Powder feeder

Abstract

Abstract A powder feeder is disclosed for delivering metered amounts of a fluid powdered substance to a nozzle for distribution. The powder feeder includes a gas-powder distribution wheel mounted for rotation within a closed housing. The distribution wheel contains a plurality of axially bored, equidistantly spaced powder and gas receiving cavities. The powdered substance is stored in an agitatable vibrating hopper connected to a powder inlet port bored in the upper section of the wheel housing. Powder from the hopper passes through the powder inlet and into the powderreceiving cavities whenever the rotating cavities are in registry with the powder inlet port. A second or gas inlet port is bored in the lower or bottom section of the housing for introducing a pressurized gas into the powder and gas receiving cavities as each cavity comes into registry with a gas inlet port and a gas and powder outlet port. In a preferred embodiment, a gas bypass line is provided to direct the pressurized gas into either the powder receiving cavity, which has been filled with a powder, or the gas receiving cavity. A second bypass line is provided which connects the powder receiving and gas receiving cavities with the outlet port in the upper or top section of the housing. A synchronous motor or other driving indexing means is connectingly keyed to a shaft connected to the rotatable distribution wheel for continuous or intermittent rotation of the wheel. With the above powder feeder, metered quantities of a fluid powdered substance separated by a gas pulse can be carried from the outlet port through an outlet line for introduction into a nozzle for distribution or other distributing devices such as a plasma spray gun. The above described powder feeder system provides a means whereby a constant and reproducible amount of a fluid powdered substance can be deposited as a coating on various types of substrates such as the inner walls of containers.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert G Coucher

Bibliographic Details