US3632019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Level control system for flowable solid materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-26
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1990-05-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a level sensing and control system for regulating the high and low levels of a body of flowable solid material in a container or receiving tray, bin, tank or other receptacle. The system is applicable to loose solids in powdered, granular or other comminuted flowable form, and is particularly applicable to control the level of toner material utilized in electrostatic copying machines as in the illustrative embodiment disclosed herein. The system includes an open-ended vertical sensor tube disposed within the material container or receiver and which is connected intermediate its ends to a source of air or other pressure fluid which serves to trigger the system to cause automatic interruption of the material feed supply when a predetermined head of material is trapped in the tube, and to cause automatic operation of the material feed supply to replenish the material in the tray or receiver when the material level drops to a predetermined low level and allows the pressure fluid to freely escape from either or both ends of the sensor tube when the material reaches a predetermined low level. The positions of the opposite open ends of the sensor tube respectively define the high and low levels of the material deposited in the tray or receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Harm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:45
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D9/00; G05D9/12; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/18; G01F23/185; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0856; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A level control system for flowable solid materials, comprising a receiver, material supply means associated with said receiver for depositing therein upon demand a predetermined quantity of flowable solid material when the material level in the receiver reaches a predetermined low level, pressure responsive means for automatically activating the material supply means when the material reaches the predetermined low level in the receiver and for deactivating the material supply means when the material reaches a predetermined high level, a source of pressure fluid operatively connected to the pressure responsive means, and intermittently operable material entrapping and discharging sensor means disposed in the receiver and responsive to the material level therein and to the presence or absence of material trapped in the sensor means for establishing and releasing the operating pressure of the fluid pressure source acting on the pressure responsive means aforesaid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A level control system for flowable solid materials, comprising a receiver, material supply means associated with said receiver for depositing therein upon demand a predetermined quantity of flowable solid material when the material level in the receiver reaches a predetermined low level, pressure responsive means for automatically activating the material supply means when the material reaches the predetermined low level in the receiver and for deactivating the material supply means when the material reaches a predetermined high level, a source of pressure fluid operatively connected to the pressure responsive means, and intermittently operable material entrapping and discharging sensor means disposed in the receiver and responsive to the material level therein and to the presence or absence of material trapped in the sensor means for establishing and releasing the operating pressure of the fluid pressure source acting on the pressure responsive means aforesaid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the material supply means is power driven, and the pressure responsive means includes a pressure-operated switch, and a time-delay relay operatively connected to said switch and to the power driven supply meanS for controlling operation of said material supply means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the pressure fluid source is operatively interconnected with the pressure responsive means and the sensor means at an intermediate point therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a vertically extended hollow member open at its upper and lower ends to respectively admit and discharge a quantity of the material deposited in the receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a vertically extended hollow member open at its upper and lower ends to respectively admit and discharge a quantity of the material deposited in the receiver, and the interior of said hollow member being in communication with the pressure fluid source at a point intermediate its upper and lower ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 4, wherein the upper open end of the hollow member terminates on a plane substantially corresponding to the predetermined high level point of the material to be deposited in the receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 4, wherein the lower open end of the hollow member terminates on a plane substantially corresponding to the predetermined low level point of the material to be deposited in the receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a vertical open-ended tubular member fixedly disposed in the receiver and operatively connected intermediate its open ends to the source of pressure fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a vertical open-ended tubular member fixedly disposed in the receiver and operatively connected intermediate its open ends to a source of pressure fluid, the diameter and length of said tubular member being so proportioned that the depth of flowable material in the receiver must at least reach the upper open end of the tube to cause the tube to be filled with the flowable material and retain the same therein until the material level falls below the lower open end of the tube to allow self-dumping of the material from the tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a vertical open-ended tubular member fixedly disposed in the receiver and operatively connected intermediate its open ends to the source of pressure fluid, the diameter and length of said tubular member being so proportioned that the depth of flowable material in the receiver must at least reach the upper open end of the tube to cause the tube to be filled with the flowable material and retain the same therein until the material level falls below the lower open end of the tube to allow self-dumping of the material from the tube, said pressure fluid causing activation of the pressure responsive means incident to blockage of both ends of the sensor tube by solid materials when standing in the sensor tube and obstructing the escape of pressure fluid from either end of the sensor tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2737997A
Cited
US3459035A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |