Screw-fed pump system
AssigneeAerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
InventorKenneth M. Sprouse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pump system includes a pump that includes a first belt and a second belt that are spaced apart from each other to provide generally straight sides of a passage there between. There is an inlet at one end of the passage and an outlet at an opposite end of the passage, with a passage length that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The passage defines a gap distance in a width direction between the straight sides at the passage inlet. A hopper includes an interior space that terminates at a mouth at the passage inlet. At least one screw is located within the interior space of the hopper and includes a screw diameter in the width direction that is less than or equal to the gap distance.
Claims19
A pump system comprising:
- a pump including a first belt and a second belt that are spaced apart from each other to provide generally straight sides of a passage there between, with a passage length extending between an inlet at one end of the passage and an outlet at an opposite end of the passage, the passage defining a gap distance in a width direction between the straight sides at the passage inlet;
- a hopper including an interior space that terminates at a mouth to the inlet;
- and
- at least one screw within the interior space of the hopper, and the at least one screw includes a screw diameter in the width direction that is less than or equal to the gap distance, wherein the screw is configured to meter a particulate for downward axial movement.
A method of pumping, comprising:
- feeding a particulate material into a hopper;
- and
- using at least one screw within the hopper to axially dispense the particulate material into an inlet of a passage of a pump, wherein the passage extends between a first moving belt and a second moving belt that are spaced apart from each other to provide generally straight sides of the passage there between, and wherein the passage extends along a central axis with a passage length between the inlet at one of the passage and an outlet at an opposite end of the passage, and the passage defines a gap distance in a width direction between the straight sides at the inlet, and the at least one screw includes a screw diameter in the width direction that is less than or equal to the gap distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.