Method and apparatus for directional switching of pneumatic material transport piping

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling pipe means is generally arcuate, the angle formed between the axes of the opposite ends of said coupling pipe means being approximately 120*.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein the open ends of said pipe means are arranged around said support means and spaced apart from each other at radial angles relative to said substantially vertical axis of approximately 120*.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling pipe means includes a generally arcuate pipe member.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said second coupling means on each end of said coupling pipe means comprises flange means, said first coupling means comprising flange means on the open ends of said pipe means and means for quickly attaching and detaching said second coupling means to adjacent ones of said first coupling means.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling pipe means includes an outer metallic shell and an inner abrasion resistant lining.

Claim 8

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said stations includes means for containing and pressurizing metallurgical process material and the other of said stations include a metallurgical vessel, said coupling pipe means being adapted when in its coupling position to couple one of said metallurgical vessels to said material containing vessel and being constructed and arranged when in its alternate position to couple said material containing vessel to the other of said metallurgical vessels.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said coupling pipe means is generally arcuate, the angle formed between the axes of the opposite ends of said coupling pipe means being approximately 120*.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein the open ends of said pipe means are arranged around said support means and spaced apart from each other at radial angles relative to said substantially vertical axis of approximately 120*.

Claim 11

A metallurgical process system including a plurality of spaced apart stations, certain of said stations comprising container means for containing metallurgical process material and others of said stations comprising metallurgical processing vessels, a plurality of pipe means respectively connected with one of said container means and with one of said metallurgical vessels, each pipe means having an open end, first and second support means each rotatable between first, second and third alternate positions, third support means rotatable between a plurality of positions, first and second interconnecting pipe means each having one end adjacent said thIrd support means and another end extending away therefrom, first, second and third pipe coupling means mounted on said third support means and being rotatable therewith, said first pipe coupling means being constructed and arranged to connect said one metallurgical vessel to said one container means when in a first coupling position and for connecting said first interconnecting pipe means to said second interconnecting pipe means when in a second coupling position, said second pipe coupling means being adapted when in a first coupling position to couple said one metallurgical vessel to said second interconnecting pipe means and to couple said one container means to said second interconnecting pipe when in a second coupling position, said third pipe coupling means being adapted to connect said one metallurgical vessel to said first interconnecting pipe means when in a first coupling position and said one container means to said first interconnecting pipe means when in a second coupling position, said pipe coupling means each having a first radially extending coupling member at each end and each of said interconnecting pipe means having at said ends adjacent said support means a second radially extending coupling member, the radial extent of said coupling members interfering with rotation of said pipe coupling means with said support means when said third pipe coupling means is in either of its first or second coupling position, and means for supporting at least a pair of said coupling pipe means for bidirectional movement on said third support means from their coupling positions to a non-interfering position toward and radially away from the rotational axis of said rotatable support means, whereby to enable retraction of said pipe coupling means so that said coupling members are in non-interfering relationship to permit rotation of said pipe coupling means with said third support means.

Claim 12

A metallurgical process system including a plurality of spaced apart stations, certain of said stations comprising container means for containing metallurgical process material and others of said stations comprising metallurgical processing vessels, a plurality of pipe means respectively connected with one of said container means and with one of said metallurgical vessels, each pipe means having an open end, first and second support means each rotatable between first, second and third alternate positions, third support means rotatable between a plurality of positions, first and second interconnecting pipe means each having one end adjacent said thIrd support means and another end extending away therefrom, first, second and third pipe coupling means mounted on said third support means and being rotatable therewith, said first pipe coupling means being constructed and arranged to connect said one metallurgical vessel to said one container means when in a first coupling position and for connecting said first interconnecting pipe means to said second interconnecting pipe means when in a second coupling position, said second pipe coupling means being adapted when in a first coupling position to couple said one metallurgical vessel to said second interconnecting pipe means and to couple said one container means to said second interconnecting pipe when in a second coupling position, said third pipe coupling means being adapted to connect said one metallurgical vessel to said first interconnecting pipe means when in a first coupling position and said one container means to said first interconnecting pipe means when in a second coupling position, said pipe coupling means each having a first radially extending coupling member at each end and each of said interconnecting pipe means having at said ends adjacent said support means a second radially extending coupling member, the radial extent of said coupling members interfering with rotation of said pipe coupling means with said support means when said third pipe coupling means is in either of its first or second coupling position, and means for supporting at least a pair of said coupling pipe means for bidirectional movement on said third support means from their coupling positions to a non-interfering position toward and radially away from the rotational axis of said rotatable support means, whereby to enable retraction of said pipe coupling means so that said coupling members are in non-interfering relationship to permit rotation of said pipe coupling means with said third support means.

Claim 13

The system set forth in claim 10 wherein said first interconnecting pipe means comprises a pair of coaxial, endwise spaced pipe members, and yieldable means for joining said adjacent ends of said pipe coupling means and said interconnecting pipe members, the means for selectively contracting and extending said first pipe coupling means to alternately position its radially extending coupling members in non-interfering and engaging relation with the adjacent coupling members.

Claim 14

The apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein said second and third coupling pipe means are disposed on the opposite sides of said first coupling pipe means and are generally arcuate, the angle formed between the axes of the opposite ends of said coupling pipe means being approximately 120*.

Claim 15

The system set forth in claim 10 and wherein said plurality of spaced apart stations include second and third container means for containing metallurgical process material and second and third metallurgical vessels, a pipe means associated with each of said second and third container means and metallurgical vessels, and each pipe means including one end coupled to its associated station and an open end, second and third support means each movable between first, second and third alternate positions, said first interconnecting pipe means extending between said first and second support means and being open at its opposite ends and said second interconnecting pipe means extending between said first and third support means and being open at its opposite ends, fourth coupling pipe means mounted on said second support means and being movably therewith, said fourth coupling pipe means being open at its opposite ends for selective connection to said pipe means, said forth coupling pipe means being adapted when said second support means is in its first, second and third position respectively to couple a second container means to a second metallurgical vessle, said second container to said first interconnecting pipe, and said second metallurgical vessel to said interconnEcting pipe, fifth coupling means mounted on said third support means and being movable therewith, said fifth pipe coupling means being adapted when said third support means is in its first, second and third positions for respectively coupling said third metallurgical vessel to said third container means, said third container means to said second interconnecting pipe and said third metallurgical vessel to said second interconnecting pipe.