Apparatus for sampling dry solids
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorEdward M. Diss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In packaging certain dry, free-flowing solid materials, the packaging operation involves delivering the solids from a classifier screen to a storage hopper through an inclined conduit. Within the conduit the particles tend to segregate into distinct layers, such that each layer contains solids of a different size. In this situation it is difficult to obtain a representative sample of the product being packaged, for quality control purposes. The present invention solves the problem with a sample receiving and collection conduit inside the hopper, which is operated by an oscillator means and timer mechanism. The timed oscillation of the receiving and collection conduit permits a periodic collection of the entire solids stream as it flows from the inclined conduit into the hopper.
Claims5
An apparatus for sampling a stream of dry, free-flowing solids at a point between a classifier means and a packaging means, the apparatus including:
- a hopper which is suitable for storing dry, free-flowing, solids, and which includes a top wall with an opening therein;
- a delivery conduit which communicates with a means for classifying the dry solids and with the top wall opening, and which is suitable for carrying a stream of the dry solids from the classifier means to the storage hopper;
- a sample receiving conduit which includes an upper section and a lower section which is coupled to the upper section;
- the upper section of the sample receiving conduit having an open end which is positioned inside the storage hopper below the opening in the top wall;
- the lower section of the sample receiving conduit having a lower end which extends outside the storage hopper;
- a collection conduit which connects into the said lower end of the sample receiving conduit;
- an oscillator means which is fastened to the said lower end of the sample receiving conduit, the oscillator being adapted for moving the sample receiving conduit to a first position in which the open end of the upper section is in direct alignment with the opening in the top wall of the hopper, and a second position in which the said open end is not aligned with the opening in the top wall of the hopper;
- a support column which is positioned inside the hopper, which is fastened to the hopper, and which encloses the lower section of the sample receiving conduit;
- a bearing assembly which is fitted to the lower section of the sample receiving conduit near the point at which the said lower section is coupled to the upper section of the sample receiving conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.