Apparatus and method for conveying material
AssigneeTriple/S Dynamics, Inc.
InventorsJames F. Sullivan, Jimmy D. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vibrating conveyor for moving agglutinous particulate materials that pack into large accumulations which adhere to its surface, eventually blocking the conveyor pan, is cleared of such accumulations by placing a flexible hose along its bottom. A flexible sheet lines the conveyor pan on top of the hose. The hose is inflated periodically so as to lift the sheet and thus break up the packed accumulations of material.
Claims18
A conveyor for moving particulate agglutinating material comprising:
- a trough having a bottom portion and upstanding side portions, a flexible sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface lining said trough with its lower surface in contact with said bottom portion, said sheet being attached to said trough adjacent the upper edges of said upstanding side portions;
- means for moving said conveyor so as to cause said particulate material to flow through said trough over said upper surface of said sheet;
- and means for breaking up accumulations of said particulate material in said conveyor comprising a flexible hose lying on said bottom portion in contact with said lower surface of said sheet, said hose normally being collapsed by the weight of particulate material on said upper surface of said sheet;
- and means for inflating said hose with a fluid so that said hose assumes a substantially round cross section and raises said sheet off said bottom portion and away from at least a portion of said upstanding side portions of said trough to break up packed accumulations of said particulate material.
A conveyor for moving particulate agglutinating material comprising:
- an elongated trough having a bottom portion and upstanding opposed side portions substantially perpendicular to said bottom portion, an elongated flexible sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface lining said trough with its lower surface in contact with said bottom portion, said sheet being attached to said trough along only the upper edges of said upstanding side portions;
- means for moving said conveyor so as to cause said particulate material to flow through said trough over said upper surface of said sheet;
- and means for breaking up accumulations of said particulate material in said conveyor comprising an elongated flexible hose having one end sealed and lying on said bottom portion adjacent its center in contact with said lower surface of said sheet, said hose normally being collapsed by the weight of particulate material on said upper surface of said sheet, means for inflating said hose with a gas so that said hose assumes a substantially round cross section and raises said sheet off said bottom portion and away from at least a portion of said upstanding side portions of said trough and thereby to break up packed accumulations of said particulate material;
- and when said hose is inflated, its diameter being less than one-third of the width of said trough, and less than half the height of said trough.
The method of preventing the packing of an agglutinating particulate material which is being moved along a vibrating conveyor that has a bottom portion and opposed upstanding side portions, comprising the steps of:
- (A) lining said conveyor with a sheet of flexible material with the under surface of said sheet being in contact with said bottom portion;
- (B) attaching said sheet adjacent to the upper edges of said upstanding portions;
- (C) placing a hose between said bottom portion and said under surface of said sheet;
- (D) collapsing said hose by placing said particulate material on the upper surface of said sheet;
- (E) causing said conveyor to vibrate and thereby to move said particulate material;
- and
- (F) moving said sheet away from said bottom portion and at least a part of said side portions so as to break up packed accumulations of said particulate material on said upper surface by periodically inflating said hose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.