Patent ID: 6457255
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: F26B

Abstract:
Conditioning apparatus for handling particulate material comprising:a central frame; a plurality of spaced, annular troughs mounted to the central frame to support the particulate material, the troughs being arranged in a stacked configuration having successive pairs of upper and lower troughs with an uppermost trough for receiving the particulate material and a lowermost trough for discharging particulate material; means for vibrating the plurality of troughs to fluidize and advance the particulate material in a first direction on each of the plurality of troughs; a passage formed through each trough for particulate material to fall from the upper trough of a pair to the lower trough, the passage of the upper trough being non-aligned in a vertical plane with the passage of the lower trough such that particulate material falling from the upper trough is received on the lower trough to travel in the first direction over the distance of the lower trough before reaching the passage of the lower trough; and a mixing surface in each passage to promote tumbling of the particulate material when falling through the passage, the mixing surface comprising an angled plate extending into each passage to provide a surface on which the falling particulate material impinges, the mixing surface being pivotally mounted and including locking means to releasably fix the angle to which the surface is pivoted.