Patent US3727985A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3727985A
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US
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Pneumatic conveying apparatus automatically operable successively for weight responsive filling, and for activation, discharging, purging against back pressure, and venting
Assignee: Cons Eng Co
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Filing: 1972-01-03
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1992-01-03
Abstract
Abstract The pressure vessel or fluid flow pump cycle of Reuter U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,221, issued Nov. 28, 1967, which has steps of filling, activation, discharging and purging, is disclosed as load cell or scale supported and vented, and is thus further adapted for lifting certain types of pulverulent material against back pressure, by placing check valve means in the purge line and/or in a pressurized gas line from source, the check valve means being substantially in adjacent communication with the discharge line downstream of the discharge valve. Thus the check valve may close and protect against back pressure urging material, (normally destined to be purged down the discharge line), back into the pressure vessel. The additional step of venting to atmosphere and/or to hopper any residual material not carried away by the purge step, is thus disclosed as an added step. The admission of pressurized gas from source can enter as when back pressure in some excess may be encountered. As check valves are subject to wear and failure, the employment of pressurized gas from source can act as a safeguard against the effects of back pressure. The added features set forth hereinabove may be employed with a variety of fluid flow pump structures, as agitator equipped pumps; also with pumps suspended below a load cell.
Inventors
- 👤 B Reuter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/34; B65G53/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
383 words
Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas inlet including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection, a purge by-pass connecting said material plenum and said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a purge valve disposed in said purge by-pass, also a check valve therein downstream of said purge valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said purge valve by back pressure acting thereagainst from downstream thereof, a vent discharge from said vessel including a vent valve, pressure sensitive control means including weight responsive means, operative circuitry including said pressure sensitive control means and being automatically operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to close said fill valve, said circuitry then closing said purge valve while opening said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate saId material to a high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and to open said purge valve, the compressed gas at falling pressure purging through said purge by-pass including said purge valve and said check valve, and onwardly through said discharge connection, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said purge and to open said vent valve, said check valve guarding against back pressure urging gas bearing purge material back up said purge connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as aforesaid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
383 words
Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas inlet including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection, a purge by-pass connecting said material plenum and said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a purge valve disposed in said purge by-pass, also a check valve therein downstream of said purge valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said purge valve by back pressure acting thereagainst from downstream thereof, a vent discharge from said vessel including a vent valve, pressure sensitive control means including weight responsive means, operative circuitry including said pressure sensitive control means and being automatically operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to close said fill valve, said circuitry then closing said purge valve while opening said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate saId material to a high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and to open said purge valve, the compressed gas at falling pressure purging through said purge by-pass including said purge valve and said check valve, and onwardly through said discharge connection, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said purge and to open said vent valve, said check valve guarding against back pressure urging gas bearing purge material back up said purge connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as aforesaid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
217 words
The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the steps of, disposing by weight one predetermined batch of the material at a time into a container for support upon a gas permeable diaphragm, closing the material inlet upon a pressure signal responsive to the batch weight attained therein, and, with the container closed, admitting a pressurized gas thereinto below the diaphragm to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the material therein, opening a discharge conduit from the container while closing gas admission, a closeable by-pass conduit being provided from container to the container discharge conduit and being closed prior to gas admission; as the pressure in the container drops to predetermined value, closing the discharge conduit and opening the by-pass conduit to by-pass the material to be purged through the by-pass and back into the discharge conduit downstream from the container, and as the pressure in the container falls to a still lower predetermined value, employing a check valve in the by-pass conduit between by-pass conduit closure and discharge conduit to protect against back pressure from the discharge conduit downstream thereof, closing the by-pass and opening a vent from the container through which the residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be vented as the container pressure returns to substantially atmospheric, then repeating the aforesaid cycle of steps.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
217 words
The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the steps of, disposing by weight one predetermined batch of the material at a time into a container for support upon a gas permeable diaphragm, closing the material inlet upon a pressure signal responsive to the batch weight attained therein, and, with the container closed, admitting a pressurized gas thereinto below the diaphragm to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the material therein, opening a discharge conduit from the container while closing gas admission, a closeable by-pass conduit being provided from container to the container discharge conduit and being closed prior to gas admission; as the pressure in the container drops to predetermined value, closing the discharge conduit and opening the by-pass conduit to by-pass the material to be purged through the by-pass and back into the discharge conduit downstream from the container, and as the pressure in the container falls to a still lower predetermined value, employing a check valve in the by-pass conduit between by-pass conduit closure and discharge conduit to protect against back pressure from the discharge conduit downstream thereof, closing the by-pass and opening a vent from the container through which the residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be vented as the container pressure returns to substantially atmospheric, then repeating the aforesaid cycle of steps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
511 words
Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas inlet including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection, a purge by-pass connecting said material plenum and said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a purge valve disposed in said purge by-pass also a first check valve therein downstream of said purge valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said purge valve by back pressure acting thereagainst from downstream thereof, a back pressure opposing connection from compressed gas inlet source and connecting with said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a back pressure gas control valve disposed in said back pressure opposing connection, also a second check valve therein downstream from said back pressure gas control valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said back pressure gas control valve, a vent discharged from said vessel including a vent valve, pressure sensitive control means including weight responsive means, operative circuitry including said pressure sensitive control means and being automatically operable to oPen said fill valve, said circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to close said fill valve, said circuitry then closing said purge valve and said back pressure gas control valve while opening said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate said material to a high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and to open said purge valve and said back pressure gas control valve, the container compressed gas at falling pressure purging through said purge by-pass including said purge valve and said first check valve and onwardly into said discharge connection, and the back pressure control gas passing from source through said back pressure opposing connection including said back pressure gas control valve and said second check valve and onwardly into said discharge connection, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said purge valve and said back pressure gas control valve and to open said vent valve, said check valves guarding against back pressure urging back pressure gas and purge material down said purge connection and said back pressure opposing connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as aforesaid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
511 words
Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas inlet including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection, a purge by-pass connecting said material plenum and said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a purge valve disposed in said purge by-pass also a first check valve therein downstream of said purge valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said purge valve by back pressure acting thereagainst from downstream thereof, a back pressure opposing connection from compressed gas inlet source and connecting with said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a back pressure gas control valve disposed in said back pressure opposing connection, also a second check valve therein downstream from said back pressure gas control valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said back pressure gas control valve, a vent discharged from said vessel including a vent valve, pressure sensitive control means including weight responsive means, operative circuitry including said pressure sensitive control means and being automatically operable to oPen said fill valve, said circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to close said fill valve, said circuitry then closing said purge valve and said back pressure gas control valve while opening said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate said material to a high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and to open said purge valve and said back pressure gas control valve, the container compressed gas at falling pressure purging through said purge by-pass including said purge valve and said first check valve and onwardly into said discharge connection, and the back pressure control gas passing from source through said back pressure opposing connection including said back pressure gas control valve and said second check valve and onwardly into said discharge connection, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said purge valve and said back pressure gas control valve and to open said vent valve, said check valves guarding against back pressure urging back pressure gas and purge material down said purge connection and said back pressure opposing connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as aforesaid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
266 words
The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the steps of, disposing by weight one predetermined batch of the material at a time into a container for support upon a gas permeable diaphragm, closing the material inlet upon a pressure signal responsive to the batch weight attained therein, and, with the container closed, admitting a pressurized gas thereinto below the diaphragm to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the material therein, opening a discharge conduit from the container while closing gas admission, a closeable first by-pass conduit being provided from container to the container discharge conduit and being closed prior to gas admission, pressurized gas being connected for selective admission to pass through a second by-pass conduit to discharge conduit; as the pressure in the container drops to predetermined value, closing the discharge conduit and opening the by-pass conduits respectively, to by-pass the material to be purged through the first by-pass conduit and into the discharge conduit downstream from discharge conduit closure, as abetted by the aforesaid pressurized gas also selectively admitted into the second by-pass conduit at this point, and into the discharge conduit downstream from discharge conduit closure; and, as the pressure in the container falls to a still lower predetermined value, employing check valves in the by-pass conduits between by-pass conduit closures and discharge conduit to protect against back pressure from the discharge conduit downstream thereof, closing the by-pass conduits, and opening a vent from the container through which the residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be vented as the container pressure returns to substantially atmospheric, then repeating the aforesaid cycle of steps.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
266 words
The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the steps of, disposing by weight one predetermined batch of the material at a time into a container for support upon a gas permeable diaphragm, closing the material inlet upon a pressure signal responsive to the batch weight attained therein, and, with the container closed, admitting a pressurized gas thereinto below the diaphragm to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the material therein, opening a discharge conduit from the container while closing gas admission, a closeable first by-pass conduit being provided from container to the container discharge conduit and being closed prior to gas admission, pressurized gas being connected for selective admission to pass through a second by-pass conduit to discharge conduit; as the pressure in the container drops to predetermined value, closing the discharge conduit and opening the by-pass conduits respectively, to by-pass the material to be purged through the first by-pass conduit and into the discharge conduit downstream from discharge conduit closure, as abetted by the aforesaid pressurized gas also selectively admitted into the second by-pass conduit at this point, and into the discharge conduit downstream from discharge conduit closure; and, as the pressure in the container falls to a still lower predetermined value, employing check valves in the by-pass conduits between by-pass conduit closures and discharge conduit to protect against back pressure from the discharge conduit downstream thereof, closing the by-pass conduits, and opening a vent from the container through which the residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be vented as the container pressure returns to substantially atmospheric, then repeating the aforesaid cycle of steps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
