Self-purging, pneumatic conveying apparatus including fluid flow pumps on scales, with agitator, vacuum filled, with material dryer, and of varied means of sequential value operation

Claim 2

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 valve communicating into said gas plenum, a discharge valve controlled discharge conduit with discharge valve disposed exteriorally of and in communication with the upper part of said material plenum, a purge valve controlled by-pass conduit with purge valve disposed in communication with the upper part of said material plenum adjacent and around said discharge valve, operative circuitry including control means, and being operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry including at least one of time actuated means, material lever sensor actuated means, and batch weight actuated, vessel supporting scale generated, pressure fluid signal operated circuitry, to close said fill valve, said operative circuitry then being automatically operable sequentially to close 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 to open said discharge valve for material to pass through said discharge valve and outwardly through said discharge conduit, then to close said discharge valve and open said purge valve for the residual compressed gas to purge residual material through said purge valve and said by-pass conduit, and material out-wardly through said discharge conduit, then to open said fill valve, as aforesaid, said operative circuitry including time actuated means to function in at least one of the opening of said discharge valve, the closing of said discharge valve and of said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve, and in the opening of said fill valve.

Claim 3

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of it, high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 4

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of it, high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 5

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of it, high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 6

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of it, high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 7

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of it, high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 8

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge bElow a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 9

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means, to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 10

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means, to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes to function, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 11

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 12

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 13

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to funcion in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 14

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 15

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to func-tion in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill vAlve.

Claim 16

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 17

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes to function, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 18

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 19

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 20

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in closing said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and opening said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 21

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes time actuated means to function in opening said fill valve.

Claim 22

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 valve communicating into said gas plenum, a discharge valve controlled discharge conduit with discharge valve disposed exteriorally of and in communication with the upper paRt of said material plenum, a purge valve controlled by-pass conduit with purge valve disposed in communication with the upper part of said material plenum adjacent and around said discharge valve, operative circuitry including control means, and being operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry including at least one of time actuated means, material level sensor actuated means, and batch weight actuated, vessel supporting scale generated, pressure fluid signal operated circuitry, to close said fill valve, said operative circuitry then being automatically operable sequentially to close 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, to open said discharge valve for material to pass through said discharge valve and outwardly through said discharge conduit, then to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve for the residual compressed gas to purge material through said purge valve and said by-pass conduit, and material outwardly through said discharge conduit, then to open said fill valve, as aforesaid, said operative circuitry including material weight actuated, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to function in at least one of the opening of said discharge valve, the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve, and in the opening of said fill valve.

Claim 23

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 valve communicating into said gas plenum, a discharge valve controlled discharge conduit with discharge valve disposed exteriorally of and in communication with the upper paRt of said material plenum, a purge valve controlled by-pass conduit with purge valve disposed in communication with the upper part of said material plenum adjacent and around said discharge valve, operative circuitry including control means, and being operable to open said fill valve, said circuitry including at least one of time actuated means, material level sensor actuated means, and batch weight actuated, vessel supporting scale generated, pressure fluid signal operated circuitry, to close said fill valve, said operative circuitry then being automatically operable sequentially to close 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, to open said discharge valve for material to pass through said discharge valve and outwardly through said discharge conduit, then to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve for the residual compressed gas to purge material through said purge valve and said by-pass conduit, and material outwardly through said discharge conduit, then to open said fill valve, as aforesaid, said operative circuitry including material weight actuated, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to function in at least one of the opening of said discharge valve, the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve, and in the opening of said fill valve.

Claim 24

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of its high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes to function, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 25

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of its high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 26

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which said operative circuitry includes pressure sensitive means, operative as the pressure rises in excess of its high control pressure, to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 27

Material transporting aparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes to function, as the material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes pressuRe sensitive means operative as the material plenum pressure falls substantially to atmospheric, to open said fill valve.

Claim 28

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes to function, as material plenum pressure falls with discharge below a lower control pressure, a pressure sensitive means to actuate the closing of said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and the opening of said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 29

Material transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said discharge valve; in which said operative circuitry includes material and gas weight actuated, vessel supporting, scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to close said discharge valve and said gas inlet valve and open said purge valve; and in which said operative circuitry includes substantially pressure vessel weight supporting scale generated pressure fluid signal operated circuitry to open said fill valve.

Claim 30

In combination with a pressure vessel having uprights extending upwardly thereabove, an upper platform for supporting a load cell thereon with openings therein to receive said uprights guidably slidably therethrough, a lower platform providing the load cell upper anvil centrally thereunder to seat upon the lower anvil carried at top of said load cell, and means to connect said uprights at top to said upper platform, material transporting apparatus comprising said pressure vessel and said pressure vessel further including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum therabove and a gas plenum therebelow, fill valve means to admit flowable material into the upper portion of said vessel to upstand from said diaphragm and controlling an inlet conduit, a valve controlled, pressurized gas entry conduit into said gas plenum, a discharge valve controlling a discharge conduit and disposed in said discharge conduit exteriorally of said pressure vessel, a valve controlled,purge conduit from said pressure vessel and by-passing said discharge valve to join into said discharge conduit downstream of said discharge valve, automatically operative circuitry including at least one of a level probe, timer means, and a load cell emanated signal transmitting means to actuate opening of fill valve means, including at least one of a limit switch closed by fill valve closure and timer means to actuate opening of said gas entry valve, and including at least one of pressure sensitive switch means , load cell emanated signal transmitting means and timer means to accomplish at least one of opening said discharge valve, of closing said discharge valve and said gas entry valve while opening said purge valve, and of opening said fill valve to start again the aforesaid cycle.

Claim 31

In combination with a pressure vessel having uprights extending upwardly thereabove, an upper platform for supporting a load cell thereon with openings therein to receive said uprights guidably slidably therethrough, a lower platform providing the load cell upper anvil centrally thereunder to seat upon the lower anvil carried at top of said load cell, and means to connect said uprights at top to said upper platform, material transporting apparatus comprising said pressure vessel and said pressure vessel further including a gas permeable diaphragm bridging the lower part of said vessel above the bottom thereof and dividing it into a material plenum therabove and a gas plenum therebelow, fill valve means to admit flowable material into the upper portion of said vessel to upstand from said diaphragm and controlling an inlet conduit, a valve controlled, pressurized gas entry conduit into said gas plenum, a discharge valve controlling a discharge conduit and disposed in said discharge conduit exteriorally of said pressure vessel, a valve controlled,purge conduit from said pressure vessel and by-passing said discharge valve to join into said discharge conduit downstream of said discharge valve, automatically operative circuitry including at least one of a level probe, timer means, and a load cell emanated signal transmitting means to actuate opening of fill valve means, including at least one of a limit switch closed by fill valve closure and timer means to actuate opening of said gas entry valve, and including at least one of pressure sensitive switch means , load cell emanated signal transmitting means and timer means to accomplish at least one of opening said discharge valve, of closing said discharge valve and said gas entry valve while opening said purge valve, and of opening said fill valve to start again the aforesaid cycle.

Claim 32

Material transporting means as claimed in claim 28, which additionally includes a purge valve controlled by-pass conduit with purge valve disposed in communication with the upper part of said material plenum and to connect into said discharge conduit downstream of said discharge valve.

Claim 33

Material transporting means as claimed in claim 28, in which said pressure vessel discharge is downwardly, and in which a motor driven agitator is provided to sweep through the material is it upstands above said diaphragm.

Claim 34

Material transporting means as claimed in claim 28, which additionally includes a hopper for material, at a higher elevation that said upper platform, and in which said inlet conduit iNcludes a downspout.

Claim 35

Material transporting means as claimed in claim 28, in which said fill valve means comprises an upper and lower fill valve above said downspout with a flexible connection therebetween, and in which said circuitry includes means to insure that said upper fill valve closes slightly before said lower fill valve closed.