Sliding wall hopper methods, systems, and devices
AssigneeProton Power, Inc.
InventorsBryan Biss, Tom Bradshaw, Nick Shaffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and device are provided for utilizing a sliding wall hopper. A sliding wall hopper may include one or more sliding walls that may slide with respect to one or more outer supports of the hopper. The one or more sliding walls may make contact with at least a portion of the material moving through the hopper. The material may be discharged to at least a hopper discharge or a conveyor device. Some embodiments may be configured for use with biomass as the material, but other materials may also be utilized.
Claims22
A method of moving material through a hopper, the method comprising:
- introducing the material into the hopper;
- sliding one of more sliding walls of the hopper with respect to one or more outer supports of the hopper, wherein the one or more sliding walls make contact with at least a portion of the material;
- sliding one or more additional sliding walls positioned with respect to a chute coupled with the one or more outer supports, a hopper discharge, or a conveyor device;
- discharging the material to at least the hopper discharge or the conveyor devices;
- and
- pressurizing the hopper.
A method of moving material through a hopper, the method comprising:
- introducing the material into the hopper;
- sliding one of more sliding walls of the hopper with respect to one or more outer supports of the hopper, wherein the one or more sliding walls make contact with at least a portion of the material;
- and
- discharging the material to at least a hopper discharge or a conveyor device, wherein the one or more sliding walls comprises a mesh wall and wherein the mesh wall comprises varying opening sizes.
A method of moving material through a hopper, the method comprising:
- introducing the material into the hopper;
- sliding one of more sliding walls of the hopper with respect to one or more outer supports of the hopper, wherein the one or more walls make contact with at least a portion of the material and one or more walls comprises a mesh wall;
- discharging the material to at least a hopper discharge or a conveyor device;
- and
- utilizing the hopper as a particle size classifier with respect to two or more particle sizes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.