US 9,863,570 B2Granted

Hopper tee with wear port

AssigneeKnappco, LLC

InventorRandy Donald Robinson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A hopper tee for redirecting the flow of material from one passage to another passage includes a radius providing a transition between the passages. A port at the exterior of the radius includes an upwardly-open cavity having a bottom wall disposed within the radius and forming a sacrificial wall extending between the bottom wall and the inner surface of the radius. The cavity provides an indication that material moving through the tee has worn the wall of the radius by the creation of a passage between the interior of the tee and the cavity and expelling material through the passage to the exterior of the tee. A plug may be secured within the cavity allowing a user to continue to use the tee until the tee is rotated or replaced. The radius may include a thickened wall for providing added structural support and sacrificial material.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A conduit for the movement of material, comprising:

a horizontal portion, comprising:
(a) a tubular member extending between a first end and a second end;
(b) a wall extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall defining a horizontal passage;
a vertical portion, comprising:
(a) a tubular member extending between an inlet and the horizontal portion;
(b) a wall extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall defining a vertical passage communicating with the horizontal passage;
a first radius forming a generally curved transition between the inlet and the horizontal portion first end, the first radius forming:
a crescent-shaped wall extending between an inner surface at the interior of the conduit, and an outer surface extending from the outer surface of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion providing structural support and sacrificial material to the conduit, the crescent-shaped wall outer surface comprising:
(a) an upper edge adjacent the vertical portion;
(b) a lower edge extending from the horizontal portion;
(c) a first end extending from a first side of the conduit;
(d) a second end extending from a second side of the conduit;
and
a first re-sealable port formed by the radius adjacent the first radius wall outer surface lower edge, the first port including an upwardly-open cavity having a bottom wall disposed within the first radius sealing the port, the bottom wall forming a sacrificial wall extending between the bottom wall and the inner surface of the first radius.

11 more elements

A conduit for the movement of material, comprising:

a horizontal portion, comprising:
(a) a tubular member extending between a first end and a second end;
and
(b) a wall extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall including a thickness and defining a horizontal passage;
a vertical portion, comprising:
(a) a tubular member extending between an inlet and the horizontal portion;
and
(b) a wall extending between an inner surface, defining a vertical passage communicating with the horizontal passage, and an outer surface;
a first radius forming a generally curved transition between the inlet and the horizontal portion first end, the first radius forming:
a crescent-shaped wall extending between an inner surface at the interior of the conduit and an outer surface, the wall outer surface extending from the outer surface of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion, the wall including a thickness greater than the thickness of the wall of the horizontal portion comprising:
(a) an upper edge adjacent the vertical portion;
(b) a lower edge extending from the horizontal portion;
(c) a first end extending from a first side of the conduit;
and
(d) a second end extending from a second side of the conduit;
a first port formed by the first radius adjacent the first radius lower edge, the first port including an upwardly-open threaded cylinder having a bottom wall disposed within the first radius sealing the first port, the bottom wall forming a sacrificial wall extending between the bottom wall and the inner surface of the first radius;
a second radius forming a generally curved transition between the inlet and the horizontal portion second end, the second radius forming:
a crescent-shaped wall extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall outer surface extending from the outer surface of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion, the wall including a thickness greater than the thickness of the wall of the horizontal portion comprising:
(a) an upper edge adjacent the vertical portion;
(b) a lower edge extending from the horizontal portion;
(c) a first end extending from a first side of the conduit;
and
(d) a second end extending from a second side of the conduit;
a second port formed by the second radius adjacent the second radius lower edge, the second port including an upwardly-open threaded cylinder having a bottom wall disposed within the first radius sealing the second port, the bottom wall forming a sacrificial wall extending between the bottom wall and the inner surface of the second radius;
and
wherein the first radius and the second radius provide structural support and sacrificial material to the conduit.

23 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/523,740Filed 14 Jun 2012
Published: US 2013/0333779 A119 Dec 2013
Granted: 9 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

F16L 57/06
Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear: against wear
F16L 41/021
Branch units, e.g. made in one piece, welded, riveted: t- or cross-pieces
B65G 53/10
Gas pressure systems operating without fluidisation of the materials: with pneumatic injection of the materials by the propelling gas
F16L 41/02
Branching pipes; Joining pipes to walls: branch units, e.g. made in one piece, welded, riveted