GB1499063A - Separator for pneumatic conveyor apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1499063 Separator for pneumatic conveyor WAESCHLE MASCHINENFABRIK GmbH 10 Feb 1976 [13 Feb 1975] 05180/76 Heading BIT A gas-solids separator for the downstream end of a pneumatic conveyor comprises a housing enclosing upper and lower filter elements 3, 7 whose interiors are separated by wall 9, the upper element being connected to blower 6 and the lower element to passage 10. In Fig. 1 the blower 6 is unidirectional and a rotary valve 5 applies blower suction to element 3 to draw gas and solids in through inlet 12, past resilient flap valve 13, while applying some suction to passage 10 which holds resilient flap valve 11 closed. When sufficient solids have accumulated in hopper 18, valve 5 is rotated to apply the pressure side of blower 6 to the inside of element 3, which reverse-flow cleans element 3 with gas which then passes inwards through element 7 and out through passage 10, while solids discharge through weighted flap valve 20 (Fig. 2 not shown). On restoring valve 5 to the Fig. 1 position (Fig. 3 not shown), valve 11 which is biassed towards its open position remains open briefly so that some air is drawn in to reverse-flow clean element 7, then the suction closes valve 11. Valve 5 may be moved automatically by device 22 when the solids level reaches detector 23 and restored to the position shown in response to valve 20 closing after the solids have been discharged. Alternatively the detector 23 is omitted, and the opening of valve 20 by the weight of solids actuates device 22 to move valve 5. In Figs. 4-6 (not shown) valve 5 is omitted and blower (24) is reversible automatically by device 22 and level detector 23, operation is otherwise as above. A particular application is conveying plastics powder of below 50 microns dia. to a processing machine.