EP0094811A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for conveying different types of material
Assignee: WORLD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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Filing: 1983-05-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-05-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for conveying a plurality of different types of material in a conveying pipe (26) includes a means (6,2,62) for supplying the material to the end of a supply conduit (16), a means (20,22,70) for creating a continuous air flow which includes a low pressure air flow around an entire end of the supply conduit at a predetermined air velocity, a substantially zero velocity thin air boundary around an inside surface of the length of the conveying pipe and a high velocity air flow throughout the remainder of the conveying pipe and a means (62) for introducing the material supplied to the end of the supply conduit into the low pressure air flow whereby the material is conveyed into the high velocity air flow and through the conveying pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy Brent Lovejoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G53/00; B65G53/34; B65G53/40; B65G53/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for conveying a plurality of different types of materials in a conveying pipe comprising: a means for supplying said material to an end of a supply conduit; a means for creating a continuous smooth fluid flow from said supply conduit to an end of said conveying pipe, said fluid flow comprising: a low pressure fluid flow around an entire said end of said supply conduit, said low pressure fluid flow having a predetermined fluid velocity at said end of said supply conduit; a substantially zero velocity, thin, laminar fluid boundary layer around an inside surface of an entire length of said conveying pipe; and a high velocity smooth fluid flow throughout a remainder of said conveying pipe, said high velocity, smooth fluid flow being surrounded by said boundary layer; and a means for introducing said material supplied to said end of said supply conduit into said low pressure fluid flow at a predetermined volumetric ratio of material to fluid and such that said material has a velocity in a direction of a longitudinal axis of said conveying pipe substantially equal to said predetermined fluid velocity of said low pressure fluid flow at said end of said supply conduit whereby said material is mixed with said fluid and conveyed into said high velocity fluid flow through said conveying pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
An apparatus for conveying a plurality of different types of materials in a conveying pipe comprising: a means for supplying said material to an end of a supply conduit; a means for creating a continuous smooth fluid flow from said supply conduit to an end of said conveying pipe, said fluid flow comprising: a low pressure fluid flow around an entire said end of said supply conduit, said low pressure fluid flow having a predetermined fluid velocity at said end of said supply conduit; a substantially zero velocity, thin, laminar fluid boundary layer around an inside surface of an entire length of said conveying pipe; and a high velocity smooth fluid flow throughout a remainder of said conveying pipe, said high velocity, smooth fluid flow being surrounded by said boundary layer; and a means for introducing said material supplied to said end of said supply conduit into said low pressure fluid flow at a predetermined volumetric ratio of material to fluid and such that said material has a velocity in a direction of a longitudinal axis of said conveying pipe substantially equal to said predetermined fluid velocity of said low pressure fluid flow at said end of said supply conduit whereby said material is mixed with said fluid and conveyed into said high velocity fluid flow through said conveying pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said fluid is air.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein said means supplying said material to an end of said supply conduit comprises: a cylindrical constant diameter barrel; an input material hopper provided in said barrel; a constant pitch helical auger provided in said barrel and extending from a point subjacent said hopper to a point adjacent an end of said barrel, a circumference of said auger being spaced at a predetermined distance from an inside surface of said barrel, said auger further including a constant diameter auger shaft which extends substantially the entire length of said barrel; and a means for rotating said auger shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein said means for creating a continuous smooth fluid flow comprises: an air chamber pipe larger in diameter than said barrel and surrounding an end portion of said barrel, said air chamber pipe being closed and coupled to said barrel at one end and communicating with said conveying pipe at another end; and a means for introducing low pressure air into said air chamber pipe such that said air forms said low pressure air flow around said entire end of said supply conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 4, further comprising a baffle provided within said air chamber pipe and slidably coupled to an exterior surface of said barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said means for introducing low pressure air comprises: at least one air supply pipe coupled to and communicating with said air chamber pipe, said air supply pipe being provided at an angle such that said low pressure air introduced into said air chamber pipe hits said closed end and fills a space between said air chamber pipe and said barrel from said closed end to said end of said barrel; and an air pump coupled to said air supply pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said air pump is a displacement type air pump.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein said means for rotating said auger shaft comprises: a motor coupled to one end of said barrel and driving said auger shaft; a bearing cartridge coupled to said motor and inserted into said barrel, said bearing cartridge rotataLly supporting said auger shaft; and an alignment ring provided within said barrel and engaging with an end of said bearing cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein said bearing cartridge comprises: a cylindrical conduit coupled to said motor; a first bearing provided within said cylindrical conduit adjacent said motor; a second bearing for rotatably supporting said auger shaft provided within said cylindrical conduit and adjacent an end of said cylindrical conduit; a light free seal provided between said second bearing and said end of said cylindrical conduit; a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plate surrounding said auger shaft and engaging with said end of said cylindrical conduit; and a flinger plate provided on said auger shaft and rotating together with said auger shaft, said flinger plate pressing said PTFE plate into engagement with said end of said cylindrical conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein a length of said auger shaft from said end of said bearing cartridge to said end of said barrel is one to two times the length of said auger shaft between said first and second bearings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said length of said auger shaft extending from said end of said bearing cartridge to said end of said barrel is 1.5 times the distance between said first and second bearings.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 11, further comprising a barrel cradle and straightener supporting said barrel and coupled to said hopper, said cradle and straightener comprising: a pair of rigid side plates spacedapart a distance substantially equal to an outer diameter of said barrel; and a plurality of rigid gussets extending transversely between said side plates, a top surface of each of said gusset plates lying in a single plane, said gussets engaging with said barrel and straightening said barrel when said hopper is coupled to said cradle and straightener.