Abstract: A method and apparatus that reduce release of dust generated during rotary dumping of rail cars in a dumping facility. The method includes removing dust laden air from a space bounded by a backside airflow diverter, a rotational frame, a first baffle and a second baffle while the rotational frame is rotating with a rail car by drawing the dust laden air through a secondary air intake that passes through the backside airflow diverter into a backside hood. A dust control apparatus includes a diverter, overlying a backside hood having a concave curved upper surface; and at least one secondary air intake positioned to pass through the diverter being located approximately where pressure in the backside hood remains neutral or negative relative to a pressure even there is a transient increase in air pressure in a lower portion of the backside hood.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that reduce release of dust generated during rotary dumping of rail cars in a dumping facility. The method includes removing dust laden air from a space bounded by a backside airflow diverter, a rotational frame, a first baffle and a second baffle while the rotational frame is rotating with a rail car by drawing the dust laden air through a secondary air intake that passes through the backside airflow diverter into a backside hood. A dust control apparatus includes a diverter, overlying a backside hood having a concave curved upper surface; and at least one secondary air intake positioned to pass through the diverter being located approximately where pressure in the backside hood remains neutral or negative relative to a pressure even there is a transient increase in air pressure in a lower portion of the backside hood.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotary rail car dumper includes a rotational frame supporting at least one baffle. The rotational frame is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion of the rotational frame between an upright position wherein the entire load is in the rail car and a dumping position wherein the load can exit the rail car. A backside airflow diverter is located beneath the rotational frame and includes a curved upper surface. A lower margin of the at least one baffle contacts the curved upper surface during at least part of the rotational motion of the rotational frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that reduce release of dust generated during rotary dumping of rail cars in a dumping facility. The method includes removing dust laden air from a space bounded by a backside airflow diverter, a rotational frame, a first baffle and a second baffle while the rotational frame is rotating with a rail car by drawing the dust laden air through a secondary air intake that passes through the backside airflow diverter into a backside hood. A dust control apparatus includes a diverter, overlying a backside hood having a concave curved upper surface; and at least one secondary air intake positioned to pass through the diverter being located approximately where pressure in the backside hood remains neutral or negative relative to a pressure even there is a transient increase in air pressure in a lower portion of the backside hood.

Abstract: Granular material flows out through the discharge opening of a silo and through a sealed housing to a target location. A vent opening in a top portion of the silo has a vent cover operative to selectively open and close the vent opening. When the vent cover is closed, air movement into an upper portion of the silo is prevented. A gate is operative to control a flow of granular material through the discharge opening. A vacuum conduit has a lower input end thereof connected to an interior of the housing, and an upper output end thereof located in an upper portion of an interior of the silo. Material flowing out of the silo creates a vacuum drawing dust from the housing up the vacuum conduit into the silo.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing airborne proppant adjacent a fracking material handling system. In some embodiments, a proppant storage chamber is configured to store a volume of proppant. A blow-in adapter mates with a first port of the chamber to facilitate a flow of proppant into the chamber at an inlet pressure. A filter assembly covers and filter a first aperture of the chamber to reduce an emission of airborne proppant during the transfer of the proppant into the proppant storage chamber. A vacuum adapter mates with a second port of the chamber to supply a negative pressure to the chamber during the filling process to maintain an internal pressure within the chamber below a predetermined pressure threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that reduce release of dust generated during rotary dumping of rail cars in a dumping facility. The method includes removing dust laden air from a space bounded by a backside airflow diverter, a rotational frame, a first baffle and a second baffle while the rotational frame is rotating with a rail car by drawing the dust laden air through a secondary air intake that passes through the backside airflow diverter into a backside hood. A dust control apparatus includes a diverter, overlying a backside hood having a concave curved upper surface; and at least one secondary air intake positioned to pass through the diverter being located approximately where pressure in the backside hood remains neutral or negative relative to a pressure even there is a transient increase in air pressure in a lower portion of the backside hood.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotary rail car dumper includes a rotational frame supporting at least one baffle. The rotational frame is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion of the rotational frame between an upright position wherein the entire load is in the rail car and a dumping position wherein the load can exit the rail car. A backside airflow diverter is located beneath the rotational frame and includes a curved upper surface. A lower margin of the at least one baffle contacts the curved upper surface during at least part of the rotational motion of the rotational frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing airborne proppant adjacent a fracking material handling system. In some embodiments, a proppant reduction cover is mounted over a first aperture of a proppant storage chamber and has a permeable filter material adapted to facilitate a first flow of displaced air therethrough as proppant is loaded into the chamber. A vent sock is mounted over a second aperture of the chamber and has a permeable filter material facilitate a second flow of displaced air therethrough during the loading of the proppant. A vacuum adapter is mounted over a third aperture of the chamber to apply a negative pressure to an interior of the proppant storage chamber during said loading of the proppant.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotary rail car dumper includes a rotational frame supporting at least one baffle. The rotational frame is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion of the rotational frame between an upright position wherein the entire load is in the rail car and a dumping position wherein the load can exit the rail car. A backside airflow diverter is located beneath the rotational frame and includes a curved upper surface. A lower margin of the at least one baffle contacts the curved upper surface during at least part of the rotational motion of the rotational frame. A backside hood is located beneath the backside airflow diverter on the back side of the pit.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveying process transports plastic pellets from a manufacturing source to a bulk silo for storage before being delivered to the ultimate production utilization of the plastic pellets. Multiple types or multiple sources of plastic pellets can be fed through a common pneumatic conveying conduit to respective bulk silos for temporary storage with diverter valves being utilized to direct product into and out of the common conveying conduit. Expanded elbow fittings are deployed at each directional change in the conveying lines to eliminate the creation of streamers at conduit bends. The plastic pellets are conveyed at a medium velocity between dense and dilute phases to provide a gentle conveying operation. A closed loop air supply system is used for dedusting devices providing a final removal of dust and debris from the stored product before being delivered to the ultimate utilization facility.

Abstract: A system and method for loading material from a converter bed, such as that in a converter of an acid plant, is provided. The system, may include a vacuum source; a dust collector connected to the vacuum source by a first vacuum hose; a cyclone operatively connected to the vacuum source through the dust collector, wherein the cyclone may be connected to the dust collector by a second vacuum hose; a drop-out hopper operatively attached to the cyclone by a valve, such as an air actuated valve, wherein the drop-out hopper includes a first feed hose; and one or more material storage containers operatively associated with the cyclone via a second feed hose. The method of loading material into a converter bed may include providing a system for loading the material in the converter bed; setting up the system; and loading the material into the converter bed.

Abstract: A conveyor (10) for transporting powder from an inlet point (14) to at least one discharge point (20) comprises a fluidized bed transport space (12) and a fluidization gas supply space (16), the fluidized bed transport space (12) being separated from the fluidization gas supply space (16) by a gas permeable wall (18); a gas outlet (22) for removing fluidization gas from the transport duct (12); means (24) for separating dust from the removed fluidization gas; and means (26) for returning the separated dust to the powder proximate the discharge point (20). In a preferred embodiment, the separated fines dust is returned to, and homogenized into, the powder in a lower portion of a cyclone, which is located at the discharge point.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotary rail car dumper includes a rotational frame supporting at least one baffle. The rotational frame is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion of the rotational frame between an upright position wherein the entire load is in the rail car and a dumping position wherein the load can exit the rail car. A backside airflow diverter is located beneath the rotational frame and includes a curved upper surface. A lower margin of the at least one baffle contacts the curved upper surface during at least part of the rotational motion of the rotational frame. A backside hood is located beneath the backside airflow diverter on the back side of the pit.

Abstract: A device for removing dust from pharmaceutical tablets or capsules, comprising a dust removal column with a first ramp for controlled conveying in a helical shape; the first ramp is composed of a conveying conduit which has walls leak-light wiih respect to the tablets or capsules and which comprises an inlet in the lower part of the column and an outlet in the upper part of the column, this column comprising a chamber which aspirates dust from tablets or capsules and which has walls that are leak-tight with respect to the conveyed tablets or capsules, a passage for aspiration of dust from tablets or capsules is provided, and the whole assembly formed by the conveying conduit and the aspiration chamber is configured such that the column is leak-tight with respect to the dust from the tablets or capsules.

Abstract: A system and method for mitigating dust migration at a wellsite is described. An oilfield material reservoir is provided for receiving oilfield material, the oilfield material reservoir having an enclosure. A dust collector is provided for collecting dust generated at the oilfield material reservoir, and a duct in communication with the enclosure and the dust collector is provided for transferring dust generated at the oilfield material reservoir to the dust collector.

Abstract: The substrate storage pod includes a pod case which includes a hollow inner space for storing a substrate, and an opening; a lid member which is capable of sealing the opening; an exhaust port for exhausting a replacement gas in the hollow inner space of the pod case; and an exhaust space which is defined in the hollow inner space so as to communicate to the exhaust port. The exhaust space is defined in the hollow inner space by a multi-hole partition member including multiple holes and by an inner surface of the pod case. In the substrate storage pod, back pressure on an exhaust side can be lowered, and hence dust in the pod can be collected to the exhaust side.

Abstract: The present invention is about a conveyor plant for pyrites, other foreign materials like metal parts and occasionally ground solid fossil fuel, coming from the grinding mills of the solid fossil fuel, substantially comprising an open or enclosed metal container (1) inside which a metal conveyor belt (6) is disposed. The conveyor receives the material to be conveyed from the pyrites storage tanks (2) of each mill, through interception valves (3) and vibrating feeders (4) or directly from gravity discharge channels. Any spontaneous ignition of the conveyed material is controlled by a putting out system with water nozzles (17) or inert gas or steam admission nozzles (18) according to the plant configurations. The pyrites and the ground solid fossil fuel are collected in a stockage silo (16), it too provided with an inert gas or steam putting out system. For the storage tanks (2) a gas or steam inertization system is provided as well.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing dust emissions from particulate commodities such as wheat or coal using a curved loading spoon connected to the discharge from a loading spout. The curved loading spoon turns particulate commodities delivered at a rate above a predetermined delivery velocity against a curved outer wall causing dust arising from the particulate commodities to be re-entrained within the commodities as they are diverted from a straight path by the curvature. Also described are an optional flap designed to rest just above the surface of the commodities stream adjacent the outlet, and a converging duct located upstream of the curve loading spoon and arranged to direct commodities against the curved outer wall adjacent the inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotational frame is disposed at least partially in the pit, is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion. A backside airflow diverter is disposed within the pit along with a backside hood for removing contaminated air. At least one baffle contacts the upper surface of the backside airflow diverter during at least a portion of the rotational motion. The invention includes an end of hood close off panel extending substantially from a platen supporting wall to the backside air flow diverter or an end ring baffle that extends from a grizzly upwardly to approximately the perimeter of a supporting ring and from the backside airflow diverter toward a dump side of the pit whereby dust laden air is substantially prevented from escaping from the pit under the end ring baffle.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotational frame is disposed at least partially in the pit, is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion. A backside airflow diverter is disposed within the pit along with a backside hood for removing contaminated air. At least one baffle contacts the upper surface of the backside airflow diverter during at least a portion of the rotational motion. The invention includes an end of hood close off panel extending substantially from a platen supporting wall to the backside air flow diverter or an end ring baffle that extends from a grizzly upwardly to approximately the perimeter of a supporting ring and from the backside airflow diverter toward a dump side of the pit whereby dust laden air is substantially prevented from escaping from the pit under the end ring baffle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling dust generated by the rotary dumping of rail cars may include one or more baffles of a rotary dump frame to seal a portion of the material receiving pit during a portion of the rotary motion. The dust cloud generated by this dumping is retained in the pit for an increased time due to tumbling of the cloud induced by the baffles and other features of the facility. A plurality of intake ducts removes the dust cloud from the pit for transfer to a remote filtering facility.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a backside airflow diverter, a backside hood for removing contaminated air from the back side of the pit and at least two baffles on a rotational frame, the baffles each presenting a leading edge that contacts the backside airflow diverter during at least a portion of rotational motion. At least one air intake is positioned to pass through the upper surface of the backside diverter into the backside hood at a location where pressure in the backside hood is maintained at a substantially neutral or negative level even when pressure in the material receiving pit is increased by a down rush of air caused by the exit of the load from the railcar.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to easily and securely perform the removal operation of contaminant or the like from a wafer housed in a FOUP. To achieve the object, a purging apparatus of the present invention removes contaminant or the like from a wafer by moving a gas supply nozzle along a direction in which wafers are superimposed at the front of an opening while a lid of the FOUP is separated from a body and spraying clean gas on each wafer from the gas supply nozzle.

Abstract: An agitator loading system for loading mixture ingredients, the system includes a loading bay, a delivery chute for delivering mixture ingredients from a storage area, and a dust containment apparatus for minimizing the dust dispersion during agitator loading. A method for loading an agitator from an agitator loading system is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling dust generated by the rotary dumping of rail cars may include one or more flexible baffles provided to the back-side of a rotary dump frame to seal a portion of the material receiving pit during a portion of the rotary motion. The dust cloud generated by this dumping is retained in the pit for an increased time due to tumbling of the cloud induced by the baffles and other features of the facility. A plurality of intake ducts removes the dust cloud from the pit for transfer to a remote filtering facility.

Abstract: A receiving pit has a grid covering an uppermost opening through which grain or other material is deposited into the pit. The grid including a series of generally parallel and spaced bars and a dust control device according to this invention includes a number of flights each adapted to be positioned beneath the grid. The dust control device includes a number of generally vertically extending bulkheads each adapted to be positioned beneath the grid and juxtaposed to a free end of one of the flights to thereby inhibit the escape of dust from the receiving pit. Each flight includes a series of blades capable of independently deflecting in response to an amount of material deposited through the grid and onto the blade. The dust control device also includes a release mechanism coupled to each of the flights to manually deflect at least selected blades and allow material remaining atop the blade to fall into the receiving pit.

Abstract: A gas conduit for a load lock chamber. The gas conduit connects to a gas source to introduce gas from the gas source into the load lock chamber of semiconductor equipment. The structure includes a filter mounted on the top surface of the load lock chamber, a pressure limitative device to maintain a preset pressure of gas source, and a gas inlet device including an inlet end connected to the pressure limitative device and an outlet end connected to the filter, wherein the gas inlet device introduces gas from the gas source into the load lock chamber with its maximum flow rate when breaching the vacuum therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling dust generated by the rotary dumping or rail cars may include one or more flexible baffles are provided to the back-side of a rotary dump frame to seal a portion of the material receiving pit during a portion of the rotary motion. The dust cloud generated by this dumping is retained in the pit for an increased time due to tumbling of the cloud induced by the baffles and other features of the facility. A plurality of intake ducts removes the dust cloud from the pit for transfer to a remote filtering facility.

Abstract: A Dustless Stacker hood for suppressing dust generated during the stockpiling of materials such as coal. The Dustless Stacker hood receives coal from overhead chute; the received coal falls through Dustless Stacker hood to the top of a stockpile, and the Dustless Stacker hood confines dust inside Dustless Stacker hood. The dust-laden air swirls within the Dustless Stacker hood through a recirculation pipe and back to the overhead chute to enhance an agglomeration process which causes the dust particles stick together and fall to the top of stockpile.

Abstract: A material loading skirt system for reducing contamination of material during loading. The material loading skirt system includes a tubular skirt having a narrow end and a broad end, a first elastic band is attached to the broad end of the tubular skirt, and a second elastic band is attached to the narrow end of the tubular skirt. The narrow end of the tubular skirt is snugly attachable about a loading tube and the broad end of the tubular skirt is snugly attachable about a container hatch. The tubular skirt has a tapered structure from the broad end to the narrow end.

Abstract: A granular semiconductor material transport system capable of continuous, non-contaminating transfer of granular semiconductor material from a large source vessel to a smaller and more manageable target vessel. Movement of the granular material is induced by flowing transfer fluid. The system includes a source vessel, a feed tube, a process vessel, a target vessel and a vacuum source, or mover. The source vessel contains a bulk supply of granular material to be transported. A feed tube received within the source vessel transfers the granular material entrained in a transfer fluid from the source vessel to the process vessel. The process vessel separates the granular material from any dust particles and deposits the granular material in the more manageable target vessel. The vacuum source sealably connects to the process vessel to evacuate the process vessel to set the granular polysilicon in motion within the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preventing a wafer mapping system of an SMIF system from being polluted by a corrosive gas remaining on wafers according to the present invention are disclosed. The wafer mapping system includes a plurality of mirrors and sensors used to detect the positions of the wafers. The apparatus of the prevent invention comprises a pipe having a plurality of holes thereon and a purge gas flowing inside the pipe, and is characterized in that the purge gas is emitted out from the plurality of holes toward the mirrors of the wafer mapping system, thereby preventing the mirrors from being polluted by the corrosive gas remaining on the wafers. The method of the prevent invention is characterized by emitting a purge gas from a pipe toward the mirrors of the wafer mapping system, thereby preventing the mirrors from being polluted by the corrosive gas remaining on the wafers.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support, a guide member defining a passageway providing a circuitous path, having a base section supported on the support and a section cantilevered relative to the support; at least two sprockets disposed in such passageway and rotatably supported on the guide member, one of such sprockets being disposed in the cantilevered section of the guide member and having a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation; a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed in the passageway along the circuitous path and reeved around the sprockets, and a plurality of discs spaced along such rope, and a motor for driving one of the sprockets, wherein the guide member includes a inlet communicating with the passageway for feeding material therein and a discharge outlet communicating with the passageway about a portion of the periphery of the one socket.

Abstract: An elevated inverted cone product storage hopper having an enclosed volume with a central opening at the bottom. A dust-free transfer system removes and delivers stored product from the storage hopper through a hopper unloader. The unloader has a converging frustoconical transition body which continues from the inverted cone toward a bottom discharge port. An elongated delivery auger system coupled to the unloader comprises an elongated horizontal barrel having a delivery screw for rotation about its axis for moving product to a product delivery opening. A flexible enclosed delivery tube is coupled to the delivery opening, with the delivery tube having a compliant exterior shell for accommodating free axial length adjustment thereof. The hopper and the delivery auger are rotatable for positioning the auger barrel and enclosed delivery tube radially relative to the storage hopper.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support, a guide member defining a passageway providing a circuitous path, having a base section supported on the support and a section cantilevered relative to the support; at least two sprockets disposed in such passageway and rotatably supported on the guide member, one of such sprockets being disposed in the cantilevered section of the guide member and having a substantially vertically disposed axis of rotation; a rope assembly including an endless rope disposed in the passageway along the circuitous path and reeved around the sprockets, and a plurality of discs spaced along such rope, and a motor for driving one of the sprockets, wherein the guide member includes a inlet communicating with the passageway for feeding material therein and a discharge outlet communicating with the passageway about a portion of the periphery of the one socket.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying bulk material generally consisting of a support and a guide means defining a passageway. The passageway has a vertical section and a horizontal section cantilevered to the vertical section. A endless rope assembly passes around the passageway. Disc are displaced along the rope to catch and transfer bulk material along the passageway. The bulk material is injected into the passageway at the lower end of the vertical section and is ejected at the end of the horizontal section. A motor drives sprockets located at the ends of the passageway and at the cantilevered portion. Such guide means may consist of a single passageway or a pair of passageways of differing lengths, and such support may be movable on wheels.

Abstract: The system and method for molecular contamination control permits purging a SMIF pod to desired levels of relative humidity, oxygen, or particulates. The SMIF pod includes an inlet port including a check valve and filter assembly for supplying a clean, dry gaseous working fluid to maintain low levels of moisture, oxygen, and particulate content around materials contained in the SMIF pod. The SMIF pod outlet port, which also includes a check valve and filter assembly, is connected with an evacuation system. Flow of purge gas inside the SMIF pod can be directed with one or more nozzle towers to encourage laminar flow inside the pod, and one or more outlet towers., having a function similar to that of the inlet tower, may also be provided. The purge gas can be dried by exposure to a desiccant, heated to temperatures between about 100° C. and about 120° C., and can be tested for baseline constituent levels prior to or after introduction into a SMIF pod.

Abstract: Modular cartridges which may be inserted into and removed from a well or receptacle on the bottom of a pod. The cartridges may be configured to include various types and combinations of valves, filters, and/or conditioning agents. A standalone cartridge replacement station may be provided for inserting and removing various cartridges from one or more of the receptacles on the bottom of a pod while wafers are seated within the pod. The standalone replacement unit may decouple an existing cartridge from the pod by rotating the cartridge from a locked to an unlocked position and then lowering the cartridge out of the pod. Thereafter, the replacement station may insert a new cartridge up into the appropriate receptacle and rotate the cartridge into a locked position in the pod.

Abstract: A drum charging system (100) is disclosed, for alleviating ergonomic concerns and chemical exposure hazards associated with the manual addition of solid materials from drums into processing equipment. The drum charging system (100) is adapted to be utilized with drum containers (102) having solid materials contained within a material bag (104). The system (100) comprises a ventilation sleeve (110) and a drum manipulator (200). The ventilation sleeve (110) captures dust which may be generated during the addition of solid materials from the drum (102) and material bag (104) into a reaction vessel (106). The drum manipulator (200) is adapted to be portable and facilitates manipulation of drums during charging functions.

Abstract: The system and method for molecular contamination control permits purging a SMIF pod to desired levels of relative humidity, oxygen, or particulates. The SMIF pod includes an inlet port including a check valve and filter assembly for supplying a clean, dry gaseous working fluid to maintain low levels of moisture, oxygen, and particulate content around materials contained in the SMIF pod. The SMIF pod outlet port, which also includes a check valve and filter assembly, is connected with an evacuation system. Flow of purge gas inside the SMIF pod can be directed with one or more nozzle towers to encourage laminar flow inside the pod, and one or more outlet towers,, having a function similar to that of the inlet tower, may also be provided. The purge gas can be dried by exposure to a desiccant, heated to temperatures between about 100° C. and about 120° C., and can be tested for baseline constituent levels prior to or after introduction into a SMIF pod.

Abstract: A dust retention system for locating above a product vessel includes a support member mounted above the product vessel, a door including an engaging portion detachably connected to the support member and an adjustment device for adjusting the angle of the door with respect to the support member. The door includes a striking portion adjacent the engaging portion with at least a section of the striking portion being constructed of a resiliently flexible material. Product falling onto the striking portion causes the resiliently flexible material of the striking portion to be deflected by the weight of the product, thereby forcing the door from a closed position, where dust is prohibited from escaping the product vessel, into an open position where the product passes across the door into the product vessel. Thereafter the door, without the weight of said product, returning to the closed position under a bias force exerted by said resiliently flexible material.

