I31 and fin, partition or plate I38 produces a partition which is continuous at least over some portion, particularly as each bucket I32 reaches its final discharging position, the discharging position being reached as the buckets I32 travel over the head shaft 46 which is the position of the buckets to the left of a vertical plane through shaft 45, as viewed in Fig. 1'7 of the drawings.

It isevident that the buckets I32 or the compartments of the multiple buckets will start to discharge as soon as a bucket passes over a point directly above shaft 43. As these buckets travel in a path which is along an arc of a circle their discharging characteristic progressively increases until they start moving rectilinearly downwardly which is the position of the lower left-hand bucket I32, as viewed in Fig. 1''! of the drawings. While the buckets are moving along the arc of a circle the partitions I3I do not overlap the fins I38. However, they are in alignment with them and due to the flaring or diverging character of partitions I3I, a material travels adjacent them outwardly from the buckets I32, it is-evident that they will guide material in converging paths and direct the material into the guiding paths provided by the fins or guide plates I38 on the front of the buckets I32, which fronts under these circumstances act as complementary feed chutes to aid in delivering and guiding the material to the stationary feed chute 56, also confining the segregated spent and regenerated catalyst to preselected paths of travel. End flanges I5! on opposite ends of buckets I32 co-operate to provide the outside complementary feed chutes on the fronts of said buckets I32.

Attention is now directed particularly to Fig. 21

of the drawings and to the construction of the traction wheel I and associated mechanism and the seal 53. Near opposite ends the shaft 45 is provided with the traction wheels 5I which are formed of a plurality of welded rings, as disclosed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 607,115, except for certain minor differences. These concentric rings are preferably under tension at normal temperatures so that when they expand under high temperatures they still frictionally engage each other. In addition, they are Welded together adjacent their peripheral edges. The major portion of the shaft 46 is imbedded in insulating material 49 which is built up around the traction wheel 5| except for a portion of the outer ring and the friction ring or tire 50 thereof.

The outer ends of shaft 46 are supported in bearings 41 and they are cooled, as disclosed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 500,799, filed September 1, 1943, now'Patent No. 2,491,899, dated December 20, 1949. The shaft 46 extends through oppositely positioned openings I39 in the head section M of casing 38 to reach the separately housed bearings 41, and the totally enclosed character of the casing 38 is preserved by the shaft seals 53 which provide not only for rotation of shaft 46 but also movement thereof in a plane at right angles to its axis with respect to head section 4I of said casing 38.

The seal 53 includes casting or manifold I45 in the form of a ring which surrounds or circumscribes the shaft 46- and which at its inner end is provided with a stuffing box I46 including packing rings which co-operate with a steel sleeve I41 directly attached to the shaft 46 and in effect providing a renewable packing surface thereof which co-operates with the relatively stationary stuffing box 146. Adjacent the interior edge of the casting I45 which is adjacent the sleeve I41 there is a manifold ring I48 which is attached to the manifold or casting I45 and the interior circular edge of which is spaced slightly from the sleeve I41.

A conduit I49 is provided in the casting I45 and leads to the circumferential chamber I50 formed between the manifold ring I48 and said casting I45. Air, flue gas or other fluid may be introduced through conduit I43 into the chamber I50 which will flow inwardly into the casing 38 through the peripheral orifice formed adjacent the sleeve I4l, thus removing and/or preventing the entry of grit, catalyst dust, or other foreign matter into the stuffing box I45, thereby preventing undue wearing of the sleeve I41 and the packing rings of the stuffing box I46. Sleeve I4? is of such length as to provide for expansion or contraction of shaft 45 relative to casing head 41 since it can slide axially relative to packing I46. This also provides for diametrical expansion and contraction of head section 4|.

Adjacent its outer periphery the casting I45 is provided with a peripheral groove which receives an adjustable seal ring I5I which has contact in a vertical plane with a seat or seal ring I52 which is rigidly but removably attached to a ring-like plate I53 which effectively forms a part of the head section M of the casing 38, since it is welded thereto by a ring I 55. Insulating material is preferably provided on the interior of ring I 55 between the main plate of head section M and the above-mentioned plate I53 and extends to a frusto-conical plate I56 which defines the opening I39 and forms one supporting plate for the above-mentioned insulation.

The seat or seal ring I52 is clamped rigidly to the plate I53 and compresses a gasket against the plate I53, thus providing a removable but tight connection between said ring I52 and said plate I53. The clamping of these two members is effected by two half clamping rings I58 which are clamped by co-operating nuts and bolts I59. A clamp ring I60 also mounted on nuts and bolts I59 clamps the casting I45 to the seal ring I52, with the previously mentioned seals I5! interposed, thus providing for relative sliding movement in an upright or vertical plane between the casting I45 and the seat or seal ring I52, thus allowing for the relative movement of the head section M of casing 38 in an upright plane or at right angles to the axis of shaft 46.