411 words
Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas inlet including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum Including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection, a compressed gas by-pass connecting compressed gas and said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a valve operator actuated, compressed gas by-pass valve disposed in said compressed gas by-pass, also a check valve therein downstream of said compressed gas by-pass valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said compressed gas by-pass valve by back pressure acting thereagainst from downstream thereof, a vent discharge from said vessel including a vent valve, pressure sensitive control means including weight responsive means, operative circuitry including said pressure sensitive control means and being automatically operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to close said fill valve, said circuitry then closing said compressed gas by-pass valve by valve operator actuation while opening said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate said material to a high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and to open said compressed gas by-pass valve by valve operator actuation, whereby compressed gas may pass through said compressed gas by-pass including said compressed gas by-pass valve and said check valve, and onwardly through said discharge connection in opposition to back pressure, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said purge and to open said vent valve, said check valve guarding against back pressure urging gas bearing purge material back up said purge connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as aforesaid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
411 words
Material transporting apparatus comprising a pressure vessel including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum thereabove, and a gas plenum therebelow, a fill valve to admit flowable material through the top of said vessel into said material plenum to upstand from said diaphragm, a compressed gas inlet including a gas valve into said gas plenum, a discharge connection from the upper part of said material plenum Including a discharge valve disposed in said discharge connection, a compressed gas by-pass connecting compressed gas and said discharge connection downstream from said discharge valve, a valve operator actuated, compressed gas by-pass valve disposed in said compressed gas by-pass, also a check valve therein downstream of said compressed gas by-pass valve and adapted to be urged closed in direction of said compressed gas by-pass valve by back pressure acting thereagainst from downstream thereof, a vent discharge from said vessel including a vent valve, pressure sensitive control means including weight responsive means, operative circuitry including said pressure sensitive control means and being automatically operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry then being actuated by said weight responsive means to close said fill valve, said circuitry then closing said compressed gas by-pass valve by valve operator actuation while opening said gas inlet valve to admit pressurized gas substantially uniformly through said diaphragm and to activate said material to a high state as the pressure rises in excess of a predetermined high pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to open said discharge valve for said material to pass upwardly and onward through said discharge connection, the pressure falling below a predetermined lower pressure to actuate said pressure sensitive control means to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and to open said compressed gas by-pass valve by valve operator actuation, whereby compressed gas may pass through said compressed gas by-pass including said compressed gas by-pass valve and said check valve, and onwardly through said discharge connection in opposition to back pressure, the pressure continuing falling to a still lower predetermined level to act through said circuitry to close said purge and to open said vent valve, said check valve guarding against back pressure urging gas bearing purge material back up said purge connection, the residual compressed gas purging upwardly through said vent discharge, and the pressure falling to approximately atmospheric whereby to open said fill valve, as aforesaid.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
220 words
The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the steps of, disposing by weight one predetermined batch of the material at a time into a container for support upon a gas permeable diaphragm, closing the material inlet upon a pressure signal responsive to the batch weight attained therein, and, with the container closed, admitting a pressurized gas thereinto below the diaphragm to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the material therein, opening a discharge conduit from the container while closing gas admission, a valve operator valve closed by-pass conduit being provided from compressed gas source and including a check valve therein at connection to container discharge conduit, said by-pass conduit being closed prior to gas admission; as the pressure in the container drops to predetermined value, closing the discharge conduit and opening the by-pass conduit by valve operator valve opening to by-pass compressed gas therethrough, including through the check valve and back into the discharge conduit downstream from the container in opposition to back pressure, and as the pressure in the container falls to a still lower predetermined value, closing the by-pass by valve operator valve closing and opening a vent from the container through which the residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be vented as the container pressure returns to substantially atmospheric, then repeating the aforesaid cycle of steps.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
220 words
The method of transporting pulverulent material comprising the steps of, disposing by weight one predetermined batch of the material at a time into a container for support upon a gas permeable diaphragm, closing the material inlet upon a pressure signal responsive to the batch weight attained therein, and, with the container closed, admitting a pressurized gas thereinto below the diaphragm to pass upwardly therethrough to activate the material therein, opening a discharge conduit from the container while closing gas admission, a valve operator valve closed by-pass conduit being provided from compressed gas source and including a check valve therein at connection to container discharge conduit, said by-pass conduit being closed prior to gas admission; as the pressure in the container drops to predetermined value, closing the discharge conduit and opening the by-pass conduit by valve operator valve opening to by-pass compressed gas therethrough, including through the check valve and back into the discharge conduit downstream from the container in opposition to back pressure, and as the pressure in the container falls to a still lower predetermined value, closing the by-pass by valve operator valve closing and opening a vent from the container through which the residual pressurized gas and any residual material may be vented as the container pressure returns to substantially atmospheric, then repeating the aforesaid cycle of steps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2668085A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |