Dustless spout assembly
AssigneeCoy N. Haraway
InventorBo James Ruzicka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spout controls grain or other particulate material falling through and being discharged from a conduit. An array of plates is mounted at the discharge end of a chute to control the flow of the particulate material there from. A counterbalance mechanism is coupled to each of the plates and can be precisely adjusted to provide the appropriate counterbalancing force on the plates to control the particulate material flow without damage to the particulate material and to minimize the dust generated in the flow of the material. A divider is mounted in the stream of material flowing to the array of plates to reduce the dust escaping the flowing material.
Claims23
A method of regulating the flow of a stream of particulate material which is falling in a downwardly oriented conduit, the method comprising:
- interposing at least one plate having a lower end in the path of the flowing stream in the conduit, the plate slowing the movement of the material and deflecting the material toward a longitudinal axis of the conduit;
- providing a central opening adjacent the lower end of the plate;
- yieldably biasing the plate inwardly in a direction tending to reduce the size of the opening with a biasing force delivered by a counterbalance mechanism operably coupled to the plate, the plate restricting the fall of the material and slowing movement through the central opening;
- dividing the flowing stream into a plurality of split streams and a region for entrapping dust adjacent to the split streams using a non-rotatable divider positioned upstream from the plate;
- allowing the split streams and the region to merge together prior to engaging the plate;
- and
- continuously discharging particles through the opening while varying the size of the opening adjacent the plate as the weight of the mass of material above said opening changes with flow rate variations of the material, the size of the opening increasing as the weight of the mass increases in response to an increase in the flow rate of the material.
A method of retrofitting a conduit through which particulate material flows in a generally downward direction, the conduit including a regulator for controlling the flow of the material therethrough, the regulator including a plurality of downwardly and inwardly sloping plates having lower ends in the path of the flowing material in the conduit, the plates slowing the movement of the material and deflecting the material toward a longitudinal axis of the conduit, the method comprising:
- coupling a counterbalance mechanism to the plates to deliver a biasing force on the plates inwardly in a direction tending to reduce a size of an opening defined by lower ends of the plates through which the material flows;
- restricting the fall of the material and slowing movement through the opening with the plates;
- dividing the flowing stream into a plurality of split streams and a region for entrapping dust adjacent to the split streams using a non-rotatable divider positioned upstream from the plates;
- allowing the split streams and the region to merge together prior to engaging the plates;
- and
- adjusting the biasing force delivered by the counterbalance mechanism on the plates.
An apparatus for regulating the flow of particulate material comprising:
- a chute adapted to receive the flow of particulate material;
- an array of plates downstream from the chute, each of the plates having a lower end and being coupled to the chute, each of the plates projecting toward a centerline axis of the conduit, the lower ends of the plates defining an opening with an area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the chute so that the material may accumulate prior to passing through the opening;
- a non-rotatable divider positioned upstream from the plates to divide the particulate material into a plurality of split streams and a region for entrapping dust adjacent to the split streams, the divider being positioned relative to the plates so as to allow the split streams and the region to merge together prior to engaging the plates;
- and
- a counterbalance mechanism coupled to the plates to produce a biasing force on the plates and bias the plates toward the centerline and adjust the area of the opening, the counterbalance mechanism permitting the plates to move outwardly away from the centerline in response to the weight of the accumulated material.
An apparatus for regulating the flow of particulate material comprising:
- a chute adapted to receive the flow of particulate material;
- wherein a length of the chute is adjustable;
- an array of plates downstream from the chute, each of the plates having a lower end and being coupled to the chute, each of the plates projecting toward a centerline axis of the conduit, the lower ends of the plates defining an opening with an area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the chute so that the material may accumulate prior to passing through the opening;
- a counterbalance mechanism coupled to the plates to produce a biasing force on the plates and bias the plates toward the centerline and adjust the area of the opening, the counterbalance mechanism permitting the plates to move outwardly away from the centerline in response to the weight of the accumulated material;
- wherein the counterbalance mechanism further comprises at least one spring producing a biasing force delivered by the counterbalance mechanism on the plates;
- wherein each of the plates has a distinct and separately adjustable counterbalance mechanism coupled thereto;
- wherein the biasing force is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the chute;
- a divider positioned upstream from the array of plates to divide the particulate material into a plurality of split streams and a region for entrapping dust adjacent to the split streams;
- wherein a longitudinal axis of the divider is oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of the plates;
- wherein the divider is positioned relative to the array of plates so as to allow the split streams to entrain the dust therein and so as to allow the split streams to merge together prior to engaging the array of plates;
- and
- a funnel upstream from the array of plates;
- wherein each of the plates is pivotally coupled to a downstream portion of the funnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.