Method of inducing movement of a flowable material and/or treating a surface against which the flowable material is placed

Abstract

A method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system wherein the flowable material is guided by a surface assembly between first and second locations. The method includes the steps of: providing a first flexible tube; placing the tube at a first operating location with respect to the system; and directing a pressurized fluid through the tube in a manner whereby the first flexible tube is moved in a whipping action to at least one of: a) impact the surface assembly; b) direct the pressurized fluid at least one of: i) into the flowable material moving between the first and second locations; and ii) against the surface assembly; and c) move within the flowable material moving between the first and second locations, thereby to at least one of: i) break loose flowable material adhering to the surface assembly; and ii) agitate flowable material moving between the first and second locations.

1 . A method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system wherein the flowable material is guided by a surface assembly between first and second locations, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first flexible tube;   placing the first flexible tube at a first operating location with respect to the system; and   directing a pressurized fluid through the first flexible tube in a manner whereby the first flexible tube is moved in a whipping action so as to thereby at least one of: a) impact the surface assembly; b) direct the pressurized fluid at least one of: i) into the flowable material moving between the first and second locations; and ii) against the surface assembly; and c) move within the flowable material moving between the first and second locations, thereby to at least one of: i) break loose flowable material adhering to the surface assembly; and ii) agitate flowable material moving between the first and second locations so as to avoid hanging up of flowable material moving between the first and second locations.   
   
   
       2 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the step of directing a pressurized fluid through the first flexible tube comprises directing a pressurized fluid through the first flexible tube in a manner whereby the first flexible tube is moved in a random whipping action. 
   
   
       3 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps of providing a second flexible tube, placing the second flexible tube at an operating location that is either: a) at or adjacent to the first operating location; or b) at a second operating location spaced from the first operating location, and directing a pressurized fluid through the second flexible tube whereby the second flexible tube performs as the first flexible tube. 
   
   
       4 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a hopper with a funnel-shaped portion defining an outlet, the flowable material moves by gravity and is guided by a portion of the surface assembly bounding the funnel-shaped hopper portion to and through the outlet to the second location that is downstream of the outlet, and the first operating location is at the hopper. 
   
   
       5 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 4  wherein the step of placing the first flexible tube at a first operating location comprises placing the first flexible tube so that as the first flexible tube moves, the first flexible tube is situated at least partially within the funnel-shaped portion of the hopper. 
   
   
       6 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 5  wherein the system comprises a rail hopper car with the surface assembly bounding a storage space for a supply of flowable material. 
   
   
       7 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 6  wherein the flowable material is in particulate form. 
   
   
       8 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 5  wherein the step of placing the first flexible tube at a first operating location comprises fixing a portion of the first flexible tube with respect to the surface assembly. 
   
   
       9 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 5  wherein the step of placing the first flexible tube at a first operating location comprises providing a support that is movable relative to the surface assembly and fixing the support relative to the surface assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 4  wherein the step of placing the first flexible tube at a first operating location comprises providing a support that is separate from and movable relative to the surface assembly, and manually repositioning the support to strategically place the first flexible tube at the first operating location and any other operating location with respect to the system as selected by a user. 
   
   
       11 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 10  wherein the step of providing a support comprises providing a support that can be lifted and controllably repositioned by a user. 
   
   
       12 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a rail hopper car with the surface assembly bounding a storage space for a supply of flowable material and a funnel-shaped portion through which flowable material moves from the storage space to an outlet, and with the first flexible tube at the first operating location the first flexible tube is at or adjacent to a portion of the surface assembly bounding the storage space to at least one of: a) break loose flowable material adhering to the portion of the surface assembly bounding the storage space; and b) agitate flowable material within the storage space to avoid hanging up of flowable material in the storage space. 
   
   
       13 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a stationary storage container with the surface assembly bounding a storage space for flowable material, the storage space in communication with an outlet. 
   
   
       14 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises an open conveying section bounded by the surface assembly. 
   
   
       15 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a closed conduit with an internal passageway bounded by the surface assembly and the first operating location resides within the passageway. 
   
   
       16 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a storage container with the surface assembly bounding a storage space, the storage space in communication with an outlet and having an upstanding wall assembly bounding a portion of the surface assembly with an area, and with the first flexible tube at the first operating location, the first flexible tube is moved continuously to either: a) come into close proximity to; or b) contact a majority of the area of the portion of the surface assembly to break loose flowable material tending to adhere to the portion of the surface assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a cargo hold in a floating vessel within which a bulk supply of the flowable material is contained in a storage space bounded by the surface assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo hold has an upstanding wall assembly bounded by a portion of the surface assembly with an area and with the first flexible tube at the first operating location, the first flexible tube is moved continuously to either: a) come into close proximity to; or b) contact a majority of the area of the portion of the surface assembly to break loose flowable material adhered to the portion of the surface assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the step of directing a pressurized fluid through the first flexible tube comprises directly the pressurized fluid through the first flexible tube in a manner whereby the flexible tube is continuously moved. 
   
   
       20 . The method of inducing the movement of a flowable material in a system according to  claim 1  wherein the step of directing a pressurized fluid through the first flexible tube comprises directing a pressurized fluid in gaseous form through the first flexible tube.