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CLASS 201, | DISTILLATION: PROCESSES, THERMOLYTIC |
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SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASS SUBJECT MATTER
This is the residual class for thermolytic distillation processes not otherwise provided for. For purposes of this class thermolytic distillation is limited to the heating of a solid carbonaceous material (distilland) to vaporize the portion volatile under the conditions employed and to cause a compound or compounds in the material to undergo chemical decomposition (thermolysis) to form different chemical substances, at least some of which are volatile under the condition employed and an unvaporized solid carbonaceous material (residue). At least a part of the vaporized material is usually condensed to a liquid (distillate). See Lines With Other Classes, below, for lines between this class (201) and other classes having processes including thermolysis of carbonaceous material.
Solid carbonaceous materials within the purview of this class (201) include (exemplary but not limiting) such minerals as coal and oil shale and substances of an organic nature such as organic wastes and wood. Inorganic carbonates are excluded.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
LINES WITH CHEMICAL COMPOSITION CLASSES
(1) Product whether claimed in terms of their composition or claimed in terms of the process of making are classified in the appropriate composition class even if the process merely recites a thermolytic distillation operation.
(2) Processes for heating solid, carbonaceous material to cause decomposition of compounds therein and to produce a solid, carbonaceous residue are classified here only if not otherwise provided for.
(a) Processes of thermolytically decomposing a carbonaceous material to produce carbon black, graphite, or other purified carbon are classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below, for specific classes/subclasses.
(b) Processes for carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material to produce an electrically conductive product are classified elsewhere. A carbonized composition (e.g., activated carbon) claimed or disclosed solely as a sorbent or catalyst or a method of making such composition is classified elsewhere. See References to Other Classes, below, for specific classes/subclasses.
(c) The line between processes in this class (201) and Class 44, Fuel and Related Compositions, is that this class (201) takes a carbonization process wherein the carbonization is specified as being complete or a vaporized component is intended to be recovered, while Class 44 takes a process wherein the extent of carbonization is not specified or the disposition of any vaporized component is irrelevant to the process, only the final solid fuel product being of concern.
(d) Class 48, Gas: Heating and Illuminating, takes processes and apparatus for making heating and illuminating gases when no solid carbonaceous residue is left.
(e) The line between this class (201) and Class 208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products, is (1) thermolytic distillation of a distilland consisting predominately of solid carbonaceous material and a minor amount of a mineral oil material to produce a char is in this class (201), (2) thermolytic distillation of a distilland consisting predominately of a mineral oil material and a minor amount of a previously charred material is classified in Class 208, (3) for processes including extracting mineral oils from natural, solid, carbonaceous material as well as the digestion or conversion of the same as the digestion or conversion of the same to obtain mineral oils see Class 208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products, subclass 8 for the line.
PROCESSES INCLUDING EVAPORATION
Processes for evaporating without a condensing step are generally excluded from this class. For specific lines between the processes of this class and other processes including an evaporating step, see below.
(1) This class (201) is distinguished from Class 34, Drying and Gas Or Vapor Contact With Solids, in that the material herein is a solid or semi-solid which is chemically changed by the heating step so as to yield volatile substances containing condensable or absorbable components, while the material of Class 34 is a solid or semi-solid from which it is desired to remove an extraneous liquid, leaving the residue chemically unchanged, even though the volatile material be condensed.
(2) Class 134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, takes claimed combinations of work handling or supporting means or steps with means or steps to apply a liquid to the work, as by spraying or immersion, where said liquid is distilled or evaporated, whether or not the resulting vapor is (1) directly contacted with the work or (2) condensed for re-use to contact the work. When only the liquid distillation subcombination or the vapor-phase work contact subcombination has been claimed, see above for the line between Class 201 and Class 34.
(3) Evaporation Processes
Processes in which volatile components of the material being heated are removed as vapor without at least a portion of the vapor being condensed to a liquid are not within the purview of this class (201). See References to Other Classes, below, for some classes which provide for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step.
CLASS 201 IS SUPERIOR TO CLASS 203, DISTILLATION: PROCESSES, SEPARATORY.
