Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
In a process for producing a coal-water mixture, the steps including: producing an aqueous coal slurry comprised of granular coal feedstock which is greater then 50% by weight of an aqueous liquid medium, forming from said aqueous coal slurry at least first and second dilatant coal feed streams each comprised of a different size classification of said granular coal feedstock in an aqueous liquid medium, the aqueous liquid medium of each of the feed streams being less than 50% by weight of the granular coal feedstock, and mixing together selected amounts of said first and second dilatant coal feed streams in the presence of a dispersing agent to form a coal-water mixture comprised of at least 65% by weight coal particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a process for producing a coal-water mixture, the steps including: producing an aqueous coal slurry comprised of granular coal feedstock which is greater then 50% by weight of an aqueous liquid medium, forming from said aqueous coal slurry at least first and second dilatant coal feed streams each comprised of a different size classification of said granular coal feedstock in an aqueous liquid medium, the aqueous liquid medium of each of the feed streams being less than 50% by weight of the granular coal feedstock, and mixing together selected amounts of said first and second dilatant coal feed streams in the presence of a dispersing agent to form a coal-water mixture comprised of at least 65% by weight coal particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of forming includes removing a minus 2-micron particle fraction from the coal feedstock.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of forming includes discarding a minus 2-micron particle fraction from the coal feedstock.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of forming includes increasing the ratio of surface area to mass of coal particles comprising the coal feedstock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 4 wherein said step of forming further includes removing a minus 2-micron particle fraction from the coal feedstock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of forming includes contacting particle of the coal feedstock with an oxidizing agent to increase the ratio of surface area to mass of coal particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein said step of forming the coal feedstock further includes removing a minus 2-micron particle fraction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of forming includes forming depressed areas in the surfaces of coal particles of the coal feedstock.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 8 wherein the ratio of surface area to mass of coal particles is increased by about 5% to 7%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process according to claim 2 including the further step of producing 2 microns or less granular coal particles and supplying a controlled portion of said 2 microns or less granular coal particles for said step of mixing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of producing at least first and second coal feed streams includes forming said first coal feed stream by processing said coal feedstock in a first classifier, forming said second coal feed stream by processing a residual coal feed stream from said first classifier in a second fraction from the second classifier, and dewatering the second coal feed stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process according to claim 11 wherein said step of dewatering includes feeding said second coal feed stream onto a first sieve belt and thereafter subjecting the second feed stream to pressure and shear forces in a roller pressing section of a belt press.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process according to claim 11 wherein said step of dewatering includes feeding said second stream to the lower end of an upwardly-inclined stepped plate having transverely-extending attachments, and vibration of said stepped plate to advance said second fraction upwardly from attachment-to-attachment to separate aqueous medium from the second feed stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 13 wherein said step of dewatering further includes arranging said upwardly-incluined stepped plate at an angle to the horizontal of between 0 to 3.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 14 wherein said step of producing the coal feedstock includes increasing the ratio of surface area to mass of coal particles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a process for producing a coal-water mixture, the steps including: producing an aqueous coal slurry comprised of granular coal feedstock which is greater than 50% by weight of an aqueous liquid medium, forming at least first and second dilatant coal feed streams each comprised of a different size classification of said granular coal feedstock in a aqueous liquid medium, the aqueous liquid medium of each coal feed streams being less than 50% by weight of the granular coal feedstock, combining selected amounts of said first and second dilatant coal feed streams, and mixing the combined amounts of dilatant coal feed streams with a dispersing agent in effective quantities to form a coal-water mixture having a viscosity that gradually increases throughout a temperature range of 0 C. to 35 C., said coal-water mixture being comprised of at least 65% by weight coal particles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a process for producing a coal-water mixture, the steps including: producing an aqueous coal slurry comprised of granular coal feedstock which is greater than 50% by weight of an aqueous liquid medium, forming at least first and second dilatant coal feed streams each comprised of a different size classification of said granular coal feedstock in a aqueous liquid medium, the aqueous liquid medium of each coal feed streams being less than 50% by weight of the granular coal feedstock, combining selected amounts of said first and second dilatant coal feed streams, and mixing the combined amounts of dilatant coal feed streams with a dispersing agent in effective quantities to form a coal-water mixture having a viscosity that gradually increases throughout a temperature range of 0 C. to 35 C., said coal-water mixture being comprised of at least 65% by weight coal particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for separating a slurry comprised of a fluid medium fraction and a dilatant granular material fraction, said process including the steps of: forcing the fluid medium fraction toward the top of the slurry at the lower end of the stepped plate by the application of mechanical energy thereto, and advancing the dilatant granular material fraction upwardly along the plate from the fluid medium at the top of the slurry.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for separating a slurry comprised of a fluid medium fraction and a dilatant granular material fraction, said process including the steps of: forcing the fluid medium fraction toward the top of the slurry at the lower end of the stepped plate by the application of mechanical energy thereto, and advancing the dilatant granular material fraction upwardly along the plate from the fluid medium at the top of the slurry.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 17 wherein said upwarly-inclined stepped plate extends at an angle to the horizontal of between 0 and 3 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process according to claim 17 including the further step of securing transversely-extending attachments to said upwardly-inclined stepped plate to retain quantities of the dilatant granular material fraction while advance upwardly from attachment-to-attachment along said plate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 19 wherein said attachments includes openings to drain fluid material from granular material retained on the stepped plate by the attachments.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 17 including the further step of controlling the level of fluid medium retained on the said upwardly-inclined stepped plate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 17 wherein said step of forcing the fluid medium fraction includes vibrating said stepped plate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 17 wherein said step of advancing the dilatant material includes vibrating said stepped plate.