Abstract: A conduction mixer having a hopper for receiving a material to be mixed, a mixing member mounted in the hopper and movable in the hopper to thereby mix the material in the hopper and a source of heat transfer fluid, connected to the mixing member to direct the heat transfer fluid through the mixing member to enable the mixing member to simultaneously mix material and conductively transfer heat between the heat transfer fluid and the material to be mixed.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve that includes a sealing arrangement with a cantilevered seal that prevents fluid from escaping from a system if the differential pressure is only slightly positive yet permits fluid to be released from the system if the internal system pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure differential. In a further embodiment, the pressure relief valve includes a further scaling arrangement with a further cantilevered seal, which is normally closed, but if the internal system pressure should decrease below the external pressure a predetermined amount the second scaling arrangement opens to allow fluid into the system to thereby equalize the pressure and thereby prevent collapse of the system.

Abstract: A multi-port pneumatic switch having a drive system including a motor and a gear reduction box that rotates a rotatable plate which carries a rotateable conduit having an offset end and a non-offset end with the offset end postionable into precise flow alignment with any of a plurality of outlet conduits through the coaction of a photoelectric alignment system that detects a light beam reflection from a reflector on the rotatable plate to immediately shut the power to the drive system and thereby stop further forward rotation of the rotatable plate. With the cessation of power to the drive system a pivotal arm swings into engagement with a radial stop on the rotatable plate to lock the rotatable plate from further forward rotation while the drive system which is powered through a gear reduction drive functions as brake to prevent back rotation of the rotatable plate once the power is shut off to the motor.

Abstract: A pneumatic switch having a wiper seal to inhibit material from escaping from a pneumatic conveying line during a switching process and to maintain the pneumatic conveying line in a closed condition to prevent contamination of the contents of the pneumatic conveying line and an inflatable seal to seal around a pneumatic conveying line with the pneumatic switch including a movable housing that is moveable with respect to a second pneumatic conveying line. The movable housing bearing is carried by a movable plate that allows one to position or reposition the pneumatic conveying line with respect to another conveying line to thereby divert material from one conveying line to another conveying line while an inflatable seal allows one to seal and reseal around the pneumatic conveying line.

Abstract: A fluid valve and bin aerator for discharging fluid into a chamber while preventing backflow of fluid through the fluid valve with the fluid valve including a resilient member having a set of annular sealing lips located in concentric alignment and at an angle to a sealing surface to provide lips that will cantilever away from the sealing surface and unseal if the pressure on the interior of the fluid valve is greater than on the exterior of the valve to allow fluid to be discharged from the valve, and will cantilever against the sealing surface if the pressure on the exterior of the valve is greater than the pressure on the inside of the valve to seal the fluid valve and inhibit backflow through the fluid valve.

Abstract: A replaceable liner for installation in a material handling system where materials normally accumulate on an interior of a material handling apparatus, the liner characterized by being sufficiently large so that the liner is externally supported in a first normal direction when the liner is in a working condition, the liner characterized by being sufficiently strong so as to withstand without tearing a frictional sliding force produced by a material sliding along the liner even though the liner may be sufficiently weak so as not to be capable of supporting and confining the material therein; the liner having a first peripheral region for removably securing the liner in a working condition in a conveying apparatus with the liner further characterized by being sufficiently flexible so that the application of a force in a direction opposite to the normal direction liner causes the liner to flex and bend thereby dislodging any materials accumulated thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of continually mixing material in a handling system wherein one delivers first material at a first delivery rate to a mixer and a second material at a second delivery rate to the mixer to allow the mixer to mix the first material and the second material to form a mixture of material. While the mixer is mixing the first and second materials, it continually delivers a mixture of material by use of a control unit that maintains the mixer discharge rate equal to the summation of the first delivery rate and the second delivery rate so that the mixer can continually maintain and mix the first material with the second material while delivering a mixture of material.

Abstract: A system for preventing a cartridge filter which is located inside the bin or hopper of a system from accidentally falling into the hopper because of failure of the operator to properly handle the cartridge filter during replacement of the cartridge filter with the system including a safety cage that is secured to the bin with the safety cage surrounding the cartridge filter and being spaced sufficiently far from the cartridge filter to permit free nonbinding removal and replacement of a filter cartridge while still permitting substantially unimpeded flow of air through the safety cage.

Abstract: A flexible connector that maintains flow passage integrity with the flexible connector having a normally tubular section made of compressible material of substantially uniform thickness and having a flow passage therethrough, the tubular section of compressible material having a smoothly contoured interior surface for unimpeded flow of material thereover, and an exterior surface with a plurality of external circumferential ribs integral with the tubular section with the plurality of external circumferential ribs located in a spaced relationship to form circumferential valleys between adjacent ribs, with the circumferential valleys expandable or contractible zonally influenceable by the circumferential ribs proximate thereto, allowing the tubular section to be supported and formed into a smoothly curved section to thereby maintain the integrity of the flow passage through the tubular section of the flexible connector whether the flexible connector is in a straight or curved condition and an integral compressib

Abstract: A fluid control valve for an inline fluid control system comprising a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the housing having a rectangular shaped fluid passage for fluid to flow therethrough, the housing having a first cylindrical passage located therein and a second cylindrical passage located therein with the first cylindrical passage and the second cylindrical passage located in coaxial alignment with each other, the first cylindrical passage having a first diameter and second cylindrical passage having a second diameter with the first diameter larger than the second diameter and a stepped plunger slidably located in the first cylindrical passage and the second cylindrical passage, the plunger slidable with respect to the rectangular shaped fluid passage to permit one to increase or decrease the area for fluid to flow through the fluid passage, the stepped plunger having an enlarged portion to prevent the stepped plunger from being accidentally withdrawn from the housing and a flow control kno

Abstract: A booster valve for a pneumatic conveying system is made with an annular seal made out of relatively thin rubber having a low tensile strength to thereby reduce the resistance or opposition to the flow of the booster air into the conveying line and the seal retainer is provided with supporting ribs for restraining movement of the seal to prevent the seal from exceeding its elastic limit which otherwise could occur due to a whipping action which occurs during high volumes of air flow through the booster valve. In addition, the booster valve has a large air-receiving chamber so that the input pressurized air is allowed to expand to thereby reduce the velocity of the air as it passes through the valve.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved two-way dynamic shaft-sealing member for a fluid transport system having a butterfly valve with an inflatable seal with the improved shaft-sealing member including a rigid race secured to and carried by the interface portion of the inflatable seal to maintain the integrity of the interface portion of the seal with a compressible sealing ring located in the race and held in confinement by the race to hold the sealing ring in a sealing condition against the inside of the race and the outside of the shaft to prevent fluids from escaping therepast as the shaft is moved or the inflatable seal is inflated or deflated.

Abstract: The noise generated by onrushing air which is produced by an air blower for use in conjunction with pneumatic conveying equipment is substantially reduced by directing the air flow through an enclosed housing from an air inlet opening to an air outlet opening mainly via hollow tubular members made of air pervious material shaped in a snake-like or serpentine fashion between the air inlet and the air outlet openings.

Abstract: Tubing or pipe bend or elbow for use in carrying pneumatically conveyed granular material has an axial bore with an input opening at one end and gradually diminishes to a smaller opening at the output end, such that the incoming material sees a pressure relief, or drop, at the input to the bend. As a feature, a tubing bend may be segmented, i.e., made out of a series of separate or individual bends with the output of one coupled to the input of another.

Abstract: Pressurized air is applied to dry granular materials as they enter the top of a vessel to mix the materials together and the mixed materials continuously flow out of the vessel through a bottom discharge opening.

Abstract: A vertically oriented generally cylindrical vessel or hopper holds dry granular materials which are mixed together by applying repeated short bursts of pressurized air from nozzles in an air manifold which direct the air substantially parallel or slightly inward to the longitudinal axis of the hopper to repeatedly lift and drop the materials in the hopper to create a tumbling action. Adjustable throttling valve means are provided in the pressurized input to the manifold to control the air flow to and the pressure at the manifold.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a transport system having an annular inflatable seal which has an annular interior domed portion which expands as an integral unit until it contacts the edge of a butterfly valve which engages the domed portion to form a slight recess in the annular seal which provides an airtight and locking seal with the annular seal having a pair of annular resilient legs operable to return the annular interior domed portion to its original position to permit the butterfly valve to be opened.

Abstract: In a housing enclosing a collector chamber for filtering air laden with dust or other contaminants, a filter element is mounted in line with a clean air opening into the chamber through the housing and is attached so that contaminated air coming into another housing opening into the chamber must pass through the filter media for removing the contaminants from the air. From time to time a stream of pressurized cleaning air is applied in the reverse direction through the first opening to drive contaminants off the filter media. A deflector or diffuser is located in line with the clean air opening to diffuse the applied stream of cleaning air so that it does not directly impinge the filter element.

Abstract: A housing containing a chamber having an inlet bore and an outlet bore with an elongated resilient annular seal having one end fixedly attached around the inlet bore and its other end facing the outlet bore resiliently sealed around the surface of a solid plug located in the chamber.

Abstract: An adjustable pneumatic conveyor tube booster valve for banding to the top of a conveyor tube with the booster valve inlet located remotely from the pneumatic conveyor tube. The booster valve is constructed from an annular rubber sleeve which flexes inwardly in response to high inlet pressure in the booster valve to permit flow of air into the conveyor tube but returns to its original shape when the pressure in the inlet drops to prevent back flow of material from the conveyor tube into the booster valve. An adjustable cap permits adjustment of gas flow into the booster tube.