Bulk flow measurement system
AssigneeGustafson, Inc.
InventorBrent T. Carlson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grain flow measuring system for a flow rate of grain moving along a generally vertical grain flow path. The weight of grain conveyed along the flow path is measured when the grain impinges baffle elements, thereby generating a force corresponding to the grain weight. The force is transmitted to one or more load cells.
Claims38
An apparatus for weighing material being conveyed on a generally vertical flow path, comprising:
- a flow conditioning portion comprising a flow conditioning baffle assembly;
- and
- a flow measuring portion generally downstream in the flow path from the flow conditioning portion and comprising first and second flow measuring baffle sets and at least one load cell in mechanical communication with the first and second flow measuring baffle sets, the second flow measuring baffle set generally downstream in the flow path from the first flow measuring baffle set, each first and second flow measuring baffle set including a multiplicity of respective generally parallel first and second flow measuring baffle elements, the first and second flow measuring baffle elements disposed such that the material being conveyed in the flow path impinges the flow measuring baffle elements, thereby imparting a force on the flow measuring baffle elements, the force corresponding to a weight of the material being conveyed in the flow path and mechanically communicated to the at least one load cell.
A system for weighing grain being conveyed in a generally vertical flow path, comprising:
- an inlet assembly;
- an evacuation assembly downstream in the flow path from the inlet assembly and comprising a first evacuation assembly baffle set;
- and
- a scale assembly downstream in the flow path from the evacuation assembly and comprising first and second scale assembly baffle sets and a plurality of load cells in mechanical communication with the first and second scale assembly baffle sets, the first scale assembly baffle set comprising a multiplicity of generally parallel first baffle set elements, the second scale assembly baffle set comprising a multiplicity of generally parallel second baffle set elements, the first baffle set elements generally perpendicular to the second baffle set elements,
- the grain sequentially conveyed through the inlet assembly, the evacuation assembly, and the scale assembly, the grain impinging the first and second baffle set elements, thereby generating a force substantially proportional to an amount of grain being conveyed through said system, the force mechanically communicated to the plurality of load cells.
A method of weighing material being conveyed in a generally vertical flow path, comprising conveying the material through a scale assembly, the scale assembly comprising first and second baffle sets, the first baffle set having a multiplicity of generally parallel first baffle set elements, the second baffle set having a multiplicity of generally parallel second baffle set elements, the material impinging said first and second baffle set elements while being conveyed through said scale assembly and thereby generating a force corresponding to the weight of material being conveyed, said force being communicated to a plurality of load cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.