Patent US3554406A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3554406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rotary apparatus for feeding granular material into an evacuated receiver
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
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Filing: 1968-10-21
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method of controlling the flow rate of granular material into a receiver. The apparatus departs from the conventional paddle-type of apparatus for regulating flow. Instead, a rotating wheel with recesses is employed, whereby material falls from a hopper into the recesses of the wheel, one recess at a time, and is carried by these recesses to a discharge position above the material receiver. Means are provided for counting the number of recesses discharging material into the receiver, and according to the method, an operator noting the rate of such discharging can increase or decrease the speed of the wheel. A vacuumtight chamber may be provided for housing the wheel, so that the apparatus can be used to feed material into an evacuated vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 William K Kleysteuber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:58
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27D; F27D3/00; F27D3/0025; F27D3/0032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for feeding granular material into an evacuated receiver, said apparatus comprising: a base; a material storage hopper mounted on said base and having a discharge opening; a gastight cover on said hopper; a wheel rotatably mounted on said base, said wheel having a recess which communicates with said discharge opening at a first position or rotation of said wheel, and with said receiver at a second position of rotation of said wheel; a gastight chamber on said base housing said wheel and having substantially gastight connections with said hopper and said receiver; means connected with said wheel for rotating it; and means mounted on said base and engaging said wheel for holding material in said recess as said recess moves from a position communicating with said discharge opening to a position communicating with said receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for feeding granular material into an evacuated receiver, said apparatus comprising: a base; a material storage hopper mounted on said base and having a discharge opening; a gastight cover on said hopper; a wheel rotatably mounted on said base, said wheel having a recess which communicates with said discharge opening at a first position or rotation of said wheel, and with said receiver at a second position of rotation of said wheel; a gastight chamber on said base housing said wheel and having substantially gastight connections with said hopper and said receiver; means connected with said wheel for rotating it; and means mounted on said base and engaging said wheel for holding material in said recess as said recess moves from a position communicating with said discharge opening to a position communicating with said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wheel has a plurality of recesses, and the apparatus includes means connected to said wheel for recording each passage of each of said recesses through said second position in the rotation of said wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said wheel is adjustable to change the speed of the wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said wheel is rotatably mounted above a vertical axis and has a top side and a bottom side; the recess of said wheel is a hole extending from the top side to the bottom side of said wheel, said hole being in communication at the top side of said wheel with said discharge opening in said hopper when said wheel is at said first position in its rotation, said hole being in communication at the bottom side of said wheel with said receiver when said wheel is at said second position in its rotation; and said means engaging said wheel is a platform mounted on said base beneath the path described by said hole at the bottom side of said wheel when said wheel passes from said first position to said second position in its rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said wheel has more than one recess as described, and the apparatus includes means connected to said wheel for recording each passage of each of said recess through said second position in the rotation of said wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for rotating said wheel is adjustable to change the speed of the wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus of claim 1, including, means connected to said wheel for recording each passage of said recess through said second position in the rotation of said wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said means for rotating said wheel is adjustable to change the speed of the wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |