Apparatus for fluidizing and transferring powdered material

Claim 2

Apparatus for fluidizing powdered material within a container and transferring fluidized powder to a spray gun of an electrostatic powder coating plant; comprising: at least one suction and transport pipe immersible from above into the container and having a suction port; fluidizing means for generating a locally limited powder fluid bed within the container; screening means enclosing the immersing portion of said pipe and its suction port at a distance thereto; and first vibrating means for causing oscillations of said screening means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluidizing means includes a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings, said air outlet openings being arranged laterally outside of said screening means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluidizing means includes a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings, said air outlet openings being arranged below said screening means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluidizing means includes a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings, said air outlet openings being arranged laterally outside of and below said screening means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising fastening means for mounting said screening means to said suction and transport pipe.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said suction and transport pipe, said fluidizing means and said screening means are integrated to a unit.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said screening means is a cylindrical strainer basket with conical base, with its apex facing downwardly.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said screening means is a strainer basket with rugged surface area.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said strainer basket is ribbed.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said screening means includes a strainer basket with suitable mesh, said strainer basket having a volume which is in inverse ratio to the fineness of said mesh.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising attenuation means for absorbing vibrations generated by said first vibrating means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of parallel suction and transport pipes, said screening means including one single strainer basket surrounding said plurality of suction and transport pipes.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising second vibrating means for causing horizontal oscillations of the powdered material.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising second vibrating means for causing horizontal oscillations of the powdered material at a suitable oscillating frequency, said first vibrating means oscillating said screening means at a frequency which differs from the oscillating frequency of the powdered material.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said fluidizing means includes a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings, said apex of said conical base extending flush with said air outlet openings.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said fluidizing means includes a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings which extend below said apex of said conical base.

Claim 18

Apparatus for fluidizing powdered material within a container and transporting fluidized powder to a processing device such as a spray gun of an electrostatic powder coating plant; comprising: a suction and transport pipe adapted for introduction into the container and having a lower end defining a suction port; fluidizing means for generating a powder fluid bed within the container about said suction port for allowing withdrawal of powdered material; screening means enclosing a suitable portion of said pipe and said suction port at a distance thereto for allowing supply of screened powdered material to the processing device; and first vibrating means for causing oscillations of said screening means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for fluidizing powdered material within a container and transporting fluidized powder to a processing device such as a spray gun of an electrostatic powder coating plant; comprising: a suction and transport pipe adapted for introduction into the container and having a lower end defining a suction port; fluidizing means for generating a powder fluid bed within the container about said suction port for allowing withdrawal of powdered material; screening means enclosing a suitable portion of said pipe and said suction port at a distance thereto for allowing supply of screened powdered material to the processing device; and first vibrating means for causing oscillations of said screening means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for fluidizing powdered material within a container and transferring fluidized powder to a spray gun of an electrostatic powder coating plant; comprising: at least one suction and transport pipe immersible from above into the container and having a suction port; fluidizing means for generating a locally limited powder fluid bed within the container, said fluidizing means including a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings; screening means enclosing the immersing portion of said pipe and its suction port at a distance thereto, with said air outlet openings being arranged outside said screening means; and first vibrating means for causing oscillations of said screening means.

Claim 21

Apparatus for fluidizing powdered material within a container and transferring fluidized powder to a spray gun of an electrostatic powder coating plant; comprising: at least one suction and transport pipe immersible from above into the container and having a suction port; fluidizing means for generating a locally limited powder fluid bed within the container, said fluidizing means including a compressed air pipe provided with air outlet openings; screening means enclosing the immersing portion of said pipe and its suction port at a distance thereto, with said air outlet openings being arranged outside said screening means; and first vibrating means for causing oscillations of said screening means.