Abstract: An improved draft tube spout fluid bed (DTSFB) mixing, handling, conveying, and treating apparatus and systems, and methods for operating are provided. The apparatus and systems can accept particulate material and pneumatically or hydraulically conveying the material to mix and/or treat the material. In addition to conveying apparatus, a collection and separation apparatus adapted to receive the conveyed particulate material is also provided. The collection apparatus may include an impaction plate against which the conveyed material is directed to improve mixing and/or treatment. The improved apparatus are characterized by means of controlling the operation of the pneumatic or hydraulic transfer to enhance the mixing and/or reacting by controlling the flow of fluids, for example, air, into and out of the apparatus. The disclosed apparatus may be used to mix particulate material, for example, mortar; react fluids with particulate material; coat particulate material, or simply convey particulate material.

Abstract: There is described a method for the removal of a contact lens (30) from a container (10), with a contact lens (30) being immersed in a liquid (20) which is held in a container (10), and the contact lens (30) being removed from the container (10) together with at least a portion of the liquid (20) through a removal tube (3) which is dipped into the liquid (20) within the container (10). First the container (10) containing the liquid (20) and the immersed contact lens (30) is closed pressure-tight with a lid (2), which comprises the removal tube (3) and a pressure tube (5). Both, the removal tube (3) and the pressure tube (5), are guided through the lid (2). After the closing of the container (10) with the lid (2) an overpressure is applied to the interior of the closed container (10) through the pressure tube (5). The overpressure is applied such that the contact lens (30) and the liquid (20) are pressed into the removal tube (3) and removed together therethrough.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided fluidizing apparatus comprising: a flow chamber 2 having a fluid inlet 4 and a fluid outlet 6; means 18 for establishing a swirling flow in a fluid passing out of the fluid outlet; and a transport outlet 30 for transporting fluidized material away from the flow chamber 2, the transport outlet 30 being situated externally of the flow chamber 2.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coating particulate material are provided. The apparatus includes a vessel having a top and a bottom, a vertically extending conduit having an inlet in the vessel and an outlet outside of the vessel, a first fluid inlet in the bottom of the vessel for introducing a transfer fluid, a second fluid inlet in the bottom of the vessel for introducing a coating fluid, and a fluid outlet from the vessel. The method includes steps of agitating a material, contacting the material with a coating material, and drying the coating material to produce a coated material. The invention may be adapted to coat aerogel beads, among other materials. A coated aerogel bead and an aerogel-based insulation material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of transporting tuberous vegetables from a storage facility that is remote from a processing facility to a processing facility includes providing a pipeline from the storage facility to the processing facility. A sufficient amount of water is continuously fed into a pump inlet along with a continuous selected amount of tuberous vegetables such that a pump, located proximate the storage facility, forces the water along with the tuberous vegetables through the pipeline and discharges the water and tuberous vegetables to the processing facility where the processing facility separates the water from the tuberous vegetables.

Abstract: A container for the transport or storage of a bulk granular product is of generally cylindrical shape. Within the container is located a substantially conical exit hopper (13, 15, 17) and means (21) to convey the granular product from the exit hopper to the exterior of the container.

Abstract: A pellet loader according to the present invention is provided with an ejector portion 1. A gas supply pipe 2 is connected to an injection nozzle 11 of the ejector portion 1 for supplying compressed gas from a compressed gas source 8. An insert pipe 4 is connected to a suction inlet 12 of the ejector portion 1. Pellets are sucked from the suction inlet 40 of the insert pipe 4 into the ejector portion 1. A gas pipe 5 is arranged along the insert pipe 4 and one end of the gas pipe 5 has an opening 50 positioned at the vicinity of the suction inlet 40 of the insert pipe 4 and faced to the suction inlet 40 of the insert pipe 4 for injecting the compressed gas into the insert pipe 4. A transport pipe 3 is connected to an outlet portion 14 of the ejector portion 1.

Abstract: An apparatus for emptying powder from a container, such as an original shipping box includes a support having a vibrating unit for loosening the powder within the container. A powder pick-up tube and an attached powder pump draw powder from the container and transfer the powder to a powder spray gun. The lower end of the pick-up tube includes a positively pressurized fluidization unit for locally fluidizing the powder at the pick-up tube inlet. The pressurized fluidization unit primarily assists in providing a consistent draw of powder up the pick-up tube.

Abstract: A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate material into the chamber, and at least one pressurized gas exit conduit for transporting particulate material away from the chamber. The wand is flexible and is manually controlled so that the user can control the exact direction in which the particulate material is to be focused. The wand includes a switch which sends a signal to a signal-actuated valve which is coupled to the entrance conduit. Upon receiving the appropriate signal, the signal-actuated valve adjusts so as to alter the flow of particulate material.

