US3664385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for feeding and compacting finely divided particulate material
Assignee: Carter Engineering Co
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Filing: 1971-02-12
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1991-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of feeding and compacting finely divided particulate material which utilizes a first rotating screw feeder for advancing the material along a first sleeve passage provided by a stationary foraminous sleeve mounted closely about the first screw feeder, and a second rotating screw feeder for advancing the material along a second sleeve passage to a container filling station. The method includes the steps of advancing the particulate material axially along the sleeve with the interstitial air between the particles in the sleeve at an internal sleeve pressure. Suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure is applied to the exterior of the sleeve to withdraw air from between the particles of the material to effect compaction of the material. At predetermined times gas pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure is applied to the exterior of the sleeve to back-flush material from openings in the sleeve to prevent clogging thereof. Cool, dried air may be utilized for back-flushing to cool the material without causing condensation to form within the densifier. The densified material may then be mechanically advanced along the second sleeve passage to the container filling station. An apparatus for feeding and compacting finely divided particulate material, which includes a housing having fixedly mounted therein a tubular sleeve. The sleeve and housing define at least one closed hollow chamber extending about the sleeve with a plurality of perforations in the sleeve placing the interior thereof in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber. An axially extending screw feeder concentrically and rotatably mounted in the sleeve is adapted to advance material axially along the sleeve, with the interstitial air present between the particles of material in the sleeve at an internal sleeve pressure. Suction means in fluid communication with the chamber applies suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure to withdraw air from between the particles of material to effect compaction thereof. Gas pressure means in fluid communication with the chamber provides gas, preferably cool, dried gas, at a relatively higher pressure than the internal sleeve pressure at predetermined times to back-flush particulate material from the perforations, to prevent clogging thereof. The densifier material is discharged into a second screw feeder which delivers the material to a container filling station while maintaining back pressure on the material in the densifier and while maintaining material compaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence F Carter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B63/00; B65B63/02; B65B63/028; B65B1/00; B65B1/04; B65B1/10; B65B1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of continuously feeding finely divided particulate material to at least one container filling station while compacting the particulate material utilizing a first rotating screw feeder for advancing the material through a first sleeve passage provided by a stationary foraminous sleeve mounted closely about the first screw feeder and a second rotating screw feeder for advancing the material from the first screw feeder to at least one filling station to thereby prevent loss of compaction, the method comprising the steps of: a. mechanically advancing the particulate material along the first sleeve passage with the interstitial air between particles of the material in the foraminous sleeve being at an internal sleeve pressure; b. applying, from a suction pressure system, a suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure along the exterior of the foraminous sleeve to withdraw at least a portion of the interstitial air from between the particles of the material through the foraminous sleeve to effect compaction of the material; c. intermittently applying a gas pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure along the foraminous sleeve to back-flush material from the perforations in the foraminous sleeve to prevent clogging thereof; d. discharging the material from a discharge end of the first sleeve passage into the second sleeve passage; and, e. mechanically advancing the material along the second sleeve passage to an outlet port adjacent the container filling station while maintaining the compaction of the material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of continuously feeding finely divided particulate material to at least one container filling station while compacting the particulate material utilizing a first rotating screw feeder for advancing the material through a first sleeve passage provided by a stationary foraminous sleeve mounted closely about the first screw feeder and a second rotating screw feeder for advancing the material from the first screw feeder to at least one filling station to thereby prevent loss of compaction, the method comprising the steps of: a. mechanically advancing the particulate material along the first sleeve passage with the interstitial air between particles of the material in the foraminous sleeve being at an internal sleeve pressure; b. applying, from a suction pressure system, a suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure along the exterior of the foraminous sleeve to withdraw at least a portion of the interstitial air from between the particles of the material through the foraminous sleeve to effect compaction of the material; c. intermittently applying a gas pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure along the foraminous sleeve to back-flush material from the perforations in the foraminous sleeve to prevent clogging thereof; d. discharging the material from a discharge end of the first sleeve passage into the second sleeve passage; and, e. mechanically advancing the material along the second sleeve passage to an outlet port adjacent the container filling station while maintaining the compaction of the material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes: applying cool, dried air at a pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure along the foraminous sleeve to back-flush material from the perforations in the foraminous sleeve to prevent clogging thereof and to cool and dry the particulate material advanced along the first sleeve passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of feeding particulate material while compacting the material as defined in claim 1 including the step of: maintaining a back pressure on the material being discharged from the first sleeve passage by advancing the material through the second sleeve passage at a flow rate no greater than the flow rate of the material through the first sleeve passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of: discharging the material into a plurality of sleeve passages communicating with the second sleeve passage; advancing the material through the plurality of sleeve passages at a collective total flow rate approximately equal to the flow rate of the material through the second sleeve passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method of feeding particulate material while compacting the material as defined in claim 3 and further comprising the step of: providing non-communicating closed hollow chambers axially extending the length of the first sleeve about different peripherally spaced areas of the first sleeve; and wherein step (c) includes: applying, while continuing tO mechanically advance the material, a gas pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure along the lateral surface of each of the chambers in turn at predetermined times during which the other of the chambers has suction pressure applied thereto to cause a pressure differential across the perforations to back-flush particulate material from the perforations in the first sleeve to prevent clogging thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
A method of feeding particulate material while compacting the material as defined in claim 5 and further comprising the steps of: utilizing an axially advancing screw blade having an axially extending lip flush with the interior surface of the sleeve scraping the adhered material from the interior surface all along the sleeve, simultaneously spirally blanking off portions of the interior of the sleeve from the vacuum in the area embraced by the axially extending blade lip to diminish the suction force causing the particulate material to adhere to the interior of the sleeve during scraping thereof, and opening the interior of the sleeve to vacuum in the area following the area embraced by the advancing blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of feeding particulate material while compacting the material as defined in claim 6 and further including the step of: discharging the material from the second sleeve passage at the container filling station into a substantially evacuated container connected in substantially gas-tight relation to the outlet port of the second passage.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
290 words
A method of continuously feeding finely divided particulate material to a container filling station while compacting the particulate material utilizing a first rotating screw feeder for advancing the material through a first sleeve passage provided by a stationary foraminous sleeve mounted closely about the first screw feeder and a second rotating screw feeder for advancing the material from the first screw feeder to the filling station to thereby prevent loss of compaction, the method comprising the steps of: a. mechanically advancing the particulate material horizontally along the first sleeve passage with the interstitial air between particles of the material in the foraminous sleeve being at an interval sleeve pressure; b. applying, from a suction pressure system, a suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure along the exterior of the foraminous sleeve to withdraw at least a portion of the interstitial air from between the particles of the material through the foraminous sleeve to effect compaction of the material; c. intermittently applying a gas pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure along the foraminous sleeve to back-flush material from the perforations in the foraminous sleeve to prevent clogging thereof; d. discharging the material from a discharge end of the first sleeve passage into the second sleeve passage; e. mechanically advancing the material horizontally along the second sleeve passage to an outlet port adjacent the container filling station while maintaining the compaction of the material and inhibiting the flow of gases through the discharge end of the first sleeve passage; and, f. discharging material from the outlet port of the second sleeve passage into a substantially collapsed, impermeable container communicating in substantially gas-tight relation with the discharge port, the material thereby expanding the container substantially solely with the material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
290 words
A method of continuously feeding finely divided particulate material to a container filling station while compacting the particulate material utilizing a first rotating screw feeder for advancing the material through a first sleeve passage provided by a stationary foraminous sleeve mounted closely about the first screw feeder and a second rotating screw feeder for advancing the material from the first screw feeder to the filling station to thereby prevent loss of compaction, the method comprising the steps of: a. mechanically advancing the particulate material horizontally along the first sleeve passage with the interstitial air between particles of the material in the foraminous sleeve being at an interval sleeve pressure; b. applying, from a suction pressure system, a suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure along the exterior of the foraminous sleeve to withdraw at least a portion of the interstitial air from between the particles of the material through the foraminous sleeve to effect compaction of the material; c. intermittently applying a gas pressure relatively higher than the internal sleeve pressure along the foraminous sleeve to back-flush material from the perforations in the foraminous sleeve to prevent clogging thereof; d. discharging the material from a discharge end of the first sleeve passage into the second sleeve passage; e. mechanically advancing the material horizontally along the second sleeve passage to an outlet port adjacent the container filling station while maintaining the compaction of the material and inhibiting the flow of gases through the discharge end of the first sleeve passage; and, f. discharging material from the outlet port of the second sleeve passage into a substantially collapsed, impermeable container communicating in substantially gas-tight relation with the discharge port, the material thereby expanding the container substantially solely with the material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
294 words
An apparatus for feeding and compacting finely divided particulate material having interstitial air between the particles, the apparatus comprising, a housing, a first tubular sleeve fixedly mounted in said housing, said first sleeve and adjacent interior portions of said housing defining, at least one closed hollow chamber extending about said first sleeve; said first sleeve further including, a plurality of perforations placing said chamber in fluid communication with the interior of said first sleeve; material feeding means adapted to feed the particulate material axially along said first sleeve with the interstitial air being at an internal sleeve pressure, suction means connected with said housing in fluid communication with said chamber for selectively applying suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure through said perforations to the interior of said first sleeve to withdraw at least a portion of the interstitial air from the particulate material to effect compaction thereof during feeding; gas pressure means connected with said housing in fluid communication with said chamber for intermittently supplying gas at a relatively higher pressure than the internal sleeve pressure to said perforations to back-flush particulate material from said perforations to prevent clogging thereof; first material discharge means mounted at an outlet end of said first sleeve to permit discharge compacted particulate material from said first sleeve; a second tubular sleeve connected between said outlet end and at least one second material discharge means, the interior of said second sleeve being in fluid communication with said first material discharge means; and, an axially extending auger concentrically and rotatably mounted in said second sleeve, said auger upon rotation thereof being adapted to feed the compacted particulate material from said material discharge means axially along said second sleeve to said at least one second material discharge means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
