Abstract: An apparatus having a charging lock chamber which can be alternately closed off with respect to a supply container by a movable closure head and an annular sealing edge in opposite relationship thereto as a seat therefor, on the one hand, and from a pneumatic conveyor conduit by a flap, on the other hand, for charging a feed of particles of bulk material into the conveyor conduit, is to require inter alia only one conveyor vessel for the virtually continuous conveying of bulk material, is not to require a metering device disposed at an upstream location, and is also to be suitable for conveying pressures of around 6 bars. That is achieved in that associated with the sealing edge is at least one annular feed duct for a curtain of air which is directed towards the closure head, and that the flap which is pivoted at one end has a force storage device engaging beneath it and in its closure position bears against the substantially horizontal edge of a mouth opening (18) of the charging lock chamber.

Abstract: A process for producing a casting mould with chemically bound moulding material using a pattern is intended to make it possible to forego the use of clay-bound sand, in particular for the mass production of cast members, and to provide a casting mould of adequate gas permeability, which is simple to produce, with a low level of consumption of moulding material, and inexpensive, and which also provides a high level of casting quality wth a low degree of environmental pollution. For that purpose, the moulding material which has become pourable or fluid due to the operation of casting a cast member is removed from a first casting mould comprising a single moulding material, whereas the remaining portion of the moulding material is left, and the hollow space formed when the pattern is re-fitted is filled with moulding material. In addition, the moulding material which has been reduced in strength may be also removed, being for example blown or brushed out.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for pneumatically conveying loose material in grain or dust form by discharge thereof from a conveyor container, through a conveyor conduit disposed downstream thereof, after the conveyor container has been emptied and before the conveyor conduit is also emptied of the loose material being conveyed, the conveyor conduit is closed at both ends, to maintain that existing condition. After the conduit is thus closed off at both ends, leakage losses of conveying gas are compensated for by supplying a leakage make-up amount. The apparatus has a conveyor conduit which is provided at each of its end portion towards the conveyor conduit and its discharge end portion with at least one closure member to act as inlet and outlet valves respectively. At least one gas feed line from a leakage make-up valve opens into the conduit.