POWDER TRANSFER APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract: A powder transfer apparatus (1) has an expandable connection defined by a tubular, telescopic conduit (2). The conduit (2) is extended by a scissor-­ jack device (11) controlled by a positioning device (12). Each end of the conduit (2) terminates in a flange (9, 10) having a seal arrangement thereon. Each seal arrangement comprises a circular, inflatable diaphragm (15) and a pair of annular clamping rings (16, 17) which overlie inner and outer edges of the diaphragm (15) respectively. The apparatus (1) is positioned between two containers (21) and the conduct (2) is extended to the most convenient length between the containers (2). The diaphragms (15) are inflated in order to provide an air-tight seal between the apparatus (1) and each container. After the pulverulent material has been transferred, the air in the conduit (2) is evacuated along with any residual powder. The diaphragms (15) are deflated, the conduit (2) retracted and the apparatus (1) is removed from between the containers (2).

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of transferring a pulverulent material, such as powder, between two containers or ducts and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and a method of providing a quickly positioned, extendable connection through which powder or dust can be transferred between two containers or ducts in an industrial plant. When transferring powder or dust (or any pulverulent material) between two contains or ducts, it is essential that as little as possible of the powder or dust is allowed to escape into the surrounding atmosphere. This is especially important if the powder or dust to be transferred is toxic, very valuable or harmful to machinery housed in the vicinity of the containers or ducts. The powder or dust can often escape by virtue of a mis-alignment between corresponding flanged inlet and outlet ports of the containers or ducts or from a distortion of one or other of the flanges of the ports. This is also the problem of transferring powder or dust between two containers or ducts which do not have identically flanged ports. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a quick and effective apparatus for and method of transferring powder or dust between two containers or ducts which compensates for distortions, mis-alignments and variations in the distance between the flanged ports of the containers or ducts. It is also desirable to provide an apparatus for and a method of transferring powder or dust between two containers or ducts wherein no powder or dust is allowed to escape into the surrounding atmosphere and no residual powder or dust is left within the apparatus. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for transferring pulverulent materials between containers or ducts comprising an extendable conduit terminated at each end by an inflatable seal assembly, means for positioning and extending the conduit to interconnect respective ports of the containers or ducts between which the material is to be transferred, means for inflating the seal assemblies to establish a sealed connection between the ends of the conduit and the containers or ducts and means for evacuating the extendable conduit after transfer of the material to remove any residual pulverulent material. The present invention also provides a method of transferring pulverulent material between two containers or ducts, which method comprises positioning an extendable conduit having an inflatable seal assembly at each end between the two containers or ducts, extending the conduit to interconnect respective ports of the containers or ducts between which the material is to be transferred, inflating the inflatable seal assemblies to provide a sealed connection between the extendable conduit and each container or duct, transferring the pulverulent material by actuating valves on the containers or ducts, evacuating the air and residual pulverulent material from the extendable conduit, deflating the seal assemblies, retracting the extendable conduit and removing the extendable duct from between the containers or ducts. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 shows an apparatus embodying the present invention for transferring pulverulent material between two containers or ducts; Figure 2 is a view from one end of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from the other end of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a conduit extending means of the apparatus; and Figure 5 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 being used to connect two containers in accordance with a method embodying the present invention. Referring now to the Figures, a powder transfer apparatus 1 in Figure 1 has an expandable connection defined by a tubular, telescopic conduit 2 comprising overlapping inner and outer sleeves 3 and 4. In the overlapping region, the inner sleeve 3 is provided with two rings of rubbing studs 5 which are made, for example, of PTFE, and upon which the outer sleeve 4 slides. The sleeves 3 and 4 of the conduit 2 are connected by an external, flexible, tubular gaiter 6 made, for example, of butyl rubber and held in position by circlips 7 and 8. The free ends of the sleeves 3 and 4 are terminated by respective radial flanges 9 and 10, the flanges 9 and 10 being designed to suit the respective ports of two containers to be interconnected. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 9 has a septagonal periphery and the flange 10 has a circular periphery. A conduit extending means is disposed between flanges 9 and 10 and comprises a mechanical linkage 11 of variable length and an actuating or positioning device 12 for varying the length of the linkage which, in the illustrated embodiment, takes the form of a scissor jack (See Figure 4) which may be pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically controlled. The conduit 2 is equipped with evacuation means to evacuate the air in the conduit. The evacuation means comprises an evacuation port 13 formed in the outer sleeve 4 and coupled to an evacuation pipe 14 connected to a suction pump (not shown). As can be seen from Figures 1 to 3, each of the flanges 9 and 10 has a seal assembly comprising an annular inflatable diaphragm of rubber or plastics material 15, an inner annular clamping ring 16 and an outer annular clamping ring 17. The inner clamping ring 16 and outer clamping ring 17 are bolted to the flanges 9 and 10 by fasteners eqi-spaced around the clamping rings and flanges. When in position, the inner and outer clamping rings 16 and 17 overlie the inner and outer edges, respectively, of the circular, inflatable diaphragm 15 and hold the diaphragm against the flange, allowing the diaphragm to be inflated between the inner and outer clamping rings 16 and 17. The inner clamping ring 16 has a nubbin 16a extending around its outer periphery for engaging the inflatable diaphragm. Similarly, the outer clamping ring 17 has a nubbin 17a extending around its inner periphery for engaging the diaphragm. Air supply pipes 19 are connected to inflation ports 20 in the flanges 9 and 10 for supplying air to the respective inflatable diaphragms. The apparatus may be mounted on suitable positioning means, such as a swivel arm (not shown) for moving the apparatus from an out-of-use position to an in-use position disposed between the ports of two containers to be interconnected. Referring now to Figure 5, the powder transfer apparatus 1 is positioned, in use, between the outlet and delivery ports of two containers 21. The telescopic conduit 2 is then extended by actuation of the positioning device 12, which in turn controls the scissor-jack so that the powder transfer apparatus 1 bridges the distance between the outlet port of one container and the delivery port of the other container. The seal assemblies (15, 16, 17) have been omitted from Figure 5 in the interest of clarity. Air is supplied to the pipes 19 which feed air to the inflatable diaphragms 15 to inflate the diaphragms between the inner clamping ring 16 and the outer clamping ring 17, thus providing an air-tight seal between the powder transfer apparatus 1 and the ports of the containers 21. When the diaphragms 15 have been inflated, valves 22 on the inlet and delivery ports of the containers 21 are opened and the pulverulent material is allowed to flow from the one container, through the telescopic duct 3 and into the other container under the force of gravity. After the pulverulent material has been transferred from the one container to the other, the valves 22 on the inlet and delivery ports of the containers are resealed and the air in the expandable connection is exhausted through the evaucation port 13 in the telescopic conduit 2 by the vacuum exhaustion pipe 14. This draws out the air in the expandable connection and also any residual powder which may have been left coating the inside of the telescopic conduit 2. This powder may then be added in some way to the second container or disposed of as required. The inflatable diaphragms 15 are then deflated and the telescopic conduit 2 is retracted. The powder transfer apparatus 1 can then be easily removed from between the two containers 21 without any powder having been discharged into the atmosphere surrounding the device or any residual powder left coating the interior of the telescopic conduit 2. It is envisaged that the telescopic conduit 2 could be produced in the form of a flexible, tubular bellows. The device could also be embodied as part of one or both of the inlet or delivery ports of a container.

Claims: Apparatus for transferring pulverulent materials between containers or ducts characterised in that an extendable conduit (2) is terminated at each end by an inflatable seal assembly (15, 16, 17), means (11, 12) are provided for extending the conduit (2) to interconnect respective ports of the containers between which the material is to be transferred, means (19) are provided for inflating the seal assemblies to establish a sealed connection between the ends of the conduit (2) and the containers or ducts and means (14) are provided for evacuating the extendable conduit (2) after transfer of the material to remove any residual pulverulent material. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a flange (9, 10) is located at each end of the extendable conduit (2) and each inflatable seal assembly (15, 16, 17) comprises an annular inflatable seal (15) and inner and outer concentric clamping rings (16, 17), the rings being releasably secured to the flanges (9, 10) and overlying inner and outer edges of the inflatable seal (15). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for extending the conduit (2) comprise a scissor-jack device (12). Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the scissor-jack device (12) is pneumatically controlled. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for evacuating the extendable conduit (2) comprise an evacuation port (13) located in the extendable conduit (2) and an exhaustion pipe (14) connected thereto. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each inflatable seal (15) comprises an inflatable diaphragm of rubber or plastics material. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the conduit (2) comprises a telescopic arrangement of an inner and an outer sleeve (3, 4) connected together by an external tubular flexible gaiter (6). A method of transferring pulverulent materials between two containers or ducts characterised in that the method comprises the steps of positioning an extendable conduit (2) having an inflatable seal assembly (15, 16, 17) at each end between the two containers or ducts, extending the conduit (2) to interconnect respective ports of the containers or ducts between which the material is to be transferred, inflating the inflatable seal assemblies (15, 16, 17) to provide a sealed connection between the extendable conduit (2) and each container or duct, transferring the pulverulent material by actuating valves (22) on the containers or ducts, evacuating the air and residual pulverulent material from the extendable conduit (2), deflating the seal assemblies (15, 16, 17), retracting the extendable conduit (2) and removing the extendable conduit (2) from between the containers or ducts. A method according to claim 10, further comprising pneumatically inflating a diaphragm (15) of rubber or plastics material in order to provide the seal connection between the extendable conduit (2) and each container or duct. A method according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the method further comprises extending a scissor-jack device (12) to extend the extendable conduit (2).

Inventors: RODGERS, WILFRED NEWBOUND
Applicants: TITANIUM FABRICATORS LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65G67
IPC codes: F16L37, B65G53, B65G69