System and method for handling bulk materials

Abstract

A bulk material handling system generally consisting of means for holding the material; means for conveying the material including a first conduit formed of a permeable material having an inlet communicating with an outlet of the material holding means and an outlet, a second conduit formed of an impermeable material encompassing and spaced from the first conduit, providing a chamber therebetween, and an auger disposed in the first conduit for transporting material received through the inlet to the outlet thereof; means for rotatably driving the auger; and means for supplying a fluidizing gas under pressure to the chamber between the first and second conduits.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the drive motor of the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 1, having portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 1, having a portion thereof broken away;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a mating flange utilized in the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic-schematic view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a control panel used with the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic-schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic-schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1-30. (canceled)

31. A method of transporting metered amounts of a particulate, bulk material, comprising: conveying said material received at an upstream site to a downstream site by means of an auger disposed in a conduit formed of a permeable material, driven by a motor;supplying a gas under pressure through said conduit to form a boundary layer of fluidizing gas along an inner surface of said conduit;sensing the mass flow rate of said material received at said downstream sire; andvarying the operation of said motor responsive to differences between said sensed flow rate and a selected flow rate to incrementally increase or decrease the speed thereof to achieve said selected flow rate.

32. A method according to claim 31 including feeding said material into said conduit.

33. A method of transporting metered amounts of a particulate, bulk material, comprising: conveying said material received at an upstream site to a downstream site by means of an auger disposed in a conduit formed of a permeable material, driven by a motor;supplying a gas under pressure through said conduit to form a boundary layer of fluidizing gas along an inner surface of said conduit;sensing the weight of said material received from said downstream site; andcontrolling the operation of said motor responsive to differences between said sensed weight and a selected weight to achieve an output of said selected weight of material.

34. A method according to claim 33 including gravity feeding said material into said conduit.

35. A method of transporting metered amounts of a particulate, bulk material, comprising: conveying said material received at an upstream site to a downstream site by means of an auger disposed in a conduit formed of a permeable material, driven by a motor;supplying a gas under pressure through said conduit to form a boundary layer of fluidizing gas along an inner surface of said conduit;sensing the weight of material fed into said conduit at said upstream site; andcontrolling the operation of said motor responsive to a selected comparison of said sensed weight and a selected weight to achieve a discharge of material of said selected weight from said downstream site of said conduit.

36. A method according to claim 35 including operating said motor to sequentially incrementally reduce the speed thereof and then discontinuing the operation of said motor upon attaining said selected weight.

37. A method of transporting metered amounts of a particulate, bulk material, comprising: conveying said material received at an upstream site to a downstream site by means of an auger disposed in a conduit formed of a permeable material, driven by a motor;supplying a gas under pressure through said conduit to form a boundary layer of fluidizing gas along an inner surface of said conduit;determining the mass flow rate of material fed into said conduit at said upstream site; andadjusting the operation of said motor until said material flow rate is within a selected tolerance of a selected material flow rate.

38. A method according to claim 37 including discontinuing the operation of said motor upon the passage of a selected time interval commencing upon said adjustment of said speed of said motor.