Method of segregation testing a mixture of particulate solids
First Claim
1. A method of sampling a particulate solids mixture for testing segregation of a mixture, the method comprising:
- feeding the mixture to a channel hopper, the channel hopper having a supply opening through which the mixture is fed and a discharge opening that is blocked;
collecting the mixture in the channel hopper until a desired amount of mixture is collected;
unblocking the discharge opening and transferring the mixture out of the channel hopper through the discharge opening to a plurality of mixture sample receptacles; and
depositing mixture transferred to each of the plurality of mixture sample receptacles into separate collecting bins for subsequent segregation analysis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus enables testing of sifting segregation of a particulate solid mixture in a storage bin or hopper. The apparatus makes use of a convergently and divergently angled hopper for collecting the mixture. The apparatus further makes use of a minimally-shearing feeder mechanism supplying a desired flow of mixture, with minimal to no sifting segregation, to the angled hopper. A collection mechanism removes samples of the mixture from the angled hopper for analysis with minimal disruption of the particles of the mixture relative to each other. Thus, samples resulting from the testing apparatus, and corresponding method, are highly representative of mixture conditions within a larger storage hopper.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of sampling a particulate solids mixture for testing segregation of a mixture, the method comprising:
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feeding the mixture to a channel hopper, the channel hopper having a supply opening through which the mixture is fed and a discharge opening that is blocked; collecting the mixture in the channel hopper until a desired amount of mixture is collected; unblocking the discharge opening and transferring the mixture out of the channel hopper through the discharge opening to a plurality of mixture sample receptacles; and depositing mixture transferred to each of the plurality of mixture sample receptacles into separate collecting bins for subsequent segregation analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification