Synchronous single- and double-acting piston feeder system and method
A mechanism applies necessary forces for the creation of one or more plugs of compressible material to be supplied to a reactor. The plugs are capable of forming a seal between inlets for the plugs and the reactor. The mechanism includes two double-acting hydraulic piston cylinder assemblies coupled with two single-acting hydraulic piston cylinder assemblies.
1. A feeder apparatus for advancing a compressible material, comprising:
a double-acting first piston cylinder assembly ( 1004 ) including a first hydraulic cylinder ( 24 ) having first and second first piston rams ( 40 a , 40 b ) arranged to travel in opposite directions within respective first and second first cylinders ( 10 a , 10 b ), each first cylinder ( 10 a , 10 b ) having a feedstock inlet ( 42 , 42 b );
first and second single-acting second piston cylinder assemblies ( 1006 a , 1006 b ), each including a second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 a , 48 b ) having a corresponding second piston ram ( 64 a , 64 b ) arranged to travel in respective first and second second cylinders ( 12 a , 12 b ), each second cylinder ( 12 a , 12 b ) having a second pipe branch opening ( 72 a , 72 b ) coupled to a respective one of the first and second first cylinders ( 10 a , 10 b ), such that feedstock transferred through a first cylinder ( 10 a & 10 b ) by the advancing motion of a corresponding first piston ram ( 40 a & 40 b ) is then transferred into a corresponding second cylinder ( 12 a & 12 b ); and
a double-acting third piston cylinder assembly ( 1008 ) including a third hydraulic cylinder ( 74 ) having first and second third piston rams ( 90 a , 90 b ) arranged to travel in opposite directions within respective first and second third cylinders ( 14 a , 14 b ), each third cylinder ( 14 a , 14 b ) having a third pipe branch opening ( 98 a , 98 b ) coupled to a respective one of the first and second second cylinders ( 12 a , 12 b ).
2. The feeder apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a source of hydraulic fluid ( 1500 );
a first source fluid transfer line ( 502 a ) forming a first fluid path between the source of hydraulic fluid ( 1500 ) and the first second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 a );
a first inter-cylinder fluid transfer line ( 504 ) forming a second fluid path between the first second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 a ) and the first hydraulic cylinder ( 24 ):
a second inter-cylinder fluid transfer line ( 506 ) forming a third fluid path between the first hydraulic cylinder ( 24 ) and the second second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 b ); and
a second source fluid transfer line ( 502 b ) forming a fourth fluid path between the second second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 b ) and the source of hydraulic fluid ( 1500 ).
3. The feeder apparatus according to claim 1 , configured to operate such that:
when one of the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) is blocked by an associated first piston ram ( 40 a , 40 b ), the other of the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) open and is configured to receive feedstock, and vice versa.
4. The feeder apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
each third cylinder ( 14 a , 14 b ) is operatively connected to a respective plug disintegrator assembly ( 18 a , 18 b ).
5. The feeder apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
each plug disintegrator assembly ( 18 a , 18 b ) is connected to a reactor ( 800 ) via a respective feed screw assembly ( 22 a , 22 b ), thereby forming dual paths for advancing compressible material between the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) and the reactor ( 800 ).
6. The feeder apparatus according to claim 2 , configured to operate such that:
when one of the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) is blocked by an associated first piston ram ( 40 a , 40 b ), the other of the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) open and is configured to receive feedstock, and vice versa.
7. The feeder apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
each third cylinder ( 14 a , 14 b ) is operatively connected to a respective plug disintegrator assembly ( 18 a , 18 b ).
8. The feeder apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
each plug disintegrator assembly ( 18 a , 18 b ) is connected to a reactor ( 800 ) via a respective feed screw assembly ( 22 a , 22 b ), thereby forming dual paths for advancing compressible material between the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) and the reactor ( 800 ).
9. The feeder apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
each third cylinder ( 14 a , 14 b ) is operatively connected to a respective plug disintegrator assembly ( 18 a , 18 b ).
10. The feeder apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
each plug disintegrator assembly ( 18 a , 18 b ) is connected to a reactor ( 800 ) via a respective feed screw assembly ( 22 a , 22 b ), thereby forming dual paths for advancing compressible material between the feedstock inlets ( 42 a , 42 b ) and the reactor ( 800 ).
11. A method for creating at least one plug of compressible material for feeding into a reactor, comprising:
providing a feeder apparatus according to claim 1 ;
conveying the compressible material from the first cylinders ( 10 a & 10 b ) to the second cylinders ( 12 a & 12 b ) in response to forward and rearward movement of the double-acting first piston cylinder assembly ( 1004 );
conveying the compressible material from the second cylinders ( 12 a & 12 b ) to the third cylinders ( 14 a & 14 b ) in response to alternating forward movement of the single-acting second piston cylinder assemblies ( 1006 a & 1006 b ); and
conveying the compressible material from the third cylinders ( 14 a & 14 b ), in response to forward and rearward movement of the double-acting third piston cylinder assembly ( 1008 ).
12. The method according to claim 11 , comprising simultaneously:
transferring hydraulic fluid from a source of hydraulic fluid ( 1500 ) the first second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 a ), to thereby advance a corresponding first second piston ram ( 64 a ) within the first second cylinder ( 12 a );
transferring hydraulic fluid from the first second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 a ) to the first hydraulic cylinder ( 24 ), to thereby advance the second first piston ram ( 40 b ) within the second first cylinder ( 10 b );
transferring hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic cylinder ( 24 ) to the second second hydraulic cylinder ( 48 b ), to thereby retract the second second piston ram ( 64 b ) within the second second cylinder ( 12 b ); and
transferring hydraulic fluid from the second second hydraulic cylinder ( 12 b ) to the source of hydraulic fluid ( 1500 ).