US 4,019,535 A · Material selector system

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for material handling and more particularly for processing material from a source for use in a material forming apparatus which produces residue material. The system includes storage means, which stores a predetermined amount of materials for use in the apparatus; return means operating cyclically which returns the residue material from the apparatus to the storage means; and a supply means which supplements the residue material with materials from the source, and the methods relate to ways in which such a system can be employed. A unique diverter valve composed of two pieces of substantially rigid material with a hole through each piece forms a part of the system. The two pieces of material are held together with their holes aligned. A piece of slightly deformable plastic, occupying most of the space between the two pieces of rigid material, has an aperture through it which can align with holes in both pieces. The plastic leaves a sufficient space between the pieces of material so as to move freely. The slight deformability of the plastic allows it to seat tightly and provide a complete closure, especially in the presence of a differential pressure.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Selector apparatus for comminuted material entrained in a gaseous fluid comprising:

a. first and second pieces of substantially rigid material, each defining a surface, each of said pieces of material having at least one hole in said surface;
b. means supporting said pieces of material with their surfaces in fixed relationship to define a uniform space therebetween and with the holes in substantial alignment;
c. A web of deformable material disposed between said first and second pieces, said web having a transverse dimension significantly less than the transverse dimension of said space, whereby said web is freely movable in said space and said fluid may pass freely between said web and said plate surfaces, said web being transversely deformable under pressure to engage one of said surfaces to form a substantial fluid tight seal without substantial loss of shape of integrity and having an aperture therethrough such that when said aperture is aligned with said holes a passageway is provided between said holes, said transverse dimension being sufficient to permit movement of said web between said surfaces while substantially filling said space, the web being sufficiently large to overlie said holes when said web is moved to a position where said aperture is not aligned with said holes;
d. mounting means supporting said web in a position with said aperture in alignment with said holes and permitting movement of said web means in said space relative to said plates to a position where said aperture is out of alignment with said holes;
and
e. moving means for moving said web relative to said pieces to alternatively bring said aperture into and out of alignment with said holes.

3 more elements

A system for combining solid comminuted material entrained in a gaseous fluid comprising:

selector apparatus operable with two separate comminuted material sources comprising:
a. first and second pieces of substantially rigid material, each defining a surface, and each having a first hole and a second hole therethrough;
b. means supporting said pieces of material with their surfaces in fixed relationship to define a uniform space therebetween and with the holes in substantial alignment;
c. a web of deformable material disposed between said first and second pieces, said web having a transverse dimension significantly less than the transverse dimension of said space, whereby said web is freely movable in said space and said fluid may pass freely between said web and said plate surfaces, said web being transversely deformable under pressure to engage one of said surfaces to form a substantial fluid-tight seal without substantial loss of shape or integrity and having an apertured portion in a position suitable for selective, exclusive alignment of an aperture in said web with any aligned holes in said first and second pieces, the web being sufficiently large to overlie said holes when said web is moved to a position where said aperture is not aligned with said holes;
d. mounting means supporting said web in a position with said aperture in alignment with said holes and permitting movement of said web means in said space relative to said plates to a position where said aperture is out of alignment with said holes;
and
e. moving means for moving said web relative to said pieces to move said aperture portion and alternatively bring an aperture therein into alignment with said second holes through said pieces;
and further comprising two channels one of said channels connecting one of said two sources to a hole in said first piece and the other channel connecting the other source to another hole in said first piece;
a receptacle into which the comminuted material from said sources are to be combined;
channel means for connecting said receptacle with the holes in said second piece of material brought into alignment with said web with the holes in said first piece of material connected to said sources by said two channels and means for maintaining a differential fluid pressure between said sources and said receptacle with the higher pressure appearing at said source and the lower pressure appearing at said receptacle.

