Patent ID: 7836919

Claim:
A method for loading pellets into a chemical reactor tube to a desired elevation, comprising the steps of: inserting a loading device into said chemical reactor tube, with an upper flange portion of the loading device resting on top of the reactor tube, said upper flange portion defining an inlet opening, and with a lower sleeve portion of the loading device extending downwardly from the upper flange portion into the chemical reactor tube, said lower sleeve portion defining a lower outlet opening, and said loading device defining a passageway extending downwardly from said inlet opening to said lower outlet opening; adding pellets through said inlet opening so the pellets fall through the passageway and into the reactor tube until the level of the pellets in the reactor tube reaches the lower outlet opening located at the desired elevation; adding more pellets to at least partially fill said lower sleeve portion; securing the pellets inside said lower sleeve portion so they remain with the loading device when it is removed from the reactor tube; and removing said loading device and its secured pellets from the reactor tube and leaving an open space in the reactor tube from the desired elevation to the top of the reactor tube.