| 摘要 |
The invention relates to controlling the discharge rate of solid particulate material from a hopper. The problem associated with discharging material from hoppers is the material may arch or bridge within the hopper resulting in an unpredictable flow. The present invention provides a discharge rate of material from hopper (8) increased beyond the rate attainable by gravity through the introduction of pressurized gas into a plenum (38) overlaying hopper (30). A first pipe (12) extends vertically downward from hopper (8), and larger diameter second pipe (18) is fitted over lower end (16) of the first pipe so that an annular plenum (38) is formed between the pipes. A pressurized gas injected into this plenum increases the discharge rate. The discharge rate can be controlled by altering the pressure of the gas, and the flow can be rendered intermittent by valve (36) at the hopper's outlet. |
