Process and Apparatus for Recovering Bitumen (Patent No: 326747)

Inventor: Fitzsimmons, Robert Cosmos, (assignor)

Location: Edmonton

Comments: see photo PAA 71.356/334; Great Canadian Oil Sands Limited; assigned to International Bitumen Company

Description:
I CLAIM:

1. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, beating and agitating the sand, discharging it into a hot water bath and separately withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen and thereafter drying it.

2. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it into a hot water bath and separately withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen, withdrawing it in a heated condition from the bath and then drying it.

3. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it into a hot water bath and separately withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen and thereafter drying it by heating and agitating the mass of bitumen.


4. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it into a hot water bath and separately withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen, withdrawing it in a heated condition from the bath and then drying it by heating and agitating the mass of bitumen.

5. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it continuously into a hot water bath and separately and continuously withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, feeding separate batches of the resultant continuously discharged bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen and thereafter drying it.

6. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it continuously into a hot water bath and separately and continuously withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen, withdrawing it in a heated condition from the bath and then drying it.

7. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it continuously into a hot water bath, and separately and continuously withdrawing bitumen and sand therefrom, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen and thereafter drying it by heating and agitating the mass of bitumen.

8. The process of recovering bitumen from tar sand which consists in moistening, heating and agitating the sand, discharging it continuously into a hot water bath and separately and continuously withdrawing therefrom sand and bitumen, discharging the resultant bitumen into a cold water bath, there agitating, washing and congealing it, then withdrawing the water, heating the deposited congealed bitumen, withdrawing it in a heated condition from the bath, and then drying it by heating and agitating the mass of bitumen.

9. Means for recovering bitumen from tar sand comprising a hopper, adapted to receive tar sand in an unheated condition, a feeder and agitator in the throat of the hopper, a heating and mixing conveyor adapted to receive the material from the feeder, a hot water bath adapted to receive the discharge from the conveyor, means therein for separating sand and bitumen, comprising a conveyor in the bottom of the hot water bath adapted to discharge the sand therefrom and a skimmer at the surface of the hot water bath adapted to remove bitumen therefrom and discharge it from the bath.

10. Means for recovering bitumen from tar sand comprising a hopper, adapted to receive tar sand in an unheated condition, a feeder and agitator in the throat of the hopper, a heating and mixing conveyor adapted to receive the material from the feeder, a hot water bath adapted to receive the discharge from the conveyor, means therein for separating sand and bitumen, comprising a conveyor in the bottom of the hot water bath adapted to discharge the sand therefrom and a skimmer at the surface of the hot water bath adapted to remove bitumen therefrom and discharge it from the bath, the skimmer comprising a roller immersed in the bath, means for rotating it and means for scraping bitumen therefrom.

11. Means for recovering bitumen from tar sand comprising a hopper adapted to receive tar sand in an unheated condition, a feeder and agitator in the throat of the hopper, means for supplying steam to moisten and pre-heat the sand as it is fed to the conveyor, a heating and mixing conveyor adapted to receive material from the feeder, a hot water bath adapted to receive the discharge from the conveyor, means therein for separating sand and bitumen.

12. In an apparatus for treating bitumen, a storage tank, a wash box comprising a water containing tank adapted to contain cold water, an agitator therein, means for controlling the flow of water to and from the tank, means for withdrawing water entirely from the tank, a storage tank into which the washing tank may discharge and a de-watering tank associated with the storage tank.

13. In an apparatus for treating bitumen, a storage tank, a wash box comprising a water containing tank adapted to contain cold water, an agitator therein, means for controlling the flow of water to and from the tank, means for withdrawing water entirely from the tank, a storage tank into which the washing tank may discharge and a de-watering tank associated with the storage tank, means for de-watering bitumen comprising a boiler, means for heating it and means at the bottom of the boiler for agitating the material contained therein to permit discharge of water therefrom.