Feeder for bulk solids
A feeder for bulk solids has a rotatable bin with an open bottom and an open top and is tilted so that one side of the bin is substantially vertical. A rotating auger is located within the bin having a vertically oriented exposed helical fin. Longitudinal ribs are secured on an inner surface of the bin and spaced radially. Material is loaded into the open top of the rotating bin, tumbling the material toward the bottom of the bin causing the material to constantly contact the rotating auger. The auger then feeds the material through the open bottom of the bin. Ribs engage the material in the bin enhancing tumbling and feeding.
1. A feeder for bulk solids comprising:
a rotatable bin for receiving the bulk solids, the bin having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open bottom, and an open top;
a movement enhancer placed within the rotatable bin, the movement enhancer having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end of the movement enhancer being aligned substantially centered above the open bottom of the rotatable bin;
a metering sleeve, the movement enhancer configured to be placed through the metering sleeve.
2. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is operatively connected to the metering sleeve and the second end is operatively connected to a support.
3. A feeder for bulk solids comprising:
a rotatable bin for receiving the bulk solids, the bin having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open bottom, and an open top;
a movement enhancer placed within the rotatable bin, the movement enhancer having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end of the movement enhancer being aligned substantially centered above the open bottom of the rotatable bin;
a driver operatively connected to the movement enhancer for rotating the movement enhancer; and
another driver operatively connected to the rotatable bin for rotating the rotatable bin.
4. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable bin is rotatable in a first direction and the movement enhancer is counter-rotatable in a second direction.
5. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 3 , wherein the movement enhancer is rotatable in the same direction as the rotatable bin.
6. A feeder for bulk solids comprising:
a rotatable bin for receiving the bulk solids, the bin having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open bottom, and an open top, the bin being tilted so that the inner surface of a side of the bin is substantially vertical;
an auger placed within the rotatable bin, the auger having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being aligned substantially centered above the open bottom of the rotatable bin;
a driver operatively connected to the bin for rotating the bin;
another driver operatively connected to the auger for rotating the auger; and
a plurality of longitudinal ribs on the inner surface of the rotatable bin extending for at least a portion of the length of the inner surface.
7. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , wherein the auger does not have a shaft.
8. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , wherein the auger has a helical fin.
9. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal ribs are spaced radially from one another.
10. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , further comprising a metering sleeve, wherein the auger is placed through the metering sleeve.
11. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 10 , further comprising an actuator with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is operatively connected to the metering sleeve and the second end is operatively connected to a support.
12. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , further comprising a feeder gate.
13. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 12 , further comprising an actuator with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is operatively connected to the feeder gate and the second end is operatively connected to a support.
14. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , wherein the rotatable bin is a conical frustum shaped bin.
15. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , wherein the rotatable bin is rotatable in a first direction and the auger is counter-rotatable in a second direction.
16. The feeder for bulk solids of claim 6 , wherein the auger is rotatable in the same direction as the rotatable bin.
17. A feeder for bulk solids comprising:
a rotatable conical frustum shaped bin for receiving the bulk solids, the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open bottom of a first diameter, and an open top of a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin being tilted so that the inner surface of a side of the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin is substantially vertical;
an auger placed within the bin substantially parallel to a side of the inner surface of the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin, the auger having a top end, a bottom end, no shaft, and a helical fin, the bottom end being aligned substantially centered above the open bottom of the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin;
a driver operatively connected to the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin for rotating the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin in a first direction;
another driver operatively connected to the auger for counter-rotating the auger in a second direction; and
a plurality of longitudinal ribs on the inner surface of the rotatable conical frustum shaped bin extending for at least a portion of the length of the inner surface and spaced radially from one another.