Abstract: A position testing apparatus includes a stage on which a piezoelectric element object is set, a through hole formed through the stage and covered with the piezoelectric element set on the stage according to a positioning state, and a flow measurement unit configured to draw air through the through hole from around the piezoelectric element and determine the positioning state of the piezoelectric element according to a flow rate of the drawn air. The position testing apparatus is capable of surely testing a positioning state of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A pipeline (500) equipped with at least one pump (400) transports granules dispersed in a carrier fluid in intervals between co-transported pigs in a pipeline. Each pump and each pig is configured to preserve the intervals between pigs, and the orientation of the pigs, during passage of the pigs and granules through each pump. Also, each pig may comprise peripheral apertures providing a leakage of carrier fluid into the intervals downstream of each pig as a means of preserving the dispersion of granules within the pipeline. In the example shown granules are introduced to the pipeline by inlet feed hopper (400), and granules are removed from the pipeline at outlet delivery hopper 650. Hopper 404 introduces pigs at the pipeline inlet and hopper 652 removes pigs at the pipeline outlet: pigs are returned to hopper (404) by the pipeline (500A).

Abstract: A continuous semi-dense phase conveying system comprising a vessel having a gas inlet, a particulate material inlet, and a gas and particulate material outlet, which has an operating pressure of about 15 psig or less. The system includes a rotary airlock valve for feeding particulate material into the vessel and a pressurizing gas supply which branches into a feed gas line and a bypass line. A pneumatic conveying line coupled to the gas and particulate material outlet of said the and coupled to the bypass line. The pressure of the vessel is controlled using a bypass valve on said bypass line and optimize the flow of gas and particulate matter through the pneumatic conveying line.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tubing conduit system for transport of solid or liquid material with a transport air stream, which is driven by at least one vacuum source (1) driven by an electric driving motor (2) and comprises at least one closable feeding opening (8) for transport air and transported material, characterized in that the system is arranged to make possible control of the power delivered by the driving motor as a function of the transport air flow, so that the power at a low transport air flow value below an upper transport air flow limit value of a lower transport air flow range is maintained below an upper limit value within a lower power range, and the power at a high transport air flow exceeding a lower transport air flow limit value for a higher transport air flow range is maintained above a lower limit value for a higher power range, wherein the upper limit value of the lower power range amounts to at most 80% of the lower limit value of the higher power range, and a method for controlling th

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the pneumatic conveying of fine bulk material, in particular glass fibers.

Abstract: The air conveyor comprises a guide rail (3) on which the articles (1) are to be suspended, and along which the articles are to be transported in a given direction of transport. The conveyor system provides a pneumatic means to move the articles in the direction of transport and further includes additional pneumatic means (10) that are designed to generate, when operated, a plurality of reverse air jets orientated onto the articles in a direction opposite that of their direction of transport. The user of the reverse jets makes it possible, in particular, to free without manual intervention articles accidentally immobilised in the course of transport, or, to slow down, immobilise or impart a rhythm to the articles as they are transported.

Abstract: This invention provides a pneumatic active surface capable of sensing, locating, and moving an object on the surface by selective activation of individual segments or portions of the surface. The active surface comprises an array of pneumatic conduits, which are individually adapted to carry air to the surface or suck air from the surface. The tubes are arranged so that the end walls of each tube form a relatively flat surface with air conduits provided by the bores of the tubes. The term pneumatic refers to the air flow patterns at the surface resulting from the blowing and sucking functions of the tubes. The appropriate choice of force, caused by blowing or sucking air flow through an array of tubes of the pneumatic active surface device, causes objects placed on the array of tubes to be moved in useful ways.

Abstract: The present invention describes a stop device for stopping a carrier traveling in a pneumatic tube. The invention also includes a terminal comprising the stop device. The stop device includes a pneumatic tube having an exhaust aperture and a shutoff aperture and a pressure sensing monitor in fluid communication with the shutoff aperture. The pressure monitor senses the pressure change in the shutoff aperture caused by the carrier's movement past the shutoff aperture and activates a switch shutting off the pneumatic source. The carrier impacts an end stop and settles down on a catch which was also activated by the pressure monitor. The carrier is held in front of a door through which the carrier may be readily retrieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically conveying bulk material includes a conveyor line for transporting the bulk material and a secondary line which carries clean gas and is sectionized by spaced three-way/two-way directional control valves. Each control valve is actuated by a pressure transmitter which compares the actual pressure in the conveyor line with the desired pressure in a third line carrying a fluid at a desired pressure decreasing in downstream direction in accordance with the pressure drop in the conveyor line during normal operation. A communication between the conveyor line and the second line is provided by respective branch lines which define the third connection of the control valves and are multiply connected to the conveyor line.

Abstract: A powder feeding system includes closed loop regulation of powder feed rate. A feed gas is discharged under constant pressure into an enclosed hopper. A valve is disposed to constrict a carrier conduit conveying powder in a carrier gas. A load cell measures the rate at which powder is flowing from the hopper through an intake orifice into the carrier conduit, and filtered flow rate signal is produced. A first controller produces a reference signal representative of the difference between a set point signal and the flow rate signal. A differential signal is produced corresponding to the pressure difference between the hopper pressure and a carrier conduit pressure taken between the intake orifice and the valve. A second controller produces a control signal representative of the difference between the differential signal and the reference signal. The valve is responsive to the control signal to proportionately constrict the carrier gas stream such as to regulate the powder flow rate.

Abstract: A vertical hydro-hoist for conveying a slurry under pressure by using a liquid obtained from a chemical process as a driving liquid and method for operating the same, the hydro-hoist includes at least one feed chamber and a detector for detecting a relationship of specific gravities between a driving liquid, a slurry and a float desporent in the at least one feed chamber. A holding member is provided for holding the float and a device, provided for supplying or discharging a specific gravity adjusting liquid into and out of the float. After temporarily holding the float in the feed chamber, the adjusting liquid is supplied into or discharged out of the float in accordance with the relationship detected by the detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of control for a device such as a vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum cleaner comprising a central machinery and a pipe or a pipe system connecting the central machinery with a working point.

Abstract: A system for supplying a gas under pressure to a vessel such as a blender for particulate material which includes a central vertical lift column for recirculating material through the vessel to achieve blending. The system uses a first source of gas under pressure which may be a low pressure source suitable for a continuous operation of the blending apparatus. The system also is connected to a high pressure source of air such as plant air which is utilized as a supplemental source of air under pressure for initial start-up of the apparatus. A control system is provided which regulates the flow of the high pressure air to the gas supply conduit which acts as a reservoir for high pressure air. The control system allows the gas supply conduit to be pressurized.

Abstract: A tower silo has an upright enclosure providing a first passageway aligned with doorways open to the interior of the silo. A chute secured to the side of the enclosure has a second passageway for carrying material to the base of the silo. A reverse S-shaped housing extends through an open doorway into the first passageway. The housing has a passage, an inlet end mounted on the silo wall and an exit end mounted on a frame secured to the enclosure and surrounding an opening in the enclosure. The exit end is normally disposed relative to the inlet end to direct material moving through the housing passage into the second passage.

Abstract: A slurry conveying system including a pressurizable tank into which particulate material is charged. A discharge opening enters the tank bottom and fluidizing water is directed upwardly through the discharge opening into the tank. The discharge opening is centered in a landing which has a diameter greater than 1.5 times and no greater than five times the diameter of the discharge opening. Arching of particles at the opening is prevented due to the landing and fluidizing water. The tank is emptied by the combination of air under pressure and a water rinse immediately after the fluidizing is accomplished.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding product to a pipeline via a venturi assembly has first and second tanks adapted to separately hold a quantity of product. The product is fed to the tanks from a supply hopper and enters each tank through an upper opening which accommodates a feed chute. The open end of each feed chute is closable by a flapper door which is swingable between open and closed positions. Pressurized air from a compressor is used to selectively close the flapper doors via a set of pressure valves which control the flow of air into the tanks. The product is fed from each tank to the pipeline through a Y-shaped housing and the venturi assembly. The housing has respective lower openings for each tank, also closable by swingable flapper doors. When the upper doors are closed by the air pressure, the product is forced out of the tank into the pipeline.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequence control of vertical movement of slurried particulates from a lower level to the upper levels, more particularly a vertical hoist system for movement of slurry from a subterranean mine area upward through an earthen or cased borehole to a surface station. The vertical pump system includes series-connected pumps having variable speed capability to transport slurry particulate from an underground sump upward to a surface surge tank or other repository. The logic sequence system exercises control over valving sequence between the underground pumps and the vertical borehole in order to control slurry surges during start-up, shut-down and emergency dump operations. Thus, the pump input to the vertical conduit utilizes energy dissipator units as selectively controlled by automated block and by-pass valves to control flow of fluids from the pumps upward through the vertical conduit.

Abstract: A closed system for fluidizing and conveying solid particulate material from one or more porous floor supply containers to one or more receptor containers by means of aeration while preventing the release of aerated particulate material into the atmosphere. The system comprises at least one porous floor supply container which receives pressurized air to fluidize the particulate material and which feeds the fluidized mixture to a delivery conduit which communicates with the receptor container(s). The invention comprises venting the supply container to a material recovery unit to isolate the vented aeration air and all of the particulate material carried thereby and then readmitting at least said vented particulate material to the system, the vent air being passed through a filter before release to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Dust-like or dust containing solids are passed into a pressurized system via a lock chamber apparatus wherein a porous filter is provided separating the lock chamber into an upper space and into a lower space. Normally a pressurized gas is passed into the lower space and it is discharged from the upper space during the pressure release phase after passing through the filter. When a predetermined differential pressure is exceeded between the upper and the lower space of the lock chamber because of a clogging up of the filter the filter is cleansed by passing the pressure gas partially or totally into the upper space of the lock chamber so that it passes through that filter in the direction reverse to that during the pressure release phase.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the activation and deactivation of a vacuum assembly which is connected to a conduit system such as a suction conveyance system or a central cleaning system for maintaining a partial vacuum in the conduit system which has suction sockets which may be opened for coupling in vacuum-driven appliances and which are preferably self-closing when the vacuum-driven assemblies are disconnected is provided with a first sensing device and a second sensing device. The first sensing device is operative to sense that state in which all of the suction sockets are closed, in order to emit a stop signal to the vacuum assembly. The second sensing device is operative to sense the opening of one or more suction sockets, in order to emit a start signal to the vacuum assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of control for a device such as a vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum cleaner comprising a central machinery and a pipe or a pipe system connecting the central machinery with a working point.