Flow control apparatus for carrier fluid
First Claim
1. A tubular conveyance system comprising:
- a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within a conveyance tube;
a blower configured to accelerate a carrier fluid into the conveyance tube,wherein the blower has a blowing direction which defines an upstream position and a downstream position relative to the blower;
a material feeder configured to add a conveyance material to the conveyance tube to be conveyed by the carrier fluid,wherein the material feed is disposed in the downstream position relative to the blower; and
a flow control apparatus configured to control an amount of carrier fluid provided to the blower,wherein the flow control apparatus is disposed in the upstream position relative to the blower,wherein the flow control apparatus includesa mobile plate having a mobile plate opening therein, anda drive mechanism configured to selectively place the mobile plate into an open position and a closed position,wherein the open position is defined as at least a portion of the mobile plate opening being aligned so as to allow carrier fluid to flow therethrough.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular conveyance system includes a pressure sensor, a blower, a material feeder, and a flow control apparatus. The pressure sensor is configured to be associated with a conveyance tube. The blower is configured to accelerate a carrier fluid into the conveyance tube. The material feeder is disposed downstream of the blower and configured to add a conveyance material to the conveyance tube to be conveyed by the carrier fluid. The flow control apparatus is configured to control an amount of carrier fluid provided to the blower. The flow control apparatus includes a mobile plate having a mobile plate opening therein, and a drive mechanism configured to selectively place the mobile plate into an open position and a closed position.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tubular conveyance system comprising:
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a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within a conveyance tube; a blower configured to accelerate a carrier fluid into the conveyance tube, wherein the blower has a blowing direction which defines an upstream position and a downstream position relative to the blower; a material feeder configured to add a conveyance material to the conveyance tube to be conveyed by the carrier fluid, wherein the material feed is disposed in the downstream position relative to the blower; and a flow control apparatus configured to control an amount of carrier fluid provided to the blower, wherein the flow control apparatus is disposed in the upstream position relative to the blower, wherein the flow control apparatus includes a mobile plate having a mobile plate opening therein, and a drive mechanism configured to selectively place the mobile plate into an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position is defined as at least a portion of the mobile plate opening being aligned so as to allow carrier fluid to flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17)
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10. A flow control apparatus configured to control an amount of carrier fluid provided to a blower of a tubular conveyance system, the flow control apparatus comprising:
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a mobile plate having a mobile plate opening therein; a static plate having a static plate opening therein, wherein the mobile plate is secured adjacent to the static plate; a drive mechanism configured to selectively place the mobile plate into an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position is defined as at least a portion of the mobile plate opening being aligned with at least a portion of the static plate opening; an outer cover having an outer cover opening therein; a filter associated with the outer cover, wherein the mobile plate and the drive mechanism are disposed within the outer cover, wherein the carrier fluid is provided to the blower by allowing the carrier fluid to enter through the outer cover opening, pass through the filter, pass through the mobile plate opening, and pass through the static plate opening. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19)
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Specification