Apparatus for the continuous extraction of oils and soluble substances from solid materials

Abstract

A cylindrical housing encloses a plurality of vertically stacked extractor sections each containing a plurality of baskets in vertical registry with baskets of the other sections, with the baskets all being stationary so that material to be processed passes in a vertical path down through each successive extractor section. Rotating screens and miscella collection pans are disposed beneath the baskets in each extractor section and form the bottom thereof, with the screens and pans having aligned openings which during rotation permit the material being processed to be passed from an upper basket to a lower basket in vertical registry therewith. A countercurrent flow miscella and solvent distribution and collection system supplies miscella or fresh solvent to the upper portion of each of the extractor sections above the baskets and rotates with the screen and collection pan to progressively apply the proper strength of miscella or solvent to each of the baskets in each of the extractor sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a continuous solvent extracting apparatus, having a cylindrical housing, material distribution means in an upper portion of said housing, a plurality of vertically stacked extractor sections each including a plurality of vertically disposed radially extending walls for receiving material therebetween from said material distribution means, screening means beneath said walls for retaining processed material in a section and passing miscella therethrough, a collecting pan associated with and beneath each screening means for collecting miscella passed therethrough, miscella distribution means for removing miscella from said pans and supplying miscella to an upper portion of each section and material removal means for removing material from a lowermost extractor section, wherein the improvement comprises: said plurality of walls are stationary and abut said housing with each adjacent pair of walls and said housing forming a basket with said baskets in each section being in registry with said baskets in all other sections;   each said screening means being horizontally disposed, disc-shaped, mounted for rotation and having an opening defined therein generally co-extensive with a basket when in registry therewith;   each said pan having an opening defined therein in alignment with said opening defined in said associated screening mean for passing material from a basket of one section to a basket of a subsequent section and mounted for rotation with said associated screening means; and   means for rotating each said associated screening means and said pan simultaneously.   
     
     
       2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said screening means and pans includes means interconnecting all of said screening means and pans of all of said sections for simultaneous rotation thereof. 
     
     
       3. A continuous solvent extracting apparatus comprising: a cylindrical vertically extending housing;   a plurality of vertically stacked extractor sections disposed within said housing each section having   (a) a plurality of vertically disposed radially extending stationary walls extending outwardly and abutting said housing with adjacent pairs of walls and the housing each defining a basket,   (b) a horizontally disposed disc-shaped screen having an opening defined therein generally co-extensive with a basket when in registry therewith and mounted for rotation beneath said walls,   (c) a miscella collecting pan disposed beneath said screen and having a hopper defined therein extending toward a top portion of a subsequent extractor section and in alignment with said opening in said screen for passing material vertically downward from a basket of one section to a basket of the subsequent section,   (d) means for simultaneously rotating said screen and said pan;   a material .[.collecting.]. .Iadd.removal .Iaddend.means disposed beneath a lowermost extractor section for removing material from the apparatus after it has passed therethrough;   a miscella distribution means for conveying miscella from said pan of an extractor section to a top portion of a previous extractor section above the one from which removed, and for removing miscella from an uppermost extractor section for distribution to a remote location; and   means above said lowermost extractor section for supplying solvent to a top portion thereof.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said material .[.collection.]. .Iadd.removal .Iaddend.means includes means for further extracting miscella from material being processed. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said .[.further extraction.]. .Iadd.material removal .Iaddend.means includes .Iadd.means for .Iaddend.returning the miscella thus extracted to said .[.uppermost.]. .Iadd.lowermost .Iaddend.extractor section for mixing with miscella from that section. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 .[.or 5.]. wherein said .[.further extraction.]. .Iadd.material removal .Iaddend.means includes: a funnel-shaped housing extending downward from said lowermost extractor section;   a pair of horizontally extending intermeshing screw flights disposed beneath said funnel-shaped housing and co-operating to expel processed material from the apparatus;   a further screen disposed beneath said screw flights through which miscella can pass; and   a .[.miscella receiving means.]. .Iadd.collection trough .Iaddend.disposed beneath said further screen for receiving miscella therefrom.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said screens and said pans includes means interconnecting all of said screens and pans in all of said sections for simultaneous rotation thereof. .Iadd.8. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said material removal means includes: a funnel-shaped housing extending downward from said lowermost extractor section;   a pair of horizontally extending intermeshing screw flights disposed beneath said funnel-shaped housing and co-operating to expel processed material from the apparatus;   a further screen disposed beneath said screw flights through which miscella can pass; and   a collection trough disposed beneath said further screen for receiving miscella therefrom. .Iaddend.