Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus

US5669397A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Hoyt S. Beard · Winston-Salem, US
• Lucas J. Conrad · Winston-Salem, US
• J. Edward Crook · Winston-Salem, US
• James Edward Lovette · Winston-Salem, US
• Robert C. Johnson · Lancaster, US
• Donald Newton · Richmond, US
• Hamid Neshan · Houston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 1, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 23, 1997
• Expiry date: Oct 1, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A24B3/182
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

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.