Device for the continuous gravimetric metering and pneumatic conveyance of pourable material

Apparatus for continuous gravimetric metering and conveying of pourable material, comprising:

• first, second and third flexible couplings;
• a housing including first and second spaced walls, a charging port through said first wall connected to said first flexible coupling for connection to a supply of pourable material, a discharge port through one of said walls displaced from said charging port and at the same radius as said charging port with respect to a predetermined vertical axis, said discharge port connected to said second flexible connection for connection to a discharge line, an air port through the other wall opposite and aligned with said discharge port, said air port connected to said third flexible coupling for connection to a compressed air supply, and pivotal mounting means mounting said housing on a horizontal axis which is spaced from said predetermined vertical axis and extends through said first, second and third flexible couplings;
• a rotor mounted in and sealed to said housing for rotation about said predetermined vertical axis, including a plurality of pockets extending therethrough at spaced locations defining a circular measuring path along the same radius as said charging and discharging ports, said pockets receiving material via said charging port and emitting material through said discharge port as they orbit;
• drive means connected to rotate said rotor;
• speed indicating means connected to said drive means for indicating the speed of said rotor;
• and
• load measuring means connected to said housing at a point spaced from said horizontal axis and on the side of said vertical axis opposite that of said horizontal axis for measuring the weight of the material traveling along the measuring path, and
• wherein said housing is an explosion-proof housing and further comprises a third housing wall peripherally-connected to and spaced from said first wall to form a first seal chamber, a fourth housing wall peripherally connected to and spaced from said second wall to form a second seal chamber, and an incompressible liquid filling said first and second chambers.