APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING SOLID PARTICLES INTO A PRESSURIZED CONTAINER HAVING AN IMPROVED LIFTING MECHANISM

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn improved lifting mechanism for an apparatusfor continuously feeding solid particles into a pressurevessel of the type disclosed in U.S. patent No. 4,125,384,the lifting mechanism comprising an elongated cylindricalhousing assembly operatively disposed with its axis extend-ing at an angle to the horizontal and to the vertical. Thehousing assembly includes end structures closing the upperand lower ends thereof, a water and particle inlet forpressure communication with the pressure vessel of theapparatus leading downwardly into the interior of thehousing assembly adjacent the closed lower end thereof anda particle outlet for pressure communication with the con-tainer of the apparatus leading downwardly from the inter-ior of the housing assembly adjacent the closed upper endthereof. A particle supporting plate extends longitudin-ally within the cylindrical housing assembly between theend portions thereof and is fixedly mounted along thesides thereof between horizontally spaced diametricallyopposed portions of the housing assembly. A pair of paral-lel endless chains have upper operative flights whichextend along opposite sides of the upper surface of theplate, lower parallel return flights and arcuate endstrained about sprockets carried by the housing assemblyat the ends of the plate. A series of spaced perforatedparticle moving structures extend between the chains andare operable during the movement of the chains throughtheir operative flight to move therewith over the uppersurface of the plate and upwardly through the space there-over defined by the upper periphery of the housing assemblyso that particles introduced into the lower portion of thespace through the inlet are moved positively upwardlythrough the liquid free surface and then discharged throughthe outlet in a condition in which the liquid has beensubstantially drained therefrom.