Abstract: An automatic pressure sensitive regulation assembly and process is provided for use with a non-mechanical particulate solids flow apparatus. The automatic pressure sensitive regulation assembly comprises first and second pressurized fluid distributors. The first pressurized fluid distributor provides incipient fluidization of the particulate solids in the vicinity of the automatic pressure sensitive regulation assembly and an attendant hydrostatic pressure. The second pressurized fluid distributor senses variations in the hydrostatic pressure as a function of the particulate solids level, and in response thereto directly varies the flow of pressurized fluids to the downstream end of the particulate solids flow apparatus to change the rate of flow of particulate solids at the same rate as received.

Abstract: A blast aerator for fluidizing granular material, comprising a container connected to a supply of compressed air, an aerator valve casing having a diaphragm chamber therein, a flexible resilient diaphragm dividing the chamber into first and second portions, a conduit connected between the container and the first portion, an air blast outlet connected to an outlet port in the first portion, the diaphragm including a valve member initially closing the port by the resilience of the diaphragm, a bleed opening in the diaphragm for pressurizing the second portion when the first portion is pressurized, and a control valve for opening and closing a vent outlet from the second portion, the control valve when closed allowing pressurization of the second portion, and, when open, exhausting the pressure therefrom, whereupon the pressure in the first portion opens the valve member and quickly releases the compressed air from the container to produce an air blast through the outlet.

Abstract: A device for supplying helical wire compression springs in sequence to an output conduit includes a casing defining a spring supply chamber therein for receiving a plurality of helical wire compression springs of a first diameter. A delivery tube is mounted on top of the casing and defines a spring outlet opening of a diameter slightly larger than the first diameter. The delivery tube communicates, through the spring outlet opening, between the chamber and the output conduit. An agitator, including an air inlet communicating with the bottom of the chamber, supplies air under pressure to the chamber such that springs in the chamber are agitated, and pass out of the chamber through the delivery tube and into the output conduit. A shedder piston surrounds the spring outlet opening of the delivery tube, and moves with respect thereto so as to dislodge springs entangled within or blocking the spring outlet opening.

Abstract: A compressed air discharge system for facilitating the unloading of material from the dump bed of such as a dump truck, and which is designed for interconnection with the compressed air system of the dump truck.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a powder-feeding system for gas-propelled delivery of a powder to be controllably supplied, as to a flame-spraying gas torch or to a transferred-arc plasma torch. A fluidizing chamber receives (a) fluidizing-gas flow from below a porous screen, and (b) a restricted gravitational flow of powder at a relatively small central discharge location above the porous screen. A gas conduit extends transversely through the chamber between the powder-discharge location and the porous screen; it has a carrier-gas supply connection at one end and a gas-propelled powder-delivery connection at its other end. The conduit also has an upwardly extending opening virtually beneath and facing the powder-discharge location, but a shed interposed between this opening and the powder-discharge location sufficiently overlaps the opening to assure that no powder will pass through the opening and into the conduit unless it has been gas-fluidized.

Abstract: A silo for storage and homogenization of powder-like commodities includes a housing with a peripheral wall defining an interior chamber in which a cone facilitating the flowing movement of the commodity is located. The cone has an apex formed with a ventilation opening which is surrounded by an aerating device to which air is supplied. A bottom wall arranged within the housing has an outlet for discharging the commodity from the silo and is provided with pneumatic chutes sloped towards the outlet. A number of sector-like ventilation elements are mounted on the bottom wall which are adapted to admit air to the silo which air rises through the interior of the cone, passes through the ventilation opening and enters the commodity located above the cone.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a powder-feeding system for gas-propelled delivery of a powder to be controllably supplied, as to a flame-spraying gas torch or to a transferred-arc plasma torch. A fluidizing chamber receives (a) fluidizing-gas flow from below a porous screen, and (b) a restricted gravitational flow of powder at a relatively small central discharge location above the porous screen. A gas conduit extends transversely through the chamber between the powder-discharge location and the porous screen; it has a carrier-gas supply connection at one end and a gas-propelled powder-delivery connection at its other end. The conduit also has an upwardly extending opening virtually beneath and facing the powder-discharge location, but a shed interposed between this opening and the powder-discharge location sufficiently overlaps the opening to assure that no powder will pass through the opening and into the conduit unless it has been gas-fluidized.