To review briefly the operation of the system as well as the elevator 33 or I 33, starting with the feeding of the spent and regenerated catalyst to the elevator, the spent catalyst flows through the feed chute 32 in the two opposite troughs or streams provided by converging troughs IN and I02. The higher temperature regenerated catalyst is fed intermediate the streams of spent catalyst by way of trough I03 of chute 32. The feeding of these materials is controlled through each trough by its individual control valve I04, I05, I08, as the case maybe.

The spent and regenerated catalyst in the three streams or troughs is directed through the loading plate I25 into three series of buckets or three series of compartments to a multiple bucket at the foot of the elevator, with the regenerated catalyst in the central series of buckets or compartments I35 and the spent catalyst in the two outside series of buckets or compartments I34 and I36. The spent and regenerated catalyst is then elevated together along the working or elevating run of the elevator which is the right-hand run, as viewed in Figs. 1, 4 and 17 of the drawings.

It is to be particularly noted that this hot material is completely enclosed by the housing 38 of the elevator 33 or I33. The complete absence of projections of the foot shaft 60 through the casing 38 simplifies this total enclosure, and effective seals 53 are provided to allow the head shaft 46 to project through said casing 38.

Asthe buckets pass over head shaft 46 and begin their downward travel they progressively reach a full discharging position and co-operate with each other to discharge the material while maintaining it segregated and discharging it into three streams in the discharge chute 56, the partitions 5? of which are in' alignment with the partitions I31 of the buckets and with the guide partitions or-fins I38 on the fronts of the buckets, all of which co-operate to maintain the segregation of the different characteristic materials, such as the spent and regenerated catalyst.

The spent catalyst is then conducted by conduit 34 from the discharge chute 55 to the kiln 35 where it is regenerated and the regenerated catalyst is delivered to conduit S'I'and by it to the reactor 30 where it is employed to aid in the cracking action of the oil or hydrocarbon being treated. Spent catalyst from the reactor 30 is then delivered to feed chute 32 where it is segregated, as above described, and regenerated cata-- lyst is delivered by conduit 36 from the kiln 36 to feed chute 32 where it is delivered to thecentral path or trough I03, as also above described.

As previously mentioned, the casing 38 is made up of a plurality of vertically superposed and attached sections removably connected together by-top and bottom flanges and is preferably pmvided with insulating material on its external surface. In the form of the elevator illustrated in Fig. 2, the major portion of the casing 38 is suspended and hangs downwardly from its single support adjacent the belt 42 near its top. It is guided at spaced intervals and held against lateral swinging by the guide means 45 which provide for its free expansion and contraction In the elevator I33 of Fig. 4 the single support is adjacent its bottom at the belt M2, the major 5' portion thereof extending upwardly and being similarly guided by guides 45. As also previously mentioned, in the elevator 33 of Fig. 2 the bucket elevating mechanism 39 is supported from head shaft 46 by superstructure 48 independently of the supporting of casing 38, while in the form ofthe elevator l33 of Fig. 4, bucket elevator mechanism 39 is supported directly from the casing 38, since the head shaft supporting framework 58 is supported through the skirt 6!] from the casing 38. Except for these diiferences the two elevators 33and H33 are of similar construction. This applies particularly to the bucket elevator mechanism 39 which is the same in both cases as well as the feed chutes 32, observation windows I29, discharge chutes 56, guides 45, seals 53, and foot shaft 66 and all associated mechanism described particularly in Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein 9 disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of m invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for conversion of fluid hydrocarbons in the presence of a moving contact material the apparatus which comprises in combination: means defining, a conversion chamber adapted to confine a contact material, means to admit a reactant thereinto, means defining a separate contact material regeneration chamber, a substantially vertical elevator casing having a head portion and a foot portion, an endless series of articulated buckets in said casing,