294 words
An apparatus for feeding and compacting finely divided particulate material having interstitial air between the particles, the apparatus comprising, a housing, a first tubular sleeve fixedly mounted in said housing, said first sleeve and adjacent interior portions of said housing defining, at least one closed hollow chamber extending about said first sleeve; said first sleeve further including, a plurality of perforations placing said chamber in fluid communication with the interior of said first sleeve; material feeding means adapted to feed the particulate material axially along said first sleeve with the interstitial air being at an internal sleeve pressure, suction means connected with said housing in fluid communication with said chamber for selectively applying suction pressure relatively lower than the internal sleeve pressure through said perforations to the interior of said first sleeve to withdraw at least a portion of the interstitial air from the particulate material to effect compaction thereof during feeding; gas pressure means connected with said housing in fluid communication with said chamber for intermittently supplying gas at a relatively higher pressure than the internal sleeve pressure to said perforations to back-flush particulate material from said perforations to prevent clogging thereof; first material discharge means mounted at an outlet end of said first sleeve to permit discharge compacted particulate material from said first sleeve; a second tubular sleeve connected between said outlet end and at least one second material discharge means, the interior of said second sleeve being in fluid communication with said first material discharge means; and, an axially extending auger concentrically and rotatably mounted in said second sleeve, said auger upon rotation thereof being adapted to feed the compacted particulate material from said material discharge means axially along said second sleeve to said at least one second material discharge means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said gas pressure means comprises a source of cool, dried air at a relatively higher pressure than the internal sleeve pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 including impermeable container means adapted to be connected to said at least one second material discharge means, the interior of said container means being in fluid communication with the interior of said second sleeve and said container means and said at least one second material discharge means being connected in substantially gas-tight relation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including partition means within said chamber extending between and fixedly secured to said housing and said sleeve, said partition means dividing said chamber into at least two axially extending, non-communicating subchambers extending peripherally about different portions of said sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said suction means includes: first suction means communicating with one of said subchambers and, second suction means communicating only with the other of said subchambers; and wherein said gas pressure means includes: first gas pressure means communicating only with said one of said subchambers; and second gas pressure means communicating only with said other of said subchambers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein, said material feeding means includes: an axially extending shaft concentrically positioned within and spaced from said first sleeve, an axially extending screw flight secured to said shaft extending generally helically therealong, said flight including, a peripheral edge close adjacent interior portions of said sleeve, a lip fixedly secured to said screw flight extending continuously along said peripheral edge, said lip extending axially downstream from said edge and said lip being in contact with adjacent interior portions of said sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including: a layer of perforate mesh of smaller mesh size than the size of the particles, said layer of mesh contiguously overlying said first sleeve on a surface thereof facing inwardly of said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
163 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further including: first and second suction valves connected with said first and second suction means respectively, each of said suction valves upon opening thereof placing the associated one of said first and second sUction means in fluid communication with the associated one of said subchambers; and first and second gas valves connected with said first and second gas pressure means respectively, each of said gas valves upon opening thereof placing the associated one of said first and second gas pressure means in fluid communication with the associated one of said subchambers, said first gas valve being opened concurrently with closing of said first suction valve at predetermined times during which said second gas valve is closed and said second suction valve is open, said second gas valve being opened concurrently with closing of said second suction valve at other predetermined times during which said first gas valve is closed and said first suction valve is open.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first material discharge means includes means for applying a back pressure to the material in said first sleeve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said auger feeds the compacted particulate material through said second sleeve at a flow rate approximately equal to the flow rate of the material through said first sleeve and thereby applies a back pressure to the material discharged from said first material discharge means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 18 including a plurality of second material discharge means and a plurality of screw feeders in fluid communication with the interior of said second sleeve by way of associated ones of said plurality of second material discharge means, each of said plurality of screw feeders individually feeding the material from the associated one of said second material discharge means to a container feeding station at a flow rate less than the flow rate of material through said second sleeve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the total flow rate of material through said plurality of screw feeders together is approximately equal to the flow rate of material through said second sleeve.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said plurality of screw feeders are spaced relative to each other axially along said second sleeve and wherein the total flow rate of said plurality of screw feeders together is greater than the flow rate of material through said second screw feeder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 21 including container filling means at one end of each of said plurality of screw feeders for filling containers with the material fed through said screw feeders and means for selectively driving said plurality of screw feeders, whereby a selected screw feeder can be stopped to replace a full container with an empty container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE634889C
Cited
US2142990A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |