Abstract: A vacuum fill system for continuously deaerating and compacting flowable materials for transportation and storage in containers includes a first rotatable chamber valve for receiving the flowable materials. Attached to the rotatable chamber valve is a fixed position chamber connected to a vacuum source for receiving the flowable materials from the first rotatable chamber and for deaerating the flowable materials. The fixed position chamber is in turn connected to a second rotatable chamber valve for receiving the deaerated flowable materials from the fixed position chamber, maintaining the materials in a vacuum, then returning the materials to atmospheric pressure substantially instantaneously as the valve rotates to compact the deaerated materials into a substantially solid mass.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for feeding powder or dry solids catalyst into a flowing liquid stream. More particularly, the invention includes an apparatus which includes a novel purging device and means for isolating a metering means from a liquid stream, and process for injecting finely divided flowable powder or catalyst into a flowing liquid stream, which in turn is fed into a reactor utilized for the production of polypropylene or polyolefins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for feeding a mud-like catalyst mixture into a polymerization reactor. The catalyst mixture is fed from a container into a batching space of a feeder connected thereto, from which channel the catalyst mixture is further fed by batches into the polymerization reactor by the use of the pressure of a medium fed into the feeder. In accordance with the invention, after each catalyst batch fed into the polymerization reactor, the medium is substantially removed from the batching space of the feeder by leading the medium via an outlet channel into a space between two on/off valves before filling the batching space with a new catalyst batch.

Abstract: A precision powder hopper comprises a canister for storing particulate material and a rotatable carrier wheel that accurately meters small amounts of the material to a powder out port. The carrier wheel has slots therethourgh that receive definite quantities of material, which is tamped into the carrier wheel slots by a tamper assembly. The tamper assembly includes a deflectable leaf spring that mounts to the same shaft that rotates the powder carrier wheel. A cam and spoke arrangement cause the leaf spring to deflect cyclically in response to rotation of the powder carrier wheel. A cupped spring washer cooperates with the leaf spring to absorb some of the deflection thereof, thereby decreasing the bending stress in the leaf spring and increasing its service life. Powder in the carrier wheel slots is wiped by a novel seal that has at least one circular line contact with the carrier wheel.

Abstract: A shotcrete gun having a rotatable multichamber rotor, with a top feed hopper for receiving a dry concrete mixture in a chamber, and a bottom outlet pipe for discharging the dry concrete mixture from the chamber. The outlet pipe having a compressed air connector for connection to a compressed air source. The upper surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket having one or more openings fixed to a clamping plate. The lower surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket which is fixed to a base plate. The hopper and the outlet pipe being spaced such that a chamber which communicates directly with the hopper can be moved so that it no longer communicates with the hopper but communicates with the outlet pipe. The clamping plate has a compressed air connector for blowing the dry mixture out into the outlet pipe.

Abstract: A shotcrete gun having a rotatable multichamber rotor, with a top feed hopper for receiving a dry concrete mixture in a chamber, and a bottom outlet pipe for discharging the dry concret mixture from the chamber. The outlet pipe having a compressed air connector for connection to a compressed air source. The upper surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket having one or more openings fixed to a clamping plate. The lower surface of the drum rotor adjoins a gasket which is fixed to a base plate. The hopper and the outlet pipe being spaced such that a chamber which communicates directly with the hopper can be moved so that it no longer communicates with the hopper but communicates with the outlet pipe. The clamping plate has a compressed air connector for blowing the dry mixture out into the outlet pipe, and at least three pressure cylinders in order to press the gasket against the drum rotor. Means are provided for maintaining the pressure in the cylinders proportional to the pressure in the outlet pipe.

Abstract: An improved system for pneumatic spreader systems for selective distribution of particulate material onto agricultural fields from selected ones of a plurality of elongated delivery tubes or booms. The improved feature of the present invention comprises a boom delivery closure device to block flow of particulate material from certain preselected booms through flow-blocking plates disposed at the discharge ports of said delivery tubes. The flow-blocking plates substantially completely block the flow from a preselected one or plurality of delivery tubes, and diverts said flow to a line which normally functions as a feed line when the system is in normal operation, but as a recycling line when the delivery tube output port is in blocked or shut-off disposition.

