APPARTUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEASURING THE FLOW OF POWDERS AND GRANULAR MATERIALS THROUGH ORIFICES UNDER DYNAMIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for measuring the flow of powders and granular materials through orifices under dynamic conditions. The apparatus consists of a container for receiving a material sample to be investigated with one or more orifices, a means of moving the container to initiate flow in the material sample and to allow it to flow through the orifices in the container, and a means of measuring the amount of material flowing through the orifices. The amount and rate of material flowing through the orifices is a measure of the flowability of the material sample.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing the flow of powder and granular material through orifices comprising: a) a sample container for receiving a material sample to be investigated with one or more orifices through which the material sample can flow; b) a means of moving the sample container so the material sample flows and can flow through the orifice or orifices in the container; c) a measuring unit with a means of measuring the amount of material flowing through the orifice or orifices in the container over time.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 where said measuring unit consists of a sensor and a measuring circuit that measures the mass of the material sample flowing through the orifice or orifices in the sample container.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 where said measuring unit consists of an imaging device that can take images of the material sample and an analysis unit that can calculate the volume of the material sample in the container over time from the images and thus determine the volume of material sample flowing through the orifice or orifices in the sample container.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 where said measuring unit consists of a sensor and measuring circuit that measures the mass of material sample flowing through the orifice or orifices in the sample container and an imaging device that can take images of the material sample and an analysis unit that can calculate the volume of the material sample in the container over time from the images and thus determine the volume of material sample flowing through the orifice or orifices in the sample container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 presents a drawing of the preferred embodiment of the sample container.

[0010] FIG. 2 presents a drawing of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus for moving the container and sensing the powder flowing through the opening.

[0011] FIG. 3 presents a drawing of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus with the sample container lid in the measurement position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The apparatus consists of a cylindrical sample container 1 with an attachable lid 2 and an orifice or hole in the side wall 3. A material sample of powder or granular material is poured into the sample container in a manner so that it does not exit through the orifice in the side. The lid is then attached to the sample container and the sample container is mounted horizontally on a motor 4 shaft with the orifice at the top position 5. The motor 4 is then started and the sample container is rotated along its axis so then material sample flows and the orifice in the side of the container passes under the material sample over and over again. Any material passing through the orifice is collected in a collection cup 6 that is resting on a load cell 7 that can measure the mass of material in the collection cup. The mass is recorded over time as the sample container is rotated until powder stops flowing from the sample container or for a fixed time. The test can be repeated at various continuous rotation rates or the sample container can be rotated until the hole is under the center of the material sample and the rotation is then stopped.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows an additional embodiment of the invention that uses an imaging device to measure the amount of material flowing through the orifice in the sample container. The container lid 9 and container bottom are transparent to the imaging device so it can sense the material sample 10 inside the container. The sample container is then rotated and images of the material sample are taken at various intervals. Using image analysis software, the volume of sample in the container at any given time can be determined from the cross-sectional area of the material sample and the length of the container. The volume of the sample is recorded over time as the sample container is rotated until the material sample stops flowing from the sample container or for a fixed time. The volume drops as material sample flows through the orifice and out of the sample container.

[0014] Additional embodiments would consist of a sample container that is not cylindrical but rectangular, pyramidal, or funnel shaped.