Patent ID: 9434544
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: B65G

Claim Text:
1. A method of regulating the flow of a stream of particulate material which is falling in a downwardly oriented conduit, the method comprising: interposing at least one plate having a lower end in the path of the flowing stream in the conduit, the plate slowing the movement of the material and deflecting the material toward a longitudinal axis of the conduit; providing a central opening adjacent the lower end of the plate; yieldably biasing the plate inwardly in a direction tending to reduce the size of the opening with a biasing force delivered by a counterbalance mechanism operably coupled to the plate, the plate restricting the fall of the material and slowing movement through the central opening; dividing the flowing stream into a plurality of split streams and a region for entrapping dust adjacent to the split streams using a non-rotatable divider positioned upstream from the plate; allowing the split streams and the region to merge together prior to engaging the plate; and continuously discharging particles through the opening while varying the size of the opening adjacent the plate as the weight of the mass of material above said opening changes with flow rate variations of the material, the size of the opening increasing as the weight of the mass increases in response to an increase in the flow rate of the material.