Device and method for dispensing pellets
AssigneeExtundo Incorporated
InventorsClifford L. JOHNS, Munaf Chasmawala, Dennis McAndrews
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method for dispensing pellets from a hopper to a desired delivery point. The hopper receives and holds the pellets at an elevation above the elevation of the desired delivery point. A fixed diameter opening is defined through which the pellets pass in order to reach a conduit that directs the pellets to the desired delivery point. A localized, direct mechanical force is imparted to pellets adjacent to the fixed diameter opening to break up bridges above the opening and allow the pellets to flow through the opening.
Claims15
A method for dispensing pellets to a delivery point, comprising the steps of:
- providing a hopper for holding a plurality of pellets at an elevation above the delivery point;
- loading a plurality of pellets into the hopper;
- providing a conduit through which the pellets pass in order to flow from the hopper to the delivery point;
- providing upper and lower plates, with the upper plate lying on top of the lower plate, said upper and lower plates being located between the hopper and the conduit, wherein said upper plate defines a plurality of upper openings and the lower plate defines a plurality of lower openings which can be aligned with respective upper openings, wherein, when the upper and lower plates are stationary, with the upper and lower openings aligned, the effective diameter of said aligned upper and lower openings is sufficiently small that the pellets form bridges above the upper openings;
- moving at least one of the upper and lower plates parallel to the other of the upper and lower plates, thereby breaking up the bridges of pellets above the upper openings and allowing the pellets to flow through the aligned upper and lower openings and then through the conduit.
A method for dispensing pellets to a delivery point, comprising the steps of:
- providing a hopper for holding a plurality of pellets at an elevation above the delivery point;
- loading a plurality of pellets into the hopper;
- providing a conduit through which the pellets pass in order to flow from the hopper to the delivery point;
- defining a fixed diameter first opening through which the pellets must pass in order to flow from the hopper into the conduit, wherein the diameter of the first opening is small enough relative to the diameter of the pellets that the pellets form a bridge above the first opening;
- and
- imparting a localized, direct mechanical force to at least one of the pellets adjacent to the first opening that is different from forces being applied to the surrounding pellets in order to disrupt the formation of bridges above the first opening while maintaining the fixed diameter of the first opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.