Abstract: The spreader has a movable container and at least one elongated tube, and can thus be moved along a path in the forest, and the tube successively deployed to blow the soil conditioner between the trees, away from the path. Satisfactory efficiency can be achieved using an eductor device to transfer the powdery soil conditioner into the air flow in the tube.

Abstract: A system for reducing pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of asphaltenic crude oil through a conduit. The crude oil has a high asphaltene content and/or a low API gravity. Such reduction in pressure drop is achieved by treating the asphaltenic crude oil with a high molecular weight drag reducing polymer that can have a solubility parameter within about 20 percent of the solubility parameter of the heavy crude oil. The drag reducing polymer can also comprise the residues of monomers having at least one heteroatom.

Abstract: Containers, particularly to containers for storing dry granules and powders, for examples silos. A container can include an air filter for cleaning the air that pneumatically conveys bulk product into the container. A valve can be used to restrict the air flow through the air filter, thereby elevating the pressure within the container to above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An improved system for the moving material into and out of a trailer attached to a truck that is equipped with first and second high pressure hydraulic circuits, an airlock circuit, and a low pressure return line. The improvement to the system generally includes a selector valve that is operable between load and unload positions, and a blower and motor that are mounted to the trailer's chassis and are fluidly driven by the high pressure circuits via the selector valve being in its load position. When in the unload position, the blower and motor are bypassed and the hydraulic circuits operate in their traditional manner.

Abstract: A bulk material system generally consisting of a container having an upper wall, a vertical wall and an opening in the vertical wall; a support frame detachably mountable on the upper and vertical walls of the container; a hopper mounted on the support frame; a material conveying conduit mounted on the frame having an inlet communicating with an outlet of the hopper for receiving material therefrom and an end portion with an outlet insertable through the vertical wall opening of the container when the frame is detachably mounted on the container; and a conduit supported on the support frame having an outlet communicating with the material conveying conduit and an inlet communicable with a source of gas under pressure, function to supply gas under pressure to the material conveying conduit for pneumatically conveying material fed from the hopper into the material conveying conduit, therethrough, into the container.

Abstract: An insulation installation system including: a supply of material having discrete elements and a self-contained applicator. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulation installation system further includes a work platform. The self-contained applicator includes a blower having an inlet and an outlet; a material feeder downstream from the blower; and an integrated electrical system adapted for household use. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the self-contained applicator includes a vented air intake connected to the inlet of the blower.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a process for the removal of bulk material from a container, in particular, from a box-shaped transport container. In order to be able to suction the bulk material off in a simple and reliable manner out of the transport container, one first of all attaches to an outlet area of container (10) a removal instrument (23) that has a conveyance device. This conveyance device conveys the bulk material in the removal instrument (23) essentially against its direction of outflow out of container (10) into a discharge area of the removal instrument (23) out of which bulk material is sectioned off by means of an off-suctioning device (39) that is connected thereto. To support the off-suctioning of the bulk material, air—by means of an air supply device (17, 19, 20′)—is so piped into the bulk material located in container (10) that the bulk material is fluidized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing and distributing loose particulate material includes a system for applying an agent to the loose particulate material. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a container for holding and transporting the loose particulate material to the site of application. A feeder regulates the flow of loose particulate material out of the container. Loose particulate material exiting the feeder is blown out of the apparatus through a hose by an air stream produced by a blower. An agent is introduced via a carrier fluid to the air stream carrying the loose particulate material, whereby the resulting mixture of the agent with the carrier fluid is then mixed with the loose particulate material carried by the air stream.

Abstract: An Improved Apparatus and Method for Moving and Placing Granulate is disclosed. The disclosed device is a portable, self-contained apparatus capable of discharging granulate into hard-to-reach areas, as well as providing assistance in covering vast open areas with granulate in a short time. Furthermore, the device and method described herein permit the application of granulate into areas that are normally inaccessible and would require many hours of human labor, and thereby potentially avoiding damage to the site that might be incurred if employing a prior method and device.

Abstract: A truck is equipped with a bin from which bin contents are fed into a blower pressurized conduit by a feed screw conveyor immediately prior to entry into a flexible discharge conduit. Control means permit feed screw conveyor speed to be varied to control the rate of seed discharge into the pressurized conduit. Provision is made for a tank and nozzle for injecting water and/or fertilizer into the pressurized conduit. The truck includes a moving floor conveyor for transferring organic material toward vertical augers which break up the material and feed the material to a powered mixer prior to entry into a rotary feeder and the pressurized air flow. The mixing of seed with the organic material and/or water or fertilizer immediately prior to the composite flow of material entering a flexible discharge conduit mitigates damage to the seed.

Abstract: A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate material into the chamber, and at least one pressurized gas exit conduit for transporting particulate material away from the chamber. The wand is flexible and is manually controlled so that the user can control the exact direction in which the particulate material is to be focused. The wand includes a switch which sends a signal to a signal-actuated valve which is coupled to the entrance conduit. Upon receiving the appropriate signal, the signal-actuated valve adjusts so as to alter the flow of particulate material.

Abstract: A pressure control system for accurately controlling the pressure of the air in a discharge line during a pneumatic offload includes a blower, a supply of pressurized air and a pressure relief valve. The blower directs a stream of air into the discharge line to produce a positive air pressure. The pressure relief valve includes a valve body defining a hollow valve chamber, a valve positioned within the valve chamber and a valve seat opposite the valve. The valve chamber of the pressure relief valve is in fluid communication with the discharge line through a first inlet port and in fluid communication with the supply of pressurized air through a second inlet port that receives air from the supply of pressurized air. The valve chamber of the pressure relief valve is also in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere through at least one outlet port.

Abstract: An Improved Apparatus and Method for Moving and Placing Granulate is disclosed. The disclosed device is a portable, self-contained apparatus capable of discharging granulate into hard-to-reach areas, as well as providing assistance in covering vast open areas with granulate in a short time. Furthermore, the device and method described herein permit the application of granulate into areas that are normally inaccessible and would require many hours of human labor, and thereby potentially avoiding damage to the site that might be incurred if employing a prior method and device.

Abstract: A material delivery system conveys material from a supply location at or above an area surface to a working location below the area surface. The delivery system includes a supply hopper located at the supply location and having an inlet for receiving material to be conveyed and an outlet for discharging material. An injection hopper is adapted for mounting on a movable working arm of a self-propelled vehicle, and has an inlet for receiving material and an outlet for discharging material. The arm of the vehicle carries the injection hopper below the area surface to the working location. A supply line is connected to the outlet of the supply hopper and to the inlet of the injection hopper for conveying material from the supply location to the working location.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular material such as gravel. The apparatus includes a vehicle base mounting plate, a prime mover such as a diesel engine, a hydraulically driven air blower, a hopper for receiving gravel to be conveyed, and a hydraulically driven auger assembly for moving gravel from the hopper to a pneumatic pick-up point. After pneumatic pickup, the gravel is transported through an extended network of suitable pneumatic tubing such as low friction, thick wall, PVC pipe sections, to a desired discharge location, where the material is discharged into a catch can for downward placement at a desired point. In a preferred embodiment, the auger assembly comprises a three piece unit, with a shaft, an inner auger section, and an outer auger section. The outer auger section is a replaceable wear part which can be repaired, rebuilt, or replaced as necessary due to frictional wear on the auger due to contact with the solid being conveyed.

Abstract: A conventional dry van trailer is modified to include a recessed bulkhead at the back of the trailer having a material inlet that communicates on its exterior side with a flexible fill tube and on its interior side with a rigid distribution conduit. The distribution conduit extends along the top wall of the trailer to an open free end near the front of the trailer. A bottom-opening distribution slot extends from the open free end of the conduit rearwardly along a substantial length of the trailer. The fill tube is connected to a grinder/blower unit which delivers a high velocity flow of ground plastic scrap into the tube and conduit is discharged therefrom through the open end and distribution slot of the conduit in a manner to fill the trailer from front to back. A two-stage coarse/fine filter permits air to escape from the trailer while retaining the solid material.

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: A mobile, self-contained, pneumatic granular material conveying system is disclosed which comprises a trailer at least one granular material receiving and discharging kettle mounted thereon. An articulated vacuum arm is rotatably mounted on the rear portion of the trailer. The vacuum arm is capable of being extended forwardly along the length of the trailer during storage and has an intake nozzle located at its outer end and a conveying line attached thereto for conveying material from the nozzle to the kettle. The vacuum arm is rotatable and vertically and horizontally moveable to provide three dimensional positive control of the position of the nozzle. As a result an operator may move the nozzle in the material to break up clumps. A pendant control electrically connected to the trailer permits the operator to position himself adjacent the granular material to be unloaded, which facilitates precise manipulation of the vacuum arm.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveyor of particulate material includes an air pump with an inlet duct to the air pump communicating with a cyclone for extracting the particulate material from the air stream and then depositing the particulate material in an outlet duct from the air pump. The outlet duct includes a vertical section, an outwardly extending section with a hinge between the two to provide folding of the outwardly extending section relative to the vertical section for a storage position. In addition, a flange and collar connection is provided between two portions of the vertical section whereby the upper portion and the outwardly extending section can be rotated about the lower portion of the vertical section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a folding mechanism for the discharge spout system (12) of a pneumatic conveyor (10). The folding mechanism includes a hinge mechanism (55) having an axis (66) which is skewed with respect to a plane perpendicular to the alignment axis (26) of lower and upper tubes (20, 22). Such a hinge mechanism (55) allows the upper portion of upper tube (22) to pass the lower portion of lower tube (20) while upper tube (22) is pivoting from an operational configuration to a transit configuration. An hydraulic cylinder (68) powers the pivotal movement of upper tube (22). An over-center locking mechanism (84) latches lower and upper tubes (20, 22) in the operational configuration.