Abstract: A hopper is closed at its lower end by a scraper which is provided with two opposite edges that laterally delimit an elongated discharge opening, a motorized rotating shaft extends parallel to the elongated discharge opening in a scraping relationship with the opposite edges, and is provided with a plurality of blind receptacles that are adapted to receive doses of salt which is loaded into the hopper, and after passing the first edge in relation to the direction of rotation of the shaft, the salt is discharged by gravity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for transferring fuel pellets from a location external to a building to a location in an interior of the building. The system includes a first container positioned at a location remote from the building and a second container positioned proximate an exterior portion of the building. The first and second containers are connected to one another to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the first container to the second container by a pneumatic apparatus. The second container is also connected with the interior of the building to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the second container to the interior of said building.

Abstract: An air cart for distributing air entrained particulate material from a chamber or tank to a plurality of distribution lines for application to an agricultural field has a tank refilling feature utilizing air flow from the cart distribution system or from a dedicated pneumatic source. The cart conveying system air flow is diverted and passed through an assembly containing multiple venturis which also receives particulate material from a supply source. The air entrained material from the source is conveyed to and gently deposited in the cart tank. Exhaust air from the tank may be directed back into the cart conveying system or vented through an air diffuser located beneath the cart. Exhaust air which is directed back to the cart conveying system may return to a location closely adjacent that from which it was originally diverted.

Abstract: An air cart for distributing air entrained particulate material from a chamber or tank to a plurality of distribution lines for application to an agricultural field has a tank refilling feature utilizing air flow from the cart distribution system or from a dedicated pneumatic source. The cart conveying system air flow is diverted and passed through an assembly containing multiple venturis which also receives particulate material from a supply source. The air entrained material from the source is conveyed to and gently deposited in the cart tank. Exhaust air from the tank may be directed back into the cart conveying system or vented through an air diffuser located beneath the cart. Exhaust air which is directed back to the cart conveying system may return to a location closely adjacent that from which it was originally diverted.

Abstract: A feed system and related process are configured to continuously feed measured doses of source material to a vapor deposition apparatus wherein the source material is sublimated and deposited as a thin film on a substrate. The system includes a bulk material hopper, and an upper dose cup disposed to receive source material from the hopper. A lower dose cup is disposed in a vacuum lock chamber to receive a measured dose of source material from the upper dose cup. A transfer mechanism is disposed below the vacuum lock chamber to receive the measured dose of source material from the lower dose cup and to transfer the source material to a downstream deposition head while isolating the deposition conditions and sublimated source material within the deposition head.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet gate of a railroad hopper car has an valve member mounted for rotation in a discharge tube between open and closed positions. The valve member is an arcuate segment terminating laterally at edge faces. The edge faces are angled such that in the upper half of the discharge tube they always slant downwardly from the surface of the tube, while in the lower half of the discharge tube the edge faces face downwardly. An arrangement of stops and abutments prevents rotation of the valve member to a location where the edge faces could trap lading against the discharge tube. Accordingly, the edge faces are self-emptying.

Abstract: A powder supply system including a powder replenishment device as a powder source, a suction device and a plurality of powder supply units connected in series. Each of the powder supply units sprinkles powders toward an object mounted on each processing device. An upstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the powder replenishment device, and a downstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the suction device. A suction force generated by the suction device sucks powders from the powder replenishment device through the powder supply units, and powders are successively accumulated in the powder supply units in the order from the upstream end powder supply unit to the downstream end powder supply unit. A powder sensor is provided between the rearmost powder supply unit and the suction device. If all powder supply units are filled with powders, residual powders are discharged out of the downstream end powder supply unit.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet gate of a railroad hopper car has an valve member mounted for rotation in a discharge tube between open and closed positions. The valve member is an arcuate segment terminating laterally at edge faces. The edge faces are angled such that in the upper half of the discharge tube they always slant downwardly from the surface of the tube, while in the lower half of the discharge tube the edge faces face downwardly. An arrangement of stops and abutments prevents rotation of the valve member to a location where the edge faces could trap lading against the discharge tube. Accordingly, the edge faces are self-emptying.

Abstract: A powder supply system including a powder replenishment device as a powder source, a suction device and a plurality of powder supply units connected in series. Each of the powder supply units sprinkles powders toward an object mounted on each processing device. An upstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the powder replenishment device, and a downstream end powder supply unit is fluidly connected to the suction device. A suction force generated by the suction device sucks powders from the powder replenishment device through the powder supply units, and powders are successively accumulated in the powder supply units in the order from the upstream end powder supply unit to the downstream end powder supply unit. A powder sensor is provided between the rearmost powder supply unit and the suction device. If all powder supply units are filled with powders, residual powders are discharged out of the downstream end powder supply unit.

Abstract: A powder collecting and transporting device can collect powder left on a conveyer after the powder is sprinkled on cakes and bread into a laterally elongated powder container, and transport the powder in the container to a desired location by air suction. The device includes a hopper having an elongated powder discharge opening at its bottom portion and a cylindrical frame fluidly connected to the bottom portion. In the cylindrical frame, a suction pipe is rotatably provided. The suction pipe has an end portion in communication with a suction device. The suction pipe is formed with a slit at its peripheral surface. The slit forms a spiral line making one round along the longitudinal axis of the suction pipe. A part of the spiral slit is in alignment with the discharge opening to provide a suction port having small area for providing fluid communication between the hopper and the suction pipe.

Abstract: A gate for twin shaft mixer having a partial cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, first and second outer wall portions, and first and second end walls. The first outer wall portion extends between the first and second end walls parallel to the longitudinal axis forming a first working surface. The second outer wall portion extends from the first end wall parallel to the longitudinal axis to a terminal end spaced apart from the second end wall, forming a continuous discharge passage in the partial cylindrical body between the terminal end and the second end wall. The first and second end walls are provided with shafts which extend along a common axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, defining an axis of rotation for the gate. A pair of actuator assemblies are provided that support the discharge gate below the discharge opening of a mixer and impart rotation to the gate through the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A device for introducing dosed quantities of pulverized solid materials into a carrier gas stream is presented. The device is particularly suitable for injecting solid fuels into a shaft furnace during metal refining. The device comprises a housing which defines a flow chamber in the axial direction for the flow of pressurized fluid or carrier gas. The housing also has a side aperture therethrough. The side aperture is connected to a container holding pulverized materials. Coaxial inner and outer sleeves, at least one of which is capable of rotation, are located within the housing. The outer sleeve communicates with the aperture while the inner sleeve has an axial bore which provides a passage for the carrier gas. Upon rotation of a sleeve, slots provided on each sleeve will align and overlap with each other and with the aperture to define a variable sized passage between the container and axial bore whereby the pulverized material is delivered therethrough to the carrier gas stream.

Abstract: A device for introducing dosed quantities of pulverized solid materials into a carrier gas stream is presented. The device is particularly suitable for injecting solid fuels into a shaft furnace during metal refining. The device comprises a housing having oppositely disposed inlet and outlet radial apertures therethrough. The inlet radial aperture is connected to a container holding pulverized materials. Coaxial inner and outer sleeves, at least one of which is capable of rotation, are located within the housing. Upon rotation of a sleeve, pairs of oppositely disposed slots provided on each sleeve will align and overlap with each other and with the pair of oppositely disposed apertures to define variable sized passages. A cheek positioned on one end of the housing has a cylindrical extension portion which extends axially into the inner sleeve and extends across the inlet and outlet apertures.

Abstract: A device for introducing dosed or proportioned quantities of pulverized solid materials into a carrier gas stream is presented. The device comprises a housing which defines a flow chamber in the axial direction for the flow of pressurized fluid or carrier gas. The housing also has a side aperture therethrough. The side aperture is connected to a container holding pulverized materials. Coaxial inner and outer sleeves, at least one of which is capable of rotation, are located within the housing. The outer sleeve communicates with the aperture while the inner sleeve has an axial bore which provides a passage for the carrier gas. Upon rotation of a sleeve, slots provided on each sleeve will align and overlap with each other and with the aperture to define a variable sized passage between the container and axial bore whereby the pulverized material is delivered therethrough to the carrier gas stream.

Abstract: A device for introducing dosed or proportioned quantities of pulverized solid materials into a carrier gas stream is presented. The device comprises a housing which defines a flow chamber in the axial direction for the flow of pressurized fluid or carrier gas. The housing also has a side aperture therethrough. The side aperture is connected to a container holding pulverized materials. Coaxial inner and outer sleeves, at least one of which is capable of rotation, are located within the housing. The outer sleeve communicates with the aperture while the inner sleeve has an axial bore which provides a passage for the carrier gas. Upon rotation of a sleeve, slots provided on each sleeve will align and overlap with each other and with the aperture to define a variable sized passage between the container and axial bore whereby the pulverized material is delivered therethrough to the carrier gas stream.

Abstract: Particulate blending apparatus including a vessel, the lower end of which is a downwardly tapered funnel-like section. A vertical divider divides the tapered section into first and second compartments. A vertical tubular member is centrally disposed in the vessel so that the lower end thereof provides an inlet into the vessel and the upper end opens into the upper portion of the vessel. First and second openings are provided on opposite sides of the vertical tubular member at the lower end thereof through which particulate materials may flow by gravity into the tubular member from the first and second compartments, respectively, of the tapered section. A blower may be connected to the lower end of the tubular member providing a stream of air therethrough by which particulate materials entering the tubular member through the first and second openings may be entrained therewith exiting through the upper end of the tubular member for redeposition in the vessel.

Abstract: Powdered or particulate material, especially cement which is prone to caking, is stored in a fluidized storage container (1) and is conveyed in predetermined amount by conveyor means (15) to a mixer unit (20). The material is mixed with water which is also supplied to the mixer unit to form a grout which can be used in pump packing systems in underground mines. The invention provides simple equipment capable of reliably handling large quantities of cement, and is particularly suited for use underground in coal mines. (References to FIG. 1).

Abstract: In a pneumatic discharge outlet a rotatable discharge conduit attached to a rotatable lading control valve extends outboard of the outlet end wall. Operating handles to move a lading control valve between open and closed positions are located on the discharge conduit. Laterally spaced large headed bolts extending outwardly parallel to the discharge conduit, are threaded into respective threaded portions of the operating handles. In moving the valve element between open and closed positions, the large headed bolts move circumferentially about the hub with the handles. An outlet end cap includes laterally spaced end cap lugs having openings through which the large headed bolts pass. In closed position the heads of the large headed bolts engage the end cap lugs to hold the end cap in closed position. To remove the end cap the large headed bolts are rotated an amount sufficient to free the end cap lugs from the large headed bolts so that the end cap may be removed from the discharge conduit.

Abstract: In a pneumatic discharge outlet a rotatable discharge conduit attached to a rotatable lading control valve extends outboard of the outlet end wall. Operating handles to move the lading control valve between open and closed positions are located on the discharge conduit. Laterally spaced, large headed bolts extending outwardly parallel to the discharge conduit, are threaded into respective threaded portions of the operating handles. An outlet end cap includes laterally spaced end cap lugs having openings through which the large headed bolts pass. In closed position the heads of the large headed bolts engage the end cap lugs to hold the end cap in closed position. To remove the end cap the large headed bolts are rotated an amount sufficient to free the end cap lugs from the large headed bolts so that the end cap may be removed from the discharge conduit. The large headed bolts have bolt stops attached to their inner ends to prevent removal of the bolts when the end cap is removed.