Particulate delivery system
First Claim
1. A system for delivering a particulate material, comprising:
- (a) a storage hopper for the material, the hopper having a bottom hopper outlet;
(b) feeder means for feeding the material, the feeder means having a material inlet and a feeder outlet;
(c) a hopper passage connecting the hopper outlet to the material inlet of the feeder means;
(d) stir means for selectively agitating the material in the hopper, comprising means for connecting a source of pressurized gas to the hopper passage between the hopper and the material inlet of the feeder means in response to a stir signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for delivering a particulate material has a closed storage hopper for the material, the hopper having a bottom hopper outlet and a check valve connected to a top portion of the chamber for venting positive pressure from the chamber; a venturi eductor having a material inlet for feeding the material, an eductor outlet, and a gas inlet; a gas feed valve, the gas feed valve being openable in response to a feed signal for activating the eductor; a hopper passage connecting the hopper outlet to the eductor material inlet; a hopper outlet valve for closing the hopper outlet in response to a hopper signal; a stir valve for pressurizing the hopper passage in response to a stir signal for agitating the material in the hopper; and a pressure sensor for momentarily activating the stir signal in response to an absence of the material at the material inlet, the system being operative in a transporting mode wherein the hopper valve is open, the feed valve is open, and the stir valve is closed; a stirring mode wherein the hopper valve and stir valves are open; a purging mode wherein the hopper and feed valves are closed and the stir valve is activated; and an override mode wherein the hopper and stir valves are open and the feed valve is closed. The system automatically responds to a predetermined number of activations of the stir signal within a fixed period of time, by entering the purging mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for delivering a particulate material, comprising:
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(a) a storage hopper for the material, the hopper having a bottom hopper outlet; (b) feeder means for feeding the material, the feeder means having a material inlet and a feeder outlet; (c) a hopper passage connecting the hopper outlet to the material inlet of the feeder means; (d) stir means for selectively agitating the material in the hopper, comprising means for connecting a source of pressurized gas to the hopper passage between the hopper and the material inlet of the feeder means in response to a stir signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for delivering a particulate material, comprising:
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(a) a storage hopper for the material, the hopper having a bottom hopper outlet; (b) feeder means for feeding the material, the feeder having a material inlet and a feeder outlet, the material inlet being in fluid communication with the hopper outlet; (c) stir means for agitating the material in the hopper in response to a stir signal, comprising means for feeding a pressurized gas into the hopper through the hopper outlet; (d) sensor means between the hopper outlet and the material inlet for activating the stir signal in response to an absence of flow of the material into the material inlet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for delivering a particulate material, comprising:
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(a) a storage hopper for the material, the hopper having a bottom hopper outlet; (b) feeder means for feeding the material, the feeder having a material inlet and a feeder outlet, the material inlet being in fluid communication with the hopper outlet; (c) stir means for agitating the material in the hopper for a predetermined first period of time in response to a stir signal; (d) sensor means for activating the stir signal in response to an absence of flow of the material into the material inlet; and (e) means for reconfiguring the system upon occurrence of a predetermined number of activations of the stir signal in response to the sensor means within a fixed second period of time.
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18. A system for delivering a particulate material, comprising:
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(a) a storage hopper for the material, the hopper forming a closed chamber and having a bottom hopper outlet and a check valve connected to a top portion of the chamber for venting positive pressure from the chamber; (b) an eductor for feeding the material, the eductor having a material inlet, an eductor outlet, and a gas inlet, and a gas feed valve, the gas feed valve being openable in response to a feed signal for connecting the gas inlet to the source of pressurized gas; (c) a hopper passage connecting the hopper outlet to the material inlet of the eductor; (d) a hopper outlet valve for closing the hopper outlet, the hopper outlet valve being openable in response to a hopper signal; (e) stir means for agitating the material in the hopper, comprising a stir valve for connecting a source of pressurized gas to the hopper passage, the stir valve being openable in response to a stir signal; and (f) sensor means for activating the stir signal in response to an absence of flow of the material into the material inlet, whereby the system is operative in; (i) a transporting mode wherein the hopper signal is activated, the feed signal is activated, and the stir signal is inactive; (ii) a stirring mode wherein the hopper signal is activated and the stir signal is activated; (iii) a purging mode wherein the hopper signal is inactive, the stir signal is activated, and the feed signal is inactive; and (iv) an override mode wherein the hopper signal is activated, the stir signal is activated, and the feed signal is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification