LONDON
SIR ISAAC PITMAN & SONS, LTD.
PARKER STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2
BATH, MELBOURNE, TORONTO, NEW YORK
1921
Printed by
Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd.
Bath, England
PREFACE
Pneumatic Conveying has recently attracted great and widespread interest amongst engineers and others interested in the economical handling of materials. The information hitherto available on the subject has, however, been so meagre and so indefinite that the author offers this concise treatment of principles, methods and applications in order that those who are anxious to avail themselves of this flexible means of transportation may know just how, and why, it is worthy of their attention.
The high cost of labour, coupled with the desire to improve the condition of the worker who has had to work in a dust-laden atmosphere of an objectionable, or even poisonous nature, will create such a demand for pneumatic conveying plant that present day methods of transportation will be revolutionized in many branches of industry.
The author has had three years’ experience with one of the first pneumatic plants erected in this country, for use with coal, ashes, and flue dust, and he has conducted numerous experiments on other materials, such as sand, oxide, potatoes, various chemicals, etc., and has endeavoured to add his quota to the information available for the benefit of other engineers and works managers.
Experiments proved that with certain materials the discharger was the weak link in the chain, as wet sticky materials entering at a high velocity “packed” tight and would not discharge freely. This led to experiments which, with the valuable assistance of Mr. H. B. Clarke, A.M.I.E.E., resulted in overcoming this difficulty by means which are described fully in Chapter VI.
No attempt has been made to go fully into the questions of domestic vacuum cleaners, removing dust from manufacturing processes, etc. The chief aim has been rather to bring into prominence the flexibility and other advantages of moving air as a means of conveying and elevating heavy solid materials which hitherto it has been thought could not be handled in this manner.
The author gladly acknowledges the interest and information given by the following firms and individuals Mr. H. B. Clarke, A.M.I.E.E.; Messrs. Ashwell & Nesbit; Boby, Ltd.; H. J. H. King & Co., Ltd.; The Lamson Store Service Co.; and the Sturtevant Engineering Co., Ltd.
E. G. PHILLIPS.