Apparatus for metering semi-flowable material

An apparatus for metering semi-flowable material, comprising:

• means for storing a mass of semi-flowable material, the storage means having a bottom opening therein;
• means for bottom unloading the semi-flowable material from the storage means and delivering by gravitational action loosened material at a substantially reduced and controlled head pressure and density into an aeration and conditioning zone;
• means for aerating and conditioning the semi-flowable material to prevent the material from compacting and bridging and to provide a mass of semi-flowable material of substantially constant density;
• a columnar metering hopper for volumetrically controlling the flow of semi-flowable material out of the aeration and conditioning zone, the hopper having an upper conical-shaped member, a substantially horizontal circular plate being disposed within the conical member, the horizontal plate having a plurality of holes therein, a corresponding plurality of elliptical-shaped, tubular columns extending angularly downward and inward from the horizontal plate, each of the columns having top and bottom openings therein;
• and
• means disposed beneath the columnar hopper for distributing the semi-flowable material without inducing packing and bridging of the material for delivery by gravitational action into a collection hopper.

An apparatus for metering semi-flowable material, comprising:

• a storage hopper for containing a mass of semi-flowable material, the hopper having a cylindrical shape at its upper end and extending downward into a truncated conical shape having a bottom opening therein;
• a rotational pressure plate mounted in the truncated end of the storage hopper, the rotational pressure plate having a diameter less than the diameter of the truncated end of the storage hopper and having an upper surface for centrifugally moving the semi-flowable material to and over the outer edge of the rotational pressure plate;
• an upper hub rotatably mounted below the rotational pressure plate, the upper hub having a plurality of arms extending substantially horizontally outward therefrom;
• a stationary pressure plate mounted adjacent to and below the upper hub and closing the bottom opening in the storage hopper, the stationary pressure plate having a plurality of holes therein;
• a plurality of substantially vertical probes extending downward from the bottom surface of the stationary pressure plate into a material retaining ring having an annular shape;
• a columnar metering hopper having an upper conical-shaped member disposed adjacent to the material retaining ring, a substantially horizontal circular plate being disposed within the conical member, the horizontal plate having a plurality of holes therein, a corresponding plurality of elliptical-shaped, tubular columns extending angularly downward and inward from the holes in the horizontal plate, the columns having top and bottom openings therein;
• a lower hub rotatably mounted above the horizontal plate in the metering hopper, the lower hub having a plurality of arms extending substantially horizontally outward therefrom;
• a material support surface located beneath the columnar hopper, the material support surface forming a substantially continuous metering edge at its perimeter;
• a distributing hub rotatably mounted adjacent the material support surface and having at least one blade extending substantially horizontally outward therefrom, the blade having a bearing-type facing surface thereon;
• a shaft linking the distributing hub, the lower hub, the upper hub, and the rotational pressure plate for conjoint rotation;
• means for rotating the shaft;
• and
• a collection hopper located beneath the material support surface.

A method for metering semi-flowable material, comprising the steps of:

• bottom unloading semi-flowable material from a storage hopper into an aeration and conditioning zone at a substantially reduced and controlled head pressure and density;
• aerating and conditioning the semi-flowable material within the aeration and conditioning zone to prevent the material from compacting and bridging and to place the material in a state of substantially constant density throughout the aeration and conditioning zone;
• segregating portions of the aerated and conditioned semi-flowable material and bottom unloading the segregated portions of the semi-flowable material out of the aeration and conditioning zone through inclined tubular columns to support and maintain the material in a substantially constant density state for volumetric delivery by gravitational action into a metering zone;
• and
• distributing the semi-flowable material over a metering edge without inducing packing and wedging of the material for gravitational delivery into a collection hopper.

Apparatus for metering semi-flowable material, comprising:

• a hopper for receiving a mass of semi-flowable material, the hopper having a bottom opening therein;
• a first stationary plate mounted in the bottom opening of the hopper, said first stationary plate having a plurality of holes therein for passage of the semi-flowable material;
• an upper hub rotatably mounted above the first stationary plate and having at least one arm extending outward therefrom;
• a material retaining ring disposed below the first stationary plate;
• a second stationary plate mounted below the first stationary plate and having a plurality of holes therein, the second stationary plate supporting a corresponding plurality of tubular columns sloping downward and laterally from the holes in the second stationary plate;
• a lower hub rotatably mounted above the second stationary plate and having at least one arm extending outward therefrom;
• a material support surface disposed below the bottoms of the tubular columns and defining a metering edge;
• a distributing hub rotatably mounted above the material support surface and having at least one blade extending therefrom;
• a shaft linking the hubs for conjoint rotation;
• and means for rotating the shaft.