AN AUTO-FEED DEVICE FOR FEEDING MEDIA TO BLASTING MACHINE

摘要

A device for continuously feeding media from an unpressurised container to a pressurised chamber without depressurising the chamber is described. The device comprises a cylinder having two chambers defined by a top wall, and bottom wall, and a dividing wall intermediate the top and the base walls. The top wall comprises an inlet aperture for inlet of media and a pressure equalisation aperture. The dividing wall comprises an inlet aperture for receipt of media from the first chamber and a pressure equalisation aperture in fluid communication with a first pressure equalisation conduit that extends from the second aperture to a top of the first chamber. The bottom wall comprises an inlet aperture for supply of media to the blasting machine and a pressure equalisation aperture in fluid communication with a second pressure equalisation conduit that extends from the pressure equalisation aperture to a top of the second chamber. Closure means associated with the inlet and pressure equalisation apertures in the top, dividing and bottom walls, are provided, each closure means being adapted to open and close the apertures in sequence in which the pressure equalisation aperture is opened prior to the inlet aperture aperture.

主权项

1. A device (1) for continuously feeding media from a first environment having a first pressure to a second environment having a second pressure without substantially altering the pressure in the second environment, the device comprising:
a cylinder having two chambers defined by a top wall (3), and bottom wall (4), and a dividing wall (5) intermediate the top and the base walls, the top wall (3) comprising an inlet aperture (10) for inlet of media and a pressure equalisation aperture, the dividing wall (5) comprising an inlet aperture (20) for receipt of media from the first chamber and a pressure equalisation aperture (21) in fluid communication with a first pressure equalisation conduit (27) that extends from the second aperture to a top of the first chamber (6), the bottom wall comprising an inlet aperture (30) for supply of media to the blasting machine and a pressure equalisation aperture (31) in fluid communication with a second pressure equalisation conduit (37) that extends from the pressure equalisation aperture to a top of the second chamber (7), a first closure means associated with the inlet aperture (10) in the top wall (3); a second closure means for the inlet and pressure equalisation apertures (20, 21) in the dividing wall (5) and adapted to open and close the apertures in sequence in which the pressure equalisation aperture is opened prior to the inlet aperture, and a third closure means for the inlet and pressure equalisation apertures (30, 31) in the bottom wall (4) and adapted to open and close the apertures in sequence in which the pressure equalisation aperture is opened prior to the inlet aperture aperture.