Abstract: A dosing unit, for the controlled delivery of a solid material, including a silo, for containing the material to be delivered, having on the bottom a discharge mouth, said discharge mouth being circular, at least one extraction auger arranged inside said silo and operable in rotation around a vertical axis, at least one scraper member, located inside said silo and associated with said discharge mouth operable in rotation around said vertical axis, first actuation means of the extraction auger and second actuation means of the scraper member, at least one shutter component positioned below the discharge mouth, and moving means operatively connected to the shutter component to move it with respect to the discharge mouth.

Abstract: A conveying screw apparatus for transporting loose material. The apparatus includes:—a power unit apt to rotate an Archimedes screw pushing the loose material;—a charging hopper of the loose material in a tubular body containing the Archimedes screw and the loose material; —a feeding channel of the loose material towards a user; —pushing elements of the loose material present in the feeding channel; and —a back flow preventing device, preventing the back flow of pushing air together with loose material; such a device closing, in case, a through hole to the feeding channel. The back flow preventing device includes a shutter, provided with a plate, undergoing the action of a helical spring which, in any opening/closing step of the through hole, is always substantially perpendicular to the feeding first direction of the material in the tubular body.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the conversion of biomass to oxygenated hydrocarbons. More particularly, an improved biomass feed system or process for conveying biomass to a reactor for conversion to oxygenated hydrocarbons is provided. The provided system or process utilizes a spool piece adapted to convey solid particulate biomass from a lower pressure to a higher pressure. The spool piece conveys the solid particulate biomass material either directly to a reactor operated at or below the higher pressure or first to a vibratory feeder and then to such reactor. The vibratory feeder can include a bowl and an outlet spout extending tangentially from the bowl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for pneumatically conveying a bulk material which does not flow readily in which an input device variably meters the bulk material into a lateral conveyor until it is partially filled, and then a mechanical conveyor, in combination with the simultaneous introduction of compressed gas into the lateral conveyor, empties the bulk material partially filling the lateral conveyor, rendering the bulk material conveyable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for pneumatically conveying bulk material which does not flow readily, in which: bulk material is metered by means of one or more input device(s) (8) into a lateral conveyor (1); and the bulk material in the lateral conveyor is subsequently emptied via a transport line (19) wherein the metering of the bulk material into the lateral conveyor (1) is achieved by means of the input device(s) (8) and the emptying of the lateral conveyor (1) is effected with simultaneous action of a mechanical conveyor (9) in the lateral conveyor and inflowing compressed gas (17), with the mechanical conveyor (9) having a narrow clearance with respect to the lateral conveyor (1), so that the lateral conveyor is substantially emptied during the emptying process.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing air from finely divided particulate material comprises a housing including a vent; an inlet to the housing; an outlet from the housing; a helix, rotatably mounted in the housing, the helix being adapted upon rotation to feed a particulate material from the inlet to the outlet; a motor mounted to the helix for the purpose of rotating the helix; and a compression assembly mounted to the outlet for compressing the particulate material passing through the outlet.

Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.

Abstract: An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less employed than those adjacent the auger. An ice gate receives ice and flowing air to direct the ice pneumatically to a multistation diverter. The flow through the diverter is vertically downwardly. Tubes from the diverter convey ice to remote dispensing stations. The dispensing stations have prechambers with drains and lockable gates to advantageously receive ice for delivery into the remote station bins or block the ice storage area to allow cleaning. Conduit couplings are configured to connect tubing without creating an area of ice blockage or allowing the buildup of contamination. Germicidal lights or ozone may be used in the ice bin to avoid contamination.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a particulate material having an upstream source of particulate material, a delivery device disposed downstream of the upstream source of particulate material and communicable with the source for delivering the particulate material from the source to a discharge conduit, conveying device communicable with the discharge conduit for conveying the particulate material through the discharge conduit, the delivery device and the conveying device being cooperable to form an incremental batch of dischargeable particulate material downstream of the delivery device.

Abstract: A pneumatic material transporter includes a material hopper (2), a screw conveyor (3) to transport the material (supplied from the hopper) from the rear portion to a front portion of the screw conveyor, a pressure chamber portion (5) to receive the materials from the screw conveyor and to press the materials down while adding a limited amount of water, a horizontal mixer (6) adapted to mix the material supplied from the pressure chamber portion with pressurized air, and then push the mixture to a material transporting conduit portion (8) connected to the mixer through a check valve portion, so that the material transporting conduit portion transports the materials to a yard.

Abstract: Worm conveyor for bulk material, the outlet of which is separated from an outlet chamber, in which a higher gas pressure obtains than at the inlet of the worm conveyor, by a non-return flap, which is pressed by a flexible force into the closed setting. The operating behaviour of the conveyor is improved, in particular drive power and wear are reduced, in that a damper is provided for damping the movement of the non-return flap, in particular for damping the opening movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus conveys solid particles from a supply device to a charging device for charging free-flowing cutting jets. Positive charging of the cutting jets even when located at a greater or remote distance from the supply device is ensured. To that end, the solid particles are transported in a closed circuit between the supply device and a charging or intermediate storage device and the momentarily required partial quantity of solid particles needed for charging the cutting jet is removed from the closed circuit.

Abstract: A method of transporting mud, in which mud agitated and fluidized is supplied, while being pressurized by a pressurizing vane, through a check valve to a mud supply portion, and in which pressurizing air is supplied to the mud supply portion in a mud transporting direction to transport the mud in the mud supply pipe by the air pressure. According to this method, the mud can be continuously transported without large discharge noise.

Abstract: Mud is taken into a vertical screw conveyor while an inlet device is rotating or without the use of such an inlet device. The mud is sent from the discharge port of the conveyor into a transport pipe. The mud is forcibly sent by a compressed air. Screens are provided to take only the mud into the screw conveyor. Paddles for stirring mud are provided on the vanes of the screw. A check valve and/or a pressure feeder (transport pump) is provided between the discharge port of the conveyor and the transport pipe.

Abstract: A screw seal for conveying bulk particulate solids between spaces at differing gas pressures with minimal leakage of gas. A tubular housing encloses a screw conveyor section and a sealing section receiving the solids and forming a sealing plug. The sealing section has a divergent configuration that functions in combination with friction to create sufficient solids pressure with minimal driving torque and wear on the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A device for the transportation of flowable material in pulverulent, granular, lump, granulated or pasty form in a feed pipe comprises a coaxial endless feeder screw which is rotatable in the forward or reverse direction and a drive mechanism for driving said screw. The drive mechanism enables one to obtain a feed motion without rotation and a rearward motion with a forced, regular rotation of the endless screw so that the material to be transported remains axially stationary during the rearward motion. Owing to the dense column of material to be transported the bearings may be suppressed; if they are provided, they will have to be arranged outside the conveying stock. The endless screw is designed as a single piece screw and the distance between the screw and the feed pipe is slightly bigger than the average size of the grains or lumps of material to be conveyed. The device is preferably used for the supply of pneumatic or hydraulic conveyors.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a casing having a bore therethrough with an inlet for solid particulate material to be conveyed and an outlet. A screw impeller is rotatably mounted in the casing by front and rear bearings with the rear bearings being positioned near the inlet. Material is discharged from the casing through a coaxial outlet into a discharge chamber. Gaseous fluid under pressure is supplied to the discharge chamber for entraining and conveying the particulate material through a pneumatic conveying line which is flow connected to the outlet of the discharge chamber. A valve, which closes the outlet of the casing, is biased closed by a weight and opened by material being advanced by the screw impeller. The valve includes a valve plate with an opening which surrounds the shaft of the screw impeller and provides a seal at the casing to substantially prevent gaseous fluid from entering the casing.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying solid particulate material which takes the form of a line charging device for a pneumatic conveying system. The apparatus is of the type which includes a screw impeller rotatable in a casing for advancing material from a hopper through the casing to a discharge chamber. From the discharge chamber, gas under pressure entrains the material and serves to convey it through an attached conveying line. A pair of diametrically opposed outlets from the casing are provided to introduce material from the casing into the discharge chamber. A normally closed flap valve is operatively associated with each of the casing outlets to aid in establishing a seal of material at the outlet. The use of nozzles between the source of gas under pressure and the conveying line has been eliminated.

Abstract: Apparatus for injecting pulverulent material into a conveying pipe 12 under a higher pressure by means of a worm 2 mounted in overhead manner in a casing, which conveys against a check valve. Between the worm and check valve 14 is provided a chamber 11 which widens in the conveying direction, which on the one hand prevents any clogging of the conveyed material due to a wedging action in the conveying direction and on the other hand ensures that in the case of a stoppage 4 when an inadequate amount of material is supplied a seal is formed in said area because in the widening chamber 11 the material to be conveyed is compressed and forced back counter to the conveying direction. Inter alia the apparatus can be used for conveying cement. The invention is illustrated most clearly by FIG. 1.