means to support said buckets and to move them 1 in a closed path forming a loop in both the head and the foot portions of said elevator casing, in which path downwardly moving buckets are inverted, said buckets when moving upwardly opening upwardly and toward the outside of their path, partitioning in said buckets to provide in each bucket at least three side by side compartments for carrying contact material, a contact material feed chute connecting into the lower section of said elevator casing on that side near- "est adjacent the upwardly moving, outwardly opening buckets, partitioning within said feed chute adapted to divide it into as many separate feed lines as there are compartments in each bucket, said partitioning being flared at the discharge end of said chute in such a manner as to divert the contact material discharged from each lane away from contact material discharged from any adjacent lane and into the bucket compartment correspondng to that lane, a .discharge chute connected into said elevator casing near its upper end on the opposite side from said feed chute, partitioning in said discharge chute dividing it into as many discharge lanes as there are compartments in each bucket, said partition- Ii U ing in said buckets being flared near the bucket opening in such a manner as to divert contact material being discharged from each compartment in each bucket away from that discharged from any other compartment and into the discharge lane corresponding to that compartment, passage defining means for flow of used contact material from the bottom of said conversion chamber into certain of said feed lanes in said feed chute, passage defining means for fiow of regenerated contact material from the bottom of said regeneration chamber to the remainder of said feed lanes in said feed chute, means to withdraw used contact material from certain of said lanes in said discharge chute and means to pass said used contact material to said regeneration chamber, means to withdraw regenerated contact material from the remainder of said lanes in said discharge chute and means to pass said regenerated contact material to said conversion chamber.

2. In an apparatus for conversion of .fiuid hydrc-carbons in the presence of a moving contact material the apparatus which comprises in combination, means defining a conversion chamber adapted to confine a contact material, means to admit a reactant thereinto, means defining a separate contact material regeneration chamber, a substantially vertical elevator casing having a head portion and a foot portion, an endless series of articulated buckets in said casing, means to support said buckets and to move them in a closed path forming a loop in both the head and the foot portions of said elevator casing, in which path downwardly moving buckets are inverted, said buckets when moving upwardly opening upwardly and toward the outside of their path, partitioning in said buckets to provide in each bucket at least three side by side compartments for carrying contact material, a contact material feed chute connecting into the lower section of said elevator casing on that side nearest adjacent the upwardly moving outwardly opening buckets, partitioning within said feed chute adapted to divide it into as many separate feed lanes as there are compartments in each bucket, said partitioning being formed and positioned to direct the contact material discharged from each lane separate from contact material discharged from any adjacent lane and into the bucket compartment corresponding to that lane, a discharge chute connected into said elevator casing near its upper end on the opposite side from said feed chute, partitioning in said discharge chute dividing it into as many discharge lanes as there are compartments in each bucket, said partitioning in said buckets being flared near the bucket opening in such a manner as to direct contact material being discharged from each compartment in each bucket away from that discharged from any other compartment and into the discharge lane corresponding to that compartment, passage defining means for flow of used contact material from the bottom of said conversion chamber into certain of said feed lanes in said feed chute, passage defining means for fiow of regenerated contact material from the bottom of said regeneration chamber to the remainder of said feed lanes in said feed chute, means to withdraw used contact material from certain of said lanes in said discharge chute and means to pass said used contact material to said regeneration chamber, means to withdraw regenerated contact material from the remainder of said lanes in said discharge chute, and means to pass said regenerated contact material to said conversion chamber.

3. In an apparatus for conversion of fluid hydrocarbons in the presence of a moving contact material the apparatus which comprises in combination, means defining a conversion chamber adapted to confine a contact material, means :to admit a reactant thereinto, means defining a separate contact material'regeneration chamber, a substantially vertical elevator casing having a head portion and a foot portion, an endless series of articulated buckets in said casing, means to support said buckets and to move them in a closed path forming a loop in both the head and (the foot portions of said elevator casing, in which path downwardly moving buckets are inverted, said buckets when moving upwardly opening upwardly and toward the outside of their path, partitioning in said buckets to provide in each bucket at least three side by side compartments for carrying contact material, a contact material feed chute connecting into the lower section of said elevator casing on that side nearest adjacent the upwardly moving, outwardly opening buckets, partitioning within said feed chute adapted to divide it into as many separate feed lanes as there are compartments in each bucket,

said partitioning being flared at the discharge end of said chute in such a manner as to divert the contact material discharged from each lane away from contact material discharged from any adjacent lane and into the bucket compartment corresponding to that lane, a discharge chute connected into said elevator casing near its upper end on the opposite side from said feed chute, partitioning in said discharge chute dividing. it into as many discharge lanes as there are compartments in each bucket, said partitioning in said buckets being formed near the bucket opening in such a manner as to direct contact material being discharged from each compartment in each bucket along a path separate from that discharged from any other compartment and into the discharge lane corresponding to means to pass said used contact material to said regeneration chamber, means to withdraw regenerated contact material from the remainder of said lanes in said discharge chute, and means to pass said regenerated contact material to said conversion chamber.

STANLEY M. MERCIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 233,523 Lally Oct. 19, 1880 463,492 Dean Nov. 17, 1891 867,495 Gates Oct. 1, 1907 955,606 Moreau Apr. 19, 1910 1,241,204 Erickson Sept. 25, 1917 1,245,580 Gilman Nov. 6, 1917 1,313,220 Jackson Aug. 12, 1919 1,497,602 Stebbins June 10, 1924 1,635,126 Jirotka July 5, 1927 1,890,740 Marasso Dec. 13, 1932 2,270,297 Hensel Jan. 20, 1942 2,271,436 Lathrop Jan. 27, 1942 2,282,534 Sinden May 12, 1942 2,290,580 Degnen et a1. July 21, 1942 2,325,516 Holt et a1 July 17, 1943 2,394,638 Schrader Feb. 12, 1946 2,406,640 Siecke Aug. 27, 1946 2,410,309 Simpson et a1 Oct. 29, 1946 2,428,995 Rogers Oct. 14, 1947 2,448,922 Simpson et al Sept. 7, 1948

Claims

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION OF FLUID HYDROCARBONS IN THE PRESENCE OF A MOVING CONTACT MATERIAL THE APPARATUS WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: MEANS DEFINING A CONVERSION CHAMBER ADAPTED TO CONFINE A CONTACT MATERIAL, MEANS TO ADMIT A REACTANT THEREINTO, MEANS DEFINING A SEPARATE CONTACT MATERIAL REGENERATION CHAMBER, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ELEVATOR CASING HAVING A HEAD PORTION AND A FOOT PORTION, AN ENDLESS SERIES OF ARTICULATED BUCKETS IN SAID CASING, MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID BUCKETS AND TO MOVE THEM IN A CLOSED PATH FORMING A LOOP IN BOTH THE HEAD AND THE FOOT PORTIONS OF SAID ELEVATOR CASING, IN WHICH PATH DOWNWARDLY MOVING BUCKETS ARE INVERTED, SAID BUCKETS WHEN MOVING UPWARDLY OPENING UPWARDLY AND TOWARD THE OUTSIDE OF THEIR PATH, PARTITIONING IN SAID BUCKETS TO PROVIDE IN EACH BUCKET AT LEAST THREE SIDE BY SIDE COMPARTMENTS FOR CARRYING CONTACT MATERIAL, A CONTACT MATERIAL FEED CHUTE CONNECTING INTO THE LOWER SECTION OF SAID ELEVATOR CASING ON THAT SIDE NEAREST ADJACENT THE UPWARDLY MOVING OUTWARDLY, OPENING BUCKETS, PARTITIONING WITHIN SAID FEED CHUTE ADAPTED TO DIVIDE IT INTO AS MANY SEPARATE FEED LINES AS THERE ARE COMPARTMENTS IN EACH BUCKET, SAID PARTITIONING BEING FLARED AT THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID CHUTE IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DIVERT THE CONTACT MATERIAL DISCHARGED FROM EACH LANE AWAY FROM CONTACT MATERIAL DISCHARGED FROM ANY ADJACENT LANE AND INTO THE BUCKET COMPARTMENT CORRESPONDING TO THAT LANE, A DISCHARGE CHUTE CONNECTED INTO SAID ELEVATOR CASING NEAR ITS UPPER END ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE FROM SAID FEED CHUTE, PARTITIONING IN SAID DISCHARGE CHUTE DIVIDING IT INTO AS MANY DISCHARGE LANES AS THERE ARE COMPARTMENTS IN EACH BUCKET, SAID PARTITIONING IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DIVERT CONTACT OPENING IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DIVERT CONTACT MATERIAL BEING DISCHARGED FROM EACH COMPARTMENT IN EACH BUCKET AWAY FROM THAT DISCHARGED FROM ANY OTHER COMPARTMENT AND INTO THE DISCHARGE LANE CORRESPONDING TO THAT COMPARTMENT, PASSAGE DEFINING MEANS FOR FLOW OF USED CONTACT MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONVERSION CHAMBER INTO CERTAIN OF SAID FEED LANES IN SUCH FEED CHUTE, PASSAGE DEFINING MEANS FOR FLOW OF REGENERATED CONTACT MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID REGENERATION CHAMBER TO THE REMAINDER OF SAID FEED LANES IN SAID FEED CHUTE, MEANS TO WITHDRAW USED CONTACT MATERIAL FROM CERTAIN OF SAID LANES IN SAID DISCHARGE CHUTE AND MEANS TO PASS SAID USED CONTACT MATERIAL TO SAID REGENERATION CHAMBER, MEANS TO WITHDRAW REGENERATED CONTACT MATERIAL FROM THE REMAINDER OF SAID LANES IN SAID DISCHARGE CHUTE AND MEANS TO PASS SAID REGENERATED CONTACT MATERIAL TO SAID CONVERSION CHAMBER.