Patent · US Expired

Material transfer apparatus and method

US5598647A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateFeb 4, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G53/24
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a material transfer system, material from an excavation is drawn into a vessel by suction from a vacuum source. The vessel has discharge flaps at the bottom that are held closed by the suction. When the weight of the material in the vessel reaches a predetermined value, the flaps open and the material is discharged from the vessel. After the discharge, counterweights almost close the flaps and the suction seals the discharge flaps so that additional material is drawn into the vessel. The vessel includes a vibratory section and has sides that slope outwardly from top to bottom. The material entering the vessel contacts the vibratory section at a predetermined angle and is redirected to the discharge flaps without any caking on the vessel walls. The opening through the discharge flaps is larger than the inlet through which the material enters the vessel so that objects entering the vessel are discharged.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.