CA2149798C - Variable venturi for pneumatic conveying systems - Google Patents
Variable venturi for pneumatic conveying systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2149798C CA2149798C CA002149798A CA2149798A CA2149798C CA 2149798 C CA2149798 C CA 2149798C CA 002149798 A CA002149798 A CA 002149798A CA 2149798 A CA2149798 A CA 2149798A CA 2149798 C CA2149798 C CA 2149798C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- air
- venturi
- nozzle
- upstream end
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
- B65G53/34—Details
- B65G53/40—Feeding or discharging devices
- B65G53/50—Pneumatic devices
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
- Nozzles (AREA)
- Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)
Abstract
A venturi device is used in a pneumatic conveying system. The device comprises a housing having a material feed inlet through the housing, and open downstream end through which the material is carried away from the housing, an open upstream end fitted with a frustoconical nozzle through which primary air is fed to produce a vacuum in the device and an air inlet through which secondary air is drawn by the vacuum. The air inlet is adjustable in size to accommodate different air to material mixture ratios within the device.
Description
TITT.F.: VART~RT~T~' VT~'.NTURI FOR p~F~u~TIc CONVEYING SYSTT~'.M.
FTT~'.T.n OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an induction or venturi device as a replacement for a mechanical feeding device to move different types of materials into a pneumatic conveying system.
BACKGROUND OF T~F. INVT~'.NTION
There are currently available different types of induction or venturi devices that can be used in pneumatic conveying systems. Once such device is described in my issued United States Patent 5,002,092.
A typical venturi works on a principal of converting velocity pressure into static pressure in the diffuser section of the venturi.
A fan or blower is used to produce a flow of primary air through the nozzle of the venturi device. This flow or jet of air induces a vacuum within the venturi body to draw in secondary air which in a conventional unit enters through the same inlet that the material is fed to the venturi body. With such an arrangement, it is difficult to control the secondary air to material ratio which is very important when working with different types of granular materials such as styrofoam beads and the like.
In my own earlier patented construction, the cone or nozzle is adjustable in its position to accommodate different sizes of blower units. In known constructions, the nozzle is permanently mounted within the venturi device making it difficult to adapt these constructions for use with different sizes of blowers.
srn~MARy OF THF INVFNTION
The present invention provides a venturi device for use in an pneumatic conveying system in which the device comprises a housing having a material feed inlet through the housing, an open downstream end from which the material introduced at the material feed inlet is carried way from the housing, an open upstream end fitted with a nozzle in the form of a frustoconical member having open forward and rearward ends and a downstream taper and through which primary air is fed to produce a vacuum in the device. The device also includes an additional air inlet through which secondary air is drawn by the vacuum and the additional air inlet is adjustable in size to accommodate different air to material mixture ratios within the device.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the nozzle is releasably secured and replaceable with other nozzles of different lengths and downstream opening diameters in the housing to accommodate different primary air sources used with the device.
BRIF.F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described according to the preferred embodiments in which;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a venturi device according a to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the main housing of the venturi device of Figure 1 when partially disassembled;
Figure 3 is a sectional view through the main housing of the venturi device of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but using a substitute nozzle;
Figure 5 is an end view of a clamp member used in the venturi device of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a sectional view through the clamp member of Figure 5.
DF~TATRF~n DF~'~CRIPTION Acco~nING TO T~F~' p~F~FT~R~T~n FMRODIMENTS OF T~T~' p~T~'~T'NT INVT'.NTION
Figure 1 shows an overall venturi device generally indicated at 1. This device is used in a pneumatic conveying system incorporating a blower s at the upstream end of the system. The device can be used to feed granular material such as grain, styrofoam beads, plastic pellets and many other types of granular materials. It also has particular application for cut pieces of plastic and paper or foil material. When working with such materials it is important to be able to control the blending of secondary air with the material as described below as the air to material ratio is critical for proper conveyance through the system.
Venturi device 1 comprises a main housing 3 having a material feed inlet 5, an open upstream end 9 and an open downstream end 7. The downstream end of the housing is fitted to an acceleration tube 2 which is in turn fitted to a static regain chamber 4. As described in my own above referenced patent acceleration tube 2 has a length of 3 1/2 to 4 times its diameter. This length to diameter ratio provides excellent air flow and static pressure performance.
As earlier noted, blower B is provided at the upstream end of the system and provides a source of primary air. In the particular example shown, the blower is separated from the venturi device by a conduit extension 29 which is connected to the upstream end of housing 3 by means of a quick connect clamp 25 which is best shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings and which will be described later in detail.