Abstract: A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate material into the chamber, and at least one pressurized gas exit conduit for transporting particulate material away from the chamber. The wand is flexible and is manually controlled so that the user can control the exact direction in which the particulate material is to be focused. The wand includes a switch which sends a signal to a signal-actuated valve which is coupled to the entrance conduit. Upon receiving the appropriate signal, the signal-actuated valve adjusts so as to alter the flow of particulate material.

Abstract: A flexible container for a particulate material includes a main body having a sealable input opening in an upper portion thereof, and a sleeve extending from a lower portion of the main body. A connector is connected to a distal end which is folded along a side of the sleeve for storage. In carrying out a method of removing and transmitting the particulate material to another destination, the connector is connected to a carrier gas control device which supplies a carrier gas to the container that is mixed with the particulate material then the device has a transmitting pipe which transmits the particulate material to a container in a distant place. A suction is provided by the container in order to draw the particulate material to the container.

Abstract: An improved extraction apparatus for bulk material containers, in particular for bins (1) filled with a pourable bulk material (3), comprises a suction head which can be lowered onto the bulk material (3). According to the improvement, provision is made for the suction head (10) to be provided with a float (11), floating in or on the bulk material (3), and to be held above it, and for the oscillation control device (35) to be arranged in such a way that the suction head (10) and/or the float (11) can be caused at least indirectly to oscillate.

Abstract: A gas conveying system capable of conveying a solid material without pushing or compressing the solid material. The system comprising: at least one conduit assembly comprising a conduit, a lance assembly disposed about a first end of the conduit which is capable of removing the solid material from a holding device, and a first eductor which is capable of entraining the solid material in a gas stream and moving the solid material through the conduit; a cyclone disposed about a second end of the conduit, the cyclone being capable of separating the solid material from the gas stream; and a second eductor disposed to receive the solid material from the cyclone, the second eductor being capable of entraining the solid material in a second gas stream which has a solid-material-to gas mass ratio which is greater than that of the first eductor. The second stage eductor transports the particles further downstream for storage, additional transport, or for further treatment, such as burning in an incinerator.

Abstract: A fluidising unit (1) comprising a supply duct (2) which is arranged to be fed with liquid under pressure, and a discharge duct (5) within the supply duct and projecting beyond the outlet of the supply duct. The end of the supply duct (2) is closable when the fluidising unit is not in use. A screen (9) is associated with the supply duct (2), the screen having at least one oblique opening (10), and being positioned so that liquid passing through the supply duct passes through the or each opening in the screen and is caused to swirl.

Abstract: A coating powder feed device supplies a plurality of flows of coating powder from a container to, for example, a plurality of powder coating devices or a plurality of containers. A plurality of individual powder feed devices are mounted in a housing which is sealed against entry of coating powder. Only the exterior housing surfaces, intake heads at lower ends of the individual powder feed devices which include powder suction inlets, and the internal fluidized powder flow channels are exposed to the coating powder, thus facilitating cleaning when changing powders. The individual powder feed devices are simultaneously lowered into a powder supply container during use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping a constant volume of powder to a powder spray gun includes a powder pump which meters the powder into a stream of air so that a constant volume of the air entrained powder is distributed to the spray gun. The invention also discloses a pressure equalizing system that prevents powder leakage across a powder metering system that meters powder from a reservoir into an outlet tube carrying the constant velocity stream of air. A control system is disclosed which adjusts the rate at which powder is metered into the outlet tube so that the mass flow of powder exiting the outlet tube remains constant.

Abstract: An apparatus and process feed at a controlled rate a free-flowing particulate material entrained in a carrier gas. The apparatus includes a gastight closed supply vessel for holding a supply of the particulate material and a riser tube inside the supply vessel, the bottom end of which is open near the bottom of the supply vessel and faces a venturi nozzle connected or adapted to be connected to a propellant gas supply. A bend at the top end of the riser tube leads by way of a duct outside the supply vessel. The riser tube includes an upwardly directed aperture at the beginning of the bend inside the supply vessel in axial alignment with the riser tube.

Abstract: An injector-conveyor device for the pneumatic conveying of powder, particularly powdered coating material, in order to measure the amount of powder conveyed, measures indirectly the vacuum produced in an injector (4) by having a stream of air measured with respect to its amount of flow or pressure drop in a throttled measurement channel (30) which places the outside atmosphere (32) in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber (10) of the injector (4). In order to avoid errors in measurement due to pressure variations in a powder suction channel (8), an equalization air inlet (56) is provided by means of which a small amount of equalization air is introduced into the powder suction channel (8) in order to make the pressure variations occurring therein of higher frequency and smaller with respect to the amplitudes of variation.

Abstract: A method of feeding out dust in a dust discharge system in a power plant including feeding out dust pneumatically from a separator via a suction nozzle by using transport gas with a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, supplying diluting gas into the transport gas at a location close to the suction nozzle of the dust discharge system, and selecting the flow of diluting gas into the transport gas so that part of the pressure drop (.DELTA.Pgas) of the transport gas across the dust discharge system (.DELTA.p) is maintained.

Abstract: A method and assembly for removing fine particles in an essentially dust-free manner which features a semi-bulk container bag that is removed from a reusable protective container, hoisted off the ground and punctured with a discharge probe. The puncturing of the plastic bag is achieved by inserting a spear shaped probe with tapered nozzle head. The probe is sealed with respect to the bag. The nozzle head includes a plurality of elongated discharge openings, as well as a nozzle tip with a plurality of injection ports. Fine particles having a size of less than 400 .mu., are fluidized and then discharged out through the discharge openings by a suction device. Fluidization is achieved by injecting air or inert gas through the tip of the nozzle head. The fluidized fine particles removed from the bag are passed through the discharge openings, out through the probe, through a flexible conduit and to a storage or further processing device.

Abstract: A tube device for emptying powdery substance from a container in which an air connection pipe is arranged. The air exit opening of the air connection pipe is located coaxially to the tube in the direction of the interior of the tube. The opening of the tube is cut open on a slant to form an angle of less than 90.degree. with the horizontal axis of the pipe.

Abstract: A seed distribution system is provided for planters and drills wherein the distribution system includes a central hopper for supplying a plurality of seed metering units. A plurality of seed distribution units are mounted on a lower portion of the central hopper and each seed distribution unit includes a central tubular member defining an air column for entraining seeds to be distributed from the central hopper. A plurality of discharge outlets open into the air column for receiving seeds therefrom and for conveying the seeds through distribution tubes to metering unit bins associated with each of the seed metering units. In addition, each of the seed metering unit bins is provided with apparatus for adjusting the level of seed accumulated within the bin.

Abstract: One or more hot melt tanks are each periodically supplied by an air conduit which automatically transfers pellets from a storage container. A transducer assembly, positionable in the container, includes a vacuum transducer for the pick up of glue pellets for transfer via the air conduit. A vibrator imparts motion to the pellets to prevent bridging of same. Each hot melt tank includes a level switch with a probe which provides a signal to a control panel having relays which in turn actuate solenoid valves for the delivery of a pressurized air flow to one or more vacuum transducers. A portion of the pressurized air flow is bled off for supplying the vibrator in place on a base of the transducer assembly.

Abstract: A pipe arrangement (40) consists of two nested pipes (60, 62) and a nozzle head (68, 76) on their bottom ends. This nozzle head is located within the diameter of the pipe arrangement (40) and does not protrude radially beyond its diameter. The pipe arrangement can thus be slipped through a guide opening (7) of a guide device (1) into a container holding powder or can be pulled out completely of the guide opening (7), without a need for disassembly of parts of the device. The guide device (1) contains preferably a container lid (3) that can be set on the container (6). Provided on the pipe arrangement (40) is a stop (44) that can be fastened on said arrangement at various heights and through the adjustment of which the immersion depth of the pipe arrangement (40) in the container can be adjusted.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for transporting solid particles having a size range from 1/10 micron to 22 mm. in diameter, including a feed hopper formed of an inverted cone frustum, a cylindrical tube, and an inverted cone, a source of solid particles contained in the feed hopper, a transparent pipe inserted into the feed hopper coaxially with the axis of the feed hopper, fluid introducing pipes for introducing fluid such as gas or liquid into the bottom of the feed hopper including a spout inlet feed pipe at the apex of the inverted cone and coaxially located opposite the transport pipe and forming an adjustable gap between the bottom of the transport pipe and the top of the spout inlet pipe, and at least one annulus feed pipe entering a side wall of the inverted cone, and computer controlled values to regulate the temperature, humidity and rate of flow of the introduced fluid. The solid particles are fluidized in the hopper and then fed into the transport pipe to be delivered where desired.

