Apparatus for determining powder flowability

Apparatus for determining flowability of a powder by sensing powder avalanching, comprising:

• a sample drum having a central axis and a generally cylindrical sample chamber for holding a powder sample that partially fills the sample chamber;
• a support frame including a drum shaft for supporting said drum with said central axis generally horizontal;
• a drive motor;
• a drive mechanism coupled between said drive motor and said drum shaft such that said drum rotates about said central axis when said drive motor is energized wherein gravity causes avalanching of the powder sample at intervals as said sample drum rotates;
• an avalanche sensor for sensing the avalanching of the powder sample within the sample chamber as said sample drum rotates and for producing in response thereto an electrical signal that is representative of the avalanching of said powder sample;
• and
• a gas conditioning system in fluid communication with the sample chamber of said sample drum for controllably circulating a gas through the sample chamber.

Apparatus for determining the flowability of a powder by sensing powder avalanching, comprising:

• a sample drum having a central axis and a generally cylindrical sample chamber for holding a powder sample that partially fills the sample chamber;
• a support frame including a drum shaft for supporting said drum with said central axis generally horizontal;
• a drive motor;
• a drive mechanism coupled between said drive motor and said drum shaft such that said drum rotates about said central axis when said drive motor is energized, wherein gravity causes avalanching of the powder sample at intervals as said sample drum rotates;
• and
• an avalanche sensor, which is operable without transmission of light through a wall of the sample chamber, for sensing the avalanching of the powder sample within the sample chamber as said sample drum rotates and for producing in response thereto an electrical signal that is representative of the avalanching of the powder sample.