Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A material-handling apparatus comprising a compressed air reservoir having upper and lower ends interconnected by a cylindrical wall, means for admitting compressed air to said air reservoir, a material supply vessel having upper and lower ends and disposed inside the reservoir in spaced relation to said cylindrical wall, the upper end of the material supply vessel connected to the upper end of the air reservoir and the lower end of the supply vessel connected to the lower end of the air reservoir to strengthen the reservoir and forming a passage for material from one end of the air reservoir through the other end thereof, a closable inlet opening at the upper end of the supply vessel through which the supply vessel can be supplied with material, a lower outlet opening in the supply vessel through which the material can be expelled from the supply vessel by means of compressed air supplied from the air reservoir after said inlet opening has been closed, at least one valve-controlled opening in the material supply vessel between the compressed air reservoir and the material supply vessel through which the compressed air is supplied to the supply vessel from the compressed air reservoir.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A material-handling apparatus comprising a compressed air reservoir having upper and lower ends interconnected by a cylindrical wall, means for admitting compressed air to said air reservoir, a material supply vessel having upper and lower ends and disposed inside the reservoir in spaced relation to said cylindrical wall, the upper end of the material supply vessel connected to the upper end of the air reservoir and the lower end of the supply vessel connected to the lower end of the air reservoir to strengthen the reservoir and forming a passage for material from one end of the air reservoir through the other end thereof, a closable inlet opening at the upper end of the supply vessel through which the supply vessel can be supplied with material, a lower outlet opening in the supply vessel through which the material can be expelled from the supply vessel by means of compressed air supplied from the air reservoir after said inlet opening has been closed, at least one valve-controlled opening in the material supply vessel between the compressed air reservoir and the material supply vessel through which the compressed air is supplied to the supply vessel from the compressed air reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A material-handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the material supply vessel is of frustoconical form tapering downwardly, the valve-controlled opening being at or near the upper end of the frustoconical form, and a baffle in the material supply vessel adjacent the opening serving to direct air entering through said airflow opening in a direction against the sides of the frustoconical form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A material-handling apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the upper end of the compressed air reservoir comprises the upper end of the material supply vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A material-handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower end of the supply vessel around said outlet opening is secured and sealed to the lower end of the compressed air reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A material-handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper end of the compressed air reservoir has an inverted cup or dish-shape, and the lower end of the compressed air reservoir has an oppositely dished shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A material-handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means is included for closing said material supply opening and at the same time opening the valve-controlled opening to establish communication between the air reservoir and the supply vessel so that the compressed air will flow from the reservoir into the supply vessel to cause the material therein to be blown out of said outlet opening for the material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A material-handling apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said valve-controlled opening is in a wall of said supply vessel so that when the valve is opened, there is direct communication between the air reservoir and the supply vessel.