Patent ID: 7887264

Claim:
An apparatus for transferring particles, the apparatus comprising: (a) an upper zone; (b) a middle zone operable for pressurization and depressurization; (c) a lower zone; (d) a body located within the lower zone, the body being impervious to the particles and comprising a planar surface; (e) an upper valveless conduit extending downward from the upper zone to the middle zone, the upper valveless conduit of a length operable to transfer particles from the upper zone to the middle zone; (f) a lower valveless conduit extending downward from the middle zone to the lower zone, the lower valveless conduit comprising an outlet, the outlet being located above and vertically aligned with the planar surface of the body, the lower valveless conduit of a length operable to transfer particles from the middle zone to the lower zone; (g) a gas inlet conduit providing fluid communication to the lower zone; (h) a first gas conduit in fluid communication with the middle zone; and (i) at least one of a controller, a particle level sensor, a pressure gauge, a pressure indicator, a differential pressure sensor, and a timer operable to control the transfer of particles; wherein the apparatus is operable for transferring particles with a gas, from the upper zone, operable at a first pressure, to the lower zone, operable at a second pressure, when the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.