In-line rail valve
AssigneeSpiroflow Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid Francis Hesketh, Jeffrey Allen Dudas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An in-line valve assembly for a tubular drag conveyer system includes a first tube segment having a first end and defining a first passageway, a second tube segment having a second end and defining a second passageway, and a tubular valve body translatably disposed relative to the second tube segment and defining a valve passageway. The first end of the first tube segment is spaced apart from the second end of the second tube segment by a gap. The valve body is selectively adjustable between a closed position wherein the valve passageway spans the gap and connects the first passageway to the second passageway and an open position wherein the valve passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway by at least a portion of the gap.
Claims20
An in-line valve assembly for a tubular drag conveyer system, the valve assembly comprising:
- a first tube segment having a first end and defining a first passageway, wherein an end portion of the first tube segment is outwardly tapered towards the first end thereof;
- a second tube segment having a second end and defining a second passageway, the first end of the first tube segment spaced apart from the second end of the second tube segment by a gap;
- and
- a tubular valve body translatably disposed relative to the second tube segment and defining a valve passageway, the valve body selectively adjustable between a closed position wherein the valve passageway spans the gap and connects the first passageway to the second passageway and an open position wherein the valve passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway by at least a portion of the gap.
A tubular drag conveyer system comprising:
- an in-line valve assembly comprising:
- a first tube segment having a first end and defining a first passageway, wherein an end portion of the first tube segment is outwardly tapered towards the first end thereof;
- a second tube segment having a second end and defining a second passageway, the first end of the first tube segment spaced apart from the second end of the second tube segment by a gap;
- and
- a tubular valve body translatably disposed relative to the second tube segment and defining a valve passageway, the valve body selectively adjustable between a closed position wherein the valve passageway spans the gap and connects the first passageway to the second passageway and an open position wherein the valve passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway by at least a portion of the gap;
- and
- a conveying mechanism extending through each of the first tube segment, the second tube segment, and the valve body, the conveying mechanism including an elongate element and a plurality of push elements spaced apart with respect to a longitudinal direction of the elongate element.
An in-line valve assembly for a tubular drag conveyer system, the valve assembly comprising:
- a first tube segment having a first end and defining a first passageway;
- a second tube segment having a second end and defining a second passageway, the first end of the first tube segment spaced apart from the second end of the second tube segment by a gap;
- and
- a tubular valve body translatably disposed relative to the second tube segment and defining a valve passageway, the valve body selectively adjustable between a closed position wherein the valve passageway spans the gap and connects the first passageway to the second passageway and an open position wherein the valve passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway by at least a portion of the gap, and wherein the valve body includes a tube engaging segment slidably disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the second tube segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.