Abstract: In a rotary feeder for feeding granular material downwardly with gravity assist through a feed aperture: a stationary container having a side wall and having a generally horizontal wall in which the feed aperture is located; a rotatable feed assembly located above the feed aperture, the assembly including a vertical shaft and a plow blade secured to the shaft for contacting granular material and urging it over the edge of the feed aperture; a support fixture fixedly connected to the container, the fixture including a stationary, vertically-elongated, stiff support axle coaxial with the feed assembly shaft; vertically spaced-apart bearings coaxial with the feed assembly shaft and connected to the feed assembly shaft and to the stationary support axle such that the feed assembly is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the stationary support axle and such that the weight of the feed assembly is supported by the stationary support axle; and a drive device supported independently of the support fixture, the

Abstract: A rotary plow feeder for feeding granular material downwardly through a feed aperture in the bottom of a bin, hopper or other housing in the form of an annular stream comprises a rotary scoop disposed above and close to the feed aperture, the scoop including at least one plow blade continuously and gently curved in the form of a spiral and extending essentially around the whole periphery of the feed aperture and a cover or shroud disposed above and connected to the blade. The outer end of the blade is disposed in contact with or close to the side wall of the housing, and the inner end of the blade is disposed adjacent the feed aperture at a distance therefrom sufficient to permit granular material to be moved into position around the entire periphery of the feed aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the controlled feeding of finely divided powdered material from a bin or the like by gravity assist through a mechanical feeding device are characterized by fluidizing or at least aerating the powder above the feed device in a manner to promote flow and prevent packing of the bed of material above the feed device while maintaining a stable unfluidized mass of powder at the feed device.The system is particularly useful in the controlled feeding of finely divided powdered material from a closed bin or the like into a pneumatic conveying conduit by gravity assist through a mechanical feeding device and characterized by constantly equalizing the pressure in the bin to pneumatic conveying line pressure for the purpose of equalizing the pressure in the pore and void space in the bed of material while maintaining a stable unfluidized mass of powder at the feed device.