Powder feeder
AssigneeHyer Industries, Inc.
InventorFrank S. Hyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hopper-feeder system for feeding stored powders at a uniform, controllable and predetermined rate. A spiral convoluted stirring agitator in close proximity and conforming to the hopper wall is rotated in a direction tending to lift and dilate the powder, counteracting its tendency to bridge and to undergo intermittent or non-uniform changes in density and rate of discharge. The head load upon the feeder as well as the material damping effect on the feeder are controlled by a column cutter on the agitator that undercuts the column of powder extending through the hopper opening.
Claims9
Apparatus for continuously feeding cohesive powder at a controlled rate comprising, in combination,
- a hopper for storing the powder having a wall terminating at an outlet opening, said wall having a wall portion of circular horizontal cross section which decreases in diameter toward said opening,
- an elongate agitator having a dilating portion formed of convolutions spiraling upwardly from said opening and radially outwardly in close proximity and conforming to said wall portion over a substantial portion of its axial length, said opening being otherwise unobstructed,
- drive means for rotating the agitator as the powder is discharged from said opening, the direction of rotation tending to lift the powder in contact with said dilating portion, the speed of rotation being sufficient only to dilate and decompress the powder and to prevent the formation of stable arches thereof in the hopper, and
- a vibratory pan feeder having a pan adapted to receive the powder, said hopper and agitator being formed and driven to produce a column of powder ascending from the pan up to the agitator, said column forming a head load of constant mass beneath said opening, said feeder being adapted to convey the powder from said column at a predetermined rate, whereby the rate of powder discharge from the hopper to the feeder is limited to said predetermined rate and is sufficient only to replace the powder conveyed from said column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.