Apparatus and method employing an inlet extension for transporting and metering fine particulate and powdery material

An inlet extension for an apparatus for transporting fine or powdery material, wherein the transporting apparatus has a particulate transport channel and an inlet provided in flow communication with the transport channel, the inlet extension comprising:

• a generally tubular body defining a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior having an outlet for arranging in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the outlet;
• and
• a vibrator coupled to the tubular body for torsionally vibrating the tubular body about its longitudinally directed axis.

An inlet extension for an apparatus for transporting fine or powdery material, wherein the transporting apparatus has a particulate transport channel and an inlet provided in flow communication with the transport channel, the inlet extension comprising:

• a generally tubular body defining a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior having an outlet for arranging in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the outlet;
• and
• a coupler for coupling the generally tubular body to the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus to provide the hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• wherein the coupler includes a bearing assembly for supporting the tubular body for rotation about the axis of the tubular body.

An inlet extension for an apparatus for transporting fine or powdery material, wherein the transporting apparatus has a particulate transport channel and an inlet provided in flow communication with the transport channel, the inlet extension comprising:

• a generally tubular body defining a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior having an outlet for arranging in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus:
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the outlet;
• and
• a coupler for coupling the generally tubular body to the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus to provide the hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• wherein the coupler comprises a flexible tubular extension portion for coupling the outlet of the tubular body to the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• and
• wherein the flexible tubular extension portion has a bellows-like configuration.

An inlet extension for an apparatus for transporting fine or powdery material, wherein the transporting apparatus has a particulate transport channel and an inlet provided in flow communication with the transport channel, the inlet extension comprising:

• a generally tubular body defining a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior having an outlet for arranging in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the outlet;
• and
• a material hopper having an outlet for supplying the particulate material to the transport channel through the tubular body of the inlet extension, and a generally flexible tubular extension portion for connecting the tubular extension to the outlet of the material hopper.

An improved apparatus for transporting particulate material of the type having a movable wall structure defining a transport channel and having an inlet for receiving particulate material into the channel and an outlet for emitting particulate material from the channel, wherein the movable wall structure defines at least one wall moveable in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet for imparting a force directed toward the outlet on particulate material entering the channel from the inlet, the improvement comprising:

• an inlet extension having a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior having an outlet in flow communication with the inlet of the transport channel;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough by gravity along the axis toward the inlet of the transport channel;
• and
• the generally tubular body having an axial length suitable for allowing the particulate material to become relatively compacted upon flowing through the hollow interior and into the transport channel;
• wherein the generally hollow interior of the tubular body defines a radial cross-sectional area which diverges in the longitudinal direction toward the outlet.

An improved apparatus for transporting particulate material of the type having a movable wall structure defining a transport channel and having an inlet for receiving particulate material into the channel and an outlet for emitting particulate material from the channel, wherein the movable wall structure defines at least one wall moveable in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet for imparting a force directed toward the outlet on particulate material entering the channel from the inlet, the improvement comprising:

• an inlet extension having a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the transport channel;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being Configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the inlet of the transport channel;
• and
• a vibrator coupled to the tubular body for torsionally vibrating the tubular body about its longitudinally directed axis.

An improved apparatus for transporting particulate material of the type having a movable wall structure defining a transport channel and having an inlet for receiving particulate material into the channel and an outlet for emitting particulate material from the channel, wherein the movable wall structure defines at least one wall moveable in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet for imparting a force directed toward the outlet on particulate material entering the channel from the inlet, the improvement comprising:

• an inlet extension having a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the transport channel;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the inlet of the transport channel;
• and
• a coupler for coupling the generally tubular body to the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus to provide the hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• wherein the coupler includes a bearing assembly for supporting the tubular body for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

An improved apparatus for transporting particulate material of the type having a movable wall structure defining a transport channel and having an inlet for receiving particulate material into the channel and an outlet for emitting particulate material from the channel, wherein the movable wall structure defines at least one wall moveable in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet for imparting a force directed toward the outlet on particulate material entering the channel from the inlet, the improvement comprising:

• an inlet extension having a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the transport channel;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the inlet of the transport channel;
• and
• a coupler for coupling the generally tubular body to the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus to provide the hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the particulate material transporting apparatus;
• wherein the coupler comprises a flexible tubular extension portion for coupling the outlet of the tubular body to the inlet.

An improved apparatus for transporting particulate material of the type having a movable wall structure defining a transport channel and having an inlet for receiving particulate material into the channel and an outlet for emitting particulate material from the channel, wherein the movable wall structure defines at least one wall moveable in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet for imparting a force directed toward the outlet on particulate material entering the channel from the inlet, the improvement comprising:

• an inlet extension having a longitudinally directed axis and a generally hollow interior in flow communication with the inlet of the transport channel;
• the generally hollow interior of the tubular body being configured to allow particulate material to pass therethrough along the axis toward the inlet of the transport channel;
• a material hopper having an outlet for supplying the particulate material to the transport channel through the tubular body of the inlet extension;
• and
• a generally flexible tubular extension portion for connecting the tubular extension to the outlet of the material hopper.

A method for transporting fine and powdery particulate material in an apparatus having a transport channel, an inlet for receiving particulate material into the transport channel, an outlet for emitting particulate material from the transport channel, at least one moveable wall moveable in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet for imparting a force directed toward the outlet on particulate material entering the channel from the inlet, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a generally hollow inlet extension to the transport channel inlet, the inlet extension having a predetermined vertical height and a generally hollow interior with a cross-sectional area that diverges in the direction toward the inlet of the transport channel;
• passing a volume of the powdery particulate material by gravity through the generally hollow inlet extension and into the inlet and transport channel;
• de-aerating the powdery particulate material within the inlet extension as the particulate material passes through the inlet extension so that the powdery particulate material becomes sufficiently compacted upon reaching the transport channel to form a transient solid for receiving a drive force from the at least one moveable wall;
• and
• engaging the transient solid with the at least one moveable wall such that the transient solid receives a drive force from the at least one moveable wall;
• transporting the transient solid toward the outlet with the drive force imparted by the at least one moveable wall.