Container and method for the transport and pneumatic conveying of bulk powders
AssigneeInbulk Technologies Limited
InventorBrian Snowdon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elongate container (7) for the transport of bulk powders is provided along its base with a longitudinally sloping membrane support. A gas permeable membrane (11) is mounted on the support and the support is itself unsupported relative to the container between its longitudinal and transverse ends. A method of conveying bulk powder using such a container is also described.
Claims18
An elongate container for the transport of bulk powders, the bottom of the container being provided with a longitudinally sloping membrane support extending along at least a portion of the length of the container, a gas-permeable membrane mounted on said support, said support being unsupported relative to the container between longitudinal and transverse ends of the support wherein the membrane is curved in a direction transverse to the length of the container, the extent of curvature changing along the length of the membrane.
A method of conveying bulk powder to a destination therefor including the steps of:
- loading the bulk powder into a container in which the bottom of the container is provided with a longitudinally sloping membrane support extending along at least a portion of the length of the container and a gas-permeable membrane mounted on said support and curved in a direction transverse to the length of the container, the extent of curvature changing along the length of the membrane;
- transporting the container to a location in the vicinity of said destination;
- feeding gas under pressure to a position between the membrane and the bottom of the container so as to fluidise the bulk powder within the container;
- and
- pneumatically conveying said fluidised bulk powder from the container to said destination.
An elongate container for the transport of bulk powders, the bottom of the container being provided with a longitudinally sloping membrane support extending along at least a portion of the length of the container, a gas-permeable membrane mounted on said support, and wherein the membrane is curved in a direction transverse to the length of the container, the extent of curvature changing along the length of the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.