Apparatus for transferring powder from bulk drums

Abstract

Apparatus for emptying a drum of powdered material. The drum is mounted on a support at a 45° angle to vertical. The drum has a cap having two holes and sleeves projecting into the drum from the holes. The sleeves are aligned with the bottom corner of the drum. A feed tube, loosely surrounded by a guide tube, is inserted through each of the sleeves into contact with the powder in the drum. Each feed tube has a vacuum pump which aspirates powder through the tube and out of the drum while atmospheric air passes between the feed and guide tubes to fluidize the powder. A vibrator is mounted on the support for the drum to continually vibrate the powder toward the lower ends of the feed tubes.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for emptying a large drum of powdered material comprising, a support for holding said drum with its axis at approximately 45°, .Iadd.said drum in this attitude having a lower corner, .Iaddend.   said support including an arcuate band surrounding more than one-half the circumference of said drum and in intimate contact therewith,   a vibrator mounted adjacent said drum to vibrate said powdered material,   a cap for said drum,   said cap having at least one hole therein and a sleeve surrounding said hole, said sleeve being aligned with the lower corner of said drum,   a feed tube .Iadd.having a lower end .Iaddend.and a guide tube surrounding said feed tube with a small clearance between said tubes, said tubes being slidable by gravity in said sleeve to .Iadd.move said guide tube and the lower end of said feed tube to .Iaddend.the lower corner of said drum,   a vacuum pump on said feed tube, and   means supplying air under pressure to said vacuum pump to aspirate powder out of said drum when said feed and guide tubes are mounted in said sleeve, whereby atmospheric air is drawn into said drum through said clearance between said tubes to agitate and fluidize said powder adjacent the lower end of said feed tube.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising, a pump storage rack mounted on said drum support,   said rack having at least one receptacle for receiving said guide and feed tubes,   a manifold mounted on said support,   means connecting said air supply means to said manifold,   and a hose connecting said manifold to said vacuum pump.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising, a second receptacle adjacent said first named receptacle,   and a second feed tube, guide tube and second vacuum pump mounted in said receptacle,   said second vacuum being connected by a hose to said manifold. .Iadd.   
     
     
       4.  Apparatus for emptying a large drum of powdered material comprising, a support for holding said drum with its axis at approximately 45° to horizontal, said drum, in this attitude, having a lower corner,   said support including an arcuate band upon which said drum rests and in intimate contact with said drum,   a vibrator mounted adjacent said drum to vibrate said powdered material,   a cap for said drum,   said cap having at least one hole therein and a sleeve surrounding said hole, said sleeve being aligned with the lower corner of said drum,   a feed tube having a lower end, said feed tube being slidable by gravity in said sleeve to move said lower end to the lower corner of said drum;   means for introducing atmospheric air into said drum,   a vacuum pump on said feed tube, and   means supplying air under pressure to said vacuum pump to aspirate powder out of said drum when said feed tube is mounted in said sleeve, whereby atmospheric air is drawn into said drum to agitate and fluidize said powder adjacent the lower end of said feed tube, and thereby to drive powder up and out of said feed tube while said vibrator continuously causes powder to flow to the lower end of said feed tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       5.  Apparatus for emptying a large drum of powdered material comprising, a support for holding said drum with its axis at approximately 45° to horizontal, said drum, in this attitude, having a lower corner,   a vibrator mounted adjacent said drum to vibrate said powdered material,   a cap for said drum,   said cap having at least one hole therein and a sleeve surrounding said hole, said sleeve being aligned with the lower corner of said drum,   a feed tube slidable by gravity in said sleeve to the lower corner of said drum,   a vacuum pump on said feed tube, and   means supplying air under pressure to said vacuum pump to create a vacuum within the pump and feed tube to draw powder up and out of said feed tube while said vibrator continuously vibrate the powder to cause the powder to move downwardly toward the lower corner of the drum. .Iaddend.