Dual cylinder reciprocating solids feeder

Claim 2

A solids feeder for introducing particulated solids into a solids upflow vessel having a bottom solids inlet opening, which comprises: a horizontally movable carriage positioned below said solids upflow vessel; carriage actuator means for reciprocating said carriage between first and second stationary positions; first and second solids feed chutes communicating with an elevated solids feed reservoir for transporting particulated solids from said solids feed reservoir by gravity flow, each of said solids feed chutes terminating in a bottom outlet opening located at opposite sides of and in the same horizontal plane as the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel, and the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel being aligned in uniformly spaced relationship along an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage; first and second vertical solids feed cylinders mounted on said carriage in spaced relationship along an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage, said first solids feed cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said first solids feed chute and said second solids feed cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said carriage is in said first stationary position, and said first solids feed cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel and said second cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said second solids feed chute when said carriage is in said second stationary position; a first solids feed piston movably mounted in said first solids feed cylinder; a second solids feed piston movably mounted in said second solids feed cylinder; solids feed piston actuator means for reciprocating said first and second solids feed pistons; solids sealing means for sealing said bottom outlet openings of said first and said second solids feed chutes and the solids inlet opening of said solids inlet vessel when said first and second solids feed cylinders are not axially aligned therewith; and control means for synchronizing the movement of said carriage and said first and said second solids feed pistons.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel, said bottom outlet openings of said first and second feed chutes and said reciprocatable carriage are encased in a fluid-tight housing.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage actuator means includes a hydraulic power cylinder that actuates a connecting rod connected to said carriage.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said solids feed piston actuator means includes a first hydraulic power cylinder to reciprocate said first solids feed piston and a second hydraulic power cylinder to reciprocate said second solids feed piston.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes 1rate control means for controlling the speed of movement of said carriage and said first and second solids feed pistons; and 2motion sequence control means to effect the movement of said carriage between said first and said second stationary positions while maintaining said first and second solids feed pistons stationary, and to simultaneously move said first and second solids feed pistons in opposite directions while maintaining said carriage stationary in said first or said second stationary positions.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said solid sealing means comprises a horizontal planar surface at the top of said carriage which is maintained in close proximity to the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said first and second solids feed cylinders are not aligned therewith.

Claim 8

A solids feeder for transporting particulated solids from an elevated solids feed reservoir and introducing said solids into a solids upflow vessel having a bottom solids inlet opening, which comprises: a horizontally movable carriage positioned below said solids upflow vessel; carriage support means for supporting said carriage for reciprocating movement; carriage actuator means for reciprocating said carriage between first and second stationary positions; first and second solids feed chutes for transporting the particulate solids from said particulate solids feed reservoir by gravity flow, each of said solids feed chutes terminating in a bottom outlet opening located at opposite sides of and in the same horizontal plane as the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel, and the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel being aligned in uniformly spaced relationship along an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage; first and second vertical solids feed cylinders mounted on said carriage in spaced relationship along an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage, said first cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said first solids feed chute and said second vertical solids feed cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said carriage is in said first stationary position, and said first cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel and said second cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said second solids feed chute when said carriage is in said second stationary position; a first solids feeder piston movably mounted in said first solids feed cylinder; a first hydraulic operator means for reciprocating said first solids feed piston in said first cylinder; a second solids feed piston movably mounted in said second solids feed cylinder; second hydraulic operator means for reciprocating said second solids feed piston in said second cylinder; solids sealing means for sealing the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said first and second solids feed cylinders are not axially aligned therewith; and control means for controlling the speed of movement of said carriage and said first and second solids feed pistons, and for effecting the movement of said carriage between said first and second stationary positions while maintaining said first and second solids feed pistons stationary, and to simultaneously move said first and second solids feed pistons in opposite directions while maintaining said carriage stationary in said first or said second stationary positions.

Claim 9

A solids feeder for transporting particulated solids from an elevated solids feed reservoir and introducing said solids into a solids upflow vessel having a bottom solids inlet opening, which comprises: a horizontally movable carriage positioned below said solids upflow vessel; carriage support means for supporting said carriage for reciprocating movement; carriage actuator means for reciprocating said carriage between first and second stationary positions; first and second solids feed chutes for transporting the particulate solids from said particulate solids feed reservoir by gravity flow, each of said solids feed chutes terminating in a bottom outlet opening located at opposite sides of and in the same horizontal plane as the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel, and the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel being aligned in uniformly spaced relationship along an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage; first and second vertical solids feed cylinders mounted on said carriage in spaced relationship along an axis parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage, said first cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said first solids feed chute and said second vertical solids feed cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said carriage is in said first stationary position, and said first cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel and said second cylinder being axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said second solids feed chute when said carriage is in said second stationary position; a first solids feeder piston movably mounted in said first solids feed cylinder; a first hydraulic operator means for reciprocating said first solids feed piston in said first cylinder; a second solids feed piston movably mounted in said second solids feed cylinder; second hydraulic operator means for reciprocating said second solids feed piston in said second cylinder; solids sealing means for sealing the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said first and second solids feed cylinders are not axially aligned therewith; and control means for controlling the speed of movement of said carriage and said first and second solids feed pistons, and for effecting the movement of said carriage between said first and second stationary positions while maintaining said first and second solids feed pistons stationary, and to simultaneously move said first and second solids feed pistons in opposite directions while maintaining said carriage stationary in said first or said second stationary positions.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel, the bottom outlet openings of said first and second feed chutes, and said reciprocatable carriage are encased in a fluid-tight housing.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said carriage actuator means includes a fixedly mounted hydraulic power cylinder that actuates a connecting rod connected to said carriage.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said solids sealing means comprises a horizontal planar surface at the top of said carriage which is maintained in close proximity to the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow vessel when said first and second solids feed cylinders are not aligned therewith.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said carriage includes an upper support base upon which said first and second solids feed cylinders, said first and second hydraulic operator means, and said solids sealing means are mounted; a pair of elongated lower support bases in side-by-side relationship, pin connector means for flexibly attaching said upper support base to said lower support base, and two pair of upper tracks fixedly attached in spaced relationship to said lower support bases, one of said upper tracks being located at each side of said lower support bases.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said carriage support means includes: two pairs of lower tracks fixedly mounted below said solids upflow vessel in the same spaced relationship as said upper tracks, said tracks being parallel with the direction of movement of said carriage; and a plurality of pairs of wheels, each of said pairs of wheels being fixedly attached to an axle, said wheels being adapted to engage one of said upper tracks and one of said lower tracks to movably support said carriage on said lower tracks; and means to maintain the longitudinal spacing between said pairs of wheels.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined in claim 7 including solids diverter means at each end of said carriage to divert falling solids to the sides of said carriage, and solids collection means for collecting said solids.

Claim 16

A solids feeder for transporting particulated solids from an elevated solids feed reservoir and introducing said solids into a solids upflow retort vessel having a bottom solids inlet opening, which comprises: first and second solids feed chutes for transporting the particulate solids from said solids feed reservoir by gravity flow, each of said solids feed chutes terminating in a bottom outlet opening located at opposite sides of and in the same horizontal plane as the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow retort vessel, and said bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow retort vessel being of approximately the same diameter and aligned in uniformly spaced relationship along a common axis; two pair of lower tracks fixedly mounted in spaced relationship below said retort vessel, said tracks being parallel with said common axis; a horizontally movable carriage positioned below said retort vessel, said carriage including an upper support base, a pair of elongated lower support bases in side-by-side relationship, pin connector means for flexibly attaching said upper support base to said lower support base, and two pair of upper tracks fixedly attached to said lower support bases in the same spaced relationship as said lower tracks, one of said upper tracks being located at each side of said lower support bases; roller means for movably supporting said carriage on said lower tracks, said roller means including a plurality of pairs of wheels, each of said pairs of wheels being fixedly attached to an axle, said wheels being adapted to engage one of said upper tracks and one of said lower tracks in rolling relationship to movably support said carriage on said lower tracks, and means to maintain the longitudinal spacing between said pairs of wheels; first and second vertical solids feed cylinders mounted on said upper support base in spaced relationship along the longitudinal axis of said carriage, said cylinders having essentially the same diameter and spacing as the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said retort vessel; a first solids feed piston movably mounted in said first solids feed cylinder; a first hydraulic power cylinder mounted on said upper support base for reciprocating said solids feed piston in said first solids feed cylinder; a second solids feed piston movably mounted in said second solids feed cylinder; a second hydraulic power cylinder mounted on said upper support base for reciprocating said second feed piston in said second feed cylinder; a fluid-tight housing encasing the bottom of said retort vessel, the bottom of said first and second solids feed chutes, and said carriage; a carriage actuator hydraulic power cylinder located exterior of said housing and having a connecting rod extending into said housing and connected to said carriage for reciprocating said carriage between a first stationary position in which said first solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said first solids feed chute and the second solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said retort vessel, and a second stationary position in which said first solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said retort vessel and said second solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said second solids feed chute; hydraulic fluid supply means responsive to a control means to supply hydraulic fluid to said first and second hydraulic power cylinders and said carriage actuator; and control means for controlling the speed of movement of said carriage and said first and second solids feed pistons, and for effecting the movement of said carriage between said first and second stationary positions while maintaining said first and second solids feed pistons stationary, and to simultaneously move said first and second solids feed pistons in opposite directions while maintaining said carriage stationary in said first or second stationary positions.

Claim 17

A solids feeder for transporting particulated solids from an elevated solids feed reservoir and introducing said solids into a solids upflow retort vessel having a bottom solids inlet opening, which comprises: first and second solids feed chutes for transporting the particulate solids from said solids feed reservoir by gravity flow, each of said solids feed chutes terminating in a bottom outlet opening located at opposite sides of and in the same horizontal plane as the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow retort vessel, and said bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said solids upflow retort vessel being of approximately the same diameter and aligned in uniformly spaced relationship along a common axis; two pair of lower tracks fixedly mounted in spaced relationship below said retort vessel, said tracks being parallel with said common axis; a horizontally movable carriage positioned below said retort vessel, said carriage including an upper support base, a pair of elongated lower support bases in side-by-side relationship, pin connector means for flexibly attaching said upper support base to said lower support base, and two pair of upper tracks fixedly attached to said lower support bases in the same spaced relationship as said lower tracks, one of said upper tracks being located at each side of said lower support bases; roller means for movably supporting said carriage on said lower tracks, said roller means including a plurality of pairs of wheels, each of said pairs of wheels being fixedly attached to an axle, said wheels being adapted to engage one of said upper tracks and one of said lower tracks in rolling relationship to movably support said carriage on said lower tracks, and means to maintain the longitudinal spacing between said pairs of wheels; first and second vertical solids feed cylinders mounted on said upper support base in spaced relationship along the longitudinal axis of said carriage, said cylinders having essentially the same diameter and spacing as the bottom outlet openings of said first and second solids feed chutes and the bottom solids inlet opening of said retort vessel; a first solids feed piston movably mounted in said first solids feed cylinder; a first hydraulic power cylinder mounted on said upper support base for reciprocating said solids feed piston in said first solids feed cylinder; a second solids feed piston movably mounted in said second solids feed cylinder; a second hydraulic power cylinder mounted on said upper support base for reciprocating said second feed piston in said second feed cylinder; a fluid-tight housing encasing the bottom of said retort vessel, the bottom of said first and second solids feed chutes, and said carriage; a carriage actuator hydraulic power cylinder located exterior of said housing and having a connecting rod extending into said housing and connected to said carriage for reciprocating said carriage between a first stationary position in which said first solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said first solids feed chute and the second solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said retort vessel, and a second stationary position in which said first solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom solids inlet opening of said retort vessel and said second solids feed cylinder is axially aligned with and immediately below the bottom outlet opening of said second solids feed chute; hydraulic fluid supply means responsive to a control means to supply hydraulic fluid to said first and second hydraulic power cylinders and said carriage actuator; and control means for controlling the speed of movement of said carriage and said first and second solids feed pistons, and for effecting the movement of said carriage between said first and second stationary positions while maintaining said first and second solids feed pistons stationary, and to simultaneously move said first and second solids feed pistons in opposite directions while maintaining said carriage stationary in said first or second stationary positions.

Claim 20

The method defined in claim 15 in which said steps are repeated for a plurality of cycles.