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, or any one of Claims 9 to 12 as appendant to Claim 8, wherein said bearing cartridge, alignment ring and motor are arranged and configured such that a central axis at an end of said auger shaft is displaced in a direction towards said hopper from a central axis of said barrel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 13, wherein said auger shaft is provided at its end with a beater.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 13, wherein the auger shaft is provided at its end with a shredder.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 15, wherein said predetermined distance that said circumference of said auger is set from the interior surface of said barrel is 1.65 times the average diameter of material to be conveyed.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 13, further comprising a rubber boot having a split end coupled to said end of said barrel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 17, further comprising a feed regulator provided on said hopper.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 18, further comprising a means for setting the place where the material to be conveyed is introduced into the auger.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 13, 16, 18 and 19, further comprising: an air box communicating with said air chamber; a movable flap for closing said end of said barrel; and means provided in said air box for moving said movable flap from a position wherein said movable flap closes said end of said barrel to a position wherein said end of said barrel is completely opened.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6 or any of Claims 7 to 20 as appendant to Claim 6, wherein at least two air supply pipes are coupled to said air chamber pipe and to said air pump.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein said two air supply pipes are provided on opposite sides of said air chamber pipe and oppositely displaced from a central axis of said air chamber pipe.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
190 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein: said means for supplying said material to an end of said supply conduit comprises: a barrel; a variable valve means provided in said barrel to allow material to be conveyed to enter said barrel; an auger having constant pitch auger flights and an auger shaft which extends substantially a length of said barrel; and a means for rotating said auger shaft; and said means for creating an air flow comprises: a first conduit surrounding said barrel and open at both ends, one end for being coupled to said conveying pipe; a second conduit surrounding said first conduit and said barrel, one end of said second conduit being closed and coupled to said barrel; a third conduit surrounding said conveying pipe and coupled to said second conduit; and a means for introducing low pressure air in a space between said third conduit and said conveying pipe, said low pressure air flowing through said space between said conveying pipe and third conduit, through a space formed between said first conduit and said second conduit, and through a space between said barrel and said first conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 23, further comprising at least one anti-swirl bar provided on an inside surface of said barrel adjacent said auger.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus according to Claim 23 or 24, wherein said means for rotating said auger shaft comprises: a motor coupled to one end of said barrel and driving said auger shaft; a bearing cartridge coupled to said motor and inserted into said barrel, said bearing cartridge rotatably supporting said auger shaft; and an alignment ring provided within said barrel and engaging with an end of said bearing cartridge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
114 words
An apparatus according to Claim 25, wherein said bearing cartridge comprises: a cylindrical conduit coupled to said motor; a first bearing provided within said cylindrical conduit adjacent said motor; a second bearing for rotatably supporting said auger shaft provided within said cylindrical conduit and adjacent an end of said cylindrical conduit; a light free seal provided between said bearing and said end of said cylindrical conduit; a PTFE plate surrounding said auger shaft and engaging with said end of said cylindrical conduit; and a flinger plate provided on said auger shaft and rotating together with said auger shaft, said flinger plate pressing said PTFE plate into engagement with said end of said cylindrical conduit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
175 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein: said means for supplying said material comprises: a barrel of constant diameter; an auger provided within said barrel, said auger being provided with an auger shaft; a means for rotating said auger shaft; a first conduit intersecting said barrel and communicating with an interior of said barrel, said first conduit for being coupled to said conveying pipe; a variable air valve provided in said first conduit; and a deflector provided in said barrel, adjacent intersection of said first conduit with said barrel, said deflector for deflecting material being conveyed in said barrel into said first conduit; and said means for creating a continuous air flow comprises: a second conduit intersecting said barrel and surrounding said first conduit, said second conduit being closed at one end and being sealed to said first conduit at another end; a valve means provided in said closed end of said second conduit; and air slots provided in said barrel whereby an interior of said barrel communicates with an interior of said second conduit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 27, wherein said means for creating said air flow further comprises a means for supplying air coupled to said second conduit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 27, wherein said means for creating an air flow comprises a vacuum pump coupled to said conveying pipe.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for conveying a plurality of different types of materials in a conveying pipe comprising: supplying a material to be conveyed to an end of a supply conduit; creating a low pressure air flow around an entire end of said supply conduit, said low pressure air flow having a predetermined air velocity at said end of said supply conduit; creating a substantially zero velocity, thin, laminar air boundary layer around an inside surface of ar entire length of said conveying pipe; creating a smooth high velocity air flow throughout a remainder of said conveying pipe, said high velocity air flow being surrounded by said boundary layer; and introducing said material to be conveyed into said low pressure air flow at a predetermined volumetric ratio of material to air and at a predetermined velocity substantially equal to said predetermined velocity of said low pressure air flow at said end of said supply conduit whereby said material to be conveyed is mixed with said low pressure air and conveyed into said high velocity air flow and through said conveying pipe.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for conveying a plurality of different types of materials in a conveying pipe comprising: supplying a material to be conveyed to an end of a supply conduit; creating a low pressure air flow around an entire end of said supply conduit, said low pressure air flow having a predetermined air velocity at said end of said supply conduit; creating a substantially zero velocity, thin, laminar air boundary layer around an inside surface of ar entire length of said conveying pipe; creating a smooth high velocity air flow throughout a remainder of said conveying pipe, said high velocity air flow being surrounded by said boundary layer; and introducing said material to be conveyed into said low pressure air flow at a predetermined volumetric ratio of material to air and at a predetermined velocity substantially equal to said predetermined velocity of said low pressure air flow at said end of said supply conduit whereby said material to be conveyed is mixed with said low pressure air and conveyed into said high velocity air flow and through said conveying pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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