Abstract: A dry granular material transfer system and method for transfer of granular material such as sand in a dry state through a hose using pressurized air. On a base platform, a conveyor subsystem moves granular material placed on a lower portion to a higher portion while separating clumped material and allowing rocks and debris to fall away, spreading the granular material in a thin layer for ejection at the highest level. A containment subsystem receives granular material and contains the downward fall of material. A portioning subsystem has a turntable with blow-through chambers which receive granular material and move into line with an air inflow tube and air-material outflow tube, and the air-material mixture is blown through the air-material outflow tube and through a transfer hose.

Abstract: A powder feeding apparatus drops powder from a tank storing the powder to an oblique portion, and accumulates the powder on a plate disposed below the oblique portion. The plate is provided with a flat surface portion and a groove portion which is inverted from the flat surface portion to a lower part. The scraper moves powder which has accumulated to a higher level than a constant height on the flat portion and the groove portion, to an outer-side of the flat portion and smoothes the powder on the flat portion and the groove portion to a constant height. An ejector takes in powder which has accumulated on the groove portion of the plate by a suction opening, disposed at a front side of the scraper, in a relative moving direction of the plate, and discharges the powder from the discharge opening.

Abstract: A meter roller for an agricultural metering system includes a spindle having a driven shaft, a first ring, and a second ring. The first ring and the second ring are rigidly coupled to the driven shaft, and the driven shaft is configured to engage a drive shaft to facilitate rotation of the spindle. The meter roller also includes a sealing ring longitudinally disposed between the first ring and the second ring. An outer diameter of the sealing ring is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the first ring and an outer diameter of the second ring, and the sealing ring is formed from a material having sufficient resilience to enable the sealing ring to stretch to facilitate disposition of the sealing ring between the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: A profile insert for a meter roller of an agricultural metering system includes a flute and a recess positioned adjacent to one another along a circumferential axis of the profile insert. The flute and the recess are configured to meter flowable particulate material from a storage tank to a material distribution system via rotation of the profile insert. The profile insert also includes at least one locking element configured to substantially block circumferential rotation of the profile insert relative to a spindle. In addition, the profile insert is configured to extend about only a portion of a circumference of the spindle.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for moving and placing in hard to reach locations granular and other particulate material such as sand, gravel, earth and similar materials. The system includes an improved augar for moving the material and an improved rotary airlock mechanism designed to withstand the abrasive action of the particulate material and at the same time move the material several hundred feet through a flexible conduit for placement in a pre-designated location. A system and apparatus is also disclosed for transporting on one vehicle all of the devices needed at a remote site for operation the particulate placement system, including a front loader.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped tobacco smoke filters which contain and/or carry particles of charcoal and/or other solid particulate tobacco smoke filtering and/or flavoring material. A sender directs a series of successive filters lengthwise into a pneumatic conduit wherein the filters advance toward a receiving station. A section of the conduit has an arcuate shape and advances successive filters from a lower level to a higher level. The underside of the section has an elongated arcuate opening which is overlapped by a cover in such a way that any solid particles which became separated from the filters can be expelled into a neighboring chamber due to fluid pressure in the section as well as under the action of gravity and/or centrifugal force.

Abstract: A spherical body transport apparatus applicable in accepting a small spherical body, such as a spherical semiconductor, from a first spherical body treating device and feeding it to a second spherical body treating device. Such a spherical body transport apparatus includes a spherical body holding component having at least one spherical body accommodating component and designed to hold a spherical body temporarily, a spherical body carry-in component for carrying the spherical body into the spherical body accommodating component of the spherical body holding component, and a spherical body carry-out component for carrying the spherical body out of the spherical body accommodating component of the spherical body holding component.

Abstract: A powder metering apparatus for making available a powder, in particular for powder coating, and which comprises a metering pump with a rotatably driven metering disk arranged between two lateral plates. The metering pump includes an inlet, through which it receives a powder-air mixture, and an outlet that connects via a suction tube to an injector pump. From the outlet, the powder-air mixture conveyed by means of the metering disk to the outlet is sucked out by a vacuum flow that is generated in the injector pump and enters the metering pump via a suction inlet opening, and the powder-air mixture is then supplied to a consumer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for conveying spherical articles at high speed between sequential processes having different protective atmospheres, where the leakage of the atmospheres, which must be converted between the sequential processes, is prevented. The device includes a structure incorporating a rotary relay having a plurality of spherical-article accommodating chambers formed at predetermined intervals, a support container closely mounted on the rotary relay, and having a spherical-article receiving passage and a discharge passage. An atmosphere discharge pipe communicates with the spherical-article accommodating chambers of the rotary relay, and an atmosphere supply pipe is disposed adjacent to the spherical-article discharge portion of the rotary relay and communicates with the accommodating chambers.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel carrying apparatus for carrying spherical objects such as spherical semiconductors of silicon in which the spherical objects are not contacted with an inner surface of a pipe-shaped body while they are being carried in the pipe-shaped body. The carrying apparatus for carrying spherical objects is provided with a spiral current generating means for generating a spiral current of fluid, and the spiral current generated by the spiral current generating means is introduced into a passage of the spherical objects. The spiral current generating means includes a rotary shaft 3 in which a carrying passage 2 is formed in a direction of the central axis and a spiral groove 3b is formed at a predetermined position on the outer circumferential surface. Further, in the rotary shaft 3, a jet pipe 3a connecting the carrying passage 2 with the spiral groove 3b is formed.

Abstract: A apparatus for carrying spherical objects is adopted, which comprises: a housing 1; a cylindrical rotor 6 arranged in the housing, including a plurality of recess grooves 11 which are open to the outer circumferential surface, the plurality of recess grooves being arranged radially from the center of the rotor 6; a guide ring arranged in the housing, the guide ring 3 including an inner hole 5, the section of which is elliptical, in which the cylindrical rotor 6 is accommodated; a vane 12 slidably arranged in each recess groove 11; a first carrier atmosphere feeding pipe 16 connected with a converting section of the guide ring 3 in which the inner hole 5 is changed from a small diameter section to a large diameter section; a first carrier atmosphere discharging pipe 17 connected with a converting section of the guide ring 3 in which the inner hole 5 is changed from a large diameter section to a small diameter section; a second carrier atmosphere feeding pipe 18 connected with a converting section of the guide

Abstract: Dust emission is controlled by a preferably short fill at the expulsion end of each chamber, and selective venting of residual pressure through the air-inlet end. This selective venting is accomplished through use of a novel seal or "pad" that has an extension for tightly covering and sealing the material-exhaust end of each chamber while the chamber is in a dust-control plenum. The pad extension is notched so that it leaves the air-inlet end uncovered, permitting pressure venting through the notch and the air-inlet end. To provide truly effective sealing of the pad extension against the wear plate above the chamber that is in the plenum, the extension is reinforced by a strong metal plate which is embedded in the pad. Careful contouring of the main material-conveying ports in the pad optimizes the performance. A new all-pneumatic pad-clamping pressure-control system has been found to provide excellent control of pressure and uniformity of wear, with a minimum of working parts and adjustments.

Abstract: A method of placing granular materials, such as sand, on a golf course or the like includes loading granular materials into a hopper for feeding a sand gun, directing the granular materials from the hopper into the sand gun, and directing compressed air into the sand gun and into an elongated flexible hose to thereby direct the granular materials into the sand gun through the flexible hose. The sand gun also includes the step of spinning the granular materials therein. The granular materials passing through the flexible hose are directed through an exit nozzle and water may be injected from a water source through the exit nozzle and into the granular materials whereby granular materials and water from remote locations are distributed through a flexible hose onto a predetermined site by aiming the nozzle.

Abstract: A pneumatic bar conveying apparatus in which compressed air is supplied from an air injection port towards a bar-like material in each of a plurality of holding grooves is intermittently supplied by an intermittent air supply mechanism, so that the compressed air will be shut off by a tooth-shaped section protrudingly provided between the holding grooves for a longer period than an air shut-off period. After a specific period of compressed air supply into the holding groove, the supply of the compressed air is shut off to decrease the outlet pressure of the compressed air remaining in the holding groove and the conveying pipeline, resulting in an increased pressure difference as compared with the inlet pressure of the compressed air supplied into the holding groove from the air injection port. Consequently the compressed air flows at a higher rate from the holding groove into the conveying pipeline, thus imparting a large initial flow velocity to the bar-like material in the holding groove.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting filter rod sections between the outlet of a magazine and the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor has a rotary drum with axially parallel peripheral flutes for the transfer of filter rod sections from the magazine into alignment with the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor. A pneumatic ejector is used to propel filter rod sections from successive flutes into the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor. The drum is discontinuously driven by an electric motor which accelerates the drum subsequent to each ejection of a filter rod section into the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor and at least decelerates the drum prior to movement of a flute into register with the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor and/or during ejection of filter rod sections from successive flutes.

Abstract: A unit for sampling and quality controlling tobacco items, in particular cigarettes, wherein a sample item, fed by a first conveyor along a first given path, is transferred automatically by a selectively operated spoon-shaped diverter along a second path to a second conveyor tangent to the first path. The sample item is fed to a support in which it is supported in facing relation to an optical control device. The sample item is inspected in the support and the optical control device emits signals as a function of the surface characteristics of the sample item.

