Abstract: Apparatus for spacing consecutive capsules of solid material traveling as a capsule train in a pipeline in which the capsules are carried by a fluid flowing through the pipeline includes a separation system interposed between upstream and downstream portions of the pipeline for receiving the train of capsules. The separation system passes consecutively separated capsules within the capsule train to the downstream portion. The separation system is constructed for increasing the spacing between consecutive capsules within the capsule train in the downstream portion of the pipeline after passing through the separation system. The volume of fluid flowing from an outlet location of the separation system is substantially the same as the volume of fluid flowing into an inlet location of the separation system.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the conveyance of bulk materials by a compressible conveying medium and in the form of discrete plugs from bulk materials in pipes are known. A disadvantage is the high-energy and abrupt expansion of the volume of the conveying medium between the plug being discharged and the one following it at the end of the pipe. This disadvantage may be avoided in that the amount (2') of compressed conveying medium existing in each case between plugs (1') in sequence in the downstream end portion (12b) of the pipe as compared to the amount (2) of compressed conveying medium (2) existing between plugs (1) upstream (at 12a) of the end portion (12b) of the pipe is reduced. This is particularly achieved by converting the long plugs (1) into plugs of reduced length (1'), following each other in reduced spacing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for dosed conveying and selecting of pellets for a moulding apparatus for lead frames, with which it is possible to prevent crumbled pellets or fragments and/or dust thereof being able to reach the molding apparatus arranged in a so-called clean room. For this purpose the system has structure for successively conveying pellets one by one, structure for selecting to length and feeding pellets to a transporting path, structure for reducing the transporting speed of conveyed pellets, structure for separating the pellets one by one and tranferring the pellets to a transport carrier, and means for transferring pellets from the transport carrier to a conveying device to a mold of a molding apparatus.

Abstract: A fast cycle system for transport of particulate material in dense phase has a feeder assembly dispensing material into a pulse pod assembly. The latter is connected to a pressurized pipeline and the pod of material is sent into the pipeline upon receipt of a pressure drop signal. Boosters spaced along the pipeline selectively vent and pressurize the pipeline driving the pod through to a receiver. The system including a receiving hopper and discharge valve in the receiving hopper for imparting, when actuated, peristaltic motion to the particulate material moving in the pipeline.

Abstract: In apparatus for conveying batches of ice lumps from a storage hopper to remotely located ice dispensers, ice lumps from the storage hopper are delivered into the main conduits through corresponding main valves and connecting conduits extending between each main valve and the storage hopper. Metering valves meter batches of ice lumps of predetermined size into the main conduits. Conveying air from an air blower is supplied to the main conduits through the main valves for conveying the batches of ice lumps. In use, batches of ice lumps are intermittently delivered into the main conduit, and the batches of ice lumps and conveying air are alternately supplied to the main conduit.

Abstract: A pneumatic transport system for powdered materials for quantifying and pneumatically transferring powdered materials. When materials are fed above an inclined guide plate in a material feeder with its bottom opening closed by a valve plug, a slide damper is slid to divide the materials in the feeder vertically. An open space is formed under the inclined guide plate so that the materials aren't damaged when the slide damper is moved. When the valve plug is retracted, the materials under the slide damper are fed into a transport plug housed in a plug setting portion. The transport plug is pneumatically transported into a material discharge port by compressed air supplied by an air supply. After the transportation is finished, the transport plug is returned into the plug setting portion.

Abstract: A particle feeding device and method for fluidized bed coaters that has no moving parts. It preferably provides for constant flow of purge gas into the fluidized bed coater and has a feedback control means for monitoring and precisely controlling the flow of particles into the coater. The particle feeding device includes a supply of granular material in communication with a generally horizontal passageway and a delivery conduit for feeding granular material into a desired location, such as a fluidized bed coater. The amount of granular material remaining in the supply is periodically determined and pulses of gas are periodically discharged through said generally horizontal passageway so as to blow granular material into said delivery conduit in a manner so as to feed the precise amount of granular material for predetermined periods of time.

Abstract: A system for delivering measured amounts of liquid, such as reagents used in chromatography. Liquid is first moved under gas pressure from a reservoir, such as a reagent bottle, through a valve into a narrow pipe. It reaches a detector which, detecting its presence, closes the valve thus trapping an amount of liquid between the valve and the detector, this amount of liquid then constituting a `unit` or `pulse` of liquid. The movement of the valve is used to connect a gas supply which drives the `unit` or `pulse` out of the pipe to an ultimate destination, such as a chromatographic column. A further `unit` or `pulse` can then be moved into the pipe and this repeated so that delivery to the destination is made in a series of such `units` or `pulse`. By timing the delivery of one `unit` or `pulse`, an amount less than one `unit` or `pulse` can be delivered by passing liquid into the pipe for less than the time taken to deliver one `unit`.

Abstract: A high density pneumatic transport system of solid materials from an airtight transport tank through a transport pipe into a collector. In the airtight transport tank materials are successively fed into a charge tank by reciprocating a slide damper. Simultaneously materials stored in the charge tank are successively pushed out into the transport pipe by supplying pressurized gas intermittently and transported continuously at high density through a lower horizontal pipe and a vertical riser pipe, then transported in the form of a long column in an upper horizontal pipe at a very low speed by deceleration by a divergent means, and finally collected into a storage tank of the collector.

Abstract: A method and the related system for sampling solid materials. Materials as continuously manufactured from a compression molding machine are sampled at fixed intervals and the materials thus sampled are fed into a transport pipe so as to be transferred by being accompanied by a transport plug into an inspecting station at low speed from its stand-by position in the pipe when a gas control means is set in a feed mode. After transferring sampled materials the transport plug left at its terminal position in the transport pipe is automatically returned to the stand-by position through the transport pipe when the gas control means is set in a suction mode. By executing the above steps repeatedly, sampled materials are successively transferred into the inspecting station by being accompanied by the transport plug under unmanned operation.

Abstract: Novel apparatus for liquid treatment of units of a product such as blocks of cheese wherein the units are floated in a flowing stream of the treatment liquid and are conveyed by the treating liquid from an inlet of the tank to an outlet of the tank. For some embodiments, a minimum turning radius is defined. Also, for some embodiments, the tank comprises a pair of first and second side-by-side conveying channel members converging from an outer perimeter defined by an outermost loop to an innermost loop defined by innermost portions of the pair of channel members and wherein portions of the first and second conveying channel members of the innermost loop are separated from side-by-side relationship over a portion of the innermost loop, and join to each other as in end-to-end relationship, such that liquid entering the innermost loop through one of the first and second conveying channel members leaves the innermost loop through the other of the first and second conveying channel members.

Abstract: A method for conveying materials in bulk by liquid pressure carried out by an appropriate apparatus involves loading a material in bulk into a chamber through a loading pipe and then supplying liquid under pressure through a pipe for supplying liquid in the form of a downward annular flow, and discharging the material in bulk in an upward flow through a discharge pipe mounted to extend coaxially with, and inside the pipe for supplying liquid. A zone of recirculation flows of liquid is formed in the chamber by swirling the annular flow to an extent determined by a ratio of the rotational component of velocity to the axial component of velocity at least equal to 0.4. The material in bulk is discharged in the zone of recirculation flows. For swirling the annular flow, an inlet port of the pipe for supplying liquid is located in the periphery thereof, and the axis of this port is offset with respect to the axis of the discharge pipe.

Abstract: A device for hydraulic conveyance of loose materials comprises a vertical chamber having a cylindrical side surface and hemispherical a bottom and a cover and is provided with four respective pipes for liquid discharge, loose material charging, feeding the pressure liquid flow and slurry discharge in an upward flow. The pipes are held to the hemispherical cover and are arranged coaxially in such a manner that the loose material charging pipe is accommodated inside the liquid discharge pipe, the pressure liquid flow feeding pipe is accommodated inside the loose material charging pipe, and the slurry upward flow discharging pipe is accommodated inside the pressure liquid flow feeding pipe, all of the pipes being arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the chamber and having some of their portions located inside the chamber. The length of the portions mentioned above increases consecutively from the liquid discharge pipe towards the slurry upward flow discharging pipe.

Abstract: Mud is taken into a vertical screw conveyor while an inlet device is rotating or without the use of such an inlet device. The mud is sent from the discharge port of the conveyor into a transport pipe. The mud is forcibly sent by a compressed air. Screens are provided to take only the mud into the screw conveyor. Paddles for stirring mud are provided on the vanes of the screw. A check valve and/or a pressure feeder (transport pump) is provided between the discharge port of the conveyor and the transport pipe.

Abstract: An improved method and related system for pneumatically transporting powdered or granular materials stored in an airtight storage container to a collector through a transport pipe in the form of a lengthy column in high density and at a slow speed by the use of pressurized gas. The method of the invention comprises the steps of stopping feeding of the pressurized gas when the whole of the powdered or granular materials corresponding to a final batch contained in the storage container are sent into the material transport pipe, simultaneously discharging the internal pressure of the storage container through a gas decompressing means, inserting a transport plug from the base end of the material transport pipe, and carrying forward the transport plug at a slow speed by feeding pressurized gas from the base end of the transport pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for transferring pulverent material from a supply container to a delivery point comprises an elongate exhaust pipe having a first end and a second end with a filter near the second end, an intake pipe extending from the supply container to the first end of the exhaust pipe and a transfer pipe extending from the first end of the exhaust pipe to the delivery point. With the first end of the exhaust pipe connected with the intake pipe, suction is applied to the second end of the exhaust pipe to draw pulverent material from the supply container to and through the intake pipe into the exhaust pipe where it is blocked by the filter. The first end of the exhaust pipe is then connected with the transfer pipe and air under pressure is supplied to the second end of the exhaust pipe to propel the pulverent material from the exhaust pipe to and through the transfer pipe to the delivery point and to clear the filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic conveyor system for powder. The conveyor system includes a powder feeder, a bent pipe, a transport pipe, a first air supply nozzle connected to an upper pipe member of the bent pipe, and a second air supply nozzle connected to a curved pipe member of the bent pipe oppositely to the lower end opening of a converging pipe portion of the curved pipe member. Alternate supply of air from the first and second air supply nozzles to the bent pipe is effected intermittently at a predetermined interval of time, so that the power is compacted and formed into a lump of clean powder plug.

Abstract: A powder feed control system employs an arrangement of conduits and valves for selectively directing a gas flow either through a powder feeder or through a bypass so as to quickly and precisely control the introduction of powder into and the removal of powder from the gas flow in a plasma spraying system. The arrangement of conduits and valves includes a two-way solenoid operated valve for directing the gas flow either into a powder feeder through a main conduit or into a bypass conduit which rejoins the main conduit on the other side of the powder feeder at a powder shutoff valve and a bypass and check valve. The bypass and check valve insures that the gas flow in the bypass conduit flows to the output rather than upstream to the powder shutoff valve.

Abstract: A slurry conveying system including a pressurizable tank into which particulate material is charged. A discharge opening enters the tank bottom and fluidizing water is directed upwardly through the discharge opening into the tank. The discharge opening is centered in a landing which has a diameter greater than 1.5 times and no greater than five times the diameter of the discharge opening. Arching of particles at the opening is prevented due to the landing and fluidizing water. The tank is emptied by the combination of air under pressure and a water rinse immediately after the fluidizing is accomplished.

Abstract: The pneumatic device for pumping a solid-carrying liquid or slurry, which operates intermittently and is continuously under load, comprises a tubular body (1) in which a flap valve (12) is mounted so that it pivots in the downstream direction on a support (8) and cooperates with a seat to close a passage port (11) at the entry of a pumping chamber (17), between the seat and the delivery port (16). A pipe (18) which allows compressed air to enter opens into the pumping chamber (17). The valve (12) is opened under the pressure of the solid-carrying liquid or slurry to be conveyed, when compressed air is not allowed to enter the chamber (17). The entry of air causes the valve (12) to close and the chamber (17) to empty. A valve (20) which is operated by a timing device (23) controls the filling and emptying sequences. The device is useful for pumping dense slurries and solid-carrying liquids.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for introducing a mixture of dry catalyst and a hydrocarbon liquid into a polymerization reactor vessel. The apparatus comprises a enclosed mixing tank with rotating mixing blades and a rotatable shot valve spaced below the mixing tank. The shot valve can be rotated from a first position in communication with an opening in the lower portion of the mixing tank to a second position in communication with a hydrocarbon feed conduit that provides hydrocarbon liquid to the polymerization reactor vessel. A bypass conduit is provided for introducing hydrocarbon liquid from the hydrocarbon feed conduit into the mixing tank wherein the interior of the mixing tank is maintained at the same pressure as the hydrocarbon feed conduit.

Abstract: A pneumatic material transportation apparatus utilizes a continuous supply of particulate material which is fed to an open hopper, and flows by gravity through a pneumatic sealing feed valve into a pulse drive chamber containing a series of internal gravity flow chambers. Near simultaneous timed pulses of compressed air applied to the upper and lower portions of the drive chamber forces the feed valve to a closed position. The air fluidizes the particulate material, and drives the material from the upper end of the internal gravity flow chambers through a lower drive passage and outlet check valve into a pneumatic transport line. Cessation of the air pulse reduces the pressure within the chamber to ambient. The outlet check valve is forced closed and the inlet feed valve opens, thereby admitting more particulate material and resuming the cycle.

Abstract: The device permits controlled batch feeding from a silo with at least one outlet opening and is particularly suitable for supplying alumina from a day's storage silo to the break in the crust on a fused salt electrolytic cell for producing aluminum. Flanged on to the silo outlet is a feed pipe running at an angle steeper than 45.degree. and joining up to the upper half of a containment pipe, likewise inclined steeper than 45.degree.. This containment pipe features at the bottom a compressed air supply line, at the top a receiving or braking chamber and connecting up to that a discharge pipe. By briefly opening the control valve at regular intervals, compressed air is forced into the containment pipe and the plug of particulate material lying there ejected into the receiving or braking chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for pumping fluent solid material comprising first and second expansible chamber pumps and means interconnecting the pumps. The first expansible chamber pump has an inlet with a check valve for intake of material from a supply thereof on an intake stroke of the first pump and an outlet with a check valve for discharge of the material on a discharge stroke of the first pump. The apparatus also has a line for delivery of material from the outlet of the first pump. The second expansible chamber pump has an inlet with a check valve for intake of gas on an intake stroke of the second pump and an outlet with a check valve for discharge of gas on a discharge stroke of the second pump. Means interconnect the pumps for operation of the second pump through a discharge stroke on an intake stroke of the first pump and through an intake stroke on a discharge stroke of the first pump.

Abstract: A method of unblocking conveying pipes (3) for particulate material comprises feeding air to the pipe at spaced apart positions therealong in order to reduce the length of the blocking material. The air is injected into the pipe at positions which are preferably spaced apart by a distance less than the critical particulate material plug length to conveying pipe diameter ratio that will result in a pipe blockage that cannot be moved by application of pressure applied to one end of the particulate material plug. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transporting a slurry along a pipeline having a number of downstream delivery points along its length and a plant at each delivery point for burning or otherwise using a part of the solids, such as coal, obtained from the slurry. In the practice of the method, the pipeline is filled with a carrier fluid, such as water, and batches of slurry are introduced between batches of the carrier fluid for movement along the pipeline. Each batch of slurry is separated from the batches of carrier fluid by a cap and a tail, the cap and tail being formed from a liquid suspension of fine solids. At each downstream delivery point, each batch of slurry and its cap and tail are directed out of the pipeline into a holding tank. A portion of the contents of the holding tank is removed from the holding tank and dewatered to produce a large mesh solids cake and a centrate defined as a liquid suspension of fines.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying fluid materials utilizing a venturi having a side opening in the venturi throat section which is opened and closed by pulsing motive fluid into the venturi past a flutter valve, comprising a flexible piece of material attached upstream of the side opening so as to be capable of opening and closing the side opening, thereby admitting slugs of fluid material and forcing the string of slugs through the apparatus.

Abstract: An earth and sand conveyor system comprising a hopper adapted to receive dumped earth and sand, a trough connected to the hopper, a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the hopper and the trough, a consolidating pipe connected to the trough, a molding pipe connected to the consolidating pipe, a conveyor pipe connected to the molding pipe, a first nozzle formed in the wall of the molding pipe, a second nozzle formed in the wall of the conveyor pipe, an air compressor connected to the first and second nozzles, and a directional control valve disposed between the air compressor and the first and second nozzles for alternately supplying the compressed air to the first and second nozzles.

Abstract: An intermittently operating pneumatic plug-conveyor has a pipe-shaped suction head for fluid material, which passes therethrough in a column, which resists dispersion. The conveyor is provided with an adjustable slot, a manifold in alignment with the slot, gas connection supports, and a timer-controlled valve system of such proportions, that the resistance of the column of the material located in the suction head relative to atmospheric pressure, is greater than the combined air-resistance of the gas supports with the adjustable slot and the valve; gas nozzles from pressurized gas supply controlled by a magnetic valve with a timer are arranged below the manifold and a back-up flow protection is provided at the receiving input.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus which allows the sorting of particles or cells in accordance with their physical and/or chemical properties such as size, DNA and/or protein content.

Abstract: The pneumatic device for pumping a solid-carrying liquid or slurry, which operates intermittently and is continuously under load, comprises a tubular body (1) in which a flap valve (12) is mounted so that it pivots in the downstream direction on a support (8) and cooperates with a seat to close a passage port (11) at the entry of a pumping chamber (17), between the seat and the delivery port (16). A pipe (18) which allows compressed air to enter opens into the pumping chamber (17). The valve (12) is opened under the pressure of the solid-carrying liquid or slurry to be conveyed, when compressed air is not allowed to enter the chamber (17). The entry of air causes the valve (12) to close and the chamber (17) to empty. A valve (20) which is operated by a timing device (23) controls the filling and emptying sequences. The device is useful for pumping dense slurries and solid-carrying liquids.