As seen in Figures 2 and 3, a frustoconical nozzle 21 is provided interiorly of housing 3. This nozzle is open at its forward end which aligns with the upstream end of housing 3 and has a downstream taper to its open rearward end directed at the downstream end 7 of the main housing.
The primary air provided by blower B is forced through the constriction provided by the nozzle to create a venturi or vacuum effect within the housing. The vacuum is fed by a source of secondary air which is drawn in through an air inlet 11 located between the material feed inlet 5 and the upstream end 9 of the housing. The amount of secondary air introduced to the housing can be varied by adjusting the effective size of air inlet 11. This is accomplished by means of a band 13 having a screened slot 19. The band wraps around the housing over air inlet 11 and is tightened by a threaded bolt 17 which fits through the mating ends 15 of the band. sy loosening bolt 17, the band 13 is rotatable on the housing to vary the positioning of slot 19 over air inlet 11 to change the size of the air inlet.
In known venturies, all of the secondary air is provided through the material inlet which cannot be adjusted in size to vary the amount of secondary air introduced without simultaneously varying the amount of material introduced. With the present invention, the secondary air inlet is in no way associated with the material inlet.
A further unique feature of the present invention resides in the fact that nozzle 21 is releasably secured within housing 3 and therefore replaceable with other 21~9798 nozzles making the system compatible with various different blower capacities. For example, Figure 4 shows housing 3 fitted with a nozzle 21a which is shorter in length and has a larger diameter downstream opening than nozzle 21.
Therefore, the setup of Figure 4 would accommodate a different blower capacity than the setup of Figure 3.
Band 25 which as earlier described provides a quick connection between housing 3 and the upstream conduit piece 29 also provides a clamp for releasably securing the nozzle 21 within the housing. This band as shown in Figure 5 includes a toggle 26 for a simple and fast opening and closing of the band. As seen in Figure 6, the band includes a central sealing member 27 on its interior surface with a pair of recessed regions 28 to either side of the sealing member.
The fitting of the band to the housing, the nozzle and the upstream conduit member 29 is best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Here it will be seen that housing 3 has an outwardly turned lip 8 and the nozzle 21 which has a mouth the same size as that of the housing has a corresponding outwardly turned lip 23. This lip sits directly against the lip 8 on the housing. The two lips 8 and 23 are trapped within one of the recesses 28 beside the center seal 27 of band 25.
The upstream conduit member 29 includes its own outwardly turned lip 31 which sits in the recess 28 to the other side of the center seal 27 of the band 25 and when the band is tightened down by the toggle 26 all of the three lips 8, 27 and 31 of the respective components are held in pôsition by the band.
From the above, it will be easily understood that by simply removing the band from the system, nozzle 21 can be pulled out of the housing 3 and quickly and easily replaced with another nozzle such as nozzle 21a shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.
In operation, the venturi device is preferably setup as shown in Figure 1 with material inlet 5 facing to the top of the divice. This allows a gravity feed of material to the device. The primary air passes through nozzle 21 creating a vacuum and drawing the material into the housing. The vacuum also draws secondary air into the housing through air inlet 11. The size of the opening of the secondary air inlet is the adjusted to obtain a proper material to air ratio in accordance with weight, shape and flow characteristics of the particular material introduced to the system. The positioning of the secondary air inlet behind the material inlet allows the secondary air to blend directly into the stream of material thereby assuring proper air to material ratios. It also reduces suction at the material inlet for better control of the volume of material entering the system through the material inlet.
As earlier described, the air injector nozzle is also made so that it can readily be replaced with a nozzle of proper size, diameter and length to suit the conveying system. This feature is important due to the fact that systems vary in static pressure flow resistance and blower sizes as a result of variable lengths of systems and the types of materials being handled. For example, the bulk density will vary from one material to the next.
Furthermore, different materials have different flow coefficients as a result of friction on the inside of the wall of the duct and the material orientation in the airstream.
With the quick nozzle change feature of the present invention, a system can be easily tested with different nozzle sizes and fitted with the appropriate nozzle directly on site.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
FTT~'.T.n OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an induction or venturi device as a replacement for a mechanical feeding device to move different types of materials into a pneumatic conveying system.
BACKGROUND OF T~F. INVT~'.NTION
There are currently available different types of induction or venturi devices that can be used in pneumatic conveying systems. Once such device is described in my issued United States Patent 5,002,092.
A typical venturi works on a principal of converting velocity pressure into static pressure in the diffuser section of the venturi.
