Abstract: The periphery of a bucket wheel sluice is provided with a plurality of vanes forming pockets for the reception and transport of material, the vanes and intervening spaces being shaped and arranged in an involute tooth configuration. A removal unit is provided to facilitate removal of material from the pockets, and comprises at least two spaced discs of involute tooth configuration in mesh engagement with the bucket wheel periphery, and having a plurality of elongated rods or blades extending between corresponding teeth of the spaced discs for passage through each of the bucket wheel pockets to mechanically remove any material entrapped therein.

Abstract: A bucket wheel sluice comprises a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a sluice wheel mounted for rotation therebetween. The wheel includes a plurality of elongated vanes extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, with the roots of said vanes being freely spaced from one another. An elastic sealing device, such as a length of resilient tubing, is located within the wheel in resilient engagement with the roots of said vanes to cover the spaces between the roots of adjacent ones of the vanes and cooperates with the vanes to provide a plurality of pockets around the wheel which receive material at the housing inlet and deliver it to the housing outlet as the wheel rotates. A stationary duct connected to a compressed air supply is interposed between the roots of the vanes and the elastic sealing device adjacent the housing outlet, and the duct includes air discharge apertures facing the roots of the vanes for forcibly expelling material from the region between the vanes at the housing outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and useful adjustable packing assembly for a flat, slide-valve control member which comprises: a rectangular housing which supports a plurality of packing members in abutting contact with the flat control member; a plurality of stationary wedge members having a flat surface for abutment with the packing members and further having a surface including a plurality of interconnected, tapered steps; and at least one movable wedge member which includes a surface of a shape similar to and abutting the stepped surface of the stationary wedges, whereby movement of the movable wedges forces the stationary wedges to compress the packing members against the control member.

Abstract: The pressure exerted by an elongated rectangular gland packing on an associated flat slide valve within a valve housing is adjusted by means of an elongated adjustment member disposed within said housing adjacent the face of the packing remote from the slide valve. The adjustment member includes a plurality of parallel, inclined slots respectively having fixed support rods extending therethrough. When the adjustment member is moved in the direction of its elongation by manipulation of an actuator from the exterior of the housing, the rods and inclined slots also cause the adjustment member to move in a transverse direction toward and away from the packing.