Disclosed is a system for transferring fuel pellets from a location external to a building to a location in an interior of the building. The system includes a first container positioned at a location remote from the building and a second container positioned proximate an exterior portion of the building. The first and second containers are connected to one another to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the first container to the second container by a pneumatic apparatus. The second container is also connected with the interior of the building to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the second container to the interior of said building.

Disclosed is a system for transferring fuel pellets from a location external to a building to a location in an interior of the building. The system includes a first container positioned at a location remote from the building and a second container positioned proximate an exterior portion of the building. The first and second containers are connected to one another to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the first container to the second container by a pneumatic apparatus. The second container is also connected with the interior of the building to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the second container to the interior of said building.

A material conveying system, comprising: one or more material sources for providing material to be transferred; one or more destination locations for receiving material from the one or more material sources, wherein each destination location has a destination material inlet valve and a destination vacuum valve; one or more material conveying tubes each configured to connect a source to one or more destination locations; a vacuum pump operatively connected to each of the destination vacuum valves via one or more vacuum source tubes, and wherein the vacuum pump is operatively connected to one or more of the material sources through the one or more vacuum source tubes and respective destination vacuum valves, the one or more destination locations and the one or more material conveyor tubes; a first sensor disposed on or near each destination vacuum valve; a second sensor disposed on or near each material inlet valve; a third sensor disposed on or near a vacuum outlet of the vacuum pump; a programmable system controller connected, via wires or wirelessly, to each component of the material conveying system including the one or more material sources, the one or more destination locations, the vacuum pump and to each of the first, second and third sensors; wherein the programmable controller is configured to determine first baseline readings from each of the first, second and/or third sensors while the system is operating but prior to any material being conveyed through the system.

Apparatus for air flow limiting comprise a vertically oriented tube, a sail assembly positioned in the tube and moveable therewithin responsively to air flow through the tube to limit rate of air flow through the tube and halt air flow through the tube upon air flow rate through the tube exceeding a preselected value, and a moveable stop for adjustably changing the length of travel of the sail assembly thereby changing the maximum amount of air flow.

Apparatus for air flow limiting comprise a vertically oriented tube, a sail assembly positioned in the tube and moveable therewithin responsively to air flow through the tube to limit rate of air flow through the tube and halt air flow through the tube upon air flow rate through the tube exceeding a preselected value, and a moveable stop for adjustably changing the length of travel of the sail assembly thereby changing the maximum amount of air flow.

A method and system for trans-loading solid particulates from a hopper to a storage container, by clamping a trough (110) to a discharge gate of the hopper, the trough having an open top, sides, and a bottom, a vacuum pipe (140) extending into the trough, and at least one aerator (150) located on the trough, to which is provided an aerating gas. The method further comprises at least partially evacuating the storage container to cause at least a partial vacuum therein and drawing a vacuum through a conveyor hose connected to the trough.

A method and system for trans-loading solid particulates from a hopper to a storage container, by clamping a trough (110) to a discharge gate of the hopper, the trough having an open top, sides, and a bottom, a vacuum pipe (140) extending into the trough, and at least one aerator (150) located on the trough, to which is provided an aerating gas. The method further comprises at least partially evacuating the storage container to cause at least a partial vacuum therein and drawing a vacuum through a conveyor hose connected to the trough.

A conveyor system (10) for transporting a transportable material (M) by means of a fluid for transporting the transportable material (M) between a first conveying line portion (11) and a second conveying line portion (12), said conveying line portions (11, 12) comprising a plurality of pipes forming a continuous conveying line (13), said system (10) comprising: a conveyor device (1) in fluid connection to one of said first or said conveying line portions (11, 12) operative to provide negative air pressure or vacuum through said conveying line (13); a material feeder device (2); wherein the conveyor device (1) comprises at least one material level sensor (1a, 1b), wherein the at least one material level sensor (1a, 1b) is used to monitor one or more material level(s) inside the conveyor device (1) and via one or more material level sensor lines (3) giving at least one material level signal (1aa, 1bb) to a controller (4) and from the controller (4) via a control signal line (5) transmit a control signal (5a) to the material feeder device (2) having a valve (6) adapted to control the amount of air injected into the system, typically the into the conveying line (13), wherein the controller (4) is adapted to control the valve (6) and/or a mass-flow (M), respectively, of the material feeder device (2) in dependence of output from the at least one material level sensor (1a, 1b) to control amount of air injected into the conveying line (13) at the feeder device (2).

A conveyor system (10) for transporting a transportable material (M) by means of a fluid for transporting the transportable material (M) between a first conveying line portion (11) and a second conveying line portion (12), said conveying line portions (11, 12) comprising a plurality of pipes forming a continuous conveying line (13), said system (10) comprising: a conveyor device (1) in fluid connection to one of said first or said conveying line portions (11, 12) operative to provide negative air pressure or vacuum through said conveying line (13); a material feeder device (2); wherein the conveyor device (1) comprises at least one material level sensor (1a, 1b), wherein the at least one material level sensor (1a, 1b) is used to monitor one or more material level(s) inside the conveyor device (1) and via one or more material level sensor lines (3) giving at least one material level signal (1aa, 1bb) to a controller (4) and from the controller (4) via a control signal line (5) transmit a control signal (5a) to the material feeder device (2) having a valve (6) adapted to control the amount of air injected into the system, typically the into the conveying line (13), wherein the controller (4) is adapted to control the valve (6) and/or a mass-flow (M), respectively, of the material feeder device (2) in dependence of output from the at least one material level sensor (1a, 1b) to control amount of air injected into the conveying line (13) at the feeder device (2).

A vacuum nozzle includes a main body (12) and at least one auxiliary body (22). The main body has a first open end (16) and a second open end (18). The first open end is coupleable to a vacuum hose (2) and the second open end is configured for receiving materials to be transferred. The auxiliary body (130) has a first auxiliary opening (136) and a second auxiliary opening (138). The first auxiliary opening is positioned closer to the first open end of the main body than the second open end of the main body. The second auxiliary opening covers a portion of the second open end of the main body. The auxiliary body provides a dedicated auxiliary passageway for providing a consistent flow of air to the second open end of the main body when the vacuum nozzle is in use.