Powder delivery metering mechanism

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of metal powder conveying and metering, and discloses a powder conveying and metering mechanism, comprising: a storage silo, the storage silo being provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe; a feeding silo, the feeding silo being connected to the inlet pipe; a metering silo, the metering silo being connected to the outlet pipe, the metering silo being provided with a first exhaust port; a vacuum device, the vacuum device being used to generate negative pressure in the storage silo; and a gas supply device, the gas supply end of the gas supply device being connected to the storage silo and the feeding silo, the gas supply device being used to provide inert gas to the storage silo and the feeding silo. This invention creates a stable and controllable negative pressure environment in the storage silo, causing the powder in the feeding silo to be actively drawn into the storage silo through the inlet pipe under the action of pressure difference. The powder enters the storage silo in a continuous and gentle flow state under the negative pressure attraction, reducing the impact and friction of the material in the pipeline and improving the safety of conveying.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of metal powder conveying and metering, and in particular to a powder conveying and metering mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] Metal powders such as aluminum powder, magnesium powder, and titanium powder are widely used in powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, pyrotechnics, and specialty chemicals due to their large specific surface area and high chemical reactivity. However, these powders pose significant safety risks during storage, transportation, and metering. Their particles are highly susceptible to suspending in the air, forming combustible dust. When the oxygen concentration in the environment is high and static electricity, sparks, or localized high temperatures are present, combustion or even dust explosions can easily occur.

[0003] Existing powder conveying and metering equipment mostly uses pneumatic conveying, which presents significant safety hazards during actual operation. During powder conveying, the system typically applies pneumatic pressure to move the metal powder along pipelines or valves. However, the frequent friction and collisions between the powder and pipe walls and valves under high-speed airflow easily generate a large amount of static electricity on the powder surface and equipment contact surfaces. Because highly reactive metal powders such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium powders are chemically active, even trace amounts of oxygen can combine with sparks generated by electrostatic discharge, rapidly igniting dust combustion or explosion. Once electrostatic ignition occurs, the dust can trigger a chain reaction of explosions in enclosed pipelines or silos, causing equipment damage, production interruptions, and even serious personal injury. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to address the issue of increased safety risks caused by the easy accumulation of static electricity during the transportation of highly active metal powders.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a powder conveying and metering mechanism, comprising: a storage silo, wherein the storage silo is provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe; a feeding silo, wherein the feeding silo is connected to the inlet pipe; a metering silo, wherein the metering silo is connected to the outlet pipe and is provided with a first exhaust port; a vacuum device, wherein the vacuum device is used to generate negative pressure in the storage silo; and a gas supply device, wherein the gas supply end of the gas supply device is connected to the storage silo and the feeding silo, and the gas supply device is used to provide inert gas to the storage silo and the feeding silo.

[0006] Furthermore, the storage bin is provided with a storage cavity, and both the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are connected to the storage cavity. The outlet pipe is located below the storage cavity, and the bottom of the storage cavity is conical.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes two oxygen content detectors, which are respectively installed on the storage silo and the feeding silo. The storage silo is provided with a second exhaust port, and the gas supply end of the gas supply device is also connected to the metering silo.

[0008] Furthermore, the gas supply device is equipped with a voltage regulator and a reflux compensation branch, and the gas supply device adopts independent gas supply in zones.

[0009] Furthermore, all interfaces of the storage silo, the metering silo, the inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe are equipped with double-layer sealing flanges. The inner layer of the double-layer sealing flange is provided with a corrosion-resistant sealing gasket, and the outer layer of the double-layer sealing flange is provided with sealant.

[0010] Furthermore, both the storage silo and the feeding silo are equipped with explosion relief devices, which are replaceable pressure relief plates or explosion relief valves with spring preload.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes two weight measuring devices, which are respectively disposed in the storage bin and the feeding bin.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes three vibrators, which are respectively installed on the bottom of the storage hopper, the bottom of the feeding hopper, and the bottom of the metering hopper, the bottom of the feeding hopper and the bottom of the metering hopper being conical.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a metering screw, with an output port at the bottom of the metering chamber, and the metering screw is mounted on the output port.

[0014] Furthermore, the metering chamber is located below the storage chamber, and the discharge pipe is a right-angled pipe, with both ends of the right-angled pipe connected to the metering chamber and the storage chamber, respectively.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the powder conveying and metering mechanism of this invention has the following advantages: By creating a stable and controllable negative pressure environment within the storage silo, highly reactive metal powder in the feeding silo is actively drawn into the storage silo through the feeding pipeline under the action of pressure difference, achieving closed-loop negative pressure conveying of the powder. On the one hand, the negative pressure conveying method avoids the problem of dust leakage caused by damage to the sealing structure due to excessive pressure during traditional positive pressure pushing or mechanical extrusion, significantly reducing the risk of powder dust and backflow of external air, and helping to maintain the overall low-oxygen inert environment of the system. On the other hand, the powder enters the storage silo in a continuous and gentle flow state under negative pressure attraction, reducing high-speed impact and severe friction of materials in the pipeline and silo, inhibiting static electricity accumulation and spark generation from the source, and improving the inherent safety of the highly reactive metal powder conveying process. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the powder conveying and metering mechanism provided by the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0017] The correspondence between the reference numerals and the component names is as follows: 1. Storage silo; 11. Feeding pipe; 12. Discharge pipe; 13. Dust collector; 101. Storage chamber; 102. Second exhaust port; 2. Feeding silo; 3. Metering silo; 301. First exhaust port; 302. Output port; 4. Vacuum device; 5. Gas supply device; 6. Oxygen content detector; 7. Vibrator; 8. Weight measuring element; 9. Metering screw. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates exemplary embodiments of the present invention, including various details to aid understanding. These details should be considered merely exemplary. Therefore, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following description.

[0019] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the figure, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a powder conveying and metering mechanism, comprising: a storage silo 1, the storage silo 1 being provided with an inlet pipe 11 and an outlet pipe 12; a feeding silo 2, the feeding silo 2 being connected to the inlet pipe 11; a metering silo 3, the metering silo 3 being connected to the outlet pipe 12, the metering silo 3 being provided with a first exhaust port 301; a vacuum device 4, the vacuum device 4 being used to generate negative pressure in the storage silo 1; and a gas supply device 5, the gas supply end of the gas supply device 5 being connected to the storage silo 1 and the feeding silo 2, the gas supply device 5 being used to provide inert gas to the storage silo 1 and the feeding silo 2.

[0020] The powder conveying and metering mechanism of this application creates a stable and controllable negative pressure environment within the storage silo 1, allowing powder from the feeding silo 2 to be actively drawn into the storage silo 1 through the feeding pipe 11 under the action of pressure difference, thus achieving closed-loop negative pressure conveying of the powder. On the one hand, the negative pressure conveying method avoids the problem of dust leakage caused by damage to the sealing structure due to excessive pressure during traditional positive pressure pushing or mechanical extrusion, significantly reducing the risk of powder dust and backflow of external air, and helping to maintain the overall low-oxygen inert environment of the system. On the other hand, the powder enters the storage silo 1 in a continuous and gentle flow state under negative pressure attraction, reducing high-speed impact and severe friction of materials in the pipeline and silo body, suppressing static electricity accumulation and spark generation from the source, and improving the inherent safety of the high-activity metal powder conveying process. Meanwhile, the storage silo 1 transports the powder to the metering silo 3 below through the discharge pipe 12. In the metering silo 3, the powder is uniformly and continuously piled up under a slightly positive pressure inert gas environment and with the necessary vibration assistance, providing stable feeding conditions and ensuring that the powder is accurately quantified in a low-oxygen, closed environment. At the same time, it avoids metering fluctuations caused by instantaneous collapse of the powder or pipeline impact, thereby further improving the safety and reliability of the entire conveying and metering process while ensuring metering accuracy.

[0021] Inert gas is supplied to the storage silo 1 and the feeding silo 2 by the gas supply device 5 and the first exhaust port 301 is opened, thereby gradually replacing the air in the silo. When the oxygen content in the silo drops below the safety threshold, the first exhaust port 301 is closed. The vacuum device 4 generates negative pressure in the storage silo 1. The gas supply device 5 provides a slight positive pressure to the feeding silo 2 to assist in the material transportation. The material in the feeding silo 2 is transported to the storage silo 1 under negative pressure through the feed pipe 11. After the feeding operation in the storage silo 1, inert gas is filled into the storage silo 1 to maintain a slight positive pressure low oxygen safety state. During feeding, the gas supply device 5 provides a slight positive pressure inert gas environment to the feeding silo 2, so that the material is transported to the metering silo 3 in an oxygen-free environment.

[0022] Specifically, the gas supply device 5 is also connected to the metering chamber 3 and the feed pipe 11. The exhaust port adopts a unidirectional flow structure with an exhaust valve, ensuring that the discharged gas flows entirely in a fixed direction, preventing outside air from being drawn back into the chamber through the exhaust path, thus ensuring the stability of the inert environment from the source. The gas supply device 5 can provide inert gases such as nitrogen, helium, argon, and krypton.

[0023] Specifically, the discharge pipe 12 is equipped with a conveying screw, and the inlet pipe 11, the discharge pipe 12, and various silo structures are equipped with grounding wires to discharge static electricity and eliminate its effects. Low-resistance conductive connections are used at the conveying screw, the walls of various silos, and the feeding port of the feeding silo 2 to quickly dissipate static electricity. These discharge connections use low-resistance wires or flexible metal connections and are reliably grounded to reduce the risk of ignition caused by electrostatic sparks. The storage silo 1 is equipped with a dust collector 13.

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the storage bin 1 is provided with a storage cavity 101, and the inlet pipe 11 and the outlet pipe 12 are both connected to the storage cavity 101. The outlet pipe 12 is located below the storage cavity 101, and the bottom of the storage cavity 101 is conical.

[0025] By configuring the storage chamber 1 to be a storage cavity 101 connected to both the inlet pipe 11 and the outlet pipe 12, and by arranging the outlet pipe 12 below the storage cavity 101 and adopting a conical structure at the bottom of the storage cavity 101, the powder naturally gathers downwards under the action of gravity within the storage cavity 101 and points towards the outlet port. Structurally, this avoids the problems of powder bridging, stagnation, or dead-angle accumulation within the silo, which is conducive to continuous and stable powder feeding. The conical bottom can effectively guide the powder flow to the outlet pipe 12, reducing the frictional resistance between the powder and the silo wall, and reducing the risk of static electricity or localized heating of highly active metal powder due to friction. At the same time, both the inlet and outlet are directly connected to the same storage cavity 101, so that the storage, buffering, and conveying processes are completed in the same sealed space. Combined with negative pressure conveying and inert gas protection, this helps to maintain the stability of the pressure and oxygen content within the silo, and improves the safety, reliability, and consistency of the powder conveying and metering process.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, two oxygen content detectors 6 are also included. The two oxygen content detectors 6 are respectively installed on the storage silo 1 and the feeding silo 2. The storage chamber 101 is provided with a second exhaust port 102. The gas supply device 5 is also connected to the metering chamber 3.

[0027] By installing oxygen content detectors 6 on storage silos 1 and feeding silos 2 respectively, the oxygen concentration in each key silo is monitored in real time and independently. Combined with the structure of the second exhaust port 102 in the storage chamber 101 and the gas supply device 5 simultaneously connected to storage silos 1, feeding silos 2, and metering silos 3, inert gas replacement and oxygen content control cover the entire process of powder feeding, storage, and metering. When the oxygen content in any silo is detected to be too high, oxygen-containing gas can be promptly discharged and inert gas replenished through the second exhaust port 102, thereby achieving rapid adjustment and stable maintenance of the atmosphere within the silo and preventing the formation of localized high-oxygen areas. Simultaneously, the multi-point oxygen content monitoring and the full-process inert gas supply enable the system to accurately control the safety status within the silos according to different operating conditions, significantly improving the inherent safety and controllability of highly reactive metal powders during the conveying and metering process, and effectively reducing the risk of combustion or explosion accidents caused by abnormal fluctuations in oxygen concentration.

[0028] Specifically, when the oxygen content exceeds a set threshold, the control system automatically triggers nitrogen purging, an alarm, or a shutdown. The oxygen content detector 6 collects real-time oxygen content data from the chamber and transmits it to the controller. The controller controls nitrogen purging, venting, and alarm logic in conjunction with the oxygen content and the preset threshold: when the oxygen content exceeds the threshold, nitrogen purging is automatically initiated and feeding or feeding is prohibited; if the oxygen content fails to meet the standard within a specified time, the system issues an audible and visual alarm and enters a safe shutdown mode.

[0029] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the gas supply device 5 is provided with a voltage regulator and a reflux compensation branch, and the gas supply device 5 adopts independent gas supply in zones.

[0030] By incorporating a pressure regulator and a reflux compensation branch in the gas supply device 5, and adopting a zoned independent gas supply method, inert gas can be applied separately and stably to different functional areas such as storage silo 1, feeding silo 2, and metering silo 3. The pressure regulator allows for precise adjustment of the inert gas output pressure, preventing pressure imbalances or powder disturbance caused by fluctuations in supply pressure. The reflux compensation branch can promptly replenish or release gas when the gas consumption in each silo changes, maintaining a stable, slightly positive pressure state for the entire system. Through zoned independent gas supply, each silo can individually control its gas pressure and flow rate according to its specific operating conditions, preventing crosstalk between silos. This achieves refined management of the inert gas environment and further improves the stability, safety, and reliability of oxygen content and pressure control during the metering and conveying of highly reactive metal powders.

[0031] Specifically, the gas supply device 5 is equipped with a switching valve and a pressure regulating valve. The gas supply device 5 adopts independent gas supply in zones and is equipped with a pressure regulator and a reflux compensation branch. At each key compartment, such as the feeding port of storage compartment 1, metering compartment 3, and feeding compartment 2, a switching valve and a pressure regulating valve are installed to ensure a stable inert environment under various operating conditions. During the feeding stage, a small amount of gas is compensated and released through the reflux compensation channel to maintain the pressure inside the compartment within the set positive pressure range to prevent air from entering or dust from leaking out. The control system monitors the pressure inside the compartment in real time. When the pressure rises to the upper limit of the preset range, the exhaust valve is automatically opened for pressure regulation; when the pressure drops to the normal range, the exhaust valve is automatically closed.

[0032] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, all interfaces of the storage bin 1, metering bin 3, inlet pipe 11 and outlet pipe 12 are provided with double-layer sealing flanges. The inner layer of the double-layer sealing flange is provided with a corrosion-resistant sealing gasket, and the outer layer of the double-layer sealing flange is provided with sealant.

[0033] By uniformly adopting a double-layer sealing flange structure at all interfaces of the storage silo 1, metering silo 3, and inlet pipe 11 and outlet pipe 12, and by setting a corrosion-resistant sealing gasket in the inner layer and supplementing it with sealant in the outer layer to form a double sealing barrier, the overall sealing performance of the powder conveying and metering system is significantly improved structurally. The inner sealing gasket can maintain a stable fit under long-term negative pressure or slightly positive pressure conditions, effectively blocking inert gas leakage and external air infiltration; the outer sealant further reinforces the sealing of the flange connection gap, eliminating micro-leakage channels and reducing the risk of failure caused by seal aging or vibration. Through this double-layer sealing setting, not only can a low-oxygen inert environment be maintained stably in the silo and pipeline for a long time, reducing dust escape and oxygen intrusion, but it also helps to improve the safety, reliability and durability of equipment operation, and is particularly suitable for conveying and metering highly reactive metal powders with strict sealing requirements.

[0034] Specifically, the inner layer of the double-sealed flange is equipped with a corrosion-resistant gasket, and the outer connecting part of the double-sealed flange is equipped with sealant, forming a two-stage sealing channel, which can effectively prevent aluminum powder leakage and air backflow.

[0035] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, both the storage bin 1 and the feeding bin 2 are equipped with explosion relief devices, which are replaceable pressure relief plates or explosion relief valves with spring preload.

[0036] By installing explosion relief devices on both storage silo 1 and feeding silo 2, and equipping these devices with replaceable pressure relief plates or spring-preloaded explosion relief valves, the system possesses reliable passive safety protection capabilities under abnormal operating conditions. When an abnormal pressure surge occurs within the silo due to operational errors, equipment malfunctions, or unforeseen factors, the explosion relief device can rapidly open or rupture at a preset pressure threshold, promptly releasing internal overpressure and preventing structural damage or even explosions. The replaceable pressure relief plates allow for flexible selection based on different powder characteristics and operating conditions, improving maintenance convenience, while the spring-preloaded explosion relief valves enable controllable and repeatable pressure relief responses. By establishing independent explosion relief channels in critical silos, a multi-layered protection system is formed with inert gas protection and negative pressure conveying, further enhancing the overall safety redundancy and operational reliability of the high-activity metal powder conveying and metering process.

