Semi-bulk Systems, Inc.

Other

Charles S Alack

Avrom R Handleman

Benjamin Allan Wanner

An eductor-mixer has a first inlet which receives dry particulate sugar from a sugar feed system and has a second inlet which receives a pressurized working liquid adapted to mix with the dry particulate sugar to form a liquified sugar solution. The eductor-mixer also has a discharge adapted for discharging the liquified sugar solution. A tank system receives the solution discharged from the eductor-mixer. A working fluid circuit conducts pressurized working fluid to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer and includes a solution recycle line for conducting solution from the tank system to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer, and a water supply line for adding water to the solution conducted to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer. A heater adds heat to the system to increase the temperature of the solution to a temperature at or above a specified temperature. A measuring device measures the sugar content of liquified sugar solution. A control system automatically adjusts the amount of sugar supplied to the first inlet of the eductor-mixer and/or the amount of water added to the solution supplied as working fluid to the second inlet of the eductor-mixer if the sugar content of the solution, as measured by the measuring device, is different from a target sugar content. A finished solution outfeed line transfers the finished solution from the tank system to a desired location when the sugar content of the solution is substantially at the target sugar content.

Sugar liquification system and process

A container for holding fluent material comprises a bag of flexible material defining a volume for containing a load of material, a rigid base for supporting the bag, and tension members within the bag for constraining the bag to assume a shape in which the bag is generally rectangular in horizontal cross section when a load is contained within the volume. The bag has four side walls, a top opening in communication with the volume for loading of fluent material into the container, and a bottom. The tension members include a first elongate flexible tension member extending across the interior of the bag between a first side wall and a second side wall of the bag, and a second elongate flexible tension member extending across the interior of the bag between a third side wall and a fourth side wall of the bag. The respective ends of respective tension members are connected to respective side walls of the bag for constraining outward bulging of the side walls when a load is contained within the volume so that the bag assumes a generally rectangular horizontal cross section. The elongate tensions members of the set are so positioned and so dimensioned in transverse cross section that they do not significantly inhibit free flow of the fluent material within the volume in any direction.

Container for holding fluent material

A portable mixing module for preparing solutions and slurries from particulate solid material. The module comprises a portable frame, and an eductor-mixer mounted on and movable with the frame. The eductor-mixer has a first inlet for connection to a source of fluent particulate material, a second inlet for connection to a source of pressurized working fluid, and a discharge for discharging a mixture of the fluent particulate material and the working fluid at a first rate. A surge tank is mounted on and movable with the frame for receiving the mixture discharge from the eductor-mixer. A pump is mounted on and movable with the frame. It has an intake connected to the outlet of the surge tank and a discharge for connection to an outfeed line for delivery of mixture from the surge tank to a remote location. The pump is operable to pump mixture from the surge tank at a second flow rate not substantially less than the first flow rate.

Mixing module for mixing a fluent particulate material with a working

A container for holding fluent material comprises a bag of flexible sheet material defining a volume for containing a load of the material. The bag has a side wall with an inside face and an outside face, and a bottom margin defining an open lower end of the bag. The container further comprises a substantially rigid, non-circular base for supporting the bag. Channels are formed in the base and extend at least partially around the base. The bag is fitted on the base with the bottom margin of the bag extending down on the outside of the base and with a portion of the bottom margin received in the channels of the base. Locking strips are positioned in the channels to overlie the portion of the bottom margin of the bag received therein. The container further comprises a clamping mechanism securable to the base for applying pressure to the locking strips to press the portion of the bottom margin of the bag against one or more surfaces of the channels thereby to sealingly secure the bag to the base.

A system for unloading powdered or granular materials from a container made of flexible material, the system including a line supplying compressed gas to the interior of the container to fluidize the material in the container, and a delivery conduit which may be attached to the container for delivering fluidized material from the container. A pair of arms are movable between a first position in which they are spaced from the container and a second position in which they engage and squeeze the container. Vibrators are provided for vibrating the container. The action of the arms and the vibrators facilitates unloading by breaking up clumps of the material in the container and preventing the formation of air pockets and material bridging.

System for unloading powdered or granular materials

A hopper system comprising a hopper having a side wall sloping downwardly and radially inwardly from the inlet at the top of the hopper to the outlet at the bottom of the hopper. Secured to the inside of the hopper is a membrane having a shape generally conforming to the inside of the hopper and closely overlying the conical side wall of the hopper. The membrane is permeable to air but generally impermeable to fluent material in the hopper and has a plurality of pockets for receiving stay bars. The upper and lower cylindric ends of the membrane are clamped to clamping assemblies mounted on the inside of the hopper adjacent its upper and lower ends, respectively, without the use of fasteners extending through holes in the ends of the membrane or other means of attachment to the hopper. The clamping assemblies are removable from the hopper without first unclamping the membrane whereby the clamping assemblies and membrane may be readily installed in and removed from the hopper. Pressurized air is introduced into the hopper through the hopper walls and passes inwardly through the membrane with the stay bars in the membrane preventing substantial inward billowing. After passing through the membrane, the air enters into fluent material contained within the hopper thereby to fluidize the material for efficient unloading from the hopper.

