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US3729105A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid sealed solids lock hopper

Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
•
Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1973-04-24
•
Expires: 1991-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for transferring solid materials between zones at substantially different pressures which includes, generally, an intermediate vessell or lock hopper which contains a liquid and can be filled with and emptied of solids, two valves, one at each end of the lock hopper, a solids feed device, and a pump to maintain liquid level in the system. In operation, the valve at the upper end of the lock hopper is opened while the valve at the lower end thereof is closed, thereby permitting solids to be transferred into the lock hopper which contains a liquid such as water. The solids displace some of the liquid, and the displaced liquid rises above the top valve and overflows into a collecting vessel. The top valve then is closed, and a pump adds or removes liquid until the pressure in the lock hopper is close to the reactor pressure. The lower or bottom valve is opened after the pressure differential is compensated for, allowing the solids to drop into a feeder which conveys the solids to the reactor. The liquid level in the feeder and the lock hopper is maintained by the pump to replace the volume of solids fed. This liquid level is maintained at a sufficient height to inhibit gas flow into the lock hopper, and is independent of operating pressures. After solids discharge, the bottom valve is closed and the top valve opened, and the cycle is repeated. For continuous solid feed, two or more valved lock lock hoppers can be used in tandem to feed solids to the feeder.

Inventors

  • 👤 J Huebler
  • 👤 S Weil
  • 👤 P Tarman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 21:11
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J3/00; B01J3/02; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/34; B65G53/40; B65G53/46; B65G53/4691

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 179 words
Apparatus for transferring solid materials between zones at substantially different pressures comprising storage means for retaining a supply of solid material; a lock hopper coupled to said storage means for receiving the solid material, said lock hopper containing a liquid having a density less than said solid material; a first valve included in the coupling between said storage means and said lock hopper; a vessel to receive said solid material; a feeder for feeding said solid material to said vessel coupled to the lower end of said lock hopper and receiving solid materials discharged from said lock hopper; a second valve included in the coupling between said lock hopper and said feeder; and a pump coupled to said lock hopper operable to add to or remove liquid from said lock hopper to increase and decrease the pressure within said lock hopper, said first valve being operated to permit solid material to be discharged from said storage means into said lock hopper and said second valve being operated to discharge said solid material from said lock hopper into said feeder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 179 words
Apparatus for transferring solid materials between zones at substantially different pressures comprising storage means for retaining a supply of solid material; a lock hopper coupled to said storage means for receiving the solid material, said lock hopper containing a liquid having a density less than said solid material; a first valve included in the coupling between said storage means and said lock hopper; a vessel to receive said solid material; a feeder for feeding said solid material to said vessel coupled to the lower end of said lock hopper and receiving solid materials discharged from said lock hopper; a second valve included in the coupling between said lock hopper and said feeder; and a pump coupled to said lock hopper operable to add to or remove liquid from said lock hopper to increase and decrease the pressure within said lock hopper, said first valve being operated to permit solid material to be discharged from said storage means into said lock hopper and said second valve being operated to discharge said solid material from said lock hopper into said feeder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 10 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid comprises water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump is operated to maintain the liquid level in said lock hopper and said feeder at a height to maintain a pressure within said lock hopper to inhibit gas flow into said lock hopper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a liquid collecting vessel affixed to the coupling between said storage means and said lock hopper for collecting liquid displaced from said lock hopper by the solid material supplied thereto.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 116 words
A method for transferring solid materials between zones at substantially different pressures comprising the steps of supplying solid materials from a storage means to a lock hopper containing a liquid having a density lighter than said solid material; sealing said lock hopper; adding to or removing liquid from said lock hopper to increase and decrease the pressure within said lock hopper to substantially equalize the pressure differential between said lock hopper and a pressure zone to which said solid material is to be transferred, opening said lock hopper to allow said liquid to form a seal and then discharging said solid material from said lock hopper thru said liquid for transfer to said other pressure zone.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 116 words
A method for transferring solid materials between zones at substantially different pressures comprising the steps of supplying solid materials from a storage means to a lock hopper containing a liquid having a density lighter than said solid material; sealing said lock hopper; adding to or removing liquid from said lock hopper to increase and decrease the pressure within said lock hopper to substantially equalize the pressure differential between said lock hopper and a pressure zone to which said solid material is to be transferred, opening said lock hopper to allow said liquid to form a seal and then discharging said solid material from said lock hopper thru said liquid for transfer to said other pressure zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of maintaining the liquid level in said lock hopper at a sufficient height to maintain a pressure within said lock hopper to inhibit gas flow into said lock hopper.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1001290A Cited
US2828026A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-04-23 1976-10-23 1977-04-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-04-23 1980-10-23 1981-04-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-04-23 1984-10-23 1985-04-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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