Patent ID: 6666627
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An airlock discharge assembly, comprising:a) a rotary airlock comprising a housing having a bulk material inlet and a bulk material outlet, a central axle within the housing and a plurality of vanes extending in a direction away from the central axle, wherein adjacent vanes define bulk material conveying areas within the housing, and wherein the bulk material conveying areas are adapted to register with the bulk material outlet; b) a material-directing trough in communication with the bulk material outlet and adapted to receive an airstream and bulk material entrained therein; c) an extension member including a plate extending at least substantially along an extension plane, wherein the plate includes an end attached to the material-directing trough and is adapted to at least partially define a path of an airstream, the plate including a first side facing away from the axle and a second side facing toward the axle, and the plate is provided with an aperture that extends through the plate from the first side of the plate to the second side of the plate; and d) an inlet conduit including an end positioned adjacent the first side of the plate and in fluid communication with the aperture such that an airstream passes through the aperture from the first side of the plate to the second side of the plate; wherein the aperture in combination with the inlet conduit form an air inlet in communication with the housing and adapted to at least substantially direct an airstream in a direction nonparallel to the axle and toward a bulk material conveying area in communication with the bulk material outlet.