Patent US4094551A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4094551A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Material conveying systems
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1976-06-02
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Granted: 1978-06-13
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Expires: 1996-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system including a duct and a pneumatic chopper operable to divide the material into plugs and thereby facilitate its travel along the duct. The length of the plugs is predetermined by having the chopper under the control of a detector device located downstream of the chopper.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert James Flain
- 👤 Roy Farley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65F; B65F5/00; B65F5/005; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/34; B65G53/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A conveyor system for materials, the conveyor system comprising a duct along which the material is to be conveyed, a separating means operative for a given period of time for displacing material in the duct downstream of the separating means further downstream away from material in the duct upstream of the separating means, a detector device positioned at a specific duct location downstream of the separating means for detecting presence of material in the duct at said location to control the operation of the separating means and control means for causing further operation of said separating means for a further period when said detector device indicates the continued presence of material at the end of said given period of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A conveyor system for materials, the conveyor system comprising a duct along which the material is to be conveyed, a separating means operative for a given period of time for displacing material in the duct downstream of the separating means further downstream away from material in the duct upstream of the separating means, a detector device positioned at a specific duct location downstream of the separating means for detecting presence of material in the duct at said location to control the operation of the separating means and control means for causing further operation of said separating means for a further period when said detector device indicates the continued presence of material at the end of said given period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 in which the separating means is a pneumatic chopper operative to inject air into the duct at a pressure significantly about atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 including means for evacuating the duct and wherein the separating means is a pneumatic chopper operative to inject into the duct air at or above atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 in which the detector device comprises a photoelectric device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 and incorporating feed means for feeding the material along the duct.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 in which actuation of the separating means is controlled by a timer unit itself under the control of the detector device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A conveyor system as claimed in claim 6 in which activation of the separating means is maintained at the end of each timer unit period for a further such period until there is no longer material in that part of the duct surveyed by the detector device whereupon at the end of the timer unit period currently in force, the separating means is automatically deactivated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2861683A
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US3380780A
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US3377107A
Cited
US3561552A
Cited
US3853355A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-12 | 1981-12-12 | 1982-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | 1986-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-12-12 | 1990-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |