A continuous concentrate feeding equipment of the present invention includes a plurality of concentrate supply mechanisms (50) each including a pressure-adjusting tank that temporarily accumulates granular concentrate; a lift tank that receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank (50) and discharges the concentrate to a smelting furnace; and a pressure control system that controls pressures of the pressure-adjusting tank (50) and the lift tank (51) such that the concentrate is continuously supplied from the lift tank to the smelting furnace throughout a time when the concentrate is received in the pressure-adjusting tank (50) and a time when the concentrate is discharged into the lift tank (51). The plurality of concentrate supply mechanisms (100) to (103) are connected in parallel to a conveyor for carrying in concentrate from an upstream side of the conveyor to a downstream side thereof. Supply control means is provided to control supply of the concentrate such that the concentrate reception of the concentrate supply mechanism is performed in order from the upstream side to the downstream side and the concentrate reception of the concentrate supply mechanism at an upstream end is started before the end of the concentrate reception of the concentrate supply mechanism at an downstream end.

An installation for distribution of granular or powder material via pneumatic transport comprising at least one dispensing hopper (3) for temporary storage of said granular or powder material, the dispensing hopper being suited to being, alternately, pressurized for emptying the dispensing hopper and depressurized to permit filling thereof, and a device for depressurizing said dispensing hopper. The depressurizing device comprises a depressurizing duct (12) connected to said dispensing hopper, a bag filter (11), having a maximum operating flow rate, connected to the depressurizing duct, and flow control means (15) for controlling the flow rate in said depressurizing duct through the bag filter. The bag filter (11) is suited to operating under pressure, and the flow control means (15) are located on the depressurizing duct (12) downstream of the bag filter (11) and are arranged to provide a flow rate which is at most equal to the maximum flow rate of the bag filter. Application in particular to an installation for injecting coal into a blast furnace.

An installation for distribution of granular or powder material via pneumatic transport comprising at least one dispensing hopper (3) for temporary storage of said granular or powder material, the dispensing hopper being suited to being, alternately, pressurized for emptying the dispensing hopper and depressurized to permit filling thereof, and a device for depressurizing said dispensing hopper. The depressurizing device comprises a depressurizing duct (12) connected to said dispensing hopper, a bag filter (11), having a maximum operating flow rate, connected to the depressurizing duct, and flow control means (15) for controlling the flow rate in said depressurizing duct through the bag filter. The bag filter (11) is suited to operating under pressure, and the flow control means (15) are located on the depressurizing duct (12) downstream of the bag filter (11) and are arranged to provide a flow rate which is at most equal to the maximum flow rate of the bag filter. Application in particular to an installation for injecting coal into a blast furnace.

A granular product delivery arrangement and method for an agricultural product applicator utilize a granular product deflector disposed below an inflow slot in a substantially horizontally extending supply line for enhancing entrainment of the granular product in an air stream passing through the supply line. The deflector has a body configured for enhancing entrainment of the granular product dropped through the slot into the flow of pressurized air passing through the supply line by directing the granular product toward an inner wall of the supply line adjacent the inflow slot, and directing the air stream away from the inflow slot in a manner that maintains a substantially unobstructed path for the airstream through a central area of the supply line and provides multiple zones within the supply line for the granular product to be entrained into the air stream.

A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.

A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.

A dry bulk tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The dry bulk tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.

A dry granular material transfer system and method for transfer of granular material such as sand in a dry state through a hose using pressurized air. On a base platform, a conveyor subsystem moves granular material placed on a lower portion to a higher portion while separating clumped material and allowing rocks and debris to fall away, spreading the granular material in a thin layer for ejection at the highest level. A containment subsystem receives granular material and contains the downward fall of material. A portioning subsystem has a turntable with blow-through chambers which receive granular material and move into line with an air inflow tube and air-material outflow tube, and the air-material mixture is blown through the air-material outflow tube and through a transfer hose.

A dry granular material transfer system and method for transfer of granular material such as sand in a dry state through a hose using pressurized air. On a base platform, a conveyor subsystem moves granular material placed on a lower portion to a higher portion while separating clumped material and allowing rocks and debris to fall away, spreading the granular material in a thin layer for ejection at the highest level. A containment subsystem receives granular material and contains the downward fall of material. A portioning subsystem has a turntable with blow-through chambers which receive granular material and move into line with an air inflow tube and air-material outflow tube, and the air-material mixture is blown through the air-material outflow tube and through a transfer hose.

Conveyed goods of grains are fed from a pressure vessel into a conveyor line at a feed point for conveyance to a discharge point for supply to an extrusion head. The goods are plasticized in the extrusion head and extruded in a punctiform manner via a nozzle of the extrusion head. The extrusion head is moved dynamically by a manipulator during extrusion of the plasticized goods. Conveyor gas is force into the conveyor line by a gas compressor and allowed to escape the conveyor line at a separation point in a region of the discharge point. A gas positive pressure is temporarily applied by the gas compressor to the pressure vessel as the goods are fed from the pressure vessel into the conveyor line while bypassing the conveyor line via a first valve and closing a second valve in the conveyor line between the feed point and the gas compressor.