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: A rotary feeder for bulk material or liquids includes a generally hollow cylindrical housing with a housing inlet and a radially opposing housing outlet. Rotatably supported in a sealing manner within the housing is a generally cylindrical rotor which includes at least one eccentric passageway extending in a radial plane between an inlet port and an outlet port and alternately connectable with the housing inlet and the housing outlet.

Abstract: A rotary feeder for jam-free operation over a wide speed range has a housing with a feed inlet provided with a roof-shaped baffle plate which, in the running direction of the rotor, includes double-arrowed stripping edges. Each compartment of the rotor includes two radial partitions which extend beneath the baffle plate and are spaced from each other by the width of the baffle plate to define an initially bulk material free space. This space between the partitions of each compartment is connected via circumferential openings with the respectively lateral areas of the rotor compartment to allow granulate particles to enter the space after traveling along the stripping edges.

Abstract: A 90.degree. elbow for pneumatic transport pipes includes a tubular asymmetric cross-sectional expansion at the entrance side, a baffle plate along the outer elbow side and a tubular asymmetric cross-sectional contraction at the exit side of the elbow. The baffle plate is arranged at an angle between about 55.degree. and 65.degree. relative to the incoming flow direction of bulk material. The inner elbow side is defined by a quadrantal pipe shell, with the remaining area being complemented by segments to provide a closed cross section.

Abstract: A pipe switch includes a housing with a cock having at least one straight passageway for selectively connecting cylindrical conduits. In order to avoid a geometric joint in both rotational directions without requiring complicated refinishing processes while yet keeping the cross section of the passageway constant, the circumferential surface of the cock and the housing inner surface are designed as coextensive freely-shaped surfaces with such a curvature that the ports of the passageway and the housing conduits are at least essentially coincidental plane sectional surfaces in both rotational positions of the cock.

Abstract: A blending silo of the type having a silo vessel defining a center axis and provided with a conical bottom ending in a vessel outlet, includes a funnel with its longitudinal axis coinciding with the center axis of the silo vessel and with its interior space being subdivided by a plurality of sheet segments in several compartments which are successively arranged in circumferential direction such that neighboring compartments have differently sized inlet cross sections and/or outlet cross sections to attain a superior homogenizing of bulk material.

Abstract: A separator includes two concentric pipe sections, with the inner pipe section enclosing a displacement body with cone-shaped tip. In order to improve separation of angel hair, the displacement body has evenly spaced circumferential ribs to provide the displacement body with a cross section of star-shaped configuration.

Abstract: In a rotary feeder of the type including a housing provided with a top inlet and a bottom outlet and accommodating a cellular rotor which includes a plurality of radial blades supported on a horizontal shaft and axially defined by respective lateral disks which are spaced from pertaining bearing covers, a seal arrangement is provided between each lateral disk and pertaining bearing cover of the housing and includes a plastic filler ring which is floatingly arranged between the bearing cover and the disk and is spring-loaded in axial and radial direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating angel hair from bulk material includes a hollow drum which is partly immersed in the flow of bulk material and rotates in such a manner that the immersed part of the drum moves in opposite direction to the bulk material flow. The drum has an outer jacket which is provided with circumferentially spaced bores through which one end of spikes projects, with their other end being swingably mounted to a bearing member. The bearing member has a center axis which is offset to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the spikes project beyond the outer surface of the drum at their bulk material facing side while being retracted at the bulk material distant side of the drum. Thus, during a revolution of the drum, the spikes gradually move in and out of the drum.

Abstract: A rotary feeder for granulated bulk material includes a housing with a rotor by which the bulk material is transported from the supply well to the discharge well via a plurality of compartments. Arranged at the inner wall of the housing is a pocket-like recess which is defined by a pre-stripping edge and by a V-shaped stripping edge extending from the pre-stripping edge. The pocket-like recess is V-shaped, with its tip pointing in rotational direction of the rotor. A deflector partly fills the recess to substantially free the tip of the recess from bulk material grains and includes a tip pointing opposite to the rotational direction of the rotor, sides converging in this tip and ending at a distance from the stripping edge by about the means grain diameter of the bulk material, and a base extending in the generated cylindrical surface defined by the radial end faces of the rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding bulk material includes a rotor with a plurality of radially extending vanes which are supported on a hollow shaft and are provided with sealing strips at their end faces. Shiftable within the shaft is an adjusting bar with at least two axially spaced conical surfaces which cooperate with push rods having one end bearing against the conical surfaces and another end in force-locking connection with the sealing strips. The adjusting bar is acted upon by a force-applying unit which subjects the adjusting bar to a constant axial holding force which is independent of the axial displacement of the adjusting bar so that a sufficient contact pressure is continuously maintained by which the sealing strips are urged against the housing.

