Patent ID: 8362160

Claim:
Method for delivering granulated material to a reactor for use in the polymerization of alpha-olefin comprising the steps of: providing a first conduit having a granulated material inlet, the conduit being operably connected to a pocket ball valve comprising at least one pocket, said pocket ball valve comprising an elastic member operably affixed at the bottom of said at least one pocket, said pocket ball valve being operably connected to a second conduit, said second conduit being operably connected to a polymerization reactor, introducing a granulated material to the first conduit through said inlet, metering the granulated material through the pocket ball valve and passing said material through the second conduit to the polymerization reactor, wherein said first conduit, said pocket ball valve and said second conduit are under pressure and said at least one pocket has a volume ranging from about 1 to about 100 cm 3 .