US3713564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for facilitating the flow of granular materials
Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1971-06-25
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of and means for facilitating the discharge of granular or powdery material, especially irregularly shaped particles of granular material, from a conically shaped hopper or cylindrically shaped container such as a storage bin, in which a plurality of circumferentially spaced, co-directed flat streams of compressed air are introduced into the hopper or bin portion and directed to flow thereinto approximately tangentially of the wall surface thereof, with at least some of such streams being coextensive in height with the height of such wall surface so as to form a hopper lining film of compressed air between the arch basing area of such wall surface and the wall opposing surface of the mass of material in such hopper portion that will impart a centrifugally directed agitating effect on the mass of material while also imparting a moment of force acting inwards of the wall surface due to the expansion of the film of compressed air between the wall and the wall opposing surface of the mass of material.
Inventors
- 👤 L Cottrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/54; B65D88/64; B65D88/70; B65D88/706
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
In a method of facilitating the flow of material through a shaped hopper portion of a storage chamber to a lower outlet so as to relieve or prevent arching stoppage of material in such portion, the improvement comprising introducing into sucH portion from a plurality of circumferentially spaced air channel means a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressurized air streams in elongated sheet-like form, at least some of which are substantially coextensive in height with the height of such shaped hopper portion, directing all streams to enter the interior of such hopper portion approximately tangentially of the axis thereof and in the same direction to form a hopper lining film of compressed air between the wall of such hopper portion and the opposing surface of the mass of material therein, so as to impart a centrifugally directed agitating effect on the mass of material while also imparting a moment of force on the material acting inwards of the wall due to the expansion of the film of compressed air between the wall and the wall opposing surface of the mass of material, and sealing said air channel means to prevent ingress of the material into the air channel means when air is not being introduced thereinto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a method of facilitating the flow of material through a shaped hopper portion of a storage chamber to a lower outlet so as to relieve or prevent arching stoppage of material in such portion, the improvement comprising introducing into sucH portion from a plurality of circumferentially spaced air channel means a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressurized air streams in elongated sheet-like form, at least some of which are substantially coextensive in height with the height of such shaped hopper portion, directing all streams to enter the interior of such hopper portion approximately tangentially of the axis thereof and in the same direction to form a hopper lining film of compressed air between the wall of such hopper portion and the opposing surface of the mass of material therein, so as to impart a centrifugally directed agitating effect on the mass of material while also imparting a moment of force on the material acting inwards of the wall due to the expansion of the film of compressed air between the wall and the wall opposing surface of the mass of material, and sealing said air channel means to prevent ingress of the material into the air channel means when air is not being introduced thereinto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a method of facilitating the flow of material through a shaped hopper portion of a storage chamber to a lower outlet so as to relieve or prevent arching stoppage of material in such portion, the improvement comprising introducing into sucH portion from a plurality of circumferentially spaced air channel means a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressurized air streams in elongated sheet-like form, at least some of which are substantially coextensive in height with the height of such shaped hopper portion, directing all streams to enter the interior of such hopper portion approximately tangentially of the axis thereof and in the same direction to form a hopper lining film of compressed air between the wall of such hopper portion and the opposing surface of the mass of material therein, so as to impart a centrifugally directed agitating effect on the mass of material while also imparting a moment of force on the material acting inwards of the wall due to the expansion of the film of compressed air between the wall and the wall opposing surface of the mass of material, and sealing said air channel means to prevent ingress of the material into the air channel means when air is not being introduced thereinto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a method of facilitating the flow of material through a shaped hopper portion of a storage chamber to a lower outlet so as to relieve or prevent arching stoppage of material in such portion, the improvement comprising introducing into sucH portion from a plurality of circumferentially spaced air channel means a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressurized air streams in elongated sheet-like form, at least some of which are substantially coextensive in height with the height of such shaped hopper portion, directing all streams to enter the interior of such hopper portion approximately tangentially of the axis thereof and in the same direction to form a hopper lining film of compressed air between the wall of such hopper portion and the opposing surface of the mass of material therein, so as to impart a centrifugally directed agitating effect on the mass of material while also imparting a moment of force on the material acting inwards of the wall due to the expansion of the film of compressed air between the wall and the wall opposing surface of the mass of material, and sealing said air channel means to prevent ingress of the material into the air channel means when air is not being introduced thereinto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a method as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaped hopper portion is conical and introducing and directing more circumferentially spaced sheet-like air streams in the upper portion of such conically shaped hopper portion than in the lower portion of such hopper portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a method as defined in claim 2 and decreasing the number of introduced and directed sheet-like air streams in a downward direction to form at least three superposed zones of a compressed air film within the conically shaped hopper with the volume of introduced air diminishing downwardly from zone to zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a hopper having a conically shaped wall leading to a discharge opening for the discharge of granular or powdery material, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated strip means having opposite side edges and secured along at least one side edge to the inner surface of such wall so as to extend vertically along such wall, a portion of each strip means spaced from said wall and defining an elongated air channel therewith, the other side edge of each strip means being free of connection with said wall, all said other side edges of said strip means facing in the same direction circumferentially of said wall and cooperating with said wall so as to constitute elongated outlet nozzles, and means for introducing compressed air into said air channels to flow outwardly thereof beneath said other side edges of said strip means to form a hopper lining film to relieve or prevent arching stoppage of material in the hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a hopper having a conically shaped wall leading to a discharge opening for the discharge of granular or powdery material, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated strip means having opposite side edges and secured along at least one side edge to the inner surface of such wall so as to extend vertically along such wall, a portion of each strip means spaced from said wall and defining an elongated air channel therewith, the other side edge of each strip means being free of connection with said wall, all said other side edges of said strip means facing in the same direction circumferentially of said wall and cooperating with said wall so as to constitute elongated outlet nozzles, and means for introducing compressed air into said air channels to flow outwardly thereof beneath said other side edges of said strip means to form a hopper lining film to relieve or prevent arching stoppage of material in the hopper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a hopper as claimed in claim 4 and at least some of said strip means being at least approximately coextensive in height with the height of said wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a hopper as defined in claim 5 and shorter strip means arranged between said at least some strip means in an upper zone of said wall so that the volume of introduced compressed air is greater in said upper zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a hopper as defined in claim 4 and said wall including segmental members secured together with one longitudinal edge of one member overlapping the adjacent longitudinal edge of the adjacent member, one overlapping edge of each member being on the inner face of said wall, all of said one overlapping edges facing in the same direction and said strip means being secured to said members inwardly of said one overlapping edges thereof and having a width such as to extend beyond said one overlapping edges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a hopper as defined in claim 7, and said elongated strip means including a flat portion along one longitudinal side edge for attachment to one of said members, an intermediate trough shaped portion for overlying said one overlapping edge and a free edge portion making at least a line contact with the adjacent member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a hopper as claimed in claim 7, and each said strip means comprising an elongated flat strip having a width sufficient to provide for attachment to one segmental member, and to extend over and beyond each said one overlapping edge, and a protruding rim portion extending along the free eDge of said strip and along the end edges thereof from said free edge to said one overlapping edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |