Automated vacuum actuated control

Abstract

A hopper loader having a hopper connected to a vacuum source for applying a vacuum to the hopper to convey material into the hopper through a material inlet. A material separator is disposed between the material inlet and the vacuum source for filtering the material. A material discharge assembly is connected to the hopper and disposed for controlling downwardly gravity flow of the material from the hopper, the material discharge assembly having a material outlet configured to be opened and closed to control the discharge of material from the hopper. A vacuum detector is disposed between the material separator and the vacuum source. A vacuum activated control operatively connected to the vacuum detector and configured to turn off the vacuum source in response to a signal from the vacuum detector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hopper loader comprising:
 a hopper having a material inlet;   a vacuum source connected to the hopper for applying a vacuum to the hopper to convey material into the hopper through the material inlet;
 a material discharge assembly connected to the hopper and disposed for controlling downwardly gravity flow of the material from the hopper, the material discharge assembly having a material outlet configured to be opened and closed to control the discharge of material from the hopper; 
   a vacuum detector disposed between the hopper and the vacuum source, and configured for detecting the vacuum in the hopper;   a vacuum activated control operatively connected to the vacuum detector wherein the vacuum activated control is configured to turn off the vacuum source in response to a signal from the vacuum detector indicating that the hopper is full.   
     
     
         2 . The hopper loader of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is integral with the hopper. 
     
     
         3 . The hopper loader of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is remote from the hopper. 
     
     
         4 . The hopper loader of  claim 1 , wherein the hopper has a vertical axis. 
     
     
         5 . The hopper loader of  claim 1 , wherein the hopper has a tilted axis. 
     
     
         6 . The hopper loader of  claim 1 , wherein the material discharge assembly comprises a pivotally mounted valve plate biased to a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The hopper loader of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum activated control is configured to turn off the vacuum source in response to a signal from the vacuum detector that the vacuum has exceeded a predetermined level. 
     
     
         8 . A material delivery system comprising:
 a source of material operably connected to an inlet in communication with a hopper of a hopper loader;   a vacuum source operably connected to said hopper of said hopper loader configured to apply a vacuum within said hopper thereby drawing material from said source of material through said inlet into said hopper;   a vacuum detector in communication with said hopper configured to detect a vacuum level in said hopper;   a material outlet of the hopper loader in communication with the hopper configured to permit the material in said hopper to be gravitationally discharged through said outlet when said vacuum detector detects a change in vacuum level.   
     
     
         9 . The material delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said vacuum detector is a vacuum sensor having an analog output indicating the vacuum level in said hopper. 
     
     
         10 . The material delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said vacuum detector is a vacuum actuated switch that has an output that indicates that the vacuum level in said hopper is either above or below a predetermined level. 
     
     
         11 . The material delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said change in vacuum level is a step change. 
     
     
         12 . The material delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein a vacuum control is operably connected to and configured to control the operation of said vacuum detector, said vacuum source, and said material outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The material delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein said vacuum control signals said vacuum source to cease application of said vacuum to said hopper when said detected vacuum level is either above or below a predetermined vacuum level. 
     
     
         14 . The material delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein said vacuum control signals said vacuum source to cease application of said vacuum to said hopper when said detected vacuum level indicates a step change vacuum level. 
     
     
         15 . A system for transporting material comprising:
 a material source;   a material container operably connected to said material source;   a vacuum source operably connected to said material container;   said material container configured to receive material from said material source upon application of a vacuum generated by said vacuum source to said material container;   a vacuum detector disposed between said material container and said vacuum source configured to detect the vacuum level or a change in vacuum level in said material container and signal said vacuum source to cease application of said vacuum to said material container when said vacuum detector detects a predetermined vacuum level or change in vacuum level in said material container.   
     
     
         16 . The system for transporting material of  claim 15 , further comprising a material discharge outlet operably connected to said material container and configured to gravitationally discharge the material from said material container after application of said vacuum from said vacuum source to the material container has ceased. 
     
     
         17 . The system for transporting material of  claim 16 , further comprising a vacuum control that is operably connected to and configured to control the operation of said vacuum detector, said vacuum source, and said material discharge outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The system for transporting material of  claim 15 , further comprising a vacuum control that is operably connected to and configured to control the operation of said vacuum detector and said vacuum source, wherein said change in vacuum level detected by said vacuum detector is communicated to said vacuum control and said vacuum control signals said vacuum source to cease application of said vacuum to said material container when a predetermined vacuum level or change in vacuum level in said material container is detected. 
     
     
         19 . The system for transporting material of  claim 18 , wherein said vacuum control is operably connected to said material discharge outlet of said material container and signals said material discharge outlet to allow discharge of said material from said material container after a delay in time after said predetermined vacuum level or change in vacuum level is communicated to said vacuum control. 
     
     
         20 . The system for transporting material of  claim 15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 , or  19 , wherein said vacuum detector is a vacuum sensor or a vacuum actuated switch.