Abstract: A combination of a pipette and a liquid transfer apparatus is disclosed. The liquid transfer apparatus comprises a frame defining a liquid inlet aperture connected by a first passageway to a dispensing aperture, an air vent aperture connected by a second passageway that extends toward the first passageway, and a valve interposed between the two passageways to alternate between allowing continuous liquid flow along the first passageway, or continuous air flow along the second passageway and part of the first passageway.

Abstract: The arrangement comprises a housing (1), a hopper (2) containing a powder and communicating with the interior of the housing (1), and a slide valve (11) having a drive (9) mounted inside the housing (1) and provided with a powder-metering cavity in the form of a recess (12).The housing has through passages for feeding compressed gas, and conveying the powder from the hopper (2) to the recess (12) and from the recess to the barrel. The slide valve (11) is arranged at the top part of the housing (1) and resiliently urged thereto in the zone of outlet holes of the passages. The arrangement also has a shut-off unit (18) connected to the slide valve (11) to block the outlet hole (8) of the passage for feeding the powder from the recess (12) to the barrel in one of extreme positions of the slide valve (11), in the other extreme position thereof the powder-metering cavity (12) communicates with the outlet hole (8) of the passage conveying the powder to the barrel.

Abstract: A machine for introducing a quantity of powder into a plurality of containers. The machine includes a powder transporting member, which has a plurality of downwardly open chambers, and a container transporting member located below the powder transporting member. The powder transporting member and the container transporting member are continuously rotated in unison about a substantially vertical axis. The machine includes a reservoir for powder with which the chambers communicate during part of the rotation of the powder transporting member. A vacuum is applied to the chambers to cause powder to be drawn therein. Powder from each chamber is discharged into a container carried by the container transporting member.

Abstract: The problems of excess flow of a liquid to be dispensed in a metering device, especially for a sterilizing liquid for packings and packaging materials, is solved by pumping the liquid from a supply vessel below the housing of the metering device into the latter and maintaining a bath of the liquid in the latter by overflow back to the supply vessel. A control slider lifts a quantity of the liquid from the bath to an overflow channel from which it flows to a metering chamber and then passes through an upwardly inclined duct to the atomizing and blowing device applying the liquid spray to the packaging materials.

Abstract: Injection mechanism for powder and the like comprising a movable disc (II) with a number of throughholes (6) and two stationary members (I, III), each having a number of openings (1,2 and 3, 4, 5) communicating with a powder supply, a propellant gas source and a powder receiving unit, respectively, wherein the two faces of the disc each faces a closely mating face of each of the members and wherein in defined relative positions holes (6) at the disc (II) are in alignment with openings (1-5) in the members (I, III). The surfaces of the stationary members (I, III) presented spaced apart depressions (7) communicating with an adjustable pressure oil source and an adjustable spring action device acts against the members with opposite direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for feeding particulate material from a hopper into a process stream at a controlled flow rate. A rotating wheel with spaced apart pockets is vibrated to densify the particulate material in the pockets. A stator contacts and covers a portion of the upper surface of the wheel and has a transfer station connected to discharge particular into the process stream. The wheel is driven in rotation at a controlled rate to control the particulate flow rate into the process stream. A conveying gas supply projects a jet of gas into the pockets for removing the particulate material and conveying it into the process stream. An aerating gas supply directs an upward flow of gas from the periphery of the wheel, through the particulate material being supplied to the wheel to fluidize the particulate material supplied to the wheel.

Abstract: The invention is in a pneumatic powder ejector comprising a suction stage and an injection stage. The suction stage includes a suction chamber (16), a venturi (14) communicating a primary gas to the suction chamber and a lateral suction input (18) offset in relation to the downstream and of the venturi. The injection stage includes a nozzle (22), an injection chamber (36) and a diffuser (38). The stages are located within and coaxially of the body of a tubular ejector. The nozzle includes a path for powder and primary gas between the suction chamber and diffuser, and is formed to provide a flow path of reduced dimension to communicate a secondary or entrainment gas between the diffuser and injection station.

Abstract: A method for loading a predetermined amount of particulate material into a container comprising providing a hopper containing a supply of the particulate material and a movable plate at least partly below the hopper, with the plate having a series of openings extending therethrough. The particulate material in the hopper is allowed to flow into and fill at least some of the openings in the plate, and the density of the particulate material in the openings is controlled. The plate is moved to move the filled openings to a filling station, and the particulate material from the openings is transferred to a container at the filling station. A plurality of the filled openings is used to deliver particulate material to each container so that any differences in the quantity of particulate material in the filled openings tends to be averaged.

Abstract: A device for metering bulk materials with a vertical axis having a rotor featuring radially extending paddles about the vertical axis, and a cover plate, constructed to prevent especially coarse particle materials from being scraped or squashed between the rotor and the cover plate. For this purpose a ring segment type opening is provided in the cover plate, and a recess is provided in the under surface of the cover adjacent the opening to provide a space for producing material slopes underneath, whereby the limiting edge between the inlet opening of the cover plate and the rotor paddles forms an acute angle.

Abstract: The present application discloses an improved filter assembly used in a dry powder filling machine in which the bottom of the cylindrical measuring cavity for the powder being measured is formed by the improved filter assembly having a cup shaped recess wherein the floor of the recess contains evenly spaced and relatively small apertures. The aperture-containing floor is backed by a screen which allows vacuum to be applied to draw powder into the cavity but which prevents passage of the powder through the screen while the cavity is being filled. Application of gas pressure to the underside of the floor of the cavity expels the measured powder into a container as a discrete slug with relatively little separation.

Abstract: In a lock for the transport of bulk material between chambers being under different pressure a lock chamber (4) is guided tightly and driven by a reciprocal movement in a preferably horizontal guide tube (2), which comprises on different sides of its wall a first opening (12) leading to the chamber with lower pressure and in an axial distance therefrom a second opening (15) leading to the chamber with higher pressure, wherein the chamber comprises openings (13, 14), which can be brought in coincidence with the first (12) and second (15) opening at the points or reversal of the reciprocal movement. Adjacent to the lock chamber (4) in axial direction is arranged a slide (3a) being tightly guided in the guide tube (2), which slide slides over the second opening (15).

Abstract: An apparatus for apportioning powdered material into each of a series of containers is disclosed which includes a powdered material hopper having a dispensing opening and a rotatable filling head contiguous to the dispensing opening. The rotatable filling head includes a plurality of radially situated chambers each having an open outer end for displacement between the material hopper and the series of containers. A conventional pneumatic source is provided for assisting the filling and emptying of the chambers during the apportioning process. Within each chamber, the volume of powdered material received is defined by a piston having a porous surface. The piston engages a threaded stem longitudinally fixed in position yet rotatable about its longitudinal axis to effect displacement of the piston head and support longitudinally within the chamber. A seal is provided at the radially inner end of the threaded stem to ensure positive pneumatic action through the porous piston surface.

Abstract: A dosage inhalator for the inhalation of a pharmacologically active compound in solution form is disclosed. The inhalator comprises a propellant container, a propellant dispensing unit, and a dosing unit for dosing the pharmacologically active compound. The dosing unit comprises a storage chamber for the active compound, a dose loading unit directly connected thereto, and a nozzle. The does loading unit comprises a movable perforated membrane, and a holder for the perforated membrane. The membrane is displaceable between a first position where a solution of active compound is introduced into the perforations of the membrane, and second position where the perforations of the membrane are inserted into a propellant passage.

Abstract: A powder-air separator with a filter made by sintering short-cut filament-shaped particles or by sintering a mixture of short-cut filament-shaped particles and ordinary atomized round particles.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a rotor mounted in and sealed in a housing for rotation about a vertical axis and including a plurality of pockets. Between the peripheral outer side wall of the rotor and the cylindrical inner surface of the housing there is an interspace which is supplied with a pressurized gaseous medium and an exit port for discharging pourable material entering the interspace.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for dispensing materials into containers in precise amounts, which includes an adjustment mechanism for precisely controlling the volume of material dispensed. The dispensing apparatus comprises a dispensing wheel having a plurality of dispensing chambers arranged in a radial manner on the wheel. Each chamber includes a mechanism for varying its volume and hence the quantity of the substance received and discharged. The adjustment mechanism includes an externally accessible toothed wheel which is rotatable in one direction to increase the volume of the chamber and is rotatable in the opposite direction to decrease the chamber volume. First and second actuators are disposed relative to the dispensing wheel and are selectively operated to engage the toothed wheel on opposite sides of its rotational axis.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which a seed disk having a circular outer edge is rotatably mounted on a hub within a generally cylindrical housing, an elongated cleanout and seed sealing member mounted within the housing adjacent a substantial portion of the circumference of the outer edge of the seed disk forms a generally uniform space or gap with the outer edge of the seed disk which is large enough to pass most seed chips, broken seeds, dirt and other debris therethrough but small enough to prevent seeds contained within the housing and adjacent the seed disk from escaping therethrough. The cleanout and seed sealing member has a sloped surface adjacent the outer edge of the seed disk which provides the space or gap with a size that increases with increasing distance from the axis of rotation of the seed disk to facilitate the escape of debris.

Abstract: An apparatus for volumetric metering of large variable batches of pourable material is disclosed comprising a single chamber of gas-permeable material having a charging port. The chamber is provided in a pivotable gas-tight container, and is connected to a pneumatic system. The container has a position enabling the filing of the metering chamber through the charge port. Positioning of the chamber opening opposite an opening in the housing provides access for insertion and removal of space filling bodies to vary the volume of batches being metered.

Abstract: Equipment for the removal of air out of pulverulent materials before the product is packaged or transferred. The equipment comprises a storage silo (1), out of which the pulverulent material to be packaged flows readily into the packaging vessel placed underneath. At a distance from the tight exterior wall (8) of the packaging vessel, there is a metallic porous face of lining material (9), through which it is possible to remove air out of the packaging vessel or to feed pressurized air into the packaging vessel through the space between the exterior wall of the packaging vessel and the said porous face of lining material. The space between the exterior wall of the packaging vessel and the face of lining material is divided air-tightly, in the direction of progress of the pulverulent material, by means of partition walls, into at least two, preferably three, four or five compartments (3 to 7) separate from each other.

Abstract: A divided rotary valve feeder includes an inlet conduit, an outlet divided into a plurality of passages by webs, and rotor mounted between the inlet conduit and the outlet. The rotor includes vanes defining troughs and partitions dividing the troughs into a plurality of compartments. The partitions engage the webs to assure discharge of material from each compartment to an aligned passage, and the passages are in communication with conveyors for moving the material to a point of use. Tiltable splitter plates may be provided in the inlet conduit in engagement with the partitions to evenly distribute the flow of material to the compartments in each trough. Compressed air or other gas may be fed to each of the compartments to assist the discharge of material either by direct contact or by flexing a flexible boot in each compartment.

Abstract: A device for continuous, gravimetric metering and pneumatic conveying of pourable material provides that a material stream is conveyed over a measuring path while charging a load measuring device and the product of moment load and conveying speed is formed. The conveyor is in the form of a rotor having an essentially vertical axis and conveyor pockets in the form of chambers or cells which are moved with the rotor in a circular orbit over the measuring path. A housing surrounds the rotor in a pressure tight manner and includes a charging aperture and an emptying aperture which are rotationally displaced from one another. A load measuring device is connected to the housing and a tachometer is provided for measuring the angular velocity of the rotor. A pneumatic conveying system is provided which has feed lines respectively communicating with an air feed aperture in the housing and the emptying aperture.

Abstract: A powder inhalator which is activated by the air flow generated at inhalation and which is intended for inhalation of solid pharmacologically active compound in micronized form, said inhalator comprising a nozzle 2, an air conduit 6, a dosing unit 10 comprising a storage chamber 5 for the active compound and dosing means 8, and a maneuvering unit 1, characterized in that the dosing unit 10 comprises a storage chamber 5 for the active compound, a perforated membrane 4, a holder 9 for the said perforated membrane, and dosing means 8 for introducing active compound into the perforations in the perforated membrane 4, whereby means are arranged for displacing the membrane 4 in relation to the dosing means 8, whereby in a first position solid active compound in micronized form is introduced into the perforations in part of the area of the membrane 4 and in a second position the said part of the membrane 4 is inserted in the air conduit 6 for the air to be inhaled.

Abstract: An endless loop transporter for a linear pocket feeder especially for metering powdered coal from a reservoir at atmospheric pressure to a supply duct to a gas turbine compressor at a substantially higher pressure, the transporter including a flexible wire core, a plurality of primary discs loosely received on the core, a plurality of small spacer rings tightly received on the core in compression between the primary discs to form with the discs a plurality of closely spaced transport annuli, and a plurality of secondary discs substituted for a corresponding number of primary discs at uniform intervals along the transporter. The secondary discs carry seal rings which slidably seal against the surface of a tube between the reservoir and the supply duct to form an outside pressure seal between the areas of high and low pressure.

Abstract: A metering and/or feeding device for materials is disclosed. A plurality of vertically oriented, elastic-walled tubes are arranged at equal distances from the axis of a rotatable helical rod which, as it rotates, sequentially engages and constricts each of the elastic-walled tubes, beginning at their upper portions and progressively moving down the length of the tubes. The material being metered and/or fed is introduced into the elastic-walled tubes at their upper ends. A cover member is provided to cover the infeed ends of the tubes at selected intervals to prevent entry of the material being fed and/or metered into the tube at the time that the helical member engages the upper portion of the tube to constrict the tube so that it is substantially free of material. A plenum, through which a stream of pressurized gas is discharged, communicates with the discharge ends of each of the tubes, the gas conveying the material entering the plenum from the tubes to a work location.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping powdered materials. The apparatus includes a hopper having a discharge outlet in one end wall thereof. An agitator gently stirs the powdered material to prevent it from bridging and packing in the hopper. A sliding cylindrical sleeve, axially aligned with the discharge outlet, and a main piston therein are movable in the hopper for successively entrapping, or segregating, and discharging a portion of the powdered material through the discharge outlet. An auxiliary hydraulic cylinder within the sleeve contains a plunger that slides through a bore in the main piston. The plunger is independently movable relative to the main piston and sleeve, and, upon retraction, provides a void in the entrapped material to prevent bridging and packing in the sleeve. A fluidizing element in the hopper below the path of travel of the sleeve keeps the powdered material in a loose condition to further eliminate any tendency to bridge or pack in the sleeve.

Abstract: The metering cup assembly is disclosed for use in combination with a pneumatic seeding or fertilizing device. The assembly includes a casing which is secured to the underside of a hopper carrying seed, fertilizing or other granular material and the assembly is connected into a conduit in the pneumatic system. A metering component is journalled for rotation in the casing and provides a metering passageway for seed or other granular material therefrom the hopper into the pneumatic passageway. The metering device is adjustable to control the quantity of the material being transferred from the hopper into the conduit.

Abstract: The apparatus for dosing and dispensing a predetermined volume of powdered material into containers sequentially moving the one after the other along a rectilinear path, comprises two rotary doser-dispenser units presenting a plurality of open-ended radial chambers which, upon rotation of the doser-dispenser units around a common rotational axis are sequentially inserted into the powdered material contained into a tank, suction being applied so that the chambers are filled with the powdered material, and thereafter are sequentially brought the one after the other into axial alignment with the receiving open end of the containers, pneumatic pressure being applied to discharge the powdered material from each chamber into the respectively aligned container. The common rotational axis of the two rotary doser-dispenser units is parallel to the rectilinear path along which the containers move.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dosing of finely powdered material employs a volumetric chamber adapted to receive an amount predetermined by volume of the powdered material, and presenting a filtering screen through which pneumatic suction is applied for the taking up and compacting of the powdered material, and pneumatic pressure is applied for the discharge of the said powdered material.The said filtering screen is made of a fabric of mono-filament synthetic material, and preferably of mono-filaments of a polytetrafluoroethylene resin, said mono-filaments constituting both the warp and the weft of the fabric.

Abstract: A mercury doser for automatically and accurately dosing arc tubes at high production rates comprises a rotatable stainless steel metering plate sandwiched between tetrafluoroethylene discs. The plate contains a graduated series of metering cavities of which one is selected. Mercury is fed by gravity into the selected cavity at a loading position where any trapped air or gas escapes through a vent port. The port is so small that surface tension prevents entry of the mercury. The plate is then advanced to an unloading position where a puff of argon gas expels the mercury charge into a delivery channel.

Abstract: An inhalation device for dispensing a powdered medicament from a medicament-holding container having a first part which is an elongate housing having a passageway for the movement of air therethrough, one end of the housing being an output end adapted for insertion into the mouth or nasal passage of the user thereof, the passageway terminating in an emptying chamber at the output end of the housing, the cross-sectional area of the passageway being less than the cross-sectional area of the emptying chamber, and means for receiving the second part of the device which is a carriage moveably connected to the first part and having means to receive a medicament-holding container so that when an open end of the medicament-holding container is placed adjcent the inner end of the emptying chamber during inhalation the medicament is dispensed from the container.

Abstract: Powder is fed from a container into a continuous annular groove on a rotating metering plate. A doctor member ensures that the powder is correctly filled into the groove. The powder is then sucked out of the groove after the plate has rotated through a certain angle by a suction device which has a projection extending into the groove.

Abstract: Apparatus for inhalation of medicinal agents as an aerosol effluent from the apparatus which includes a housing with a venturi-shaped interior configuration providing a venturi constriction between an air inlet chamber and a aerosol exhaust chamber including a dispenser zone; and with an arrangement for mounting a medicament container on the housing and including a connector member mounted on the housing and apertured for communication therewith, and a metering disk to carry the medicament container and rotatably mounted on the connector member by a related mounting and locking pin arrangement permitting rotation of the metering disk for dosage dispensing while separating a selected dosage chamber from the medicament container during dispensing; the mounting and locking pin arrangement permitting ready separation of the parts for cleaning of residual medicament and re-assembly for further dispensing as with a different medicament.

Abstract: A device for blowing powder onto teeth, the device consisting of a handpiece in the form of a housing connected to a compressed air source and having a discharge nozzle member which can be inserted in a patient's mouth and can be directed towards the patient's teeth. The housing has a powder reservoir with a bottom supply duct. An apertured shuttle bar is reciprocably slidably mounted beneath said duct and has a metering hole registrable with said supply duct and then, by longitudinally moving the bar, with a discharge conduit arranged to receive compressed air from the source so as to discharge a metered amount of powder in said hole into the nozzle member for delivery to the patient's teeth.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding flock fibers comprising an upwardly open flock-receiving hopper. The hopper has a bottom discharge passage under which is mounted metering apparatus providing a plurality of discharge openings of controllably variable size. An upper impeller having a plurality of downwardly angled blades is rotatably driven within the hopper passage to urge the flock fibers to fall downwardly through the discharge openings into a cylindrical pump chamber. A lower impeller is rotatably driven within the pump chamber to sweep falling flock fibers into a pump throat in communication with a venturi flow tube through which a supply of air is passed. The air flowing through the venturi flow tube creates suction to draw the fibers within the throat into the venturi flow tube for entrainment with the air stream.

Abstract: There is disclosed a metering device for metering finely divided material which is capable of handling both free-flowing powders and non-free-flowing powders. The device comprises an upright mixing chamber or reservoir having an axially-disposed stirrer therein. Adjacent thereto is a motor-driven shaft having a metering disc attached thereto with a portion extending into the mixing chamber. The motor-driven axial shaft of the metering disc is connected to the axial shaft of the stirrer by a gear train. Each shaft has replaceable gears attached thereto, adapted to mesh with an idler gear. The idler gear is mounted on an adjustable arm so that the position thereof can be changed when one or both of the replaceable gears is replaced by a gear of different size. In one form of the invention, the stirrer comprises radially-disposed arms projecting from the rotatable shaft, each arm of which is angularly displaced with reference to the arm above or below it and is curved away from the direction of rotation.

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: An invalid feeding device for persons unable to feed themselves in the usual manner, having a selective means for transporting food from containers to the mouth of the person being fed, the transporting means being controlled and having self contained means for reversing the movement of the transport, and for disengaging the same upon completion of each cycle.

Abstract: A plug valve adapted to meter precise quantities of material passing therethrough in which a cylindrical valve plug is rotatably mounted in a cylindrically shaped aperture in a valve body. First and second sets of radially extending inlet and outlet passageways are connected to the valve body aperture, with each inlet passageway being radially opposite a corresponding outlet passageway. Two orthogonally oriented, nonintersecting valve ports extend through the valve plug perpendicular to its axis of rotation, the ports being closely spaced from each other along the axis and with the diameter of each valve port being approximately one-half the diameter of the passageways such that one valve port connects one set of inlet and outlet passageways while the orthogonally positioned second port simultaneously connects the second set of inlet and outlet passageways.

Abstract: A plug valve adapted to meter precise quantities of material passing therethrough in which a cylindrical valve plug is rotatably mounted in a cylindrically shaped aperture in a valve body. First and second sets of radially extending inlet and outlet passageways are connected to the valve body aperture, with each inlet passageway being radially opposite a corresponding outlet passageway. Two orthogonally oriented, nonintersecting valve ports extend through the valve plug perpendicular to its axis of rotation, the ports being closely spaced from each other along the axis and with the diameter of each valve port being approximately one-half the diameter of the passageways such that one valve port connects one set of inlet and outlet passageways while the orthogonally positioned second port simultaneously connects the second set of inlet and outlet passageways.