Integral in-line discharge air gravity conveyor

Claim 1

A system for fluidized transport and bulk delivery of finely divided particulate material comprising an elongate particulate material transport conduit having a floor portion of gas permeable material, means for introducing a diffused upwardly directed flow of gas through said floor portion into said transport conduit to fluidize the particulate contents thereof, a plurality of bulk maTerial discharge assemblies disposed in intersecting particulate material communication with the floor portion of said conduit at longitudinally spaced locations therealong and located intermediate the point of introduction of particulate material thereinto and a remote terminal end thereof, and means located substantially above each of the discharge assemblies and adjacent the roof portion of said transport conduit for externally venting said fluidizing gas introduced through said floor portion thereof, and each of said bulk discharge assemblies including, a first inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and a second terminal end disposed a predetermined distance below the downstream thereof, a second inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and in downstream spaced relation with the upper end of said first inclined wall portion and defining in said floor portion a transversely disposed, unobstructed particulate material receiving aperture therebetween and extending substantially the full width of said floor portion, and having a second terminal end disposed in spaced relation with said second terminal end of said first inclined wall portion, said first and second inclined wall portions cooperatively defining an inclined bulk material transfer conduit downwardly dependent from the floor portion of said transport conduit, and selectively controllable delivery means disposed in bulk particulate material communication with the dependent end of said transfer conduit for effecting bulk delivery of particulate material accumulated therein upon demand therefor, with bulk particulate material flowing within said transport conduit being transported over said transversely disposed aperture when the transfer conduit is filled with particulate material.

Claim 2

A system for fluidized transport and bulk delivery of finely divided particulate material comprising an elongate particulate material transport conduit having a floor portion of gas permeable material, means for introducing a diffused upwardly directed flow of gas through said floor portion into said transport conduit to fluidize the particulate contents thereof, a plurality of bulk maTerial discharge assemblies disposed in intersecting particulate material communication with the floor portion of said conduit at longitudinally spaced locations therealong and located intermediate the point of introduction of particulate material thereinto and a remote terminal end thereof, and means located substantially above each of the discharge assemblies and adjacent the roof portion of said transport conduit for externally venting said fluidizing gas introduced through said floor portion thereof, and each of said bulk discharge assemblies including, a first inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and a second terminal end disposed a predetermined distance below the downstream thereof, a second inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and in downstream spaced relation with the upper end of said first inclined wall portion and defining in said floor portion a transversely disposed, unobstructed particulate material receiving aperture therebetween and extending substantially the full width of said floor portion, and having a second terminal end disposed in spaced relation with said second terminal end of said first inclined wall portion, said first and second inclined wall portions cooperatively defining an inclined bulk material transfer conduit downwardly dependent from the floor portion of said transport conduit, and selectively controllable delivery means disposed in bulk particulate material communication with the dependent end of said transfer conduit for effecting bulk delivery of particulate material accumulated therein upon demand therefor, with bulk particulate material flowing within said transport conduit being transported over said transversely disposed aperture when the transfer conduit is filled with particulate material.

Claim 3

A system for fluidized transport and bulk delivery of finely divided particulate material comprising an elongate particulate material transport conduit having a floor portion of gas permeable material, means for introducing a diffused upwardly directed flow of gas through said floor portion into said transport conduit to fluidize the particulate contents thereof, a plurality of bulk maTerial discharge assemblies disposed in intersecting particulate material communication with the floor portion of said conduit at longitudinally spaced locations therealong and located intermediate the point of introduction of particulate material thereinto and a remote terminal end thereof, and means located substantially above each of the discharge assemblies and adjacent the roof portion of said transport conduit for externally venting said fluidizing gas introduced through said floor portion thereof, and each of said bulk discharge assemblies including, a first inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and a second terminal end disposed a predetermined distance below the downstream thereof, a second inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and in downstream spaced relation with the upper end of said first inclined wall portion and defining in said floor portion a transversely disposed, unobstructed particulate material receiving aperture therebetween and extending substantially the full width of said floor portion, and having a second terminal end disposed in spaced relation with said second terminal end of said first inclined wall portion, said first and second inclined wall portions cooperatively defining an inclined bulk material transfer conduit downwardly dependent from the floor portion of said transport conduit, and selectively controllable delivery means disposed in bulk particulate material communication with the dependent end of said transfer conduit for effecting bulk delivery of particulate material accumulated therein upon demand therefor, with bulk particulate material flowing within said transport conduit being transported over said transversely disposed aperture when the transfer conduit is filled with particulate material.

Claim 4

A system for fluidized transport and bulk delivery of finely divided particulate material comprising an elongate particulate material transport conduit having a floor portion of gas permeable material, means for introducing a diffused upwardly directed flow of gas through said floor portion into said transport conduit to fluidize the particulate contents thereof, a plurality of bulk maTerial discharge assemblies disposed in intersecting particulate material communication with the floor portion of said conduit at longitudinally spaced locations therealong and located intermediate the point of introduction of particulate material thereinto and a remote terminal end thereof, and means located substantially above each of the discharge assemblies and adjacent the roof portion of said transport conduit for externally venting said fluidizing gas introduced through said floor portion thereof, and each of said bulk discharge assemblies including, a first inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and a second terminal end disposed a predetermined distance below the downstream thereof, a second inclined wall portion having its upper terminal end disposed coterminous with said floor portion and in downstream spaced relation with the upper end of said first inclined wall portion and defining in said floor portion a transversely disposed, unobstructed particulate material receiving aperture therebetween and extending substantially the full width of said floor portion, and having a second terminal end disposed in spaced relation with said second terminal end of said first inclined wall portion, said first and second inclined wall portions cooperatively defining an inclined bulk material transfer conduit downwardly dependent from the floor portion of said transport conduit, and selectively controllable delivery means disposed in bulk particulate material communication with the dependent end of said transfer conduit for effecting bulk delivery of particulate material accumulated therein upon demand therefor, with bulk particulate material flowing within said transport conduit being transported over said transversely disposed aperture when the transfer conduit is filled with particulate material.