This class relates to apparatus and processes, which are not
more specifically provided for elsewhere, peculiar to the concentration
of solids held in solution or suspension, by evaporation of the
liquid containing them in solution or suspension, and the recovery
of the concentrate. The concentration may be carried to the point
of crystallization or to dryness.
SECTION II - NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION
(1)
Note. Processes involving significant chemical changes are
excluded.
(2)
Note. Machines, processes, and treatments of a specialized
character (e.g., heat treatments) directed to the preparation or
purification of a particular substance, which are not simply a mode
or means of concentrating by evaporation, of general application are
excluded. However, processes and apparatus solely for concentrating
by evaporation are here even though the particular material concentrated
is specified.
(3)
Note. Evaporating apparatus involving the recovery or treatment
of the vapors evolved either as vapors or condensate (e.g., stills) is
excluded. This does not exclude the recovery of heat in the vapors.
SECTION III - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
This class is superior to Class 165, Heat Exchange, in that
means for the transfer of heat for the specific purpose of concentration
by evaporation is found here. This class is superior to Class 122,
Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers, in that means for vaporizing liquid
for the specific purpose of concentration of attendant solids is found
here. This class is superior to Class 261, Gas and Liquid Contact
Apparatus, in that means for contacting gas and liquid for the specific
purpose of concentration by evaporation is found here. This class
is differentiated from Class 34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact
With Solids, in that the substance under treatment is initially in
a liquid or fluent condition.
Chemistry: Physical Processes,
subclasses 295+ for processes involving purification of salt or
separation of different salts, but where merely the evaporation
and concentration of a saline solution with attendant crystallization
is concerned, the patents are found here.
Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth
Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor, appropriate subclasses for processes and non-coating
apparatus for growing therein-defined single-crystal of all types
of materials, including use of or means including a concentrating
evaporator.
Stoves and Furnaces, appropriate subclasses for open water heaters having
no structure specially directed to the concentration of the solids in
solution or suspension.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclasses 198+ and 285+ for concentrating apparatus for
that class.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus comprising a closed vessel adapted to heat a liquid,
but to maintain sufficient ebullition in communication with a space of
less pressure into which the heated liquid is discharged to cause
evaporation.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus comprising means to spray a liquid in combination
with a collecting chamber or receptacle.
Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,
subclasses 359 and 576+ for processes and apparatus which employ
a fluid current to move the material being worked upon.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclass 289 for concentrating evaporator specialized to chemistry
in which hot gases, etc., are contacted with liquids.
This subclass is indented under subclass 4.01. Apparatus wherein the sprayer is located on or near the
bottom of the apparatus and the liquid is sprayed upwardly.
Distillation: Processes, Separatory,
subclasses 72 and 89 for a process of introducing the distilland
into the vaporization zone by spreading it in a thin film over a
surface.
This subclass is indented under subclass 5. Apparatus in which the liquid is maintained as a film on
a supporting surface by means of centrifugal force.
Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating:
Apparatus,
subclass 223 for a flake-forming apparatus comprising means
for casting a film on a moving endless surface and a means to remove
the hardened film as flakes.
This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Apparatus in which a gaseous current is directed against
or in proximity to the surface of the film on the moving support.
Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,
subclasses 108+ for apparatus including a hollow drum rotating
about an axis through, over, by, or in which the material is carried to
be treated, and subclass 173 for apparatus of the gravity-flow type with
shelf to shelf or zigzag treated material flow in which there is
a rotary shelf or stirrer.
This subclass is indented under subclass 13.1. Apparatus having means for injected vapor or generated vapor
to flow adjacent the film and relative thereto.
Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers,
subclass 34 for devices in which the fluid is indirectly heated
by another separate fluid and including an internal separator.
Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,
subclasses 165+ , particularly subclasses 171+ and 178
for apparatus of the gravity-flow type with shelf to shelf or zigzag
treated material flow.
Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus,
subclasses 127+ for contact fluids heated through the medium of
other fluids out of contact therewith, and subclasses 108+ for
contact apparatus including stationary baffles over which liquid
flows in contact with gases.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus designed to pass a current of air or moisture-absorbing
gas over or through a body or liquid.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclass 290 for concentrating apparatus specialized to chemistry
with similar heating means.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus relating to a series of two or more vessels in
communication, adapted to cause evaporation of their liquid content
at unequal pressures. The communication may be either for the purpose
of transmitting the vapors evolved in one vessel to the heating
element of another operating at a different pressure, or for transmitting
liquid material from one vessel to another operating at a different pressure
for evaporation.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17.1. Apparatus wherein the fluids are in whole or in part introduced
or removed from the system in parallel streams.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17.1. Apparatus in which the vessels are placed one above the
other, so that the vapors evolved in the lower vessel will rise
by gravity into contact with the bottom of the heating element of the
next vessel above.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17.1. Apparatus in which the liquid undergoing treatment is evaporated
in both closed and open pans at unequal pressures.
This subclass is indented under subclass 17.1. Apparatus in which the direction of flow from vessel to
vessel of the liquid undergoing evaporation is not parallel to the
flow of the evolved vapors or is variable with respect thereto,
or the order of the pans in the series with respect to the flow
of either vapor of liquid is variable.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which the liquid undergoing treatment is evaporated
in both closed and open pans at substantially equal pressure.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Vessels provided with covers adapted to close the surface
of the evaporating liquid from the atmosphere.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclasses 198+ and 285+ for similar devices specialized
to chemistry.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Vessel in which heat is conducted through the closed vessel
to the liquid undergoing evaporation. The vessel is heated otherwise
than by direct communication with a primary source of heat, such
as a furnace.
Stoves and Furnaces,
subclass 378.1 for an open-top liquid heating vessel that may
include a lid having a closed chamber or coiled pipe to confine
or direct a liquid or steam used to heat the vessel.
This subclass is indented under subclass 23. Closed vessels in which the temperature of the vapors evolved
by the evaporation is raised, and the vapors are employed to produce
further evaporation.
This subclass is indented under subclass 24.1. Apparatus having means capturing or using usually waster
heat to preheat or reuse heat in the apparatus.
This subclass is indented under subclass 24.2. Apparatus wherein the spent vapor is compressed by injector
means employing high pressure steam as a motive agent and introducing
the combined steam as a heating agent in the evaporator.
This subclass is indented under subclass 23. Closed vessels comprising a tube or tubes of heat-conducting
material heated on the exterior and through which the liquid undergoing
evaporation is passed.
This subclass is indented under subclass 27.1. Apparatus wherein the fluid flows downwardly contrary to
the material thermosphonic flow of the heated liquid.
This subclass is indented under subclass 27.1. Apparatus wherein the fluid flows downwardly contrary to
the material thermosphonic flow of the heated liquid.
This subclass is indented under subclass 27.1. Apparatus wherein the heat exchanger is centrally disposed
and the downcomer is the annulus between the heat exchanger and
the casing.
This subclass is indented under subclass 23. Devices relating to the means for maintaining the heating
medium separate from, but in heating contact with, the liquid or
the surface of the liquid container.
This subclass is indented under subclass 28.1. Apparatus wherein the steam chest has obstructing means
causing the heating medium to flow in a predetermined path among
the tubes.
Stoves and Furnaces,
subclasses 344 through 363.1for a liquid heater that may include a kettle,
a steam generator, stove pipe for use with a stove, a domestic water
heater or boiler (e.g., kitchen boiler, range boiler, etc.) for use
with a stove or furnace.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclass 129.1 for similar apparatus used in the production of soaps.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Closed vessels in combination with means for withdrawing
a small quantity of the liquid under evaporation for examination.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Closed vessels in combination with means for trapping and
separating the entrained liquid from the vapors.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Vessels particularly designed for concentrating liquid material
by evaporation and not provided with means to prevent access of
the atmosphere to the surface of the liquid.
This subclass is indented under subclass 32. Open pans in combination with means to scrape from the interior
surface of the pan solids deposited thereon.
Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids,
subclasses 179+ for contact apparatus including a stationary receptacle
or tube combined with an agitator or conveyor.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclasses 129+ and 245.1+ for non-coating crystallizer apparatus
excluded from Class 159 and not provided for elsewhere.
This subclass is indented under subclass 32. Open pans so mounted or designed that they may be tilted
in or readily removed from their supports or pans especially adapted
for portage.
This subclass is indented under subclass 32. Open pans provided with a liquid receptacle between them
and a source of heat. The liquid receptacle contains a liquid other
than that undergoing concentration.
Stoves and Furnaces,
subclass 347 for a liquid heating kettle furnace having a horizontal
combustion chamber or subclasses 377.1-392.1 for an open-top liquid
heating vessel that may include a lid having a confining, directing,
or shielding feature for a liquid or steam used to heat the vessel.
This subclass is indented under subclass 32. Open pans in which both steam and furnace are employed as
heating agents.
(1)
Note. Compare with this Class, subclasses 17.1 and 19, where
the evaporation is effected at unequal pressure and the heating
steam is evolved from the liquid undergoing evaporation.
This subclass is indented under subclass 38. Open pans in which tubes are provided for communicating
with the interior of the pan to circulate the liquid undergoing
evaporation through the furnace or flue.
This subclass is indented under subclass 38. Open pans in which conduits are provided communicating with
the flue or combustion chamber for carrying the hot gases within
the outside dimensions of the pan.
This subclass is indented under subclass 38. Open pans combined with furnaces and means to regulate or
positively control the direction of flow of the hot gases about
the pan.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter combined with strainers or skimmers for removing
or particularly designed to remove impurities from a liquid.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including means specifically designed for
feeding liquid to, or discharging concentrate from, the liquid container or
for feeding a heating fluid to, or discharging it from, the container.
This subclass is indented under subclass 43.1. Subject matter with means operating either or both of the
feed or discharge devices successively in any arrangement.
Fluid Handling, appropriate subclasses for fluid handling devices of general
application, particularly
subclasses 386+ for the control of liquid flow in response to changes
in liquid level.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus specifically designed for effecting crystallization
by evaporation in combination with means for collecting the crystals and
discharging them from the evaporator.
Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy
Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor, appropriate subclasses for processes and non-coating
apparatus for growing therein-defined single-crystal of all types
of materials, including use of or means including a concentrating
evaporator.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing,
subclasses 129+ or 245.1+ for non-coating crystallizer
apparatus excluded from Class 159 and not provided for elsewhere.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus combined with or specifically designed for use
in combination with means to effect a saving of heat.
Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions, appropriate subclasses for a process for producing
a concentrate composition of that class; e.g., concentrating animal
extracts such as fish liver oils to obtain a vitamin composition,
etc.
Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions,
and Products, appropriate subclasses for a food working operation
combined with the step concentrating.
Distillation: Processes, Separatory,
subclass 90 for a separatory distillation process in which
the distillant is introduced into the vaporization zone in the form
of a spray.
This subclass is indented under subclass 47.1. Processes in which the liquid to be concentrated is spread
in the form of a film or thin layer for evaporation.
Distillation: Processes, Separatory,
subclasses 72 and 89 for a separatory distillation process in
which the distilland is spread on a surface in a thin film.
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