Patent ID: 7878736

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 container located within the lower zone, the container comprising an inlet and an outlet; (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 of a length operable to transfer particles from the middle zone to the container; (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.