Abstract: Method of emptying a powder or like material out of a container.The powder (9) is conveyed out of the container (1) from its free upper surface by means of a stream of carrier air in a carrier-air pipe (6; 10; 12) provided with openings for the powder. The emptying is facilitated by means of a stream of secondary air from a secondary-air pipe (7; 11; 13). The container is rotated so that the fixed carrier-air pipe may come into the vicinity of the surface of the powder.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for removing compacted, slurriable solids from a vessel by water erosion. The water erosion is effected by a waterfall created through the use of a travelling bridge which traverses the compacted solids and coacts with a movable gate which allows a nearly vertical face of the compacted solids to be exposed to the waterfall.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fiber disseminator conduit comprised of a vertical cmn having two sources of a gas (normally air) wherein one source provides a continuous stream of a suspension gas (such as air) to effect dispersion and separation of the particles or fibers and cause the particles and fibers to rise to a test portion thereof and a second source of intermittent gas stream below the first source to raise clumps of the particles and fibers to the first source of suspension gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for delivering fluidization gas to a bed of particulate solids to selectively locally fluidize the solids above a delivery conduit in communication with a reaction chamber. Also an apparatus and process for intimately mixing hydrocarbon feed with the particulate solids at the end of the delivery conduit in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for salting cheese. A tank containing a quantity of salt is located outside of the finishing vat that contains the cheese curd. The curd in the vat is agitated by stirring paddles which are mounted on a rotating arm and one end of a salt supply line is connected to the bottom portion of the salt tank while the opposite end of the line is connected to the rotating arm within the vat. A pressure line, connected to a source of gas under pressure, is also connected to the bottom portion of the salt tank, opposite the connection of the salt supply line. The pressure line has a smaller diameter than the supply line and gas is jetted through the salt bed, causing salt to be drawn into the fast moving gas stream and delivered through the supply line to the vat where it is uniformly distributed onto the curds.

Abstract: In the back-pass of a steam generator, hot fly ash collects at a station. At the station to which the ash gravitates, a liquid bath is provided to receive the ash. Nozzles are arranged within the liquid receiving the ash to urge the material into a mechanical grinder in which the ash is reduced for ultimate disposal.

Abstract: A pneumatic seed planter utilizing air pressure to dispense the seeds in a central hopper to a plurality of laterally spaced seed planting assemblies. Mounted on the planter is a system for dispensing granular chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from a separate hopper to the rows planted by the planting assemblies. The system uses air pressure from the planter (rather than a mechanical drive) to convey the granular material out of the separate hopper to the planting assemblies. Air is directed upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the chemical hopper and into a material conveyor tube spaced from the opening. The granular chemical is drawn through the space and into the conveyor tube by the air stream. A plurality of delivery tubes is connected to the conveyor tube for directing the chemical to the respective plurality of planting assemblies.

Abstract: Process for the pneumatic transfer of a pulverulent material contained in a cylindrical container, wherein it comprises the introduction, via a sealed passage located in the upper part and in the axis of the container, of a suction member which is movable in translation along said axis and having at its suction end located in the container an annular nozzle which is able to direct a gas jet towards the walls of the container so as to ensure the scavenging of said walls during suction, the level of said annular nozzle in the container being maintained constantly above the level of the pulverulent material contained therein until all the material has been sucked out, including that on the bottom of the container. The process is performed by an apparatus for the pneumatic transfer of a pulverulent material comprising a cylindrical container containing the pulverulent material and pneumatic extraction duct for emptying the container.

Abstract: A method for emptying a catalytic converter where a container is attached to the fill hole of the converter such that a nozzle attached to an air line is inserted within the bed area of the converter. A vacuum source is turned on inducing negative pressure within the container and an air line is attached to the nozzle. The negative pressure results in a first air flow for carrying pellets from the bed area into the container while the air line passes through the nozzle in a jet stream of air and dislodges any particles remaining in the bed area so that they may flow into the container along with the first stream of air.An apparatus for performing the above described method is also described.

Abstract: A flume for transporting fruit and the like such as between a sorter and a packaging apparatus and for measuring the batches of fruit into the packaging apparatus comprises a trough for accumulating the fruit and a slowly moving paddle for directing the water flow against the fruit to transport the fruit toward an exit gate. The manner of transporting the fruit permits the use of a single production line for processing fruits of varying degrees of buoyancy, such as apples and pears, without the need for using a flotation agent in connection with the latter.

Abstract: An apparatus for singling assembly parts from a coherent mass comprises a rotary drum storing the mass and including a slotted peripheral wall with openings of a width permitting single parts to pass therethrough by gravity and a length permitting a plurality of the parts to pass whereby clusters of the parts resolved by the rotation of the drum from the coherent mass pass through the openings by gravity. A whirlpool chamber is arranged downstream of the rotary drum and has an inlet receiving the clusters from the drum openings through a passageway. Nozzles are arranged at the inlet for directing a tangential jet of gas into the chamber and creating a gaseous whirlpool in the chamber for moving and separating the clusters into individual assembly parts, and restricted outlet pipes communicate with the whirlpool chamber remote from the inlet and are arranged to receive individual assembly parts moved by the gas jet so that the individual parts are oriented along the axis of the outlet pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating entangled objects from each other comprises an upstanding cylindrical receptacle which contains a separation chamber of annular cross-section formed between a cylindrical outer wall and an inner wall located in coaxial relationship to the outer wall. A mechanism is provided for generating a generally helical flow of air along the inner side of the outer wall in order to move objects, fed into the receptacle, from the lower portion of the separation chamber to a discharge opening located at a higher level.

Abstract: Apparatus for disentangling workpieces is described which consists of a container into which the entangled workpieces are placed, a series of air jets located in the base of the container, and an outlet assembly consisting of a pair of overlapping relatively slidable comb-shaped plates defining a series of slots of adjustable width. An electropneumatic circuit is arranged periodically to widen the slots to release any trapped workpieces, and to shut off the blowing air immediately prior to widening of the slots. A circulatory flow of the workpieces is established in the container and the disentangling is brought about primarily by the brushing action of the workpieces against the slots.

Abstract: A compressed air operated dispenser for separating and dispensing small helical coil springs or other small elongate workpieces comprises a trough providing a dispensing chamber into which the workpieces can be introduced to form a loosely packed bed in the bottom part thereof. An air supply mechanism effects blowing jets of compressed air intermittently, in a downwards direction, into the bottom part adjacent one side of the trough such that the compressed air is caused to sweep over the interior bottom surface by which it is deflected into an upwardly directed airstream adjacent the opposite side, thereby creating turbulence effective to agitate and carry upwards at least some of the workpieces to outlet apertures disposed in the upper part of the trough in the path of the upwardly directed airstream.

Abstract: In a sparger outlet, openings in a sparger loop are provided with specially designed check valves to reduce or eliminate the tendency of the lading to enter the loop through the openings. The openings in the loop include a hollow cylindrical seat portion. The seat member includes an opening in the interior portion thereof which communicates with the loop. The external portion of the seat member includes a circular seat adapted to receive a check valve in closed position. The seat portion may be formed in the loop or be a separate member. The check valve includes a stem portion extending through the seat, a tail portion which engages the interior portion of the seat member, and a head portion which in closed position seats on the seat. Either the stem portion and/or the tail portion is made of elastomeric material. The tail portion includes outwardly extending legs which engage the interior portion of the seat and bias the head portion into seated position on the seat.

Abstract: An aerating or fluidizing device is located adjacent the gravity discharge opening of a hopper. The device is in the form of a flexible, resilient member fixed so that a marginal edge normally contacts and defines an interface with an associated surface. Air under pressure is fed to the interface in such fashion as to cause the marginal edge of the resilient member to flutter and allow the air to escape in randomly directed "puffs." The fluttering movement combined with the intermittent puffs of air causes pulverulent material to be agitated, aerated and/or fluidized as it passes to the discharge opening.

Abstract: The invention facilitates the movement of particulate matter (such as a powder) over a surface by making the surface from a material which is porous to gas. In use, gas is forced up through the surface and into the particulate matter. This makes the particulate matter flow more easily over the surface. The invention is claimed to be particularly useful for assisting the flow of matter inside a tank to facilitate discharge of its load.

Abstract: A control arrangement is provided to control discharges of compressed gas into vessels containing difficult to unload material comprising one or more control valves connected in operative relation to discharge valves operative to discharge compressed gas from an accumulator into the vessel. The control valves are provided with a timer for controlling the time of discharge of compressed gas from the accumulator. This timer may comprise a pneumatic, electro-mechanism and/or electronic timer. The control arrangement may also include means for applying pressure gas to discharge valves which are in operative relation with accumulator discharge devices which are not being utilized for unloading. Various arrangements for mounting the accumulators, discharge valves, conduits, and discharge devices are illustrated in connection with a railway hopper car. Certain discharge device mounting arrangements are preferred in unloading certain types of lading.

Abstract: A liquid agitator system for a hopper of a hopper barge includes a trunk conduit assembly and associated pumping means for pumping water under pressure to the hopper, being there coupled through a valve to a branch conduit assembly which extends downwardly into the hopper centrally thereof to an array of eccentric water discharge nozzles arranged closely adjacent to the hopper bottom for ejecting water at a velocity and in a volume sufficient to break up agglomerations of solid material and prevent the formation thereof on the hopper bottom and direct the resulting slurry to discharge ports. A barge having several hoppers is disclosed, with a nozzle array and branch conduit assembly for each hopper.