Inflatable Liner Systems

12) A system relating to preventing material from accumulating on at least one interior wall surface of at least one material delivery passage during material handling operations, said system comprising:

• a) at least one wear liner structured and arranged line the at least one interior wall surface of the at least one material delivery passage;
• and
• b) at least one periodic deformer structured and arranged to periodically deform said at least one deformable liner;
• c) wherein said at least one deformable liner comprises
• i) at least one mount structured and arranged to firmly mount said at least one deformable liner adjacent the at least one interior wall surface,
• ii) at least one wear layer comprising at least one material-exposed surface, said at least one wear layer structured and arranged to reduce abrasive wear to the at least one interior wall surface during such material handling operations, and
• iii) at least one inflatable cavity structured and arranged to allow at least one positive-pressure fluid to be introduced between said at least one deformable wear panel and the at least one interior wall surface;
• d) wherein said at least one periodic deformer comprises
• i) at least one fluid access port structured and arranged to access the at least one positive-pressure fluid supplied from at least one positive-pressure fluid source,
• ii) in fluid communication with said at least one fluid access port and said at least one inflatable cavity, at least one control valve structured and arranged to control the introduction and discharge of the at least one positive-pressure fluid into and from said at least one inflatable cavity, and
• iii) at least one valve controller structured and arranged to control the opening and closing of said at least one control valve,
• iv) wherein said at least one valve controller comprises at least one valve pulser structured and arranged to cyclically actuate opening and closing of said at least one control valve;
• e) wherein such cyclic actuation of said at least one control valve incrementally inflates said at least one inflatable cavity by supplying the at least one positive-pressure fluid in at least one series of pressure pulses;
• f) wherein each pressure pulse of the at least one series is separated by at least one partial deflation of said at least one inflatable cavity;
• g) wherein said at least one wear layer comprises at least one deformable composition;
• h) wherein incremental inflation and partial deflation of said at least one inflatable cavity produces incremental outward deformation of said at least one material-exposed surface;
• and
• i) wherein incremental outward deformation of said at least one material-exposed surface assists in dislodging accumulations of material within at least one material delivery passage during material handling operations.

23) A method relating to preventing material from accumulating on at least one interior wall surface of at least one material delivery passage during material handling operations, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one deformable liner structured and arranged to deformably line the at least one interior wall surface of the at least one material delivery passage, such at least one deformable liner comprising
• i) at least one deformable wear panel, comprising at least one material-exposed panel surface, such at least one deformable wear panel structured and arranged to reduce abrasive wear to the at least one interior wall surface during such material handling operations, and
• ii) at least one inflatable cavity structured and arranged to allow pressurized air to be introduced between such at least one deformable wear panel and the at least one interior wall surface;
• b) providing at least one incremental deformer structured and arranged to incrementally deform such at least one deformable liner by repeatedly inflating and partially deflating such at least one inflatable cavity;
• c) mounting such at least one deformable liner adjacent the at least one interior wall surface;
• and
• d) periodically deforming such at least one deformable liner by repeatedly inflating and partially deflating such at least one inflatable cavity by delivery of the pressurized air in a series of pressure pulses;
• e) wherein such incremental inflation of such at least one inflatable cavity produces incremental outward deformation of such at least one material-exposed panel surface.

24) A system relating to preventing material from accumulating on at least one interior wall surface of at least one material delivery passage during material handling operations, said system comprising:

• a) deformable liner means for deformably lining the at least one interior wall surface of the at least one material delivery passage;
• and
• b) periodic deformer means for periodically deforming said deformable liner means to assist dislodging accumulations of the material within at least one material delivery passage during such material handling operations;
• c) wherein said deformable liner means comprises
• i) mount means for firmly mounting said deformable liner means adjacent the at least one interior wall surface
• ii) deformable wear surface means for reducing abrasive wear to the at least one interior wall surface during such material handling operations, and
• iii) inflatable cavity means for allowing at least one positive-pressure fluid to be introduced between said deformable wear surface means and the at least one interior wall surface;
• d) wherein said periodic deformer means comprises
• i) fluid access means for accessing the at least one positive-pressure fluid supplied from at least one positive-pressure fluid source,
• ii) in fluid communication with said fluid access means and said inflatable cavity means control valve means for controlling the introduction and discharge of the at least one positive-pressure fluid into and from said inflatable cavity means, and
• iii) valve controller means for controlling the opening and closing of said control valve means;
• iv) wherein said valve controller means comprises valve pulser means for cyclically actuating the opening and closing of said control valve means;
• e) wherein such cyclic actuation of said control valve means incrementally inflates said inflatable cavity means by supplying the at least one positive-pressure fluid in a series of pressure pulses;
• f) wherein such incremental inflation of said inflatable cavity means produces incremental outward deformation of said deformable wear surface means;
• and
• g) wherein such incremental outward deformation of said deformable wear surface means assists in dislodging accumulations of the material within at least one material delivery passage during such material handling operations.