Permeable membrane seal assembly

摘要

A permeable membrane seal (10) includes a body portion (12) made of elastomeric material. The body portion includes an elongated slot (18) to receive a permeable membrane (20). The membrane is held in place with stitches of thread (22) sewn at about 90 DEG to the seal body portion. The stitched threads substantially prevent a flow path of fluidizing air from the permeable material outwardly to either side of the elastomeric body portion. Mechanical fasteners (44) located outboard of the stitches hold the reinforced elastomeric body portion in place between a hopper mounting flange and an outlet mounting flange. Optional fabric reinforcement increases the tensile strength of the elastomeric material to better withstand the membrane pressure load applied by the fluidizing media. The fabric reinforcement (14) is preferably molded integral with the elastomeric material.