US3836288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Blower control assembly for vacuum conveyor system
Assignee: First National Bank of Chicago
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Filing: 1973-05-17
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1993-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A control assembly for the blower of a vacuum conveyor system, comprising a three-way fluid-pressure-actuated blower inlet valve connecting the blower inlet either to the conveyor system or to exhaust, a similar blower outlet valve connecting the blower outlet either to the conveyor system or to exhaust, and actuating means for actuating the valves, in coordination, to (A) a conveyor vacuum mode of operation with the blower inlet valve open to the conveyor system and the outlet valve open to exhaust, to (B) a conveyor pressure mode with the inlet valve open to exhaust and the outlet valve open to the conveyor system, and to (C) a conveyor idling mode, with both valves open to exhaust.
Inventors
- 👤 A Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/04; B65G53/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A blower control assembly for the blower of a vacuum conveyor system, providing both vacuum and pressure operation of the conveyor system without reversal of the blower, comprising: a blower inlet valve having first, second, and third ports respectively connected to the conveyor system, to an exhaust conduit, and to the blower inlet; a blower outlet valve having first, second, and third ports respectively connected to the conveyor system, to an exhaust conduit, and to the blower outlet; each of the blower inlet and outlet valves being actuatable between a first operating condition, in which the second valve port is connected to the third valve port with the first valve port closed, and a second operating condition in which the third valve port is connected to the first valve port with the second valve port closed; and actuating means, connected to the blower inlet and outlet valves, for selectively actuating the valves to establish the conveyor system in each of the following modes of operation: A. a conveyor vacuum mode, with the blower inlet valve in its second operating condition and the blower outlet valve in its first operating condition; B. a conveyor pressure mode, with the blower inlet valve in its first operating condition and the blower outlet valve in its second operating condition; and C. a conveyor idling mode, with each blower valve in its first operating condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A blower control assembly for the blower of a vacuum conveyor system, providing both vacuum and pressure operation of the conveyor system without reversal of the blower, comprising: a blower inlet valve having first, second, and third ports respectively connected to the conveyor system, to an exhaust conduit, and to the blower inlet; a blower outlet valve having first, second, and third ports respectively connected to the conveyor system, to an exhaust conduit, and to the blower outlet; each of the blower inlet and outlet valves being actuatable between a first operating condition, in which the second valve port is connected to the third valve port with the first valve port closed, and a second operating condition in which the third valve port is connected to the first valve port with the second valve port closed; and actuating means, connected to the blower inlet and outlet valves, for selectively actuating the valves to establish the conveyor system in each of the following modes of operation: A. a conveyor vacuum mode, with the blower inlet valve in its second operating condition and the blower outlet valve in its first operating condition; B. a conveyor pressure mode, with the blower inlet valve in its first operating condition and the blower outlet valve in its second operating condition; and C. a conveyor idling mode, with each blower valve in its first operating condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 1, in which each of the blower inlet and outlet valves includes biasing means for biasing the valve toward its first operating condition, so that the idling mode obtains in the event of failure of the actuating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 2, in which the biasing means for the blower inlet valve exerts only a limited biasing force, so that the blower inlet valve functions as a pressure relief valve in the pressure mode of operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 1, in which the actuating means includes pulse means for actuating the blower outlet valve between its second and first operating conditions in a series of short spaced pulses, in the pressure mode of operation, for effective blowback without excessive dusting or excessive air movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 4, in which the pulse means includes means for adjusting the relative duration and frequency of the time intervals in which the blower outlet valve is held in its second operating condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 1, in which the actuating means comprises a supply of fluid under pressure and in which each of the blower inlet and outlet valves comprises: a cylindrical valve housing having the first and second ports at opposite ends of the housing and the third port in the central portion of the housing; a fluid pressure actuated valve operator mounted in the valve housing and having first and second valve operating rod elements projecting toward the first and second ports, respectively; and first and second port closure members, mounted on the first and second valve operating rod elements and aligned with the first and second ports, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 6, in which each valve operator comprises a sealed cylinder, in which the operating rod elements for each valve operator comprise a single unitary operating rod extending axially through the valve operator cylinder and projecting outwardly of the ends thereof, and in which each valve operator includes a piston mounted on the operating rod within the valve operator cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 7, in which each valve operator includes a biasing spring biasing the piston toward the end of the valve operator cylinder through which the first operating rod element extends, so that each valve is normally maintained in its first operating condition and the idling mode obtains in the event of failure of the fluid pressure supply for the actuating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 7, in which each port closure member of the inlet blower valve is of conical configuration, formed of relatively soft elastomer material, and seats on a sharp annular valve seat at the inner end of the port with which the closure member is aligned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 9, in which each port closure member of the outlet blower valve is of conical configuration, formed of relatively soft elastomer material, and seats on a sharp annular valve seat at the inner end of the port with which the closure member is aligned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 9, in which the first port closure member of the outlet blower valve is of conical configuration, formed of relatively soft elastomer material, and seats on a sharp annular valve seat at the inner end of the first port, and in which the second port closure member is slightly smaller in diameter than the second port of the outlet blower valve and projects into the second port to close the second port only partially when the outlet blower valve is in its second operating condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A blower control assembly for a vacuum conveyor system, according to claim 6, in which a pressure release means is connected to the blower inlet valve to release the blower inlet valve to return toward its first operating condition whenever the pressure in the inlet valve housing falls below a given threshold level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3232559A
Cited
US3711038A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |