APPARATUS FOR THE FREE-FLOWING TRANSFER OF BULK MATERIAL BETWEEN ENCLOSURES HAVING DIFFERENT PRESSURES

摘要

1,236,318. Pneumatic conveyers. BUHLER A.G. GEB. 28 May, 1969 [5 June, 1968], No. 27066/69. Heading B8A. Apparatus for transferring bulk material between enclosures 11, 131 at different pressures, through an intermediate chamber 15, comprises a flow control flap unit 2 associated with a through flow aperture 12 between each enclosure and the chamber, each unit including a closure element 45 having a pressure compensating aperture 50 therein, a shut-off element 35 for selectively opening and closing the aperture 50, and power means for draining the shut off element 35, the closure element 45 being freely movable between the element 35 and through flow aperture. The shut-off element 35 is adjustably pivotally mounted to an arm 31 rigidly mounted to a spindle 3, and the closure element 45 is adjustably pivotally mounted to an arm 41 rotatably mounted on the spindle 3, whereby anti-clockwise rotation of the spindle 3 finally causes the element 35 to close the aperture 50 via a seal 51, and secondly causes the element 45 to be pushed to close the aperture 12 via a seal 23. Clockwise rotation of the spindle 3 opens the aperture 50, whereby air pressures between the enclosure 11 and chamber 15 are balanced, after which the material in the enclosure 11 gravitationally opens the element 45. The spindles 3, 31 of the two flap units are interconnected by a pneumatic ram which in sequence opens one flap while the other is closed, the air pressure supply to the ram being controlled either manually or automatically on a time cycle.