FEEDER WITH ACTIVE FLOW MODULATOR AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A feed apparatus operable to compress loose feedstock material, said feed apparatus comprising:
- a compressor;
a compressor discharge conduit, said conduit having a first end and a second end;
said compressor being connected to said first end of said conduit and being operable to build a plug of compressed feedstock in said conduit;
a flow modulator, said flow modulator being movably locatable in position adjacent said second end of said conduit, said modulator being positionable to obstruct egress of the feedstock;
a drive connected to move said flow modulator;
sensors mounted to monitor load on said flow modulator and position of said flow modulator; and
a controller connected to said drive and operable in real time in response to inputs from said sensors to position said flow modulator in opposition to the compressor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for compressing a loose solid feedstock. The apparatus includes a two stage compressor. The first compression stage is a screw compressor. The second compressor stage is a reciprocating compressor. The reciprocating compressor operates co-axially with, and receives its feed from, the screw compressor. The compressor establishes feedstock plug in a discharge pipe. A choke cone maintains pressure in the plug. The choke cone is actively controlled in response to operation of the compressor. The discharge from the compressor has a cooling jacket, and includes an expanding taper. The reciprocating compressor, the screw compressor, and the choke cone are all adjustable in real time to control the compression of the feedstock according to a pre-programmed schedule that need not have equal compression and retraction strokes. The operation of the screw compressor may be advanced or eased off depending on the motion of the reciprocating compressor.
13 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A feed apparatus operable to compress loose feedstock material, said feed apparatus comprising:
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a compressor; a compressor discharge conduit, said conduit having a first end and a second end; said compressor being connected to said first end of said conduit and being operable to build a plug of compressed feedstock in said conduit; a flow modulator, said flow modulator being movably locatable in position adjacent said second end of said conduit, said modulator being positionable to obstruct egress of the feedstock; a drive connected to move said flow modulator; sensors mounted to monitor load on said flow modulator and position of said flow modulator; and a controller connected to said drive and operable in real time in response to inputs from said sensors to position said flow modulator in opposition to the compressor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process of operating a feed compressor to compress loose feedstock material, said feed apparatus having a compressor;
- a compressor discharge conduit, said conduit having a first end and a second end;
the compressor being connected to said first end of the conduit and being operable to build a plug of compressed feedstock in the conduit;
a flow modulator, the flow modulator being movably locatable in position adjacent said second end of said conduit;
a drive connected to move said flow modulator;
sensors mounted to monitor load on said flow modulator and position of said flow modulator; and
a controller connected to said drive, said process including operating the drive in real time in response to inputs from said sensors to position said flow modulator in opposition to feedstock accumulated in the discharge conduit, and operating the flow modulator in opposition to the compressor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a compressor discharge conduit, said conduit having a first end and a second end;
Specification