Patent ID: 9138709
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
1. A method for dispensing pellets to a delivery point, comprising the steps of: providing a hopper for holding a plurality of pellets at an elevation above the delivery point; loading a plurality of pellets into the hopper; providing a conduit through which the pellets pass in order to flow from the hopper to the delivery point; defining a fixed diameter first opening through an upper horizontal plate through which the pellets must pass in order to flow from the hopper into the conduit, wherein the diameter of the first opening is small enough relative to the diameter of the pellets that the pellets form a bridge above the first opening; and further providing a lower horizontal plate directly below said upper horizontal plate, said lower horizontal plate defining a second opening aligned with the first opening, wherein there is a pellet resting on the lower horizontal plate adjacent to the first opening; and creating movement in the horizontal direction of one of the upper and lower horizontal plates relative to the other of the upper and lower horizontal plates so that the upper horizontal plate contacts said pellet to impart a localized, direct mechanical force to said pellet that is different from forces being applied to the surrounding pellets in order to disrupt the formation of bridges above the first opening while maintaining the fixed diameter of the first opening.