Apparatus and method for receiving and conveying bulk material
AssigneeSpiroflow Limited
InventorsTerry Mason, Christopher Brennan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for receiving and conveying bulk material is provided. The apparatus comprises a hopper for receiving bulk material, at least one outlet configured to enable bulk material, received by the hopper, to exit the hopper, and an agitator arrangement. The agitator arrangement is configured to agitate the bulk material in the hopper in order to counteract cohesion of the bulk material, and configured to urge the bulk material in the hopper towards the at least one outlet.
Claims23
An apparatus for receiving and conveying bulk material, comprising:
- a hopper for receiving bulk material;
- a plurality of outlets, each outlet configured to enable bulk material, received by the hopper, to exit the hopper, wherein each of the plurality of outlets comprises a valve configured to allow or restrict conveyance of the bulk material via the outlet;
- an agitator arrangement configured to agitate the bulk material in the hopper in order to counteract cohesion of the bulk material, wherein the agitator arrangement is configured to urge the bulk material in the hopper towards the plurality of outlets;
- and
- control circuitry configured to assign a priority label to each of the plurality of outlets, and configured to control the conveyance of bulk material through the plurality of outlets based on the priority label.
A method for receiving and conveying bulk material, comprising:
- receiving bulk material in a hopper;
- agitating the bulk material in the hopper in order to counteract cohesion of the bulk material;
- assigning a priority label to each of a plurality of outlets;
- urging the bulk material in the hopper towards the plurality of outlets based on the priority label;
- and
- controlling valves to allow or restrict conveyance of the bulk material via the plurality of outlets.
An apparatus for receiving and conveying bulk material, comprising:
- a hopper for receiving bulk material;
- at least one outlet configured to enable bulk material, received by the hopper, to exit the hopper;
- a shaft;
- a motor configured to rotate the shaft;
- a first ribbon screw attached to the shaft and configured to extend helically around the shaft, wherein the first ribbon screw is configured to agitate and urge the bulk material in the hopper in a first direction towards the at least one outlet;
- a second ribbon screw attached to the shaft and configured to extend helically around the shaft, wherein the second ribbon screw is configured to agitate and urge the bulk material in the hopper in a second direction towards the at least one outlet;
- and
- a third ribbon screw attached to the shaft and configured to agitate the bulk material in the hopper, the third ribbon screw being positioned between the first ribbon screw and the second ribbon screw in a first dimension,
- wherein the first direction and second direction are aligned with the first dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.