Apparatus and method for handling dry bulk materials in a hopper-type container using air agitation
AssigneeButler Manufacturing Company
InventorArthur I. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming and handling a slurry in a hopper-type container, preferably a hopper railroad car. The product may be unloaded dry using air or the product may be aerated, then liquefied while air continues to be forced thereinto, then agitated and mixed to insure formation of a slurry or solution having consistent properties. The slurry or solution is aerated during the discharge thereof from the container. The aeration for dry or liquid discharge is preferably performed using aeration devices such as that device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,261.
Claims15
A hopper-type container comprising:
- a container body having a hopper for containing a product to be formed into and handled as a slurry or solution;
- a gas induction system for inducting gas into said container body, said gas system including an inlet conduit for connecting a source of gas to said container body, an aeration device mounted on the bottom of said container body hopper, said aeration device having gas discharge means located closely adjacent the hopper bottom for discharging air into said container body adjacent the hopper bottom, and a conduit connecting said aeration device to said inlet conduit;
- a liquid handling system connected to the bottom of said hopper for conducting liquid to and from said container body hopper from a liquid source and conducting a slurry or a solution from said container to a slurry or solution handling system;
- and
- cross-over valves connecting said gas induction system to said liquid handling system for introducing gas into said container body through said liquid handling system.
A method of forming and handling a slurry or solution in a hopper-type container including the steps of:
- placing a quantity of dry material into a container;
- forcing gas through said dry material to agitate said dry material;
- continuing to agitate said dry material by forcing gas thereinto while simultaneously liquefying said dry material by forcing liquid through said material;
- and
- agitating and mixing said liquefied material to produce a liquefied mass having a consistent composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.