Abstract: An air system for supplying product to the product tank of an agricultural implement has an air supply and at least one elongated conduit for delivering air entrained product to the tank. There is at least one outlet in the tank formed as a hollow elbow having a generally downwardly directed outlet, a generally upwardly directed outlet and a transverse inlet coupled to the conduit. The elbow includes an upper generally cylindrical region comprising a cyclone chamber for swirling the incoming air entrained product directing at least a portion of the air flow upwardly toward the upwardly directed outlet while allowing the product to fall in a generally helical pattern through a generally frusto-conical region, whereby material migrates downwardly and air upwardly releasing the material to fall in a gentle spiral and air to exit from the upper region of the tank.

Abstract: A system for replenishing the supply of a particulate agricultural product in the tank of an air cart. A mixture of air and product comes out of a venturi delivery system and enters in a multiplicity of inlet hoses. Then the product enters into inlet tubes of various lengths and release angles from which product particles are gently spread strategically forming a pile that is more or less horizontal to ensure even feeding of meters during dispensing operations. Then the air exits through one or more fine screens to avoid product escaping as well and is conveyed through the exhaust hoses until reaching an air diffuser. The air diffuser has a series of varying size holes or louvers at the bottom so the air can come out at a uniform low velocity which minimizes any discomfort to nearby operators.

Abstract: A system for replenishing the supply of a particulate agricultural product in the tank of an air cart. A mixture of air and product comes out of a venturi delivery system and enters in a multiplicity of inlet hoses. Then the product enters into inlet tubes of various lengths and release angles from which product particles are gently spread strategically forming a pile that is more or less horizontal to ensure even feeding of meters during dispensing operations. Then the air exits through one or more fine screens to avoid product escaping as well and is conveyed through the exhaust hoses until reaching an air diffuser. The air diffuser has a series of varying size holes or louvers at the bottom so the air can come out at a uniform low velocity which minimizes any discomfort to nearby operators.

Abstract: An air system for supplying product to the product tank of an agricultural implement has an air supply and at least one elongated conduit for delivering air entrained product to the tank. There is at least one outlet in the tank formed as a hollow elbow having a generally downwardly directed outlet, a generally upwardly directed outlet and a transverse inlet coupled to the conduit. The elbow includes an upper generally cylindrical region comprising a cyclone chamber for swirling the incoming air entrained product directing at least a portion of the air flow upwardly toward the upwardly directed outlet while allowing the product to fall in a generally helical pattern through a generally frusto-conical region, whereby material migrates downwardly and air upwardly releasing the material to fall in a gentle spiral and air to exit from the upper region of the tank.

Abstract: Separation of a high temperature (e.g., 300.degree.-1200.degree. C.) and high pressure (e.g., 2-20 bar) solids-gas stream from a pressurized fluidized bed reactor into solids and gas while reducing the pressure of both the gas and solids takes place in a vertical de-entrainment vessel having a packed bed of solids within it. The possibility of fluidization of the solids is minimized by causing the velocity of the gas component of the solids-gas stream to be reduced during, or just prior to, introduction of the gas into the packed bed of solids, e.g., by providing an expanding conical end to the inlet for the solids-gas stream into the vessel. A gas permeable solids impermeable element may also or alternatively be connected to the inlet and extend toward (optionally all the way to) the side wall of the vessel, to substantially prevent fluidization.

Abstract: Separation of a high temperature (e.g., 300.degree.-1200.degree. C.) and high pressure (e.g., 2-20 bar) solids-gas stream from a pressurized fluidized bed reactor into solids and gas while reducing the pressure of both the gas and solids takes place in a vertical de-entrainment vessel having a packed bed of solids within it. The possibility of fluidization of the solids is minimized by causing the velocity of the gas component of the solids-gas stream to be reduced during, or just prior to, introduction of the gas into the packed bed of solids, e.g., by providing an expanding conical end to the inlet for the solids-gas stream into the vessel. A gas permeable solids impermeable element may also or alternatively be connected to the inlet and extend toward (optionally all the way to) the side wall of the vessel, to substantially prevent fluidization.

Abstract: Two systems of transporting grain or other bulk crop employ a grain handling trailer incorporating a pair of weighing hoppers with a grain loading system for the hoppers and a grain discharge system. In one system the mobile grain handling truck visits storage containers in the production area and acts to weigh and grade the crop on site before discharging it into haulage trucks for delivery to a rail hub. At the rail hug a grade unloading apparatus is provided comprising a two-story enclosed building with the road trucks positioned vertically above and parallel to a section of rail on which rail cars can be positioned for receiving by gravity the discharged crop. In the second system the mobile grain handling trailer moves to a rail siding particularly convenient to the production area for on site weighing and grading the grain for direct delivery into rail cars positioned on the siding.

Abstract: Ribbons of scrap paper are pneumatically conveyed through a conduit into an enlarged chamber where the air velocity is reduced and the paper deflected downward to a hopper at the bottom of the chamber where it is gathered and baled for reclamation. The conveying air is filtered to remove dust and is then reused. Multiple conduits for carrying contaminated and uncontaminated paper scraps can be coupled to a chamber which is sectioned by a perforated divider which keeps the paper separated but allows the air pressure to be the same in the sections. A switch at the chamber input may also be provided to selectively feed the output from the multiple conduits into one or separate sections of the chamber.

Abstract: A weight sensitive arrangement for controlling the material draw cycle of a vacuum sequencing system based on the weight of material delivered to a pellet receiver included in the system. The material is drawn by a vacuum into the receiver under the control of a dump valve. The receiver deflects downwardly when loaded and is equipped with a U-shaped deflection beam having an upper arm that deflects in proportion to the receiver deflection. A screw carried on the upper arm of the beam contacts a microswitch when the receiver is loaded to a preselected weight. The microswitch then activates the dump valve to interrupt the vacuum, thereby terminating the material draw cycle and effecting discharge of the batch of material in the pellet receiver.

Abstract: A vacuum grain moving apparatus connected to a three-point hitch of a tractor and operated with the power take-off drive of the tractor. The apparatus has a grain holding tank connected to a grain collection hose used to carry grain and air to the tank. An air moving unit mounted on the tank has a rotatable power driven impeller that draws air from the center of the chamber of the tank to provide a vacuum pressure within the tank. The impeller has first and second generally radial blades that pump the air from the tank chamber. An auger conveyor operatively associated with the lower end of the tank moves the grain from the tank into a transport vehicle. The auger conveyor has a driven helical auger located within a tube. The tube extends beyond the outer end of the auger and retains a plug of grain in the tube to inhibit back flow of air into tank chamber during the running of the air moving unit. A swinging gate pivotally mounted on an outer end cap normally closes the exit opening of the tube.

Abstract: In a dust extraction system for woodworking machinery, the dust is collected by a hood over each machine and is carried by an air flow produced by a blower through a branch conduit to a manifold which is common to a number of branch conduits. The manifold is made sufficiently large that the air flow velocity in the manifold is too low to carry the dust along the manifold, and therefore the dust collects at the bottom of the manifold, from which it is removed at intervals by a conveyor, which carries the dust to a central hopper. A control system keeps the subatmospheric pressure in the manifold substantially constant, so that the number of machines served by the system can be changed without affecting the system performance.

Abstract: A vacuum treatment unit for removing excess water from newly poured concrete. The unit comprises a vacuum pump connectable to at least two suction mats or the like via separate suction pipes. So that the pump will always obtain sufficient cooling, the suction pipes are readily disconnectably connected to the suction mats and said pipes are connected at their other ends to the vacuum pump via a settable valve device so constructed that at least one of the pipes is always connected to the suction side of the pump.