Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A material transfer system for transferring particulate material between a first material container and a second material container comprising: a downcomer duct having an upper end thereof adapted to communicate with a first material container for receiving and storing particulate material; an exhaust duct aligned along the horizontal and having a rectangular cross-section with one end communicating with said downcomer duct for receiving the material and an outlet end for discharging the material into a second material container, said rectangular cross-section having an altitude dimension and a base dimension with the ratio of said altitude dimension to said base dimension being approximately equal to 0.58; and a plurality of gas flow tubes each having an open end thereof communicating with the interior of said exhaust duct opposite from the discharge end, each of said tubes adapted to direct pulsed gas flows at a selected pulse repetition rate towards the discharge end of said exhaust duct, each pulse thereby entraining the material in said exhaust duct and transporting the material in the direction of the gas flow through said outlet end into the second material container, said tubes arranged in a spaced apart relationship along a horizontal line, said line being the medial line of said exhaust duct cross-section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A material transfer system for transferring particulate material between a first material container and a second material container comprising: a downcomer duct having an upper end thereof adapted to communicate with a first material container for receiving and storing particulate material; an exhaust duct aligned along the horizontal and having a rectangular cross-section with one end communicating with said downcomer duct for receiving the material and an outlet end for discharging the material into a second material container, said rectangular cross-section having an altitude dimension and a base dimension with the ratio of said altitude dimension to said base dimension being approximately equal to 0.58; and a plurality of gas flow tubes each having an open end thereof communicating with the interior of said exhaust duct opposite from the discharge end, each of said tubes adapted to direct pulsed gas flows at a selected pulse repetition rate towards the discharge end of said exhaust duct, each pulse thereby entraining the material in said exhaust duct and transporting the material in the direction of the gas flow through said outlet end into the second material container, said tubes arranged in a spaced apart relationship along a horizontal line, said line being the medial line of said exhaust duct cross-section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 1, wherein said downcomer duct is aligned along a substantially vertical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 1, wherein said downcomer duct is formed with said rectangular cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a catch pocket formed at said inlet end of said downcomer to receive said particulate material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 1, wherein: the other ends of said feed tubes communicate with a gas distribution manifold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 5, further comprising: valve means to selectively start and stop the gas flow from said gas flow tubes to define successive gas pressure pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 6, wherein: said gas pressure pulses have a pulse duration of approximately 1.5 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The material transfer system claimed in claim 6, further comprising: control means operably connected to said valve means to vary the pulse repetition rate of said gas pressure pulse.