Abstract: A metering device and a distributing machine for metering free-flowing bulk material, in particular seeds and/or fertilizer, from a container, using a metering device. The metering device includes a delivery channel with an inlet and a metering outlet, and a pressure compensation section disposed in the delivery channel between the inlet and the metering outlet. The pressure compensation section is actuated by a pressure difference between the delivery channel and the surroundings.

Abstract: Rapid evacuation and deployment of dry materials is achieved by the dual structure of this device and the method of using it to fill and empty vacuum reloading tanks automatically. This permits materials such a bentonite, barite or cement to be handled easily and without dust on a rig floor and mixed appropriately as needed for well control and completion operations. Dry bulk material is offloaded from an offshore supply vessel into atmospheric tanks, which provide fluidized bed systems to aerate and agitate and move material through piping into the vacuum re-loader tanks. The dual re-loader tank system allows one tank to be emptied while another fills thereby providing sufficient flexibility to expertly manage receiving, storage, transfer, filtration and control of the bulk material on various space-critical platforms, including offshore rigs and service vessels, that require the handling of dry bulk materials in an accurate and dust-free manner.

Abstract: Novel systems and apparatuses for conveying particulate media are disclosed. One such system may include a conveying tank configured to receive media and push it out to a media distribution valve to be distributed to any desired destination. The media distribution valve is preferably a multi-port, pinch valve having a drain to dump any residual media not distributed through the distribution valve. One or more blast dispensers may be in communication with the media distribution valve. Each blast dispenser may be in communication with a blast chamber, which also may be in communication with the media distribution valve. A screen classifier may be in communication with the media distribution valve to receive and screen media from the blast chamber, for example, before being conveyed, if desired, through one or more conveying tanks through the media distribution valve.

Abstract: A heat dissipation module includes a fan and a thermal fin portion. The fan includes a fan body, a plurality of blade units and a plurality of blade extensions. The blade units are connected to the fan body. The blade extensions protrude from the blade units, respectively. A first surface is formed on a side of each of the blade extensions. A distance between the first surface and an axis of the fan body is increasing along an inflow direction. The thermal fin portion includes a plurality of fin units and a plurality of fin extensions respectively protruding from the fin units. A second surface is formed on a side facing the fan extension of each of the fin extension. An identical gap is formed between at least one portion of the first surface and at least one portion of the second surface.

Abstract: An insulation blowing machine is provided, comprising an upper section, comprising a hopper, an agitator, and an agitator motor coupled to drive the agitator; a base, comprising a blower, an airlock, and an airlock motor coupled to drive airlock paddles within the airlock; and a pivoting mechanism connecting the upper section with the base, whereby the upper section is tiltable on the pivoting mechanism away from the base to an open position without disassembly or disengagement of components in the upper section from components in the base to expose the airlock paddles within the airlock; whereby, in operation insulation fed into the hopper passes through an opening in the bottom of the hopper and into the airlock to be discharged through an outlet.

Abstract: An insulation system comprising: a supply of material having discrete elements; an applicator assembly for installation of the material having discrete elements to a surface; and a scrubber for finishing the face of the material, the scrubber including: (a) a vacuum conduit; (b) a blade assembly attached to the vacuum conduit; (c) a drive for the blade assembly; and (d) a vacuum substantially adjacent the face of the material during finishing. In the one embodiment, the system comprises a transporter system downstream of the supply of material having discrete elements for delivery of the material to the applicator assembly. Also, in one embodiment, the blade assembly comprises an axis of rotation perpendicular to the face of the material during finishing.

Abstract: Described is a conveyor for confections having the design that the material is conveyed along a flow path which is essentially free from abrupt detours or direction changes. In the case of utilization of helix rotors as conveyors this occurs in that the helical rotors (3, 11) are mounted respectively on only one of their ends and the discharge column (10, 20) is provided in essentially the axial direction. These columns may be conical and preferably coaxial but in certain cases may also be slightly eccentric to the axis of the helical rotors.

Abstract: Bulk material discharge assemblies comprise a bulk material hopper, a conduit for delivering an air stream to entrain with bulk material from the bulk material hopper, and a feeding apparatus for introducing additive to the conduit. The feeding apparatus comprises an additive hopper and an airlock positioned adjacent the conduit. In addition, metering apparatus are provided that comprise an axle and first and second metering wheels. A noncircular perimeter of the axle and the shape of each hub opening of each of the metering wheels cooperate to nonrotatably mount each metering wheel to the axle. The first and second metering wheel are adapted to be selectively mounted in at least one of a first relative position and a second relative position.

Abstract: A machine for separating a compacted fibrous material and pneumatically impelling separated fibrous material generally comprising a hopper having a trough at a lower end thereof provided with an outlet, a pair of augers disposed in the trough operable to advance separated fibrous material toward and into the hopper outlet, means disposed in the hopper between an inlet of the hopper and the trough for shredding compacted fibrous materials introduced into the hopper, an airlock feeder having an inlet communicating with the trough outlet, a motor and means for conveying drive from the motor to the shredding means, the augers and the feeder.

Abstract: A truck is equipped with a grass seed hopper from which seed is fed into a blower pressurized conduit air flow by an air lock feeder at a first station. A motor with speed control drives the feeder and determines the rate of seed discharge. A tank on the truck permits the pumped flow of tank contents, water and/or fertilizer, into the conduit carried pressurized air flow. Organic material carried by the truck is conveyed forward by a moving floor toward augers which feed the organic material to a powered mixer for breaking up of the material to ensure passage of loose material into a rotary feeder at a second station. The feeder discharges into a mixing chamber whereat grass seed, discharged from the pressurized conduit, mixes with the organic material for subsequent discharge onto a ground surface via a flexible hose.

Abstract: Problems encountered when discharging bulk containers using a blow-through rotary valve can be avoided by the discharge device, according to the invention, in which a vent connection of the rotary valve is in connection with the internal chamber of the container through a filter hose open on both ends.

Abstract: A system for recovering waste fiber and reusing it with a loose-fill blown-in-place insulation system includes a fiber collector device mounted above the feed hopper, which collector receives the waste (i.e. recovered) insulation for recycling into the blowing operation. The collector includes a unique set of angled baffles which serve to thoroughly redistribute the recovered waste fibers back into the feed hopper for more even and uniform mixing with the new, virgin fibers being added. To accomplish this distribution the baffles are located so as to increase in surface area as a function of increased distance from the inlet.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method blow or spray loose-fill insulation (e.g., fiberglass) into wall cavities and the like. The system includes a fiber recovery or recycling subsystem that vacuums up overspray or waste fibers and forwards them back toward the hopper. A fiber collector device having a fiber inlet and outlet is mounted above the hopper, and receives the recovered waste fibers and redistributes them back into the hopper so that they mix with virgin fibers therein. The mix of recovered and virgin fibers is then blown through the blow hose toward a wall cavity or the like to be insulated.

Abstract: A high slippage feeder for conveying seed cotton from a rotary vacuum of a cotton gin includes a cylinder rotating about an axis with a plurality of pins radially extending from the cylinder and a casing enclosing the cylinder and the pins. The casing has a first inlet for receiving the seed cotton from the rotary vacuum, a second inlet for receiving an air stream, and an outlet for providing an exit for the air stream and the seed cotton. A portion of the casing is curved to conform to an outer circumference defined by the rotation of the pins, and a portion of the second inlet is inwardly deflected to focus the direction of the air stream. The casing, as shaped, maximizes the operational efficiency of the high slippage feeder and not only improves the conveyance of cotton but also ensures that a majority of the cotton conveyed through the high slippage feeder will be partially dried.

Abstract: A product disconnect is provided for cutting off product flow between a product tank and an associated metering system. The product is instead directed to a product cleanout where an operator can empty the product tank without sending product through the metering system. The product disconnect may consist of one or more rotary cutoff valves which are selectively movable between an open position allowing product to flow into metering system and a closed position where product is instead directed to a product cleanout.

Abstract: A continuous dense phase conveying system and method regulates and modulates the volume of gas flowing at a low velocity within a material conveying pipe. In response to air volume leakage through a rotary airlock valve, a controller adjusts a flow control valve to maintain the volume of air for conveying at a selected level. The flow control valve has a venturi-shaped output section. The flow control valve is more than 90% efficient (e.g., less than 10% pressure drop across the valve) and has an output that varies linearly, over a wide range, with adjustment of the valve.

