Abstract: A control device is provided with a switching valve mechanism and first and second actuators. The switching valve mechanism is provided with a valve element for switching which is located within a casing. The valve element can linearly move between an open position at which first and second pressure change chambers of the casing are communicated with each other and a closed position at which the communication is interrupted. The valve element is held at the open position and the closed position by a first holding mechanism (toggle spring). When a float ascends to a first water level, the first actuator moves the valve element from the closed position to the open position. When the degree of vacuum within a pressure detection chamber becomes a second degree of vacuum or less, the second actuator moves the valve element from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: An injection system for solid particles comprises a conveying hopper (11) located at an upstream location (1), a fluidizing device (21) for fluidizing the solid particles at the outlet of the conveying hopper (11) and forming a solid-gas flow, a pneumatic conveying line (15) for conveying the solid-gas flow from the fluidizing device (21) to a downstream location (2) and a static distribution device (17) with a plurality of injection lines (19), connected thereto. An upstream flow control system controls the mass flow rate in the pneumatic conveying line (15) at the upstream location (1) by controlling the opening of an upstream flow control valve (35) responsive to the solid material mass flow measured in the pneumatic conveying line (15) at the upstream location (1).

Abstract: A method for controlling at least one of a level of solids and an inventory of solids in a solids tank includes withdrawing a stream of solids from the solids tank via a downer. The stream of solids withdrawn from the solids tank is fluidized at a bottom of the downer by supplying a conveying gas so as to convey the withdrawn stream of solids upward via a riser branching off from the downer, a size of the conveyed stream of solids being adjusted by the supplying of the conveying gas. At least one of the level and the inventory of the solids in the solids tank is used as an adjustment variable of a control circuit and a volume flow of the conveying gas is used as an actuating variable of the control circuit.

Abstract: The coating-powder-supply apparatus according to the invention comprises a powder-storage container, a powder conveyor, in order to convey powder out of the powder-storage container, and a set of scales, in order to weigh the powder located in the powder-storage container.

Abstract: Gas under pressure is admitted through an orifice formed in the bottom portion of a tank of substance in powder form, and is guided along an internal tube connected to the admission orifice, the tube passes through the powder stored in the tank and entrains powder through openings formed in the wall of the tube, the powder being extracted in the form of a gas-and-powder flow through an outlet at the top portion of the tank. The gas-and-powder mixture traveling along the internal tube is guided to the top portion of the tank where it is directed substantially towards a side wall of the tank so as to set up a gas-and-powder flow traveling through the volume situated in the tank above the powder stored in the tank, prior to the gas-and-powder flow being extracted through the outlet. The gas-and-powder flow can be taken to one or more powdering nozzles, e.g. in a system for powdering a developer in an installation for detecting surface defects by sweating.

Abstract: The method according to the invention is suitable for determining a powder quantity in a container and for determining a change in powder quantity, i.e. the powder quantity that is supplied from the container(s). The powder is fluidized in the container, the pressure of the fluidized powder in the container is measured to determine the pressure of the fluidized powder or the change of the pressure between two measurements, wherein the powder quantity in the container, or which was supplied from the container between two measurements is calculated from the pressure or the change in pressure. By the method according to the invention it is possible by a simple pressure measurement to determine the powder quantity which is supplied per time unit from the container and which is sprayed by the coating apparatus, and therefore to determine the supplied powder mass flow.

Abstract: A fiber dispensing system for storing and delivering fibrous material includes a housing for receiving and storing the fibrous material. The housing has an activatable dispensing mechanism for selectively dispensing the fibrous material from the housing. A control mechanism is electrically connected to the dispensing mechanism for receiving an activation signal to activate the dispensing mechanism. A load mechanism associated with the housing and electrically connected to the control mechanism measures the weight amount of any fibrous material within the housing and transmits a weight amount data signal to the control mechanism. The control mechanism further activates a solenoid valve which in turn activates a water nozzle spray assembly for wetting of fibrous material prior to discharge into a receptacle.

Abstract: A fiber dispensing system for storing and delivering fibrous material includes a housing for receiving and storing the fibrous material and shapes supporting the housing. The housing has an activatable dispensing mechanism for selectively dispensing the fibrous material from the housing. A control mechanism is electrically connected to the dispensing mechanism for receiving an activation signal to activate the dispensing mechanism. A load mechanism including load cells mounted to the straps and electrically connected to the control mechanism measures the weight amount of any fibrous material within the housing and transmits a weight amount data signal to the control mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for delivering dry bulk material (21) to a drilling mud system (50) of an oil and gas well comprises a plurality of collapsible bags (30) for holding a quantity of dry bulk material (21), each bag (30) being supported on a bag storage rack (20) having a discharge outlet (22) connected to the bags (30), the discharge outlets (22) having bag discharge valves (24); a hopper (40) for receiving and collecting material from the bags (30) and for discharging material into the drilling mud system (50) by means of a hopper discharge valve (48); a length of material discharge hose (70) connected to the discharge outlets (22) and to the hopper (40); and a vacuum pump (60) having a vacuum hose (47) to the hopper (40) for producing a vacuum in the hopper (40) and the hose (70) and thereby drawing material (21) from the bags (30) into the hopper (40) for discharge into the mud system (50).

