Apparatus and method for transporting and metering particulate materials into fluid pressure
AssigneeStamet, Inc.
InventorAndrew G. Hay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved apparatus for transporting and metering particulate material including a transport duct having an inlet, an outlet, and at least one moving surface located therebetween having a downstream facing drive surface. The apparatus further includes drive device for moving the moving surface between the inlet and the outlet towards the outlet, and compacting the particulate material sufficiently to cause the formation of a bridge composed of substantially interlocking particulate spanning the width of the transport duct. The apparatus is used to transport and meter particulate material under ambient conditions and against pressure.
Claims40
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first moveable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first movable surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle having an interior outlet channel which extends upward from the outlet of the transport channel and defines a cross-sectional area which diverges in the upward direction for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- wherein said outlet duct has a bottom end portion adjacent said transport channel, an external end portion opposed to said bottom end portion, and an upwardly inclined internal wall;
- and
- wherein said internal wall of said divergent receptacle defines a divergent receptacle having a cross-section which diverges in the direction away from said transport channel.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein said outlet duct has an internal wall defining a divergent receptacle having a cross-section which diverges in the direction away from said transport channel.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising.:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein the outlet duct is coupled to the transport channel at an outlet junction, the apparatus further comprising a pressure vent provided adjacent the outlet junction.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- further comprising a pressure vent in said transport channel.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- wherein said primary transport channel is further defined by a second moving surface substantially opposed to said first moving surface, said second moving surface being movable between said inlet and said outlet toward said outlet;
- and
- wherein each of said first and second movable surfaces has at least one undulation defining a downstream facing drive surface for engaging particulate material.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein said first movable surface has at least one undulation defining a downstream facing drive surface for engaging particulate material.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein said outlet duct has a bottom end portion adjacent said primary transport channel, an external end portion opposed to said bottom end portion, and an upwardly inclined internal wall to allow particulate material within said outlet to be compressed by gravity when said primary transport channel and said outlet duct are filled with particulate material, and further said internal wall having a cross-section which is outwardly diverging toward said external end portion.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material against a fluid pressure comprising:
- a first movable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet downstream of said inlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moving surface operable to move from said inlet towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein said apparatus is operable to transport particulate material into a pressurized system containing pressurized fluid, and wherein the outlet duct has a first end coupled to the transport channel and a second end operable to be coupled to the pressurized system, said apparatus further comprising a non-return valve system for inhibiting pressurized fluid from entering into said transport channel through said outlet.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being upwardly angled to upwardly move particulate material therethrough;
- a transport duct enclosed within said housing between said inlet and said outlet, said transport duct having a primary transport channel defined by first and second rotary disks movable relative to said housing between said inlet and said outlet towards said outlet and at least one arcuate wall extending between said inlet and said outlet, said first rotary disk having a first face, said second rotary disk having a second face which substantially opposes said first face,
- an outlet duct coupled to receive particulate material from said primary transport channel and defining a receptacle having an interior outlet channel which extends upward from the outlet of the transport channel and defines a cross-sectional area which diverges in the Upward direction for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being upwardly angled to upwardly move particulate material therethrough;
- a transport duct enclosed within said housing between said inlet and said outlet, said transport duct having a primary transport channel defined by first and second rotary disks movable relative to said housing between said inlet and said outlet towards said outlet and at least one arcuate wall extending between said inlet and said outlet, said first rotary disk having a first face, said second rotary disk having a second face which substantially opposes said first face,
- an outlet duct coupled to receive particulate material from said primary transport channel and defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein said first and second faces each having at least one discontinuity configured to define first and second transport facilitation zones contiguous with said primary transport channel such that particulate material within said first and second transport facilitation zones are contiguous with particulate material within said primary transport channel, each of said discontinuities having at least one downstream facing drive surface.
An apparatus for transporting particulate material comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being upwardly angled to upwardly move particulate material therethrough;
- a transport duct enclosed within said housing between said inlet and said outlet, said transport duct having a primary transport channel defined by first and second rotary disks movable relative to said housing between said inlet and said outlet towards said outlet and at least one arcuate wall extending between said inlet and said outlet, said first rotary disk having a first face, said second rotary disk having a second face which substantially opposes said first face,
- an outlet duct coupled to receive particulate material from said primary transport channel and defining a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the apparatus, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the apparatus, so as to form a moving dynamic plug for inhibiting fluid from entering the primary transport channel from the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein said apparatus is operable to transport particulate material into a pressurized system containing pressurized fluid, and wherein the outlet duct has a first end coupled to the primary transport channel and a second end operable to be coupled to the pressurized system, said apparatus further comprising a non-return valve system for inhibiting pressurized fluid from entering into said transport channel through said outlet.
A method of operating an apparatus for transporting particulate solids, said apparatus having an inlet, a diverging, upward directed outlet duct, a transport channel between said inlet and said outlet duct, said outlet duct being coupled to a pressurized system, and a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel for moving particulate solids through said transport channel toward said outlet duct, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving particulate solids in said transport channel;
- sequentially forming moving cumulative bridges of particulate material within said transport channel;
- moving the bridged particulate material from the transport channel, upwardly through said diverging outlet duct so as to fill said outlet with particulate material;
- and
- sealing said pressurized system by said moving cumulative bridges of particulate material.
A method of operating an apparatus for transporting particulate solids, said apparatus having an inlet, an outlet duct, a transport channel between said inlet and said outlet duct, said outlet duct being coupled to a pressurized system., and a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel for moving particulate solids through said transport channel toward said outlet, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving particulate solids in said transport channel;
- sequentially forming moving cumulative bridges of particulate material within said transport channel;
- moving the bridged particulate material from the transport channel, upwardly through said outlet so as to fill said outlet with particulate material;
- and
- sealing said pressurized system by said moving cumulative bridges of particulate material;
- and
- wherein said pressurized system contains a pressurized fluid, and said method further comprises the step of venting said fluid adjacent a junction between said transport channel and said outlet duct.
A method of operating an apparatus for transporting particulate solids, said apparatus having an inlet, an outlet duct, a transport channel between said inlet and said outlet duct, said outlet duct being coupled to a pressurized system, and a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel for moving particulate solids through said transport channel toward said outlet, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving particulate solids in said transport channel;
- sequentially forming moving cumulative bridges of particulate material within said transport channel;
- moving the bridged particulate material from the transport channel, upwardly through said outlet so as to fill said outlet with particulate material;
- and
- sealing said pressurized system by said moving cumulative bridges of particulate material;
- and
- wherein said pressurized system contains a pressurized fluid, and said method further comprises the step of venting said fluid in said transport channel.
A system for transporting particulate material across a fluid pressure differential, the system comprising:
- a first moveable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moveable surface operable to move between said inlet and said outlet, towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct coupled to the outlet and cooperating with said transport channel to define a receptacle having an interior outlet channel which extends upward from the outlet of the transport channel and defines a cross-sectional area which diverges in the upward direction for holding, during the operation of the system, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the system, said mass of particulate material forming a moving dynamic plug in at least one of the transport channel and the outlet duct, for inhibiting fluid from entering the transport channel from at least one of the inlet and the outlet duct.
A system for transporting particulate material across a fluid pressure differential, the system comprising:
- a first moveable surface defining a transport channel, an inlet and an outlet, said transport channel located between said inlet and said outlet, the first moveable surface operable to move between said inlet and said outlet, towards said outlet;
- an outlet duct coupled to the outlet and cooperating with said transport channel to define a receptacle for holding, during the operation of the system, a mass of the particulate material being transferred by the system, said mass of particulate material forming a moving dynamic plug in at least one of the transport channel and the outlet duct, for inhibiting fluid from entering the transport channel from at least one of the inlet and the outlet duct;
- and
- wherein the at least one movable surface defines at least one undulation for engaging particulate material in the transport channel.
A method of operating an apparatus for transporting particulate material between a pressure fluid differential, said apparatus having an inlet provided in a first fluid pressure environment, a diverging, upward directed outlet duct having an outlet in a second fluid pressure environment, a transport channel between said inlet and said outlet duct, and a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel for moving particulate solids through said transport channel toward said outlet duct, said first fluid pressure environment having a fluid pressure different from that of the second fluid pressure environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving particulate solids in said transport channel;
- sequentially forming moving cumulative bridges of particulate material within said transport channel;
- moving the bridged particulate material from the transport channel to said outlet duct and upward through said diverging outlet duct;
- and
- forming a fluid pressure seal between the first and second fluid pressure environments with the bridged particulate material.
A method of operating an apparatus for transporting particulate material between a pressure fluid differential, said apparatus having an inlet provided in a first fluid pressure environment, an outlet duct having an outlet in a second fluid pressure environment, a transport channel between said inlet and said outlet duct, and a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel for moving particulate solids through said transport channel toward said outlet duct, said first fluid pressure environment having a fluid pressure different from that of the second fluid pressure environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving particulate solids in said transport channel;
- sequentially forming moving cumulative bridges of particulate material within said transport channel;
- moving the bridged particulate material from the transport channel to said outlet duct and upward through said diverging outlet duct;
- forming a fluid pressure seal between the first and second fluid pressure environments with the bridged particulate material;
- and
- wherein the moving surface defines at least one undulation and wherein the step of moving comprises the step of engaging particulate material in the transport channel with said at least one undulation of said moving surface.
A method of transporting particulate material across a pressure fluid differential, said method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a particulate material transport channel between and coupling first and second fluid pressure environments, said first fluid pressure environment having a fluid pressure different from that of the second fluid pressure environment;
- providing a transport channel inlet in fluid flow communication with the first fluid pressure environment;
- providing a transport channel outlet in fluid flow communication with the second fluid pressure environment;
- providing an upward directed, diverging outlet duct between the transport channel outlet and the second fluid pressure environment;
- arranging a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel;
- receiving particulate material within the transport channel through the transport channel inlet;
- engaging the particulate material in the transport channel with a moving surface to transfer drive force from the moving surface to the particulate material;
- forming a moving mass of particulate material within at least one of the transport channel and outlet duct;
- moving the mass of particulate material upward through the diverging outlet duct;
- and
- forming a pressure seal between the first and second fluid pressure environments with the moving mass of particulate material.
A method of transporting particulate material across a pressure fluid differential, said method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a particulate material transport channel between and coupling first and second fluid pressure environments, said first fluid pressure environment having a fluid pressure different from that of the second fluid pressure environment;
- providing a transport channel inlet in fluid flow communication with the first fluid pressure environment;
- providing a transport channel outlet in fluid flow communication with the second fluid pressure environment;
- providing an outlet duct between the transport channel outlet and the second fluid pressure environment;
- arranging a moving surface contiguous with said transport channel;
- receiving particulate material within the transport channel through the transport channel inlet;
- engaging the particulate material in the transport channel with a moving surface to transfer drive force from the moving surface to the particulate material;
- forming a moving mass of particulate material within at least one of the transport channel and outlet duct;
- and
- forming a pressure seal between the first and second fluid pressure environments with the moving mass of particulate material;
- and
- wherein the moving surface defines at least one undulation and wherein the step of engaging comprises the step of engaging particulate material in the transport channel with said at least one undulation of said moving surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.