Abstract: A truck including a container used to transport and dispense loose particulate materials. A moving floor is located on the floor of the container to move loose particulate materials within the container into a feeder and dispensing system. The container includes two opposing augers mounted on the inner surface of a rear door of the container. The augers feed loose particulate material within the container to a mixer. The mixer helps to break up the loose particulate material to keep it from bridging as it drops into a feeder. The feeder regulates the flow of loose particulate material into a mixing chamber. A high volume air blower is connected to the mixing chamber. The blower forces a high volume of air through the mixing chamber and out of the mixing chamber into an attached hose. As loose particulate material drops into the mixing chamber, it mixes with the air flow and is blown out of the attached hose.

Abstract: A rotary airlock feeder is connected to transfer particulate material between a storage bin and a pneumatic convey line. The pneumatic convey line includes a pressure reducing orifice plate which produces a pressure differential in the convey line between the upstream and downstream sides of the orifice plate. Air from the upstream side flows into respective specially designed end plates of the feeder and the pressure differential between opposite sides of the orifice assures a steady purge air flow circumferentially around a pair of rotary shrouds and into the feeder. This steady air flow prevents particulate material or debris from entering cavities between the shrouds and the end plates and between the rotary shrouds and the housing walls and thus prevents such material from reaching the seals, shaft area, and bearings of the feeder and protects the rotary shrouds from premature abrasive wear.

Abstract: Ultrafine powder is stored in a pneumatic transportation tank (20), and is discharged to a transporting conduit (23) while being fluidized by the pressurized air fed through a fluidizing air port (24). The ultrafine powder is fed to a weigher (30) provided at the other end of the transporting conduit (23), at which the weight of the transported ultrafine powder is weighed by a load cell (31). After the weighed value reaches 90% of a predetermined value, the fed amount of the pneumatic transportation air is reduced, and a bypass regulating valve (38) is adjusted to thus decelerate the transportation. When the weighed value reaches 100% of the predetermined value, the discharge of the ultrafine powder to the transporting conduit (23) is stopped. This method and the apparatus enable the storage, quantitative batch transportation, and automatic weighing of the ultrafine powder such as silica fume.

Abstract: A continuous dense phase conveying method and apparatus, for conveying large quantities of dry bulk material through a material conveying pipe, feed particulate material into the conveying pipe and supply a quantity of low pressure gas into the pipe to force particulate material to move therealong. A gas pressure within the conveying pipe is monitored. When this monitored pressure reaches a predetermined gas pressure level, a quantity of high pressure gas is supplied to the conveying pipe to force the particulate material to move continuously therealong.

Abstract: An apparatus for sowing granular material, particularly in combination with a harrow, including a storage hopper (1) which at its outlet is provided with at least one injector (4) operated by a blower (6) and connected with a transport conduit (5) leading to a number of seed shares (15) and provided with a cam or cellular wheel for metering the granular material, the transport conduit (5) being connected with a metering device (2) divided by a perforated plate (11) into a granulate compartment (12) communicating with the conduit (5) and an air compartment (13) from which hoses (14) extend to their respective seed share (15) and which over cam or cellular wheels (10) is in communication with the granulate compartment (12) and through a conduit (16) is connected with the blower (6) in front of the injector (4).

Abstract: A rotary valve and associated method of cleaning, including a generally cylindrical housing (104) defining a central axis, and a rotatable shaft (106) mounted in a first end plate (130) of the housing for rotation by a drive system (108) operating adjacent the first end plate. A vane rotor (102) is connectable to the shaft in an operating position entirely within the housing for transmitting the rotation of the shaft about the axis to the vanes (140) of the rotor. The rotor is selectively axially displaceable relative to the shaft, into a cleaning position entirely outside the housing. This is facilitated by the mounting of the rotor to the other, second end plate (110), such that the disassembly of the second end plate from the housing and the axial displacement thereof away from the first end plate, also displaces the rotor.

Abstract: A feeder apparatus is provided for delivery of insulation material or the like using pressurized air, particularly where such material is relatively light and fluffy and/or delivered at a low rate. The feeder apparatus includes a hopper and a chute. The hopper receives the material, which is to be carried using the pressurized air. A chute housing a pair of tine assemblies receives the material from the hopper and is used in carrying the material to an inlet. The inlet is formed by first and second adjusting assemblies, which are located on opposite sides of the chute. The user is able to provide a desired size inlet by rotating crank handles of the two adjusting assemblies to cause linear movement of adjustable plates. Material passing from the inlet is received by a rotary pocket feeder having a number of vanes. Pressurized air is also delivered to the rotary pocket feeder. The pressurized air carries the material through an outlet formed in the pocket feeder for delivery to a predetermined site.

