Abstract: A control valve for a particulate material blender which permits either blending or bypassing with pressurized gas or discharging the material without pressurized gas, but prevents undesirable interconnections. A cylindrical body with four access ports spaced around the body has a rotor with connecting passages within the body. In one embodiment, the rotor interconnects either the gas entry port to the blender port alone, the gas entry port to the blender and bypass ports, or the blender port to the discharge port as it rotates into one of its three positions. A suitable rotation means, for example, two rotary actuators, are used to secure the three positions of the valve, while preventing any other rotational positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying solid particulate material which takes the form of a line charging device for a pneumatic conveying system. The apparatus is of the type which includes a screw impeller rotatable in a casing for advancing material from a hopper through the casing to a discharge chamber. From the discharge chamber, gas under pressure entrains the material and serves to convey it through an attached conveying line. A pair of diametrically opposed outlets from the casing are provided to introduce material from the casing into the discharge chamber. A normally closed flap valve is operatively associated with each of the casing outlets to aid in establishing a seal of material at the outlet. The use of nozzles between the source of gas under pressure and the conveying line has been eliminated.