Appeal No. 2004-0804
Application No. 09/757,886
sectional area of the upper end of the downcomer at
tray level.
6. The tray of claim 1, in which the tray is
divided in two tray sections by a diametrical line,
each tray section provided with a row of rectangular
downcomers, the downcomers arranged perpendicular to
the diametrical line such that the ends of the
downcomers of each tray section meet this line in an
alternating fashion.
7. A column comprising a plurality of axially
spaced trays with a distance of a tray space between
the trays, each tray comprising:
a bubble area; and,
one or more rectangular downcomers sharing at
least one boundary with the bubble area, each having a
length and a width wherein the length is longer than
the width, and an upper and lower end, comprising:
two sloped downcomer walls along the length;
a downcomer opening at tray level; and,
one or more downward directed liquid discharge
openings at its lower end; wherein the downcomers are
so positioned on the tray that bubble area is present
along the length, wherein the cross-sectional area at
the lower end of the downcomer is less than 40% of the
cross-sectional area of the upper end of the downcomer
at tray level.
8. The column of claim 7, in which the downcomer
extends between about 50 and 90% of the tray spacing
below a tray.
9. The column of claim 8, in which an inlet weir
is present along a boundary of an area just below the
liquid discharge openings of a tray and the
corresponding bubble area.
The examiner relies on the following prior art references
as evidence of unpatentability:
Jenkins 4,496,430 Jan. 29, 1985
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