Method for the effective dispensation of oxidation-and/or moisture-sensitive materials

Claim 1

A method for conveying an oxidation-sensitive and/or moisture-sensitive free-flowing powder material from an air-tight storage tank means to another vessel without exposing said material to the stmosphere, which comprises successively introducing an inert gas into a first conduit means to purge the surrounding atmosphere from said conduit means, attaching said first conduit means to a closure means of the storage tank, attachment of said first conduit means placing said conduit means in communication with the material in said tank; introducing said inert gas into said storage tank to place the material under a slight excess pressure; limiting the pressure in said storage tank by venting some gas to atmosphere; detachably connecting a second conduit means to said storage tank while said inert gas is being introduced through said first conduit means, placing second conduit means in communication with the other vessel; and introducing the inert gas through first conduit means into said storage tank at a higher pressure sufficient to force the sensitive powder material in the storage tank through the second conduit means together with said inert gas into said other vessel.

Claim 2

A method for conveying an oxidation-sensitive and/or moisture-sensitive free-flowing powder material from an air-tight storage tank means to another vessel without exposing said material to the stmosphere, which comprises successively introducing an inert gas into a first conduit means to purge the surrounding atmosphere from said conduit means, attaching said first conduit means to a closure means of the storage tank, attachment of said first conduit means placing said conduit means in communication with the material in said tank; introducing said inert gas into said storage tank to place the material under a slight excess pressure; limiting the pressure in said storage tank by venting some gas to atmosphere; detachably connecting a second conduit means to said storage tank while said inert gas is being introduced through said first conduit means, placing second conduit means in communication with the other vessel; and introducing the inert gas through first conduit means into said storage tank at a higher pressure sufficient to force the sensitive powder material in the storage tank through the second conduit means together with said inert gas into said other vessel.

Claim 8

A method for conveying an oxidation-sensitive and/or moisture-sensitive material from an air-tight storage tank to another vessel without exposing said material to the atmosphere, which comprises the successive steps of introducing an inert gas into a first conduit means to purge the surrounding atmosphere from said conduit means, attaching said first conduit means to a first closure means in the lid of a storage tank, said closure means being provided with a normally closed valve means which is operatively associated with said conduit means whereby attachment of said conduit means causes said valve means to open; introducing said inert gas into said storage tank to place the material under a slight excess pressure; said excess pressure being limited by a pressure indicating means which communicates with said first conduit means, said pressure indicating means optically indicating said excess pressure and relieving said excess pressure by venting said gas to atmosphere; removing a second closure means from the lid of said storage tank to provide an opening that allows a purging stream of said inert gas to flow through said tank and into the atmosphere; inserting a second conduit means into said tank via said opening whereby said stream of purging gas flows through said second conduit means; then further inserting said second conduit means into the sensitive material within said storage tank; detachably connecting said second conduit means to the lid of said storage tank while said inert gas is being introduced through said first conduit means, said second conduit means reaching the lower portion of the storage tank and extending from the tank to provide communication with the other vessel; stopping communication between said pressure indicating means and said first conduit means, and introducing the inert gas through first conduit means into said storage tank at a higher pressure sufficient to force the sensitive material in the storage tank up through the second conduit means into said other vessel.

Claim 9

A method for conveying an oxidation-sensitive and/or moisture-sensitive material from an air-tight storage tank to another vessel without exposing said material to the atmosphere, which comprises the successive steps of introducing an inert gas into a first conduit means to purge the surrounding atmosphere from said conduit means, attaching said first conduit means to a first closure means in the lid of a storage tank, said closure means being provided with a normally closed valve means which is operatively associated with said conduit means whereby attachment of said conduit means causes said valve means to open; introducing said inert gas into said storage tank to place the material under a slight excess pressure; said excess pressure being limited by a pressure indicating means which communicates with said first conduit means, said pressure indicating means optically indicating said excess pressure and relieving said excess pressure by venting said gas to atmosphere; removing a second closure means from the lid of said storage tank to provide an opening that allows a purging stream of said inert gas to flow through said tank and into the atmosphere; inserting a second conduit means into said tank via said opening whereby said stream of purging gas flows through said second conduit means; then further inserting said second conduit means into the sensitive material within said storage tank; detachably connecting said second conduit means to the lid of said storage tank while said inert gas is being introduced through said first conduit means, said second conduit means reaching the lower portion of the storage tank and extending from the tank to provide communication with the other vessel; stopping communication between said pressure indicating means and said first conduit means, and introducing the inert gas through first conduit means into said storage tank at a higher pressure sufficient to force the sensitive material in the storage tank up through the second conduit means into said other vessel.