Abstract: A hopper system for both delivery and reclamation of bulk abrasives includes a closed, vacuum rated container with an inlet port with a hatch which is moveable between an open position for gaining access to the interior of the container and a closed position for closing the container. At its lower end there is an outlet port for releasing the contents of the container. The outlet port includes a valve which is moveable between open and closed positions for controlling the flow of contents from the container. The hopper system includes a connector for attaching a vacuum source to the container and in communication with the interior of the container and a reclamation inlet in the container and communicating with a reclamation line for drawing abrasives into the interior of the container when the vacuum source is attached to the container.

Abstract: A storage facility includes a storage structure having a floor and a boundary wall upwardly extending therefrom, the floor and boundary wall bounding a chamber adapted to receive bulk material. A transfer pipe includes a base section that extends outside of the storage structure and a raised section disposed and upwardly extending within the chamber. The transfer pipe terminates at an outlet port disposed in an upper portion of the chamber. A pump is coupled with the transfer pipe for conveying bulk material through the transfer pipe and into the chamber.

Abstract: A shield for a plug valve is provided to prevent debris from hindering the movement of moving components of the plug valve. The shield prevents larger sized debris from accumulating at an opening in a wall in which the plug valve is mounted, the wall defining a confined space, such as the interior of a vessel, at least in part. The shield encloses but is spaced from the plug valve and a device is located within a space between the shield and the plug valve for directing a purging gas through the space to sweep away or purge smaller sized debris from the space.

Abstract: A receiver for a pneumatic conveyor for receiving and discharging particulate matter includes an upstanding receptacle having an inlet port and a gravity feed discharge opening. A flow control valve at the discharge opening controls discharge flow of particulate matter from the upstanding receptacle. The flow control valve includes a tapered valve seat circumscribing the discharge opening and a tapered plug selectively engageable with the valve seat from below to selectively occlude the discharge opening. The plug is connected to a stem mounted within the upstanding receptacle to permit reciprocal motion of the stem and plug substantially parallel to the discharge flow of particulate matter. An actuator reciprocates the stem selectively. In a first position the plug engages the valve seat, occluding the discharge opening and forming a substantially air tight seal, and in a second position the plug is displaced from the valve seat, permitting discharge of particulate matter.

Abstract: A separator is disposed between a grinder and a boiler so as to select, on the basis of size, particles produced by grinding a fuel in the grinder and conveyed by a flow of air from the grinder to the separator, and then to the boiler. The separator extends in an axial direction and includes output compartments, each of which underlies a respective conveyor duct connecting the separator to the boiler. An isolating valve member is mounted to move inside the separator, and is moved in translation in the axial direction either to allow the flow to pass through all of the output compartments into the conveyor ducts or else to prevent said flow from passing therethrough. This isolating valve member makes it possible to close all of the output compartments together. In this way, it is possible to reduce the number of isolating valve members to the number of separators in a grinding installation, regardless of the number of conveyor ducts from each separator.

Abstract: A seal processing station for gathering loose and transmitting properly oriented seals to an insertion station where the seals are to be placed on a wire, the seal processing station having a seal sorting unit and a seal feeding unit that has a feed track going between the seal sorting unit and the insertion station where the seal sorting unit has a container where the loose seals are placed and a seal propulsion device with a seal feed channel extending from a lower end of the container to an upper end where the channel includes an air inlet for blowing air up the channel to feed seals from the lower end to the upper end and unto the feed track.

Abstract: A system for transporting particulate material uses a combination of nonmechanical valves and pneumatic and gravity transport to reduce breakage of particulate material. This system is particularly useful for the conveyance of catalyst particles where a lift conduit raises the particles from a low elevation to a relatively higher elevation. A particular advantage of the arrangement is the elimination of pneumatic conveyance through elbows to reduce pressure drop and eliminate churning of catalyst particles. The elbows are replaced with an impactless flow diverter that uses gravity assisted conveyance to eliminate or minimize the attrition resulting from pneumatic conveyance.

Abstract: A sifter-screening machine for loose material, especially flour, including an inlet for the material, downstream thereof a screen through which the material can be conveyed via an air stream, and downstream thereof an outlet for screened material. Disposed in the conveying route of the material, downstream of the screen, is a zone of reduced static pressure followed in the conveying direction by a conveying zone having an increasing cross-sectional configuration. The weight of the material just upstream of the outlet is at least nearly equal to the oppositely directed pressure of compressed air below an air-permeable element for supplying the material to the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispersing duct material into the atmosphere at low concentration levels and substantially uniform rates, wherein the apparatus has a tank, a fluidizer positioned in a lower portion of the tank, an air feed communicating with the fluidizer, a discharge port in an upper portion of the tank, a tubular densifier mounted substantially vertically in the tank and extending from a lower portion thereof to adjacent the port, the densifier having an air inlet adjacent its lower end and an outlet adjacent its upper end in direct and immediate communication with the port, and, an air feed communicating with the inlet, the densifier having longitudinally spaced passages therein for the transfer of dust material from the tank into the densifier for transportation to the discharge port.

Abstract: A blender for solid particulate material such as plastic pellets which includes an apparatus for separating a fine fraction of material from the plastic pellets. This is accomplished by a separator shell which surrounds a vertical lift pipe in the blender. Gas under pressure is utilized to circulate material through the lift pipe from the bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel to blend the material. As material is discharged from the vertical lift pipe, the air supplied through the lift pipe for lifting material flows through material dispersed within the separation zone to entrain the fine material and convey it through a vent to a high efficiency dust collector. A by-pass conduit and by-pass control valve are provided to control the velocity of gas through the separation zone to control the size particle of the fine fraction which is separated.

Abstract: In an apparatus for processing moist dust and mud from dust removal equipment, especially in the steel industry, wherein the mud is concentrated, fractionated and dewatered in several steps the mud is dewatered in a centrifugal separator, to allow the mud from the dust removal equipment of blast furnaces and steel works to be dewatered in an environmentally acceptable and simple and cost effective way.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for controlling particulate solids feed upward into a fluidized bed reactor, utilizing a purged valve seat mating with a poppet head and valve stem having a vented clearance space. The valve seat surface and a stem clearance space are each purged by a clean externally supplied gas, the solids flair in an elbow-shaped passageway are fluidized by air supplied through booster nozzles, and the valve stem is operated by a pneumatic actuator. A particulate solids material such as coal is transferred by a screw conveyor through a horizontal conduit, and then fed through the elbow-shaped passageway and the poppet valve seat upwardly into the reactor fluidized bed.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for unloading dry, bulk, particulate material from a ship, barge or the like into a pressure vessel and thereafter transferring the material into a storage container such as a silo. A venturi has primary and secondary inlets with the primary inlet connected to a blower and the secondary inlet connected to the pressure vessel. Air from the blower is forced through the venturi primary inlet to create a flow of primary air through the venturi and to induce a suction at the venturi secondary inlet. The suction is coupled to the pressure vessel thus drawing the particulate material into the pressure vessel. After the pressure vessel is full, air from the blower is forced into the pressure vessel to transfer the material from the pressure vessel to the silo. The steps of filling the pressure vessel and transferring the material from the pressure vessel to the silo are repeated in alternating sequence.