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US 5,961,856 AGranted
Deep water powder feed hopper
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRobert Anthony Fusaro, Jr., Raymond Alan White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hopper feeds powder underwater to a welding torch. The hopper includes a housing having a lower chamber and an integral upper chamber. An inlet joins the upper chamber for receiving powder and a pressurized carrier gas. A powder outlet joins the lower chamber for discharging the powder to the torch. A gas outlet joins the upper chamber for releasing the carrier gas. And, a control valve joins the gas outlet for selectively controlling pressure internal the housing.
Claims9
A hopper for feeding powder underwater to a welding torch comprising:
- a housing having a lower chamber for accumulating said powder, and an integral upper chamber;
- an inlet disposed in flow communication with said upper chamber for receiving said powder in a pressured carrier gas;
- a powder outlet disposed in flow communication with said lower chamber for discharging said powder to said torch;
- a gas outlet disposed in flow communication with said upper chamber for releasing said carrier gas;
- and
- a valve disposed in flow communication with said gas outlet for selectively controlling pressure internal said housing;
- and
- a means for adjusting said valve in response to hydrostatic pressure external said housing.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.