Abstract: A pipe switch for plants for pneumatically conveying of bulk material includes a housing with three ports and having a rotatable cock for selectively connecting one port with the second or third port. The cock is provided with two pipe sections which define two flow paths and are connected at their ends via suitable ring segments. One of the ring segments is of sufficient dimension to sealingly bar the one port which is not in communication with the first port when the cock is in the respective end position. A journal connects the pipe sections at a central location thereof and is rotatably supported in side cover plates of the housing for allowing a rotation of the cock between the two end positions.

Abstract: A rotary feeder includes a housing in which a rotary member is supported between two lateral bearing caps, with one journal fixedly supported in one bearing cap and the other journal loosely supported in the other bearing cap. For facilitating maintenance and cleaning of the rotary feeder, a carriage is securely mounted to the one bearing cap accommodating the fixed bearing. The carriage is movable and suitably guided in axial direction of the rotary member by at least the axial length of the rotary member so as to allow removal and return of the rotary member from and back into the housing in an accurate and safe manner.

Abstract: A rotary feeder includes a housing which accommodates a rotor extending between two lateral disk members. Bearing against the peripheral area of each disk member is a slide ring which is acted upon by a pressure fluid with a constant holding force by which the slide ring is pressed against the associated disk member. Thus, the axial sealing of the rotor within the housing is independent of the wear of the slide ring. In addition to the holding pressure, the slide rings may also be subjected to a momentary displacement force which exceeds the holding force and ensures that the slide rings overcome frictional forces in the area of their guides.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically conveying bulk material in particular bulk material which is difficult to handle includes a conveyor line having a plurality of conveyor line sections for transporting the bulk material. Each of the conveyor line sections comprises a rigid outer pipe and an elastic inner pipe of an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer pipe in pressureless state. The connection of adjacent conveyor line sections is attained by a sectional ring which is placed over each axial end of the outer pipe and about which the elastic pipe is folded outwardly, a flange element arranged between the thus shaped axial ends of adjoining conveyor line sections, and external brace elements extending between successive flange elements for bracing the latter so as to connect adjoining conveyor line sections in pressure-sealed manner.

Abstract: A rotary feeder includes a housing which accommodates a rotor including a plurality of vanes supported on a shaft. The rotary feeder is sealed in axial direction by slide rings which are acted upon by a pressure fluid and in radial direction by displaceable sealing strips which are contained in the peripheral end face of the vanes. The required contact pressure in axial direction as well as in radial direction is provided by a pressure fluid source which acts upon the annular piston-type slide rings. Each slide ring is pressed against a slide disk which is part of a lateral disk member of the rotor and is rotatable in circumferential direction to the slide disk. Each slide disk is provided in circumferential direction with slant grooves which are engaged by retaining bolts of a sealing strip unit contained in the peripheral end face of each vane and providing the radial sealing of the rotor vanes.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically conveying bulk material includes a conveyor line for transporting the bulk material and a secondary line which carries clean gas and is sectionized by spaced three-way/two-way directional control valves. Each control valve is actuated by a pressure transmitter which compares the actual pressure in the conveyor line with the desired pressure in a third line carrying a fluid at a desired pressure decreasing in downstream direction in accordance with the pressure drop in the conveyor line during normal operation. A communication between the conveyor line and the second line is provided by respective branch lines which define the third connection of the control valves and are multiply connected to the conveyor line.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically conveying bulk material includes a conveyor line for transporting the bulk material and a secondary line which carries clean gas and is multiply connected via branch line and a plurality of check valves with the conveyor line for allowing introduction of clean gas when the pressure difference as measured between adjacent pressure transmitters exceeds a predetermined value. Adjacent pressure transmitters are operatively connected with a differential pressure switch which actuates a valve regulating the flow of clean gas through the branch line. The differential pressure switch opens the valve as soon as the pressure difference exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: A bulk material mixer includes a container accommodating a central tube provided with a plurality of lateral inlet openings at various levels. The inlet openings have a cross section which increases from bottom to top so that the inlet openings at the lowest level have a smallest cross section while the inlet openings at the uppermost level have a greatest cross section.

Abstract: A cylindrical housing having diametrically opposed inlet and discharge openings contains a bucket wheel coaxially rotatable therein. The inlet opening is provided with an insert having an inclined upper surface and an edge for prestripping the grain material. The insert is further provided with a stripping edge forming an angle with the cylindrical generatrix formed by the surface edge of the blades of the rotating bucket wheel which angle is at least equal to the angle of friction between the bulk material and the material out of which the gate is formed. In addition, a canopy displacing wall is arranged in the inlet opening at the level of the end of the stripping edge to displace the material moving through the feed inlet. The wall has a width of such a dimension that the cavity formed beneath it is equal to at least the volume of the granulate material stripped from the stripping edge.