A fan or blower is used to produce a flow of primary air through the nozzle of the venturi device. This flow or jet of air induces a vacuum within the venturi body to draw in secondary air which in a conventional unit enters through the same inlet that the material is fed to the venturi body. With such an arrangement, it is difficult to control the secondary air to material ratio which is very important when working with different types of granular materials such as styrofoam beads and the like.
In my own earlier patented construction, the cone or nozzle is adjustable in its position to accommodate different sizes of blower units. In known constructions, the nozzle is permanently mounted within the venturi device making it difficult to adapt these constructions for use with different sizes of blowers.
srn~MARy OF THF INVFNTION
The present invention provides a venturi device for use in an pneumatic conveying system in which the device comprises a housing having a material feed inlet through the housing, an open downstream end from which the material introduced at the material feed inlet is carried way from the housing, an open upstream end fitted with a nozzle in the form of a frustoconical member having open forward and rearward ends and a downstream taper and through which primary air is fed to produce a vacuum in the device. The device also includes an additional air inlet through which secondary air is drawn by the vacuum and the additional air inlet is adjustable in size to accommodate different air to material mixture ratios within the device.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the nozzle is releasably secured and replaceable with other nozzles of different lengths and downstream opening diameters in the housing to accommodate different primary air sources used with the device.
BRIF.F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described according to the preferred embodiments in which;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a venturi device according a to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the main housing of the venturi device of Figure 1 when partially disassembled;
Figure 3 is a sectional view through the main housing of the venturi device of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but using a substitute nozzle;
Figure 5 is an end view of a clamp member used in the venturi device of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a sectional view through the clamp member of Figure 5.
DF~TATRF~n DF~'~CRIPTION Acco~nING TO T~F~' p~F~FT~R~T~n FMRODIMENTS OF T~T~' p~T~'~T'NT INVT'.NTION
Figure 1 shows an overall venturi device generally indicated at 1. This device is used in a pneumatic conveying system incorporating a blower s at the upstream end of the system. The device can be used to feed granular material such as grain, styrofoam beads, plastic pellets and many other types of granular materials. It also has particular application for cut pieces of plastic and paper or foil material. When working with such materials it is important to be able to control the blending of secondary air with the material as described below as the air to material ratio is critical for proper conveyance through the system.
Venturi device 1 comprises a main housing 3 having a material feed inlet 5, an open upstream end 9 and an open downstream end 7. The downstream end of the housing is fitted to an acceleration tube 2 which is in turn fitted to a static regain chamber 4. As described in my own above referenced patent acceleration tube 2 has a length of 3 1/2 to 4 times its diameter. This length to diameter ratio provides excellent air flow and static pressure performance.
As earlier noted, blower B is provided at the upstream end of the system and provides a source of primary air. In the particular example shown, the blower is separated from the venturi device by a conduit extension 29 which is connected to the upstream end of housing 3 by means of a quick connect clamp 25 which is best shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings and which will be described later in detail.
As seen in Figures 2 and 3, a frustoconical nozzle 21 is provided interiorly of housing 3. This nozzle is open at its forward end which aligns with the upstream end of housing 3 and has a downstream taper to its open rearward end directed at the downstream end 7 of the main housing.
The primary air provided by blower B is forced through the constriction provided by the nozzle to create a venturi or vacuum effect within the housing. The vacuum is fed by a source of secondary air which is drawn in through an air inlet 11 located between the material feed inlet 5 and the upstream end 9 of the housing. The amount of secondary air introduced to the housing can be varied by adjusting the effective size of air inlet 11. This is accomplished by means of a band 13 having a screened slot 19. The band wraps around the housing over air inlet 11 and is tightened by a threaded bolt 17 which fits through the mating ends 15 of the band. sy loosening bolt 17, the band 13 is rotatable on the housing to vary the positioning of slot 19 over air inlet 11 to change the size of the air inlet.
In known venturies, all of the secondary air is provided through the material inlet which cannot be adjusted in size to vary the amount of secondary air introduced without simultaneously varying the amount of material introduced. With the present invention, the secondary air inlet is in no way associated with the material inlet.
A further unique feature of the present invention resides in the fact that nozzle 21 is releasably secured within housing 3 and therefore replaceable with other 21~9798 nozzles making the system compatible with various different blower capacities. For example, Figure 4 shows housing 3 fitted with a nozzle 21a which is shorter in length and has a larger diameter downstream opening than nozzle 21.
Therefore, the setup of Figure 4 would accommodate a different blower capacity than the setup of Figure 3.
