Feeding membrane for gravel blower

Abstract

A deformable feeding membrane for an apparatus that pneumatically conveys solid or semi-solid materials, e.g., gravel or crushed rock. The deformable feeding membrane includes a tubular portion adjacent an inlet feed auger. The sidewalls of the tubular portion includes sidewalls that are outwardly deformable, so that gravel or rocks that might otherwise become pinched or stuck between an inner sidewall of the feeding membrane tube and a flyte of a screw auger can pass through the membrane tube, with sufficient space provided by the deflection of the feeding membrane tube wall. In an embodiment, the tubular portion may be provided sufficiently elastic so that the flexible tubular sidewall may be operably displaced a distance delta (Δ), wherein the distance delta (Δ) may be at least as large as the thickness of the sidewalls of the tubular portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.