Upstream engaging fluid switch for serial conveying
AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company
InventorMichael K. McKinnis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for directing objects carried serially by a fluid to a desired designation is provided. The apparatus includes an upstream fluid conduit and first and second downstream conduits. The apparatus also includes a sensor associated with the upstream fluid conduit operable to provide information regarding an object at a location in the upstream conduit. A switch is coupled to the upstream fluid conduit and selectively operable to deliver the object from the upstream fluid conduit to either the first or second downstream fluid conduit according to the information by applying a force to at least one of the upstream or downstream fluid conduits.
Claims10
An apparatus for directing objects carried serially by a fluid to a desired destination, the apparatus comprising:
- an upstream fluid conduit and first and second downstream fluid conduits;
- a sensor associated with the upstream fluid conduit operable to provide information regarding an object at a location in the upstream conduit;
- and
- a switch coupled to the upstream fluid conduit and selectively operable to deliver the object from the upstream fluid conduit to either the first or second downstream fluid conduit according to the information by applying a force to at least one of the upstream or downstream fluid conduits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.