Apparatus and method for reducing buildup of particulate matter in particulate-matter-delivery systems

A particulate-matter-delivery system comprising:

• a trough-shaped feeder with a rectangular feeder opening;
• and
• a rectangular-to-circular conduit having a circular end and a rectangular end, the rectangular-to-circular conduit extending from the rectangular opening of the trough-shaped feeder, the circular end having a circular conduit opening, the rectangular end having a rectangular opening mated to the rectangular feeder opening, wherein the area of the rectangular feeder opening is greater than the area of the circular conduit opening.

A particulate-matter-delivery system comprising:

• a trough-shaped feeder with a substantially-rectangular feeder opening;
• and
• a rectangular-to-elliptical conduit having an elliptical end and a rectangular end, the rectangular-to-elliptical conduit extending from the substantially-rectangular opening of the trough-shaped feeder, the elliptical end having a substantially-elliptical conduit opening, the rectangular end having a substantially-rectangular conduit opening, the substantially-rectangular conduit opening being mated to the substantially-rectangular feeder opening.

The system of claim 13, wherein the area of the substantially-rectangular feeder opening is greater than the area of the substantially-elliptical conduit opening.

A method for reducing bridging in particulate-matter-delivery systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• interfacing a storage hopper with a trough-shaped feeder using a circular-to-rectangular conduit having a circular opening at one end for interfacing the storage hopper and a rectangular opening at an opposite end for interfacing the trough-shaped feeder, the area of the rectangular opening being greater than the area of the circular opening;
• and
• directing particulate matter from the storage hopper to the trough-shaped feeder through the circular-to-rectangular conduit.

A method for reducing bridging in particulate-matter-delivery systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• interfacing a storage hopper with a trough-shaped feeder using an elliptical-to-rectangular conduit;
• and
• directing particulate matter from the storage hopper to the trough-shaped feeder through the elliptical-to-rectangular conduit.

A method for reducing bridging in particulate-matter-delivery systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a cylindrical storage hopper to a elliptical end of the elliptical-to-rectangular conduit, the cylindrical storage hopper having a substantially-elliptical axial profile, the cylindrical storage hopper further having a substantially-elliptical hopper opening, the elliptical end of the elliptical-to-rectangular conduit having a substantially-elliptical conduit opening, the substantially-elliptical conduit opening being substantially similar in shape to the substantially-elliptical hopper opening, the substantially-elliptical conduit opening being substantially similar in size to the substantially-elliptical hopper opening;
• and
• coupling a trough-shaped feeder to a rectangular end of the elliptical-to-rectangular conduit, the trough-shaped feeder having a substantially-rectangular feeder opening, the rectangular end of the elliptical-to-rectangular conduit having a substantially-rectangular conduit opening, the substantially-rectangular conduit opening being substantially similar in shape to the substantially-rectangular feeder opening, the substantially-rectangular conduit opening being substantially similar in size to the substantially-rectangular feeder opening.

A particulate-matter-delivery system comprising:

• a trough-shaped feeder with a rectangular feeder opening;
• and
• a rectangular-to-circular conduit having a circular end and a rectangular end, the rectangular-to-circular conduit extending from the rectangular opening of the trough-shaped feeder, the circular end having a circular conduit opening, the rectangular end having a rectangular opening mated to the rectangular feeder opening, wherein the trough-shaped feeder has a pair of opposed, parallel sides.

A particulate-matter-delivery system comprising:

• a trough-shaped feeder with a rectangular feeder opening;
• and
• a rectangular-to-circular conduit having a circular end and a rectangular end, the rectangular-to-circular conduit extending from the rectangular opening of the trough-shaped feeder, the circular end having a circular conduit opening, the rectangular end having a rectangular opening mated to the rectangular feeder opening, the rectangular-to-circular conduit having sides that diverge from each other as they move away from the circular end towards the rectangular end.