Device and method for removing granular material

Abstract

A device for removing granular material by suction is presented, the device comprising a suction head. The suction head comprises a lower end, an outlet for removing granular material from the suction head, and side walls, extending from the lower end to the outlet. The suction head further comprises one or more nozzles, configured to emit a pressurized fluid for fluidizing granular material, and one or more side inlets for the inflow of fluidized granular material into the suction head. The side inlets are located in a side wall, and the side inlets combined extend over at least 2% of the circumference of the lower end. A method for removal of granular material by suction from a granular material mass is also presented. The nozzles on an outside and the nozzles on an inside of the suction head provide a helical flow in the same direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.