Band 25 which as earlier described provides a quick connection between housing 3 and the upstream conduit piece 29 also provides a clamp for releasably securing the nozzle 21 within the housing. This band as shown in Figure 5 includes a toggle 26 for a simple and fast opening and closing of the band. As seen in Figure 6, the band includes a central sealing member 27 on its interior surface with a pair of recessed regions 28 to either side of the sealing member.
The fitting of the band to the housing, the nozzle and the upstream conduit member 29 is best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Here it will be seen that housing 3 has an outwardly turned lip 8 and the nozzle 21 which has a mouth the same size as that of the housing has a corresponding outwardly turned lip 23. This lip sits directly against the lip 8 on the housing. The two lips 8 and 23 are trapped within one of the recesses 28 beside the center seal 27 of band 25.
The upstream conduit member 29 includes its own outwardly turned lip 31 which sits in the recess 28 to the other side of the center seal 27 of the band 25 and when the band is tightened down by the toggle 26 all of the three lips 8, 27 and 31 of the respective components are held in pôsition by the band.
From the above, it will be easily understood that by simply removing the band from the system, nozzle 21 can be pulled out of the housing 3 and quickly and easily replaced with another nozzle such as nozzle 21a shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.
In operation, the venturi device is preferably setup as shown in Figure 1 with material inlet 5 facing to the top of the divice. This allows a gravity feed of material to the device. The primary air passes through nozzle 21 creating a vacuum and drawing the material into the housing. The vacuum also draws secondary air into the housing through air inlet 11. The size of the opening of the secondary air inlet is the adjusted to obtain a proper material to air ratio in accordance with weight, shape and flow characteristics of the particular material introduced to the system. The positioning of the secondary air inlet behind the material inlet allows the secondary air to blend directly into the stream of material thereby assuring proper air to material ratios. It also reduces suction at the material inlet for better control of the volume of material entering the system through the material inlet.
As earlier described, the air injector nozzle is also made so that it can readily be replaced with a nozzle of proper size, diameter and length to suit the conveying system. This feature is important due to the fact that systems vary in static pressure flow resistance and blower sizes as a result of variable lengths of systems and the types of materials being handled. For example, the bulk density will vary from one material to the next.
Furthermore, different materials have different flow coefficients as a result of friction on the inside of the wall of the duct and the material orientation in the airstream.
With the quick nozzle change feature of the present invention, a system can be easily tested with different nozzle sizes and fitted with the appropriate nozzle directly on site.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (7)
1. A venturi device for use in a pneumatic conveying system, said device comprising a housing having a material feed inlet through said housing, an open downstream end through which the material introduced at said material feed inlet is carried away from said housing, an open upstream end fitted with a frustoconical nozzle having open forward and rearward ends and a downstream taper and through which primary air is fed to produce a vacuum in said device, and an air inlet through which secondary air is drawn by the vacuum, said air inlet being adjustable in size to accommodate different air to material mixture ratios in said device.
2. A venturi device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said nozzle is releasably secured and replaceable with other nozzles in said housing according to different primary air sources used with said device.
3. A venturi device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said air inlet comprises a slot in said housing and said device includes a band on said housing over said slot, said band having an aperture therein and being movable with respect to said housing to adjust positioning of said aperture relative to said slot.
4. A venturi device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said slot is provided between said material feed inlet and said upstream end of said device.
5. A venturi device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said nozzle includes a forward end lip which abuts with said housing releasable at said upstream end thereof and said device includes a coupler which releasably couples said lip to said housing.
6. A venturi device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said coupler comprises a quick connect and disconnect clamp.
7. A venturi device as claimed in Claim 5, including a conduit member having a lip releasably secured to said upstream end of said device by said coupler.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002149798A CA2149798C (en) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-05-19 | Variable venturi for pneumatic conveying systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002149798A CA2149798C (en) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-05-19 | Variable venturi for pneumatic conveying systems |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2149798A1 CA2149798A1 (en) | 1996-11-20 |
| CA2149798C true CA2149798C (en) | 2001-02-27 |
Family
ID=4155876
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002149798A Expired - Fee Related CA2149798C (en) | 1995-05-19 | 1995-05-19 | Variable venturi for pneumatic conveying systems |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2149798C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2538519B (en) * | 2015-05-19 | 2017-06-07 | Process Link Ltd | A particulate material transfer assembly |
-
1995
- 1995-05-19 CA CA002149798A patent/CA2149798C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2149798A1 (en) | 1996-11-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20150519 |