Abstract: A lid for the receiver vessel an centrally disposed intake opening and a plurality of outlet openings located on diametrically opposite sides of the intake opening, a non-perforated pipe of finite length connected to the intake opening and extending a finite distance that is at a minimum 2.5 times the diameter of the non-perforated pipe into the receiver vessel, the relationship of the diameter of the non-perforated pipe and the inside diameter of the receiver vessel which defines an air space therebetween being configured to a ratio that is equal to or greater than 1:2.5 to thereby cause the gas/air flow through the air space toward the plural outlet openings to be substantially uniform and substantially less than a pick-up velocity of the particulate so as to cause the particulate to become separated from the air flow.

Abstract: A vacuum receiver for separating particles entrained in a gas-particle stream and for allowing a gas stream to exit from the vacuum receiver to an exhaust blower while simultaneously allowing the particles to remain in a particle receiving vessel having an open top. A cover is provided which has a top wall with a perimeter thereof resting on a surface of the receiving vessel encircling the open top. The cover has two openings therethrough, the first opening being oriented directly above the particle receiving vessel and a second opening being oriented on an axis that is wholly outside a peripheral boundary of the particle receiving vessel. The cover further includes a structure defining a passageway extending from the particle receiving vessel to the aforesaid second opening. A reciprocal valve member is mounted in the passageway and a drive motor is provided therefor which is mounted on an exterior part of the passageway to facilitate easy access thereto.

Abstract: A vacuum receiver for use in a pneumatic vacuum conveying system having a lid which gas-tightly closes a particle storage vessel. The lid has two apertures therein allowing a gas-particle stream to enter the interior of the vessel and a gas stream to exit the vessel. An upstanding hollow inlet housing is gas-tightly secured on an exterior surface of the lid communicating with one of the apertures. An inlet port is provided in one side of the inlet housing. The gas-particle stream enters the inlet port with sufficient velocity so that the particles strike the inlet housing opposite the inlet port to decelerate the particles. The particles fall through the one aperture and are stored in the vessel. The gas stream also enters the vessel through the one aperture and exits through the other aperture into an upstanding hollow outlet housing. The gas stream exits the outlet housing via an outlet port in the outlet housing.

Abstract: A pneumatic material handling system for conveying dry, solid particulate product from one of at least two separate upstanding dry, solid particulate product supply containers to at least one desired destination. At least two identically constructed valves are connected into the conduit system intermediate the supply containers and the desired destination. Each of the two valves includes a base plate having at least first and second separate through passageways extending therethrough and a movable plate slidably mounted on the base plate and movable between first and second positions relative to the base plate. The movable plate has a third through passageway extending therethrough and being axially aligned with the first through passageway in the first position of the movable plate and with the second through passageway in the second position of the movable plate. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the movable plate between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A device for metering and entraining a measured quantity of a dry, powdered and/or granular product with a gas stream moving in a conduit system. The device includes a hollow housing having a gas inlet opening and a gas and product outlet opening to and from, respectively, the interior of the housing connected to the conduit system so that a gas stream enters and exits the housing in the conduit system. Inlet structure of an appropriate size at the gas inlet opening causes the gas stream to move between the inlet opening and the outlet opening through the interior of the housing at a sufficient velocity to pick up and entrain product in the interior of the housing in the gas stream. Product is allowed to enter the housing through a product receiving opening from a product supply container to facilitate a supply of product to the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A device for metering and entraining a measured quantity of a dry, powdered and/or granular product with a gas stream moving in a conduit system. The device includes a hollow housing having a gas inlet opening and a gas and product outlet opening to and from, respectively, the interior of the housing connected to the conduit system so that a gas stream enters and exits the housing in the conduit system. Inlet structure of an appropriate size at the gas inlet opening causes the gas stream to move between the inlet opening and the outlet opening through the interior of the housing at a sufficient velocity to pick up and entrain product in the interior of the housing in the gas stream. Product is allowed to enter the housing through a product receiving opening from a product supply container to facilitate a supply of product to the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A vacuum receiver having a first elongate tube oriented along a vertical axis with a second tube of sufficiently greater girth encircling the first tube and forming an annular passage therebetween. A first conduit extends through the side wall of the first and second tubes and opens outwardly inside the first tube. The first tube has a top wall closing off the upper end and an open lower end. A second conduit extends coaxial with the first tube and is smaller in diameter than the first tube and terminates above the top wall. The second conduit communicates with the second tube leading a fluid stream from the passage at a location directly above the top wall. Adjustment structure is provided for varying the effective vertical spacing between the terminal end of the second conduit and the top wall of the first tube to thereby enable a varying of the velocity of the fluid stream in the passage to accommodate a specified material without causing the material to exit the second tube via the second conduit.