Method of stimulating flow of particulates
AssigneeThe Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company
InventorJohn J. Kane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a method for stimulating flow of particulates toward an outlet of a container or other enclosure. A flexible wear-resistant liner is provided to cover an interior surface of the container along with a plurality of inflatable members at spaced locations juxtaposed between the surface and the liner. The members are inflated and deflated in any of various cyclic patterns so as to separate weakly adherent particulates from the liner and also dislodge jammed particulates in the central area of the container or enclosure, stimulating flow.
Claims7
A method of stimulating flow of particulates toward an outlet of a container and separating any weakly adherent particulates from an interior wall surface of said container, said method comprising:
- providing a flexible wear resistant liner loosely covering said surface and a plurality of inflatable members spaced along the surface juxtaposed said surface and the liner,
- inflating and deflating said members so as to create alternate undulations from concave to convex curvature in the liner adjacent each of said members without stretching the material of said liner to a degree which would cause puncture thereof by said particulates,
- the relative rigidity of said liner together with the spacing and size of said members being such that undulatory movement in the liner adjacent each of the inflatable members overlaps that of the neighboring members nearest thereto in order to achieve separation of any weakly adherent particulates from the liner as well as to dislodge particulates in the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.