Abstract: Particulate material is conveyed in a dense phase in either a batch mode of conveyance or a continuous mode. In either mode, during the conveyance cycle, the flow rate of compressed gas to the transporter vessel is adjusted to control material conveyance. During start-up the flow rate is decreased to allow material to build in the vessel, then the rate is increased to a normal conveyance value. At the end of the cycle, the flow rate is again decreased to avoid surges and high velocity flow. During the normal conveyance cycle, the flow rate is decreased if the material level in the vessel falls below a minimum value and increased if it rises above a maximum value. The flow rate is adjusted by opening and closing the throat in a venturi tube in an adjustable valve in the gas flow line connected to the vessel.

Abstract: A pneumatic pellet transportation apparatus loads a predetermined quantity of dry ice pellets into an empty container while simultaneously evacuating the containers of dead air. The apparatus includes an aerator for fluidizing the dry ice pellets into a moving stream of compressed air. A container interface unit directs the fluidized dry ice pellets into an opening provided in the container. A method of using the pneumatic pellet transportation apparatus includes deactivating an auger well before the aerator is deactivated in order to clear the vacuum insulated transport conduit for efficient utilization of dry ice pellet resources.

Abstract: A device is proposed which has a nozzle, in particular constructed to resemble a Laval nozzle, as a control device for setting a prescribed fluid mass flow and in which for the purpose of varying the flowing gas quantity the nozzle cross section or the nozzle geometry can be variably set during operation.

Abstract: A particle feeding device and method for fluidized bed coaters that has no moving parts. It preferably provides for constant flow of purge gas into the fluidized bed coater and has a feedback control means for monitoring and precisely controlling the flow of particles into the coater. The particle feeding device includes a supply of granular material in communication with a generally horizontal passageway and a delivery conduit for feeding granular material into a desired location, such as a fluidized bed coater. The amount of granular material remaining in the supply is periodically determined and pulses of gas are periodically discharged through said generally horizontal passageway so as to blow granular material into said delivery conduit in a manner so as to feed the precise amount of granular material for predetermined periods of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the injection quantity of pulverized coal by measuring the flow rate of the pulverized coal in a conveying pipe, through which the pulverized coal is injected into tuyeres of a blast furnace, in order to regulate the opening of a valve installed between a feed tank and the conveying pipe based on the measured flow rate, and also by regulating the internal pressure of the feed tank so as to maintain the difference in the internal pressure between the feed tank and the conveying pipe within a predetermined range. The thus configured apparatus provides rapid-response and high-accuracy in control, wide-range controllability, and allows to control the injection quantity of the pulverized coal even when supplying the pulverized coal to the feed tank.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously transporting fine solids in dense phase includes a blow bottle having an upper inlet for receiving fine solids under pressure, an intermediate inlet for receiving process media, and a lower inlet for receiving fluidizing media. The media is preferably air, but other gases or inert gases may be used. The fine solids are conveyed from a feed hopper through a variable speed rotary feeder into a drop chute having an expansion joint and thereafter through a constant speed rotary feeder to the inlet of the bottle. The variable speed feeder controls the rate of fine solids being discharged in dense phase from the bottle. The fluidizing media fluidizes the fine solids in the bottle, and the process media conveys the fine solids out of the bottle in continuous, dense phase flow to an outlet conduit. A signal corresponding to the weight of the bottle is provided to a control valve connected in the process media supply line to maintain a constant solids level inventory in the bottle.

Abstract: A high density pneumatic transport system of solid materials from an airtight transport tank through a transport pipe into a collector. In the airtight transport tank materials are successively fed into a charge tank by reciprocating a slide damper. Simultaneously materials stored in the charge tank are successively pushed out into the transport pipe by supplying pressurized gas intermittently and transported continuously at high density through a lower horizontal pipe and a vertical riser pipe, then transported in the form of a long column in an upper horizontal pipe at a very low speed by deceleration by a divergent means, and finally collected into a storage tank of the collector.

Abstract: A device for transferring solid particles from an area of higher pressure to one of lower pressure. A stack-up section (3) between the areas is full of particles and large enough to reduce the current of gas flowing through the open stack-up section from the area of higher pressure as a result of the pressure loss that occurs in the stack-up section to a level that prevents pneumatic conveyance of the particles. A conveyor is in or at the end of the stack-up section.

Abstract: A garbage pail with electronic control for opening and closing its cover, characterized mainly in that, upon an induction of a sensor to the visible or invisible light it can control the opening and closing action of the cover of garbage pail automatically instead of manual operation in order to improve a fine living quality.

Abstract: An improved method and related system for pneumatically transporting powdered or granular materials stored in an airtight storage container to a collector through a transport pipe in the form of a lengthy column in high density and at a slow speed by the use of pressurized gas. The method of the invention comprises the steps of stopping feeding of the pressurized gas when the whole of the powdered or granular materials corresponding to a final batch contained in the storage container are sent into the material transport pipe, simultaneously discharging the internal pressure of the storage container through a gas decompressing means, inserting a transport plug from the base end of the material transport pipe, and carrying forward the transport plug at a slow speed by feeding pressurized gas from the base end of the transport pipe.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering particulate solids in a stream of gas to a selected delivery point. The particulate solids are entrained in a stream of gas, and controls set the desired delivery weight rate for delivery of the solids to the delivery point. The weight of the container, which encloses the entraining system and the solids, is determined continuously.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method for controlling the flow rate of a particulate material through a pneumatic transportation pipe at a preset value with a high accuracy and rapid response to an external disturbance added to the system by controlling the flow rate of the booster gas. Different from conventional methods in which the flow rate of the booster gas is controlled with the feedforward factor of the variation in the actual flow rate of the particulate material, the inventive method utilizes the variation in the pressure in the receiving unit as the feedback to control the flow rate of the booster gas so that the above mentioned advantages are obtained in the accuracy of control and rapidness of the response to an external disturbance.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the metered introduction of fine-grain materials, particularly pulverulent solid substances (i.e., coal dust) from a pressurized metering container which contains a supply of solid material, into an industrial furnace having a plurality of feed locations such as a blast furnace or cupola furnace is presented. The solid material is fed to the individual feed locations in a carrier gas stream through a conveying duct, the gas stream being highly charged with the solid material. The carrier gas is fed to the lower end section of the metering container in a flow which causes a local loosening in the lower section of the supply of solid material with the conveying ducts opening into the loosening region. The apparatus includes a metering container, which is designed as a pressure vessel and which is adapted to be filled at its upper end section with solid material to be fed to the furnace. The metering container includes at its lower end section a plurality of upwardly open chambers.

Abstract: Pulverized coal feed tanks are emptied in sequence via a transport line into the hot blast of a blast furnace. Each tank is carried by three load cells whose outputs are summed and differentiated to obtain the actual feed rate. Gas pressure in the tank is controlled in dependence on the actual feed rate so as to achieve a desired feed rate. To reduce the possibility of inaccurate feeding of coal, the outputs of the respective load cells are compared, and if deviation from a predetermined weight distribution over the load cells is detected, feed from the tank is stopped. The load cells may be duplicated in series, and the summed outputs of the two sets of load cells compared to detect malfunctioning of a load cell, again resulting in cessation of feeding from that tank.

Abstract: A method of distributing powdered or granular material to a plurality of feeding ends in a system having a pressurizing tank for pressurizing and fluidizing a powdered or granular material, a plurality of transportation pipes having one ends constituting discharge nozzles opening above a fluidized bed in the tank and the other ends connected to different feeding ends so as to introduce the material to the feeding ends, and a plurality of booster gas supply pipes for supplying respective transportation pipes with a booster gas. The internal pressure of the tank is controlled by a controller provided with a set valve in accordance with the mean value of the terminal pressures at the feeding ends, the mean value of predetermined set flow rates of the booster gas in the booster gas supplying pipes, and the mean value of predetermined set rates of transportation of material to the feeding ends.

Abstract: Powdered particles are continuously distributed from a pressurized transporting vessel to a plurality of receiving ends such as tuyers of a blast furnace through a plurality of transporting pipes for each receiving end. A speed of gas supplied to the vessel is controlled depending on a weight changing ratio of the vessel and an internal pressure of the vessel, so that the speed of gas is maintained at constant. Booster gas is supplied to each of the transporting pipes. A discharging rate of the powdered particles is controlled by a cascade control system for each of the pipes by individually controlling a flow rate of booster gas depending on a differential pressure in each discharge nozzle of the pipes, or on an output of solid-gas mass-flow meter in each of the pipes, or on a solid-gas ratio corresponding to each length of the pipes and a mass-flow rate of the particles in the vessel per total gas flow rate.

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 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: A method and apparatus for feeding material intermittently discharged from one machine, primarily an injection molding machine, to another machine, primarily a granulator mill. The feeding-in operation offers low energy consumption, great flexibility as regards material particle size and discharge rate for the grinding material, as well as minimal hazard risk. A predetermined amount of material is collected in a receiving compartment whereafter the collected material amount is moved along a supply path into the granulator mill by means of one or more currents of driving gas which flow through the receiving compartment and are led off from the supply path before reaching the granulator mill itself. The driving gas which is discharged intermittently only during the actual feeding cycle also opens a pivotal flap disposed in the supply path and preventing goods being subjected to grinding from being flung out of the granulator mill.

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.