Arrangement for supplying powdered material to a spraying device

Claim 1

A powder transport system for supplying powdered material to a flame spray device for thermal spraying which comprises, at least two powder storage containers, each having an exit orifice for delivering powder therefrom, at least two powder feed means each comprising a substantially horizontally disposed elongated enclosed channel member, each having means for supplying inert protective gas therethrough, each coupled at one end to the exit orifice of a corresponding storage container for receiving powder therefrom, each of said enclosed channel members having an exit port at its other end coupled to a single buffer chamber of a substantially frustonconical shape which opens upwardly, each of said enclosed channel members being adapted to vibrate along its length to effect powder delivery to said buffer chamber, vibrating means mechanically coupled to each of said enclosed channel members for adjustably controlling the vibration along the length of each of said enclosed channel members, level-detecting means disposed within said buffer chamber adapted to provide a level range over which the depth of said powder in said chamber is to be controlled, an exit orifice at the bottom of said buffer chamber, a powder-injection device having a transfer duct for receiving said powder coupled to said chamber exit orifice and a selector device cooperating therewith for varying the flow of powder between the buffer chamber and the injection device, said injection device having an inlet end for receiving carrier gas and an outlet end for delivering powder suspended in said carrier gas to a flame spray device, and a control device coupled to each of the vibrating means and responsive to the level-detecting device in the buffer chamber for regulating powder feed to said buffer chamber via said vibrating means either together or separately, whereby to maintain the powder level in the buffer chamber at the desired level and thus achieve substantially constant rate of powder flow to said flame spray device.