Hopper system and clamping arrangement for a permeable membrane

An improved material handling apparatus or container for transporting, storing, and unloading a load of powder, granular, particulate or other fluidizable material. The container has a pallet base which includes a discharge opening and an inclined load supporting deck with the discharge opening located at the lowermost portion of the deck at one side of the pallet whereby substantially all the fluidizable material in the container may be readily unloaded. The container includes a porous cloth diaphragm held in place overlying the deck by means of a retainer spline inserted into a groove in the pallet along with the diaphragm in such manner that the spline self-locks in the groove upon tension loading being applied to the diaphragm thus preventing the diaphragm from pulling free of the pallet during fluidization of the load. A vent valve is provided for maintaining pressure within the container during fluidization of the load within a predetermined pressure range to maintain shape and structure while the container is being unloaded without limiting the flow of fluidizing air but preventing excessive pressure from being applied to the bag. Another embodiment of the container is disclosed which lessens the danger of explosion or fire due to the discharge of static electricity while handling potentially dangerous materials or while operating in dangerous environments.

Fluidizable material handling apparatus

An improved material handling apparatus or container for transporting, storing, and unloading a load of powder, granular, particulate or other fluidizable material. The container has a pallet base which includes a discharge opening and an inclined load supporting deck with the discharge opening located at the lowermost portion of the deck at one side of the pallet whereby substantially all the fluidizable material in the container may be readily unloaded. The container includes a porous cloth diaphragm held in place overlying the deck by means of a retainer spline inserted into a groove in the pallet along with the diaphragm in such manner that the spline self-locks in the groove upon tension loading being applied to the diaphragm thus preventing the diaphragm from pulling free of the pallet during fluidization of the load. A vent valve is provided for maintaining pressure within the container during fluidization of the lead within a predetermined pressure range to maintain shape and structure while the container is being unloaded without limiting the flow of fluidizing air but preventing excessive pressure from being applied to the bag. Another embodiment of the container is disclosed which lessens the danger of explosion or fire due to the discharge of static electricity while handling potentially dangerous materials or while operating in dangerous environments.

A closed system for filling a container with a load of powdered, granular, or other dry fluent material and for unloading the load substantially without the emission of dust to the atmosphere. The container has an opening in its top which may be sealingly secured to a filling head during during filling and closed by a removable cover. The filling head is connected to a dust receiver for removing dust laden air displaced from within the container as the load is delivered to the container. The container used with this system may be adapted for fluidized unloading of the powder substantially without the release of dust.

Closed system and container for dust free loading and unloading of

An improved material handling apparatus or container for transporting, storing, and unloading a load of powder, granular, particulate or other fluidizable material. The container has a pallet base which includes a discharge opening and an inclined load supporting deck with the discharge opening located at the lowermost portion of the deck at one side of the pallet whereby substantially all the fluidizable material in the container may be readily unloaded. The container includes a porous cloth diaphragm held in place overlying the deck by means of a retainer spline inserted into a groove in the pallet along with the diaphragm in such manner that the spline self-locks in the groove upon tension loading being applied to the diaphragm thus preventing the diaphragm from pulling free of the pallet during fluidization of the load. A vent valve is provided for maintaining pressure within the container during fluidization of the load within a predetermined pressure range to maintain shape and structure while the container is being unloaded without limiting the flow of fluidizing air but preventing excessive pressure from being applied to the bag. Another embodiment of the container of this invention is disclosed which lessens the danger of explosion or fire due to the discharge of static electricity while handling potentially dangerous materials or while operating in dangerous environments.

Apparatus for filling an open-mouth container with fluent material, such as powdered, granular or liquid material, and for removing dust or vapor from within the container during filling, the apparatus comprising a delivery head adapted to be substantially centered with respect to the container above the container for delivery of the fluent material and for removal of dust and vapor from within the container during filling, a closure carried by the delivery head expandable from a collapsed position in which it is drawn up around the delivery head and an expanded position in which it sealingly engages the inside of the container adjacent the mouth of the container to close off the mouth of the container thereby to prevent escape of dust or vapor during filling, and an actuator carried by the delivery means for expanding and collapsing said closure. Also disclosed is a method of de-aerating powdered material filling a container.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Charles S Alack