Abstract: A dust collection system includes a frame defining an opening through which a particulate material is inserted; a plurality of hollow supports extending across the opening; at least one plate extending along a length of each of the plurality of hollow supports, each of said plates extending from its respective one of the plurality of hollow supports in a downward direction; a plurality of openings extending along a lower side of each of the plurality of hollow supports; and a device for drawing dust in through the plurality of openings.

Abstract: A bulk bag discharger is disclosed having an inner product tube for receiving the discharge spout on the bottom of the bulk bag, the tube being housed within an outer chamber that traps and retains foreign material and contaminants that could otherwise fall into the clean product zone. The result is discharge of product from within the bulk bag with minimal contamination from the outer bag.

Abstract: A cover of a powder loading device prevents the escape of loose powder when the powder is transferred from a storage container of a plant to a receiving container. A blower inside the cover moves air from the outside, under the cover, a filter, and returns the filtered air to the outside. A backwash device is operated periodically to remove the filtered powder from the filter into the receiving container. The powder is delivered storage container to the receiving container through a retractable loading chute. A powder detection switch within the retractable loading chute determines when the receiving container is full and stops the transfer of powder. The result is a powder loading device which maximizes dust collection and minimizes lost loose powder. The powder loading device adapts to various plant and receiving container sizes.

Abstract: The system and method for molecular contamination control permits purging a SMIF pod to desired levels of relative humidity, oxygen, or particulates. The SMIF pod includes an inlet port including a check valve and filter assembly for supplying a clean, dry gaseous working fluid to maintain low levels of moisture, oxygen, and particulate content around materials contained in the SMIF pod. The SMIF pod outlet port, which also includes a check valve and filter assembly, is connected with an evacuation system. Flow of purge gas inside the SMIF pod can be directed with one or more nozzle towers to encourage laminar flow inside the pod, and one or more outlet towers, having a function similar to that of the inlet tower, may also be provided. The purge gas can be dried by exposure to a desiccant, heated to temperatures between about 100.degree. C. and about 120.degree. C., and can be tested for baseline constituent levels prior to or after introduction into a SMIF pod.

Abstract: Apparatus having a let-down tube for dust free gravity transfer of bulk solids between upper and lower containers. A spool engageable with a discharge opening on the upper container has a lower end for slidably receiving an end of the let-down tube, the other end of which falls into the lower container. As solids flow from the upper to the lower container through the tube, the tube is progressively drawn up over the lower end of the spool, then longitudinally cut into sheets which are separately rolled up. The let-down tube permits transfer of the solids without demixing or aeration.

Abstract: A bulk bag discharger is disclosed having an inner product tube for receiving the discharge spout on the bottom of the bulk bag, the tube being housed within an outer chamber that traps and retains foreign material and contaminants that could otherwise fall into the clean product zone. The result is discharge of product from within the bulk bag with minimal contamination from the outer bag.

Abstract: A mechanism for hindering the escape of grain dust from a grain bin, including baffle units having diagonally extending barrier members and vertically oriented baffle members. First and second sloped side walls of the bin, a cover, and a curtain confine the circulation of dust to portions of the bin remote from the baffle units to thereby hinder the escape of dust from the bin. Metering and dump units can be combined with the baffle units to allow operation of a single grain bin in both the high and low flow rate modes of operation.

Abstract: Modular cartridges which may be inserted into and removed from a well or receptacle on the bottom of a pod. The cartridges may be configured to include various types and combinations of valves, filters, and/or conditioning agents. A standalone cartridge replacement station may be provided for inserting and removing various cartridges from one or more of the receptacles on the bottom of a pod while wafers are seated within the pod. The standalone replacement unit may decouple an existing cartridge from the pod by rotating the cartridge from a locked to an unlocked position and then lowering the cartridge out of the pod. Thereafter, the replacement station may insert a new cartridge up into the appropriate receptacle and rotate the cartridge into a locked position in the pod.