Patents Represented by Law Firm Spensley Horn Jubas & Lubas
  • Patent number: 5355993
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for transporting and metering particulate material including a transport duct having an inlet, an outlet, and at least one moving surface located therebetween having a downstream facing drive surface. The apparatus further includes a motive device for moving the moving surface between the inlet and the outlet towards the outlet. The particulate material being compacted sufficiently to cause the formation of a bridge composed of substantially interlocking particulates spanning the width of the transport duct. The bridging of the particulates causes the particulates to become semi-hydrostatic in nature such that the force exerted by the downstream facing drive surface upon particulates within the transport duct drives the entire mass of material through the transport duct towards the outlet. The apparatus is used to transport and meter particulate material under ambient conditions and against pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Andrew G. Hay