7 more elements

A system for combining solid comminuted material from several sources and entrained in a gaseous fluid comprising:

selector apparatus comprising:
a. first and second pieces of substantially rigid material, each defining a surface, each of said pieces of material having a first and a second hole therethrough;
b. means supporting said pieces of material with their surfaces in fixed relationship to define a uniform space therebetween and with the holes in substantial alignment;
c. a web of deformable material disposed between said first and second pieces said web having a transverse dimension significantly less than the transverse dimension of said space, whereby said web is freely movable in said space and said fluid may pass freely between said web and said plate surfaces, said web being transversely deformable under pressure to engage one of said surfaces to form a substantial fluid-tight seal without substantial loss of shape or integrity and having a plurality of apertures therethrough individually positioned on said web for selective alignment of certain of said apertures with any one of said holes in said first piece, the alignment of any one aperture with any one hole being exclusive of alignment of any other aperture with any other hole, the web being sufficiently large to overlie said holes when said web is moved to a position where said aperture is not aligned with said holes;
d. mounting means supporting said web in a position with said aperture in alignment with said holes and permitting movement of said web means in said space relative to said plates to a position where said aperture is out of alignment with said holes;
and
e. moving means for moving said web relative to said pieces to alternately
1. bring a first of said apertures into alignment with said first holes in said pieces of material;
and
2. bring a second of said apertures into alignment with said second holes in said pieces of material;
separate channels connecting each of said sources to a separate hole in said first piece;
a receptacle into which the comminuted material from said sources are to be combined;
channel means connecting said receptacle with the holes in said second piece brought into alignment by said web with the holes in said first piece connected by said separate channel to said separate sources;
and means for maintaining a differential fluid pressure between said sources and said receptacle with the higher pressure appearing at said sources and the lower sources appearing at said receptacle.

11 more elements

Selector apparatus for use with a source of subambient pressure for selectively transferring comminuted material from a first source of material or from a second source of material to a receptacle comprising:

a. first and second pieces of substantially rigid material, each defining a surface, and each having a first hole and a second hole therethrough;
b. means supporting said pieces of material with their surfaces in fixed relationship to define a uniform space therebetween and with the holes in substantial alignment;
c. a web of deformable material disposed between said first and second pieces, said web having a transverse dimension significantly less than the transverse dimension of said space, whereby said web is freely movable in said space and said fluid may pass freely between said web and said plate surfaces, said web being transversely deformable under pressure to engage one of said surfaces to form a substantial fluid-tight seal without substantial loss of shape or integrity and having an apertured portion in a position suitable for selective, exclusive alignment of an aperture in said web with any aligned holes in said first and second pieces, the web being sufficiently large to overlie said holes when said web is moved to a position where said aperture is not aligned with said holes;
d. mounting means supporting said web in a position with said aperture in alignment with said holes and permitting movement of said web means in said space relative to said plates to a position where said aperture is out of alignment with said holes;
and
e. moving means for moving said web relative to said pieces to move said aperture portion and alternatively bring an aperture therein into alignment with said second holes through said pieces;
and further comprising two channels, one of said channels connecting one of said two sources to a hole in said first piece and the other channel connecting the other source to another hole in said first piece, a receptacle into which the comminuted material from said sources are to be combined;
channel means for connecting said receptacle with the holes in said second piece of material brought into alignment with said web with the holes in said first piece of material connected to said sources by said two channels and means for maintaining a differential fluid pressure between said sources and said receptacle with the higher pressure appearing at said source and the lower pressure appearing at said receptacle;
said selector apparatus connected at said first hole of said first piece to said first source of comminuted material and at said second hole of said first piece to said second source of comminuted material;
said selector apparatus being connected at said first and second holes of said second piece to said receptacle;
and
said mounting means permitting movement of said web between said plates to align said aperture portion selectively with said first holes or said second holes and to permit movement of said web between said plates transverse to the plane of said plates to form a seal therewith and to respond to a different subambient pressure between said sources and said receptacle to selectively transfer comminuted material from said sources to said receptacle.

9 more elements

Selector apparatus for use with a source of differential subambient pressure for selectively transferring comminuted material from separate sources of material to a receptacle, said selector apparatus comprising:

a. first and second pieces of substantially rigid material, each defining a surface, each of said pieces of material having a first and second hole therethrough;
b. means supporting said pieces of material with their surfaces in fixed relationship to define a uniform space therebetween and with the holes in substantial alignment;
c. a web of deformable material disposed between said first and second pieces said web having a transverse dimension significantly less than the transverse dimension of said space, whereby said web is freely movable in said space and said fluid may pass freely between said web and said plate surfaces, said web being transversely deformable under pressure to engage one of said surfaces to form a substantial fluid-tight seal without substantial loss of shape or integrity and having a plurality of apertures therethrough individually positioned on said web for selective alignment of certain of said apertures with any one of said holes in said first piece, the alignment of any one aperture with any one hole being exclusive of alignment of any other aperture with any other hole, the web being sufficently large to overlie said holes when said web is moved to a position where said aperture is not aligned with said holes;
d. mounting means supporting said web in a position with said aperture in alignment with said holes and permitting movement of said web means in said space relative to said plates to a position where said aperture is out of alignment with said holes;
and
e. moving means for moving said web relative to said pieces to alternately
1. bring a first of said apertures into alignment with said first holes in said pieces of material;
and
2. bring a second of said apertures into alignment with said second holes in said pieces of material;
separate channels connecting each of said sources to a separate hole in said first piece;
a receptacle into which the comminuted material from said sources are to be combined;
channel means connecting said receptacle with the holes in said second piece brought into alignment by said web with the holes in said first piece connected by said separate channel to said separate sources;
and means for maintaining a differential fluid pressure between said sources and said receptacle with the higher pressure appearing at said sources and the lower sources appearing at said receptacle;
said apparatus being connected at each hole of said first piece to such sources of comminuted material respectively;
said selector apparatus being connected at each hole of said second piece to said receptacle;
said mounting means permitting movement of said web between said plates to align said aperture selectively with said first holes or said second holes and to permit movement of said web between said plates transverse to the plane of said plates to form a seal therewith and to respond to a differential subambient pressure between said sources and said receptacle to transfer selectively comminuted material from said sources to said receptacle.

13 more elements

In an arrangement having a first source of comminuted material, a second source of comminuted material, a first channel connected to said first source, a second channel connected to said second source, a receptacle, channel means connected to said receptacle and having first and second ports, pressure means for maintaining a differential pressure between said sources and said receptacle, and selector means for coupling said first and second channels to said first and second ports of said channel means the improvement comprising:

a. said selector means comprising first and second pieces of substantially rigid material, each defining a surface, and each having a first hole and a second hole therethrough;
b. means supporting said pieces of material with their surfaces in fixed relationship to define a uniform space therebetween and with the holes in substantial alignment;
c. a web of deformable material disposed between said first and second pieces, said web having a transverse dimension significantly less than the transverse dimension of said space, whereby said web is freely movable in said space and said fluid may pass freely between said web and said plate surfaces, said web being transversely deformable under pressure to engage one of said surfaces to form a substantial fluid-tight seal without substantial loss of shape or integrity and having an apertured portion in a position suitable for selective, exclusive alignment of an aperture in said web with any aligned holes in said first and second pieces, the web being sufficiently large to overlie said holes when said web is moved to a position where said aperture is not aligned with said holes;
d. mounting means supporting said web in a position with said aperture in alignment with said holes and permitting movement of said web means in said space relative to said plates to a position where said aperture is out of alignment with said holes;
and
e. moving means for moving said web relative to said pieces to move said aperture portion and alternatively bring an aperture therein into alignment with said second holes through said pieces;
and further comprising two channels, one of said channels connecting one of said two sources to a hole in said first piece and the other channel connecting the other sources to another hole in said first piece;
a receptacle into which the comminuted material from said sources are to be combined;
channel means for connecting said receptacle with the holes in said second piece of material brought into alignment with said web with the holes in said first piece of material connected to said sources by said two channels and means for maintaining a differential fluid pressure between said sources and said receptacle with the higher pressure appearing at said source and the lower pressure appearing at said receptacle;
said first and second holes in said first piece are connected to said first and second channel;
and
said first and second holes in said second piece are connected to said first and second ports.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Material selector system

Life of this patent

Material selector system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16