Abstract: A distributed control system for a vacuum sewer system comprising a suction pipe which is communicated with a vacuum source via a transport conduit (520) by opening a vacuum valve (530) using a solenoid valve is disclosed. The transport conduit is connected between the vacuum valve and a collection tank, with the collection tank having a vacuum source relative to atmospheric pressure applied thereto. The suction pipe is connected between the vacuum valve and a sewage sump, with the sewage sump have a source of sewage maintained at atmospheric pressure. Sewage (551) in the sump is sucked through the suction pipe and sent to the collection tank via the transport conduit by opening the vacuum valve. A transport conduit section is laid out in a sawtooth fashion, having in series transport conduit portions comprising a low-point conduit portion (522), a riser conduit portion (521), and a down-slope conduit portion (523).

Abstract: A pneumatic compressed-air tube transport system and a method for transporting small assembly parts to assembly and processing lines for assembly of products. The transport system includes at least one drop-off branch configured to drop off the small assembly parts into the compressed-air tube transport system. The at least one drop branch includes at least one air flow generator, a butterfly valve located downstream of the air flow generator, and a drop-off station for the small assembly parts located downstream of the butterfly valve. The small assembly parts move through a tube into at least one joining switch and a plurality of delivery stations are configured to receive the small assembly parts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through valveless conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the intermediate zone and the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduits. A body within the lower zone is in particle communication with a valveless conduit and obstructs the particle flow within the lower zone.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. A valveless conduit provides particle communication from the upper zone to the middle zone and a valved conduit provides particle communication from the middle zone to the lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through the conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the middle zone, the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduit, and the valve in the valved conduit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through valveless conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the intermediate zone and the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduits. A container within the second zone is in particle communication with a valveless conduit and provides more consistent particle flows.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through valveless conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the intermediate zone and the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduits. A body within the lower zone is in particle communication with a valveless conduit and obstructs the particle flow within the lower zone.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. A valveless conduit provides particle communication from the upper zone to the middle zone and a valved conduit provides particle communication from the middle zone to the lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through the conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the middle zone, the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduit, and the valve in the valved conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing granular material to a loading hopper preparatory to processing includes a receptacle receiving material prior to processing thereof by machinery supplied by the hopper with a top including a first valve for selectably connecting the receptacle to vacuum or ambient air, a conduit for drawing vacuum in the receptacle, a conduit for connecting the receptacle to a supply of the granular material, a second valve for selectably permitting material flow from the receptacle into the hopper, and a sensor control for temporarily adjustably closing the first valve and opening the second valve responsively to detected presence of a suitable amount of material in the receptacle.

Abstract: A pneumatic transmission system having a carrier automatic braking system contains a transport conduit having a first end and a second end and being capable of permitting the transfer of a carrier therethrough, a first station for sending and receiving a carrier located on one end of the transmission conduit and a second station for sending and receiving a carrier located on the other end of the transmission conduit. A pair of motor blowers, each capable of moving a volume of air in opposing directions through a conduit, are enclosed within a supply branch which is connected to one of the stations. The first motor blower blows air to move the carrier from one station to the other. The second motor blower is activated, to operate concurrently with the first motor blower, when the carrier is detected some predetermined location along the transport conduit.

Abstract: A suction conveyor or delivery arrangement for the gravimetric allocation of pourable material components to several demand stations has a storage container containing in each case one component connected by, in each case, one delivery line to a distributor and a separator at each demand station, which is connected via a delivery line to the distributor, a suction line with stop valve to a suction fan and can be emptied via a closable discharge opening at the demand station. A control for the demand-dependent dosing of the components has a demand indicator, which releases a control signal for setting the distributor to the desired component and for opening the stop valve, as well as a setting device which, on reaching a predetermined quantity, releases a control signal for opening a ventilating valve in the delivery line and for closing the stop valve.

Abstract: A vacuum type sewage collecting system, for collecting sewage from a plurality of houses or the like, stores sewage in a sewage reservoir and then delivers the sewage to a sewage treatment station through a vacuum valve and a vacuum sewage pipe. A controller is provided for properly controlling opening/closing operations of the vacuum valve. The controller includes a first vacuum chamber connected to the vacuum sewage pipe via a fluid flow resisting device, a second vacuum chamber likewise connected to the vacuum sewage pipe, an atmospheric pressure introducing unit for introducing an atmospheric pressure into the first vacuum chamber when a detected quantity of sewage stored in the sewage reservoir exceeds a predetermined value, and a shifting unit for selectively introducing negative pressure to the vacuum valve to open or close the latter depending on the present differential pressure between the first vacuum chamber and the second vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An improved vacuum sewerage system for transmitting sewage through an intermittently opened sewage control valve of a transport conduit by means of differential pressure. The vacuum conduit is laid out in a saw-toothed fashion, having a riser, a low point, and a downslope. When no sewage is being transported through the conduit, any residual sewage in the conduit collects in the low point, with minimal intermittent closure of the conduit over time to permit minimal drop in vacuum or subatmospheric pressure throughout the conduit such that there is more than adequate vacuum or subatmospheric pressure available to operate the control valve. When the control valve is opened, the sewage transported through the vacuum conduit forms a generally hollow cylindrical mass, which is propelled toward a vacuum collection tank.

Abstract: An electric air admission controller ("EAAC") for automatically opening and closing an air control valve connected to a vacuum sewage transport conduit with a sewage control valve, independently of the level of accumulated sewage upstream of the sewage control valve, in order to inject additional air at atmospheric pressure into the vacuum transport lines to apply additional fluid pressure to a mass of sewage therein, and to avoid a waterlogged condition by supplementary transport. In its simplest form, the EAAC system consists of a timer unit which, when activated, causes a solenoid valve to deliver vacuum/subatmospheric pressure or atmospheric pressure to the air control valve to open or close it, respectively, by application of differential pressure. Rather than rely upon the timer unit to determine a valve cycling frequency which will, on average, prevent waterlogging, however, a timer-delay module and pressure switch may be added to the system.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing organic base materials to light by allowing an organic base material to coexist with at least one type of metal complex which can be represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, cyano groups, hydroxyl groups or alkyl groups, aryl groups, cycloalkyl groups or heterocyclic groups which are bonded directly or indirectly via a divalent linking group to a carbon atom on the benzene ring. The R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 substituents may be the same or different, and moreover, two adjacent substituents from among the R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 substituents may be joined together to form a ring. Furthermore, the two R.sup.4 substituents may also be joined together to form a ring.The R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 substituents are independently hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, alkylthio groups, aryl groups, arylthio groups, heterocyclicthio groups or cyano groups and they may be the same or different. In addition, the R.sup.5 and R.

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 dense phase pneumatic conveying system with pressurized air applied at the source to deliver granular material through a conveying line to a receiver with a shut-off valve having an air leakage path located in the conveying line operated by a sensing element to limit the rate of flow of the pressurized air at the end of the conveying cycle.