Abstract: A rotary valve for use in a particulate material handling system having an elevated device for holding a supply of the particulate material, a lower material receiving device and a remote control device. The rotary valve includes a housing having a rotor chamber, a side inlet communicating with the rotor chamber, a lower outlet communicating with the rotor chamber and communicable with the material receiving device, a rotor journalled in the rotor chamber having a plurality of radially disposed vanes and a slide valve disposed in the inlet for controlling the flow of material therethrough. The slide valve is operatively connected to the remote control device and is operated in response to the operating conditions sensed by sensing devices which are connected to the remote control device.

Abstract: An apparatus for blending particulate materials comprising means defining an upper chamber for holding a supply of material to be blended, the material holding means having at least one wall, the wall of the material holding means having at least two outlet ports spaced vertically and about a perimeter of the material holding means for reeiving therethrough particulate material from the upper chamber by gravity flow, means defining a lower chamber for blending particulate material, the material blending means having at least one wall, the wall of the material blending means having at least two inlet ports, means intercommunicating each of the outlet ports with one of the inlet ports for guiding material from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, flow diverting means disposed in the lower chamber, the flow diverting means having means positioned to intercept the flow of material through each of the inlet ports for dividing the flow of material into separate streams, each of the material flow intercepting mea

Abstract: In a rotary valve assembly including a housing having a valve chamber and a removable cover member defining an end wall of the chamber, a drive shaft journaled in the housing and having an end portion projecting into the valve chamber and a rotary valve disposed in the valve chamber and slidably mounted on the drive shaft end portion whereby the rotary valve may be removed from the housing by removing the cover member and sliding the rotary valve off of the drive shaft end portion and passing it through the opening provided by the removal of the cover member, means for detachably securing the rotary valve on the drive shaft end portion generally consisting of the drive shaft having an opening therein, the rotary valve having an opening therein registrable with the drive shaft opening, a pin inserted in the rotary valve and drive shaft openings when the openings are in registry, and cooperative means disposed on the pin and one of the drive shaft and the rotary valve for yieldably retaining the pin in the open