Apparatus for weighing materials in the course of pneumatic handling

Claim 1

IN AN INSTALLATION FOR THE WEIGHING OF MATERIALS DURING THE COURSE OF PNEUMATIC HANDLING THEREOF, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CYCLONE SEPARATORS, A PLURALITY OF WEIGHING HOPPERS DISPOSED BENEATH THE CORRESPONDING CYCLONE SEPARATORS, A SUPPLY CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID CYCLONE SEPARATORS FOR SUPPLYING THE MATERIAL THERETO, AN AIR PUMP, EACH OF SAID CYCLONE SEPARATORS HAVING AN AXIAL FLUE PIPE CONNECTED TO THE SUCTION SIDE OF SAID AIR PUMP, SAID SUPPLY CONDUIT COMPRISING A DIVERTED VALVE FOR CONDUCTING SAID SUPPLY CONDUIT TO EACH OF SAID CYCLONE SEPARATORS IN TURN, EACH OF SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS COMPRISING A SHUT OFF VALVE AT THE LOWER END THEREOF FOR RETAINING THE MATERIAL THEREIN SO THAT IT MAY BE WEIGHED, A WEIGHING DEVICE CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS, AN OUTER CASING MOUNTED AROUND SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS AND ENCLOSING SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS AND SAID CYCLONE SEPARATORS FOR RECEIVING THE WEIGHED MATERIAL FROM SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS, A DELIVERY CONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE PRESSURE SIDE OF SAID AIR PUMP, MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF SAID OUTER CASING AND SAID DELIVERY CONDUIT FOR FEEDING THE MATERIAL FROM SAID CASING INTO SAID DELIVERY CONDUIT, SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID OUTER CASING AND SAID CYCLONE SEPARATORS BEING MAINTAINED AT A SUBATOMSPHERIC PRESSURE BY THE SUCTION DEVELOPED BY SAID AIR PUMP, SAID WEIGHING HOPPERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE FILLED IN TURN AND EMPTIED IN TURN TO THAT ONE HOPPER IS BEING FILLED WHILE ANOTHER IS BEING EMPTIED.