Abstract: A rotary feeder having a cylindrical casing having an upper inlet port and a lower outlet port in the vertical direction and a rotor disposed within said cylindrical casing and having a center axis being made eccentric with respect to a horizontal rotor driving shaft supported pivotally on the cylindrical casing, the rotor having further a plurality of blades provided in such that each tip of said blades is able to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical casing in the vicinity of said upper inlet port or lower outlet port by pressure differential between an upstream passage and a downstream passage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting and unloading a container (10, 10A) carrying particulate lading which is removably mounted on a tiltable support frame (76, 76A) pivotally mounted on a highway trailer (54, 54A). At the unloading site, a portable throttle valve assembly (108, 108A) and flexible connecting hose (166, 166A) are connected to the container (10, 10A) and the container (10, 10A) is tilted by the support frame (76, 76A) to an angle above the angle of repose of the lading for gravity unloading of the lading from the container (10, 10A) in to a trailer mounted rotary valve (148, 148A) which forms an air lock over a subjacent pneumatic hopper structure (144, 144A) for pneumatic conveyance of the lading to a storage facility.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveyor for particulate material of low weight per piece comprises a separator formed by a cellular rotor with a filter wall adapted to separate the particulate material as the carrying air flows to the suction side of a blower. The pressure side of said blower is in communication with a conveyor duct communicating with the separator and having a threshold forcing part of the air upwards into the rotor so as to pass the filter wall in the opposite direction, thereby blowing the filter clean before the air contributes to the further conveyance of material through the duct.

Abstract: An unattended apparatus for collecting aluminum cans and for compensating depositors of said aluminum cans based on the weight of the aluminum cans deposited, including a microprocessor-based control system which controls the energization of various system components, monitors system data, monitors alarm signals, operates a display, controls the weighing cycle, controls the compensation cycle, and the like. The apparatus includes a heavys detector which measures the weight of an incoming object as a function of the displacement of the platform it strikes. A second metal detector is used to separate non-ferrous metals from non-metals. A trapdoor is provided for dropping out non-metals and heavys and closed to pass aluminum cans to the input of the crusher hopper.

Abstract: The pneumatic conveyor for grain consists of a horizontal conveying space, which accepts the falling grain at one end and whose discharge end terminates in an upward-narrowing vertical conveyor tube adjacent to the horizontal conveyor line, the grain being conveyed on a flow tray by a bypass flow or mechanically into the lower part of the vertical tube.

Abstract: The specification discloses an applicator (10) for precisely dispensing granular materials, such as herbicides, pesticides and the like, with improved control while compensating for the speed and travel direction of the implement carrying the applicator. The applicator (10) comprises a hopper (14) with an arcuate hopper bottom extension (40) and an internal feed rotor (42). The arcuate hopper bottom extension (40) is preferably inclined, and the openings (44) in the end preferably include straight lowermost sides oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the feed rotor (42) to obtain better flow control in conjunction with a revolving transfer means (54) located beneath and closely adjacent to the bottom end of the hopper. The revolving transfer assembly (54) preferably includes a plurality of rollers (56) for individually receiving material from the openings (44) in the hopper and distributing it for application.

Abstract: An improved seed and/or fertilizer distributor of the air-seeder type having a sealed hopper and having a pressure equalizing line communicating between the hopper and a chamber in which is disposed a metering device arranged to have the same pressure on the intake as on the outlet side, with the metering device feeding into a duct opening to the air stream which conveys the seed and/or fertilizer.

Abstract: An additive material storage and metering system includes a transportable frame having a plurality of dry material storage bins mounted thereon. The plurality of dry material storage bins includes smaller material storage bins and larger dry material storage bins. The metering system for the larger dry material storage bins has a flow rate range varying from a low end to a high end. The metering system for the smaller dry material storage bins has a second flow rate range varying from a low end to a high end. The low end of the second range is lower than the low end of the first range, and the high end of the second range is between the low and high ends of the first range, so that any given dry material may be dispensed at any rate within an overall flow rate range from the low end of the second range to the high end of the first range by placing said material in the proper dry material storage bin.

Abstract: A series of operatively interconnected fuel flow regulators are adapted to meter and direct the flow of particulate fuel from a fuel conveying system into the burners of a furnace or kiln. Each regulator is fed by a conveying system and includes a feeder housing having a flow metering impeller and feed rotor arrangement. Each housing includes an adjustable fuel orifice communicating with a respective burner.