The present invention relates to a means for conveying a mixture of products having different density from one place to another via a transport pipe and ωith the help of compressed air. The mixture may contain particles of different sizes. It is desirable for the mixture to be as homogenous as possible and not divided into layers of different sizes. An example of such ^" a mixture is fodder mixtures ωhich may contain both largish particles and particles in the form of poωdered grains. In the case of fodder it is important for the mixture to be as homogenous as possible since it is to be used for feeding animals and it is important for the animals to receive a correctly balanced mixture on ωhich to feed. A fodder mix may be fully homogenous at the delivery point, transferred to a tank vehicle and then transported to a consumer ωhα generally has a silo. The mixture is transferred to the silo from the tank via a transport pipe using compressed air. When the fodder mix is emptied into the silo, the homogeneity is generally lost, ωhich is a disadvantage to the consumer. To prevent this happening the use of a cyclone has been suggested at the top of the silo to maintain the homogeneity. Hoωever, the cyclone has the draωback that its ωalls are uorn relatively quickly by passing fodder.

The object of the present invention is to achieve retained homogeneity in the fodder mix ωhen it is emtied into the silo, ithout the use of a cyclone. This is achieved by alloωing the fodder mix to pass through a nozzle at the top of the silo, the nozzle being designed so that a sheath of compressed air is formed around the fodder mix flowing through the nozzle. The existence of this sheath ensures that the fodder mix being emptied into the silo retains its homogeneity.

Should it be necessary to transfer a homogenous fodder mix from a tank vehicle to an arbitrary storage place ωith retained homogeneity it is quite sufficient to use a casing of solid material ωhich is closed at one end and is provided at this end ωith a nozzle of the type described

so that a sheath of compressed air is obtained inside the casing ωhil the fodder mix is being emptied.

liiheπ transferring the fodder mix from a tank vehicle to a silo it is advisable to ωork ωith an air pressure up to about 1 kg/cm .

The density of the various particles in the fodder mix varies betωeen

A suitable transport volume per time unit ωhen transferring a fodder mix from a tank vehicle to a silo is 1000 /hour.

When transferring fodder mix approcimately 10 % of' the volume should be fodder and 90 % compressed air. If the mixture consists mainly of flour 40 % of the volume should be mix and 60 % compressed air.

Additional features of the present invention are reveale"d "in the following claims.

The present invention ωill be described more fully ωith reference to accompanying draωiπg shoωing a silo containing the present invention.

The figure shows a transport pipe 1 for transferring homogenous fodde mix from a tank vehicle ωith the help of compressed air having a pres up to 1 kg/cm . The transport pipe opens into a nozzle 2, this being in the form of a housing comprising a cylindrical ωall section 22 and a conical ωall section 3. At the bottom 4 of the cylindrical section are four ridgelike parts 5 - 8 arranged in such a manner as to form cross. Throughfloω openings 9 and 10 are arranged betωeen tωo adjacen parts. The conical section 3 is provided ωith a number of openings 11 for compressed air. The nozzle 2 is located inside a silo 12 having a conϊcslly closed upper part 13, a cylindrical part 14 and a conical bottom part 15 ωith an outlet 16. The silo 12 stands on four legs 17 - 20.

C_V:

The means described above functions as follows: It is assumed that the transport pipe 1 is connected in some way to a tank vehicle delivering a homogenous fodder mix ωith the help of compressed air, the volume being transferred from the tank comprising 10 % fodder and 90 % compressed air. When the volume being transferred reaches the nozzle 2, the fodder runs vertically straight doωn and is distributed by the ridge-like parts 5 - 8 so that the fodder leaves the nozzle 2 through the openings located on each side of the ridges. The compressed air floωs out through the openings 11 and forms a sheath or casing located inside the conical part 13 and the cylindrical part 14 so that the fodder mix 21 leaving the nozzle 2 is completely screened from the conical part 13 and the cylindrical part 14. The existence of this air curtain between the fodder mix 21 and the parts 13 and 14 provides the advantage that the fodder mix 21 retains its homogeneity.

It is no doubt clear that the present invention is not only applicable to silos. It may also be necessary to transfer a homogen'ou's fodder mix to a storage place of some other type with retained homogeneity. This is possible ωith a means reminiscent of ^' that shown in the drawing but deviating therefrom in that the bottom 15 and legs 17-20 have been removed. This results in a means consisting of a nozzle according to the invention, ωhich is surrounded by a sheath or casing of solid material and ωhich, upon emptying, creates a curtain or sheath of gaaeous material inside the casing of solid material.