SECTION III - REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
| 23, | Chemistry: Physical Processes, for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step. |
| 44, | Fuel and Related Compositions, subclasses 500+ for a particulate solid fuel composition and subclasses 550+ for a consolidated fuel solids composition. |
| 48, | Gas: Heating and Illuminating, subclasses 200 , 201 and 202 for a process for gasifying a mixture which includes coal and subclass 210 for a process for gasifying coal alone. |
| 75, | Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures, appropriate subclasses for a process of reducing an ore to the metallic state or refining molten metal involving distillation or for a sublimation process. |
| 95, | Gas Separation: Processes, for processes of gas separation. |
| 106, | Compositions: Coating or Plastic, appropriate subclasses for a coating composition which may be applied to surfaces of the distillation apparatus or utilized for making apparatus of a particular composition. |
| 110, | Furnaces, subclasses 235+ for a device for burning garbage or sewage, subclass 229 for a furnace having a special repository for fuel for eliminating the combustible gases and burning them before the coked fuel is fed to the fire and subclasses 101+ for a device for feeding fuel to a furnace. Under Class 110, class definition, see Class 122, Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers, and Class 126, Stoves and Furnaces, for the lines among these classes. |
| 122, | Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers, for apparatus and methods for heating liquids, generating vapors from liquids, treating the vapors generated and conserving the heat remaining in the liquid or vapor after part of the heat has been used. See particularly subclass 66 for devices containing a water cooled coking chamber for fuel. |
| 127, | Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates, for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step. |
| 134, | Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, subclasses 1+ for a cleaning process particularly subclasses 20 and 39, for a process of removing carbon, subclass 12 for a cleaning process including distilling the cleaning agent and subclass 31 for a cleaning process including the step of condensing a gas or vapor. |
| 159, | Concentrating Evaporators, for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step. |
| 162, | Paper Making and Fiber Liberation, subclasses 30.1+ for a process of destroying the organic constituents of the waste liquor. |
| 252, | Compositions, subclasses 502+ for an electron conductive or emissive composition containing free carbon and process of making. |
| 252, | Compositions, appropriate subclasses, for processes of thermolytically decomposing a carbonaceous material. |
| 260, | Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step. |
| 264, | Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes, subclasses 29.1+ , for processes for carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material to produce an electrically conductive product |
| 266, | Metallurgical Apparatus, for apparatus peculiarly adapted for the treatment of metals or metalliferous material. |
| 299, | Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material, subclasses 3+ for a process of converting coal or oil shale in place to fluid material, whether a coke-like residue remains or not. |
| 366, | Agitating, subclasses 219+ for apparatus for agitating a liquid or a particulate material by motion of the container, and subclasses 241+ for a fixed container with movable stirring apparatus, particularly subclasses 262+ for pump type stirrers. |
| 406, | Conveyors: Fluid Current, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for conveying solid material in a current of air or other gas. |
| 414, | Material Article or Handling, subclasses 147+ for charging devices for placing a charge in or removing one from an oven or furnace, and subclasses 800+ for a process of material or article handling. |
| 423, | Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, appropriate subclasses for processes of producing inorganic compounds and nonmetallic elements by chemical reaction, which may include a distillation step. |
| 423, | Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, subclasses 445+ for processes of thermolytically decomposing a carbonaceous material. |
| 426, | Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products, for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step. |
| 502, | Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making, especially subclasses 174+ and 416+ for a catalyst or sorbent containing carbonized material or a process of making such composition. |
| 502, | Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product of Process of Making, for a carbonized composition (e.g., activated carbon) claimed or disclosed solely as a sorbent or catalyst or a method of making such composition |
| 585, | Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds, for processes that include an evaporating or concentrating step. |
| 588, | Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment, subclass 312 and 313-320 for the use of process distillation and thermolytic processes to destroy hazardous waste. |
SECTION IV - GLOSSARY
AUTOTHERMIC DISTILLATION
A thermolytic distillation operation in which the distilland, either by combustion of a portion of itself or by other chemical change, furnishes at least part of the heat for thermolysis and volatilization of either the inherent or the thermolized volatile matter.
CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL
Any solid material (mixture or compound) other than an inorganic carbonate which contains carbon or carbon containing compounds such as coke or wood.
CHAR
The generic term applied to the carbonaceous residue from a thermolytic distillation of any carbonaceous material. It encompasses such terms as bone black, charcoal and coke.
COKE
Strictly this is the amorphous, solid residue of coal after the volatile material has been distilled off in a thermolytic distillation. The term is also applied in the art to the solid, carbonaceous residue from the thermolytic distillation of such materials as oil shale, petroleum and pitch.
CONDENSATE
See Distillate in the Class Definition section.
DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION
See thermolytic distillation.
DISTILLAND
For the purpose of this class is the carbonaceous material which is undergoing a distillation operation.
DISTILLATE
The liquid product condensed from vapor during the distillation operation.
EVAPORATION
The process of changing a solid or liquid into a vapor. This is the generic term for both sublimation and vaporization. It differs from "distillation" in that distillation includes the additional step of condensing vapor produced to a liquid.
SEPARATORY DISTILLATION
A process of vaporizing at least a portion of a liquid mixture (distilland) and condensing at least a portion of the vapor to separate the liquid mixture into distinct parts. The substances recovered as products must have preexisted in the original mixture.