Abstract: The device has an opening provided through a side wall of the fluidization enclosure and a tube extends outside a enclosure and substantially perpendicular thereto. A duct is connected substantially perpendicularly to the tube and extends downwards. A piston is slidably mounted in sealed manner inside the tube to slide between a first position in which it constitutes a panel closing the opening and a second position in which it at least partially uncovers the opening of the duct into the tube, and control means for controlling displacement of the piston inside the tube.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for withdrawing particulate spent catalyst particles from a packed, non-fluidized bed of such particles in contact with a liquid medium within a vessel having a withdrawal conduit or pipe which has an inlet that opens within the bottom of the bed and faces generally downwardly so that a first section extends upwardly from the inlet, and a second section extends downwardly, and the spent catalyst particles exits the packed bed through a uniform and continuous flow path opening into a solids recovery vessel whose pressure is controlled to regulate flow of such spent catalyst from the reaction vessel independent of the rate of flow through the withdrawal conduit.

Abstract: Method of feeding particulate material by the use of apparatus comprising a passage having an upstream section 10 provided with baffles 18, 20, leading to a chicane 14, 16 and then to a downstream section 12. A gas pipe 22 feeds low-pressure gas to a slot 26 through which a flow of gas can be started or stopped, so as to start or stop the passage of the material through the chicane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the filling capacity of a pneumatic conveying arrangement by three pressure measurements. The invention also relates to a method of calibrating a pneumatic conveying arrangement using this determination of the filling capacity. These measurements are conveying pressure, pressure at the top of the vessel from which the material is conveyed, and pressure at the top of the vessel to which the material is conveyed.

Abstract: A filterless loader which entrains particulate material in air flows is described. The loader includes a reservoir in which the materials may be accumulated and from which the materials may be delivered under gravity through a lowermost outlet to appropriate processing equipment. A closed air circuit draws the particulate material into the reservoir from an external storage bin or container. The closed air circuit includes air supply and return conduits communicating with the interior of the reservoir, and a fan unit which circulates air through the conduits. The fan unit draws air from the interior of the reservoir, and forces the air into an inlet end of the supply conduit. A gap is maintained at the junction of the air supply and return conduits external to the reservoir, and supply conduit air flows are guided by a nozzle across the gap into the return conduit. The junction is inserted into the storage container thereby introducing the particulate material into the path of the closed air circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decomposing a sodium aluminate liquor supersaturated with alumina, obtained from alkaline action on bauxite by the Bayer process, is initiated by introduction of alumina trihydrate seed, thereby forming a suspension. The suspension is fed in at the top of a non-agitated reactor described as a "decomposer", and removed from the bottom of the decomposer; the speed at which the suspension moves downwardly is regulated at 1.5 to 10 meters per hour. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical-conical reactor which is fitted with an arrangement for feeding in the suspension at the top, and with an arrangement for taking out the suspension at the bottom. In one embodiment of the apparatus the suspension is taken from the base of the decomposer through an internal tube, with air injected into the bottom of it, is raised to the level of the top of the decomposer and is then sent downstream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the pneumatic conveyance of fine material using a conveyor vessel and a storage chamber in which the discharge capacity of the vessel is increased by delivering material from the storage chamber to the conveyor vessel and reduced by delivering material from the conveyor vessel to the storage chamber. Such method and apparatus are distinguished by the capability of altering the capacity without delay, keeping the set conveying capacity constant, and simple calibration.

Abstract: A venturi section positioned in the flow path of pressurized air through a rock dust hopper includes an opening connected to a conduit extending to the axis of the venturi section. Concentric conduits within the venturi section direct the stream of pressurized air directly into intersecting relation with the conduit. The flow of pressurized air immediately below the conduit creates a reduced pressure to induce a continuous flow of rock dust through the venturi section opening and into mixture with the air stream which carries the entrained rock dust from the venturi section for discharge from a nozzle outlet.

Abstract: Semi-insulating granular bed material in a spout inlet region of a spouted bed vessel between a draft tube and a portion of the vessel base section adjacent a fluid inlet is aligned along the force lines of an imposed localized electric field to thereby afford improved control over spout inlet conditions which affect processes carried out in the spouted bed device.

Abstract: A pneumatic seed planter utilizing air pressure to dispense the seeds in a central hopper to a plurality of laterally spaced seed planting assemblies. Mounted on the planter is a system for dispensing granular chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from a separate hopper to the rows planted by the planting assemblies. The system uses air pressure from the planter (rather than a mechanical drive) to convey the granular material out of the separate hopper to the planting assemblies. Air is directed upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the chemical hopper and into a material conveyor tube spaced from the opening. The granular chemical is drawn through the space and into the conveyor tube by the air stream. A plurality of delivery tubes is connected to the conveyor tube for directing the chemical to the respective plurality of planting assemblies.