Patent ID: 7997878
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: B05B,F04F

Abstract:
1. A pump for dry particulate material, comprising: a pump chamber defined in part by a gas permeable member; a first pinch valve and a second pinch valve wherein each said pinch valve comprises a member that defines part of a flow path for material through the pump, and wherein said pinch valve members close in response to pneumatic pressure applied thereto; wherein during pump operation material flows into said chamber under negative pressure and material flows out of said chamber under positive pressure; said first and second pneumatic pinch valves being operable to control flow of material into and out of said chamber, said pump chamber being defined by a cylindrical interior surface of said gas permeable member and is open at opposite ends thereof, wherein material enters and exits said pump chamber through a first opening at one end of said gas permeable member and wherein a second opening at an opposite end of said gas permeable member is a purge gas inlet, a modular assembly of a manifold body, a valve body and first and second material flow path bodies, said manifold body, valve body and flow path bodies being connected together when the pump is fully assembled, wherein said manifold body retains said gas permeable member, said valve body retains said pneumatic pinch valves and said flow path bodies each define one or more flow paths for material through the pump.