Abstract: Filter rod sections are transported sideways from a magazine containing a pile of parallel sections toward positions of alignment with the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor and are propelled into the conveyor at a transfer station where they continue to move sideways. In order to avoid damage to sections during propulsion into the conveyor, the duration of complete transfer of successive sections into the inlet is monitored in order to generate signals denoting the intervals of axial advancement of successive sections all the way into the conveyor. Such signals are compared with signals denoting those intervals of sidewise movement of sections past the transfer station during which the sections can move axially without being damaged by the stationary inlet of the conveyor.

Abstract: An air tunnel track interface attaches to a can testing apparatus for receiving cans from the output of the can testing apparatus and transferring them to a conveyor system. The air tunnel track interface comprises two parallel substantially U-shaped tracks each having an air chamber, a plurality of air louver jets and diverging ends, and a pair of parallel discharge plates each having diverging cutouts for mating with the diverging ends of the U-shaped tracks.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring rod-shaped articles from the outlet of a magazine for parallel articles into the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor wherein the articles are moved in the direction of their longitudinal axes comprises a rotary drum-shaped conveyor having a peripheral surface provided with axially parallel flutes. When the rotary conveyor is driven, its flutes advance seriatim past the outlet of the magazine to accept discrete articles which are thereupon moved sideways toward alignment with the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor. A pneumatic ejector system is utilized to propel successive articles from their flutes into the pneumatic conveyor. The apparatus employs a hood having a concave surface which is complementary to a portion of the peripheral surface of the rotary conveyor.

Abstract: The thermal insulation blower of the present invention is built around a vertically oriented air lock system. The insulation blower is capable of being configured for high delivery rates suitable for open area blowing and is capable of being reconfigured for lower delivery rates as a through-the-blower system for closed area blowing operations. The insulation blower includes a metering feeder assembly which can be adjusted to control the rate at which a bale of insulation is ripped and fed into the air lock system. The thermal insulation blower of the present invention also includes a bypass system around the air lock which serves to automatically clear impending plugs of insulation material in the delivery hose.

Abstract: A conveying system is disclosed for conveying unstable articles having a neck ring. Unstable articles, such as plastic bottles having a neck ring, or flange, are conveyed in single file along plural paths each of which is established by dual guides vertically spaced from one another a distance just sufficient to receive the neck rings of the articles therebetween, with the articles being urged in the downstream direction along each path by air acting solely on the top portion of the articles above the neck rings.

Abstract: A ball game includes a target area, at least one gun responsive to an operator for firing balls into the target area, and a device for feeding balls in sequence to the gun. This device includes an opening disposed beneath the target area for receiving balls that fall by gravity from the target area, and a turret positioned beneath the opening and having a circumferential array of peripheral openings each sized to receive one of the balls. The turret is rotated about its axis such that balls that fall by gravity onto the turret are urged by centrifugal force toward the peripheral openings. An accelerator has a ball inlet disposed beneath the turret at a position for alignment with each of the peripheral openings in sequence as the turret rotates, and an air inlet connected to a source of air under pressure.

Abstract: A powder sprayer having a housing for containing a quantity of powder, a rotatable roller for metering the discharge of powder from the housing, a powder supply hopper remote from the housing, first and second conduits connecting the powder supply and housing, and a selectively operable regenerative type blower disposed in one of the conduits. The first and second conduits, blower, housing, and supply hopper define a closed loop through which air and powder may be circulated with relatively low-pressure, high air-flow operation for reliably transferring powder from the supply hopper to the housing without the tendency for clogging. In one embodiment, the supply hopper has an associated mixing chamber within which powder is pneumatically agitated for creating a relatively rich, substantially constant air-powder mixture for direction to the sprayer housing.

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: An apparatus and a method are provided for producing a solid particulate aerosol which is sufficiently precise in concentration to be suitable for testing HEPA filters. The apparatus continuously delivers a measured quantity of a solid particulate material to a mixer where it is combined with a controlled flow of gas. The solid particulate material is delivered to the mixer in precisely measured quantities via pockets of constant volume which are disposed radially and equidistantly about a rotating wheel.

Abstract: An inorganic hydraulic material composition containing reinforcing short fibers is sprayed without breakage thereof, by fluidizing reinforcing short fibers in a blast of compressed air, by blending the flow of the reinforced short fibers fluidized in the blast of compressed air with a dry mixture of an inorganic hydraulic material such as cement with an aggregate such as sand in a dry blending region, by introducing the resultant dry blend into a water-mixing region, by mixing the dry blend with water, and by spraying the resultant wet composition through a spray nozzle.

Abstract: In a rotary valve assembly including a housing having a valve chamber and a removable cover member defining an end wall of the chamber, a drive shaft journaled in the housing and having an end portion projecting into the valve chamber and a rotary valve disposed in the valve chamber and slidably mounted on the drive shaft end portion whereby the rotary valve may be removed from the housing by removing the cover member and sliding the rotary valve off of the drive shaft end portion and passing it through the opening provided by the removal of the cover member, means for detachably securing the rotary valve on the drive shaft end portion generally consisting of the drive shaft having an opening therein, the rotary valve having an opening therein registrable with the drive shaft opening, a pin inserted in the rotary valve and drive shaft openings when the openings are in registry, and cooperative means disposed on the pin and one of the drive shaft and the rotary valve for yieldably retaining the pin in the open

Abstract: A feeder is disclosed for introducing slug of a particulate material into a gas stream. The feeder is characterized by a valve member positioned in a housing and movable from a first position to a second position and from a second position to a third position. A first passsage through the valve member connects to an inlet port of the housing when the valve member is in first position. The first passage connects the second inlet port to the outlet port when the valve member is in the second position. A second passage through the valve member which is isolated from the first inlet port throughout operation connects the second inlet port to the outlet port when the valve member is in third position. In a preferred embodiment, the rotor of a rotary feeder is provided with alternating bores and channels parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor circumferentially spaced apart inwardly from the surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A metering apparatus for introducing free-flowing, powdered substances in a controlled manner into spaces under pressure consists of a storing unit,a proportioning unit consisting of a shaft which is sealed in a housing with the aid of sealing rings and glands, can be rotated alternately through 180.degree.

Abstract: Apparatus for metering and dispensing seeds from a liquid or gel suspension of seeds includes a rotor having a plurality of orifices disposed within concave-shaped recesses about the peripheral surface of the rotor, each recess communicating with a bore of the rotor by a passageway. The rotor is supported within a recess in a housing by a stationary pintle having circumferentially extending grooves which are aligned with the radial passageways in the rotor, the grooves being connected to a pressure source and to a suction source so as to enable a suction to be applied to orifices located at a first region of the housing and a pressure to be applied to orifices located at a second region of the housing. The orifices located at the first region are exposed to the seed suspension, and the suction causes a seed from the suspension to be drawn to and held on the peripheral surface.

Abstract: A pnuematic distributing apparatus for seed or other ground receiving particles which has a mobile framework attached to or powered by a vehicle. A large capacity substantially sealed seed bin is disposed on the framework and feeds grain and/or fertilizer into a metering mechanism which deposits seed into a plurality of seed channels which intersect with corresponding pressurized air flow conduits which direct the seeds into outlet tubes adjacent ground furrow openers and deposit the seed into the furrows. Means are provided to block seed channels for selected seeding patterns.

Abstract: An agricultural particulate feeder controls the rate of particulate distribution to a surface being worked. The particlate feeder comprises a hopper with a sliding door over a discharge outlet at a lower end of the hopper. A frame supports the particulate feeder and has an elongated tube extending longitudinally under the discharge outlet of the hopper, the tube forming an element of the frame. A particulate metering cylinder is positioned between the outlet and door of the hopper and a particulate inlet in the elongated tube and is rotatably mounted on a drive shaft. A housing encases the cylinder and forms an enclosure connecting the hopper outlet and the tube inlet. One side of the housing is removable to allow lateral access to the metering cylinder inside the housing. In addition, longitudinal removal of the drive shaft permits lateral removal of the metering cylinder from the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seeding machine of the pneumatic ejection type. The seeding machine includes an apertured distributor disk 2 which rotates past a suction chamber 3 terminating in an end wall 4, and an ejector venturi 1 is juxtaposed to the side of disk 2 opposite to chamber 3, neck 7 of said venturi being located in line with the end of said chamber and having an inlet port 8 which straddles the path of travel 5 of the suction apertures in disk 2. The machine has an application to the sowing of light seeds such as vegetable seeds.

Abstract: The metering cup assembly is disclosed for use in combination with a pneumatic seeding or fertilizing device. The assembly includes a casing which is secured to the underside of a hopper carrying seed, fertilizing or other granular material and the assembly is connected into a conduit in the pneumatic system. A metering component is journalled for rotation in the casing and provides a metering passageway for seed or other granular material therefrom the hopper into the pneumatic passageway. The metering device is adjustable to control the quantity of the material being transferred from the hopper into the conduit.

Abstract: A rotary feeder for injecting solid particles into a pressurized fluid system is described. The system includes a hopper for receiving particles and a device for transporting the particles from the hopper to a feeder roller. The cylindrical feeder roller includes a plurality of recessed troughs that are positioned at an angle from the axis of the cylindrical roller. Particles are transported from the hopper to the recessed troughs of the feeder roller and are subsequently fed into a venturi section of a solid-liquid slurry pipe system. The rotary feeder for injecting solid particles into a pressurized fluid system is compact in size so as to be readily employed within a mine tunnel.