SUBLIMATION
A process in which a solid passes into the vapor state without liquefaction and the vapor returns to the solid state without passing through the liquid phase.
THERMOLYTIC DISTILLATION
A distillation in which material found in the distilland undergoes chemical decomposition (thermolysis) to form different substances at least some of which are volatile at the temperature employed. The volatile substances are recovered by condensation or sorption.
SUBCLASSES
1 | WITH MEASURING, TESTING OR INSPECTING: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes combined with the positive step of visually, chemically
or physically determining some chemical or physical characteristic
or property of the distilland, vapor, residue or condensate.
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2 | WITH CLEANING OF APPARATUS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes including the step of cleaning the apparatus,
e.g., removing adhering char product, etc.
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2.5 | NON-MINERAL DISTILLAND WITH CATALYST OR CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF VOLATILE COMPONENT: | ||||||||||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes in which the feedstock to the distillation process
is a vegetable or animal material and which include either (1) use
of a catalyst with distilland during the thermolysis, or (2) a chemical
treatment of a volatile component, i.e., a distillate or a fixed
gas obtained in the thermolysis, to convert or maintain a volatile
component in a desired chemical form.
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3 | WITH PHYSICAL SEPARATION OF SOLID BY-PRODUCT FROM REMOVED ADMIXTURE: | ||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes including separating a solid by-product material
by a disparate physical step.
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4 | Gas or vapor containing mixture: | ||||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Processes in which a solid by-product is separated from
a gas or vapor.
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5 | AND SHAPING TO DESIRED FORM OR CONFIGURATION: | ||||||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes under the definition including a step of shaping
solid carbonaceous material into a definite shape or structure.
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6 | Prior to charging to carbonizing zone: | ||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 5. Processes in which the shaping of the feed particles occurs
prior to the step of charging them to the carbonizing zone.
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7 | WITH COMMINUTING: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes combined with the step of comminuting or at least
a portion of the charge or the residue.
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8 | Prior to charging to carbonizing zone: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 7. Processes in which the solid carbonaceous material is disintegrated prior to charging to the carbonizing zone. | |
9 | AND SURFACE TREATING MATERIAL TO REDUCE OR PREVENT AGGLOMERATING OR FOAMING OR SWELLING DURING DISTILLATION: | ||||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes which include a treatment of the surface of the
particles of the charge to reduce or prevent agglomerating or foaming
or swelling during distillation.
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10 | BY CONDUCTION USING PREHEATED CHARGE CONTAINER OR PREHEATED INERT DISPARATE SOLID OR PREHEATED LIQUID: | ||||||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes in which the distillation is brought about by
heat derived by direct contact with an extraneous, preheated solid
or liquid or container.
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11 | Liquid is metal: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 10. Processes in which the preheated material is molten metal.
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12 | Particulate disparate solid: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 10. Processes in which the preheated material is a particulate
solid.
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13 | USING A CARBONIZATION PRODUCT AS INDIRECT HEAT SOURCE: | ||||||||||||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes including using a product of the carbonizing step
as an indirect source of heat.
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14 | For heating the carbonaceous material: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under subclass 13. Processes directed to indirectly heating the carbonaceous
charge, at least in part, with heat from a product of the thermolytic
distillation operation.
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15 | Including heat by burning of product: | ||||||
This subclass is indented under subclass 14. Processes directed to indirectly heating the carbonaceous
charge, at least in part, by the burning of at least a part of a
product of the thermolytic distillation operation.
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16 | Solid product: |
| This subclass is indented under subclass 15. Processes in which the carbonaceous charge is indirectly heated, at least in part, by burning a solid product of the thermolytic distillation operation. | |
17 | AND REFINING CHAR, E.G., DESULFURIZING COKE: | ||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes combined with the step of removing impurities
from char.
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18 | UTILIZING APPARATUS OF PARTICULAR COMPOSITION: | ||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes directed to using structures having a specific
composition, (e.g., a cast iron sole plate, etc.).
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19 | APPLYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY DIRECTLY TO MATERIAL: | ||||||||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes including applying electrical energy directly
to the material undergoing treatment.
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20 | ADDING DISPARATE NON-GASEOUS MATERIAL TO FEED: | ||||||
| This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes directed to incorporating an extraneous, solid
or liquid, noncarbonaceous material into the carbonaceous material
being treated.
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21 | FEED OF TWO OR MORE CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL (AT LEAST THE PREDOMINATE ONE BEING SOLID): | ||||||||||
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes in which the feed material is composed of two
or more carbonaceous substances of which at least the predominate
one is a solid.
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