VORTEX PNEUMATIC CONVEYANCE APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A vortex pneumatic conveyance apparatus, comprising:
- an inlet tube, the proximal end of the inlet tube defining a particle inlet configured to receive particles to be conveyed;
an air inlet located along the inlet tube, the air inlet configured to receive air from an air source;
a vortex member located at the distal end of the inlet tube, the vortex member comprising at least two spiral members located on the outside wall of the vortex member; and
an outlet tube at least partially extending from the distal end of the vortex member, the proximal end of the outlet tube defining a particle outlet configured to output the particles to be conveyed, whereinthe vortex member is configured to direct the air along the at least two spiral members so that the air rotates along the inner wall of the outlet tube, andthe length of the outlet tube extending from the distal end of the vortex member is at least 40% of the length of the pitch of the air rotating along the inner wall of the outlet tube.
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Abstract
The vortex pneumatic conveyance apparatus of the present application creates a vortex from blown and/or pressurized air rotating along the inner wall of an outlet tube to convey particles through a vacuum created within the center of the outlet tube at a relatively high flow rate and pressure. Without the blown and/or pressurized air molecules taking up space and colliding with the particles in the center of the outlet tube and because of the strong suction created by the vortex of air rotating along the inner wall of the outlet tube, the efficiency of the vortex pneumatic conveyance apparatus of this application is improved relative to well-known pneumatic conveyors in which air merely pushes the particles within an outlet tube.
44 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vortex pneumatic conveyance apparatus, comprising:
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an inlet tube, the proximal end of the inlet tube defining a particle inlet configured to receive particles to be conveyed; an air inlet located along the inlet tube, the air inlet configured to receive air from an air source; a vortex member located at the distal end of the inlet tube, the vortex member comprising at least two spiral members located on the outside wall of the vortex member; and an outlet tube at least partially extending from the distal end of the vortex member, the proximal end of the outlet tube defining a particle outlet configured to output the particles to be conveyed, wherein the vortex member is configured to direct the air along the at least two spiral members so that the air rotates along the inner wall of the outlet tube, and the length of the outlet tube extending from the distal end of the vortex member is at least 40% of the length of the pitch of the air rotating along the inner wall of the outlet tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A particle conveyance system, comprising:
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a particle source; at least one vortex pneumatic conveyance apparatus configured to receive particles from the particle source, each vortex pneumatic conveyance apparatus comprising; an inlet tube, the proximal end of the inlet tube defining a particle inlet configured to receive the particles from the particle source; an air inlet located along the inlet tube, the air inlet configured to receive air from an air source; a vortex member located at the distal end of the inlet tube, the vortex member comprising at least two spiral members located on the outside wall of the vortex member; and an outlet tube at least partially extending from the distal end of the vortex member, the proximal end of the outlet tube defining a particle outlet configured to output the particles from the particle source, wherein the vortex member is configured to direct the air along the at least two spiral members so that the air rotates along the inner wall of the outlet tube, and the length of the outlet tube extending from the distal end of the vortex member is at least 40% of the length of the pitch of the air rotating along the inner wall of the outlet tube; and a particle collection area configured to receive the particles conveyed from the particle source, the particle collection area comprising an exhaust. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification