Feeder

Abstract

A feeder operable to convey a divided solids material comprises a conduit and an actuator. The conduit has a hollow body with a length, a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment defined along at least a portion of the length. The displaceable body segment has at least a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location. The actuator is positioned to apply force to the conduit and is controllable to cause selected flow of divided solids material in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end. Methods are also disclosed.

1 . A feeder operable to convey a divided solids material, comprising:
 a conduit having a hollow body with a length, a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment defined along at least a portion of the length;   the displaceable body segment having at least a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location;   an actuator positioned to apply force to the conduit and controllable to displace the displaceable body segment to cause selected flow of divided solids material within the conduit in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is supported by the conduit and moves with the displaceable body segment during a feeding operation. 
     
     
         3 . The feeder of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotating offset mass, and wherein the rotating offset mass is operated to generate oscillating motion of the displaceable body segment and the attached actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The feeder of  claim 2 , wherein the displaceable body segment is cyclically displaced through a closed trajectory having at least one of a vertical component and a horizontal component. 
     
     
         5 . The feeder of  claim 2 , wherein the displaceable body segment has a second fixable location downstream of the first fixable location in the feeding direction and positionable at a second fixed location. 
     
     
         6 . The feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the displaceable body segment has a curved profile, wherein the curved profile has a length longer than a shortest distance separating the first fixable location and a second fixable location, and wherein the actuator is attached to the displaceable body segment approximately at an inflection point for a curve of the curved profile. 
     
     
         7 . The feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is positioned stationarily and has a controllably movable element that contacts the displaceable body segment. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The feeder of  claim 1 , Wherein the actuator is an elongate member having a distal end pivotable into contact with the displaceable body segment to selectively move the displaceable body segment and a proximal end pivotably connected to a pivot point. 
     
     
         10 . The feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the displaceable body segment comprises an intermediate section configured to collect a portion of the divided solids material when the displaceable body segment is at rest. 
     
     
         11 . The feeder of  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate section is configured to collect a leading edge of a flow of divided solids material received from the first end of the feeder. 
     
     
         12 . The feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the displaceable body segment comprises an intermediate section configured for positioning at a slight angle relative to horizontal, a first upright section positioned upstream of the intermediate section and a second upright section positioned downstream of the intermediate section. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A feeder, comprising:
 a conduit having an inlet end, an outlet end opposite the inlet end and a displaceable body segment defined along a feeding direction between the inlet end and the outlet end;   the inlet end being configured for connection to a source of material to be fed by the feeder;   the outlet end being configured to convey divided solids material from the feeder to a location downstream of the feeder, wherein the outlet end is configured for positioning at a lower height than the inlet end;   the displaceable body segment being sized to have a length longer than a shortest distance between the inlet end and the outlet end and to define a curved profile with at least one inflection point when installed;   the displaceable body segment when installed defining an intermediate section configured to support accumulated divided solids material therein at an angle of repose of the material, and to reduce movement of material in the feeding direction when the displaceable body segment is at rest; and   an actuator connected to the displaceable body segment to controllably displace the displaceable body segment during a feeding operation.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The feeder of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate section is caused to be displaced from a substantially lateral position at which no flow occurs to a downwardly tilted position at which flow towards the outlet end occurs. 
     
     
         20 . The feeder of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is configured to move at a rate sufficient to cause displacement of the displaceable body section such that the solids material moves at a selected rate between a low trickle flow and a high bulk filling flow. 
     
     
         21 . A method of conveying a divided solids material with a feeder, comprising:
 using a sensor to monitor an amount of the divided solids material being conveyed with the feeder;   receiving signals from the sensor at a controller;   sending control signals from the controller to the feeder to control a flow rate of the divided solids material over a flow rate range ratio of greater than 1:50 of a low flow rate to a high flow rate.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein using a sensor to monitor an amount of the solid material being conveyed comprises configuring the sensor to measure a loss of weight of the solid material from a source of the material positioned upstream of the feeder. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein using a sensor to monitor an amount of the solid material being conveyed comprises configuring the sensor to measure a gain in weight from the solid material conveyed to a receptacle positioned downstream of the feeder. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the feeder comprises a conduit segment for receiving the solid material and that is displaceable according to the control signals from the controller to achieve a desired flow rate of the material from the feeder. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the flow rate range ratio is greater than 1:4000. 
     
     
         26 . A method of conveying divided polysilicon, comprising:
 receiving divided polysilicon from a source into a conduit of a feeder;   controllably moving the conduit through an operation path in which the conduit is positioned in at least a first position at which flow through the conduit occurs and a second position at which flow through the conduit is stopped; and   receiving the divided silicon material flowing through the conduit, when the conduit is positioned at least in a first position, in a receptacle positioned downstream of an outlet end of the conduit.