[0037] Specifically, the explosion relief device is a replaceable pressure relief plate or a quick-opening explosion relief valve with spring preload. Normally, the device is in a closed state; when the pressure inside the chamber momentarily exceeds the safety threshold, the device automatically opens to release energy and guide the pressure safely to a designated pressure relief pipe or outdoors, eliminating any flames generated by the abnormal situation. The opening degree and recovery mechanism of the explosion relief device can be controlled by a set value and a manual reset device.

[0038] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, two weight measuring elements 8 are further included, which are respectively disposed in the storage bin 1 and the feeding bin 2.

[0039] By installing weight measuring devices 8 in both storage silo 1 and feeding silo 2, real-time monitoring and precise feedback of powder weight changes during the feeding and storage stages are achieved. This transforms the powder conveying and metering process from traditional single-end metering to multi-node weight collaborative control. On one hand, the feeding amount and rate can be accurately determined by monitoring powder weight changes in feeding silo 2, avoiding overfeeding or underfeeding. On the other hand, combined with the weight measurement results in storage silo 1, the storage status can be monitored in real time, and the negative pressure conveying process can be dynamically adjusted, thereby improving the controllability and stability of the powder transfer process. Simultaneously, multi-point weight monitoring helps reduce metering errors caused by unstable powder flow, bridging, or residue, improving overall metering accuracy and consistency. It also provides a reliable data foundation for the system's automated control and safety interlocking, making it particularly suitable for conveying highly reactive metal powders where high metering accuracy and process safety are required.

[0040] Specifically, aluminum powder enters the sealed storage silo 1 under vacuum pressure through the sealed feed pipe 11, where its weight is monitored by the weight measuring device 8. The material is continuously conveyed to the metering silo 3 via the conveying screw of the discharge pipe 12 according to set parameters. The metering silo 3 uses the weight measuring device 8 for precise weighing. When the measured value reaches the set value, the metering screw 9 outputs the aluminum powder to subsequent process equipment. The weight measuring device 8 uses a weight measurement method.

[0041] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, three vibrators 7 are also included. The three vibrators 7 are respectively disposed on the bottom of the storage bin 1, the bottom of the feeding bin 2 and the bottom of the metering bin 3. The bottom of the feeding bin 2 and the bottom of the metering bin 3 are both conical.

[0042] By installing vibrators 7 at the bottom of storage silo 1, feeding silo 2, and metering silo 3, and designing the bottom structures of feeding silo 2 and metering silo 3 as conical shapes, the powder is kept in a good flow state within each key silo. The vibrators 7 effectively break up arching, clumping, or adhesion phenomena formed by the powder at the silo bottom and near the discharge port, preventing powder stagnation or intermittent collapse, thus ensuring the continuity and stability of the negative pressure conveying and metering process. The conical bottom structure, under the combined effect of gravity and vibration, guides the powder to naturally converge towards the center and smoothly enter the pipeline or metering area, reducing the contact area and frictional resistance between the powder and the silo wall. By installing vibrators 7 in different functional silos, independent or linked control can be performed according to the needs of each working condition, improving the reliability and accuracy of powder conveying and metering, and reducing abnormal pressure fluctuations and safety hazards caused by poor powder flow. This is particularly suitable for highly reactive metal powders that are prone to bridging and clumping.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, a metering screw 9 is also included, and an output port 302 is provided at the bottom of the metering chamber 3, with the metering screw 9 disposed on the output port 302.

[0044] By installing a metering screw 9 at the output port 302 at the bottom of the metering chamber 3, the powder entering the metering chamber 3 can be continuously and uniformly metered in a closed and controllable state. Driven by a controllable rotation speed, the metering screw 9 can transform the intermittent gravity feeding of the powder into stable volumetric or mass-based continuous metering, significantly improving discharge accuracy and repeatability. Simultaneously, the metering screw 9 acts as a buffer and rectifyer for the powder, avoiding discharge impact and metering fluctuations caused by instantaneous powder collapse. Positioning the metering screw 9 at the bottom output port 302 of the metering chamber 3 not only facilitates stable connection with upstream negative pressure conveying and downstream processes but also allows metering discharge to be completed in an inert gas protected environment, reducing the chance of powder contact with outside air. This ensures both metering accuracy and the safety and reliability of the high-activity metal powder conveying and metering process. It should be noted that the metering screw 9 is surrounded by a sealed outer shell to prevent material oxidation.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the metering chamber 3 is located below the storage chamber 1, and the discharge pipe 12 is a right-angled pipe, with both ends of the right-angled pipe connected to the metering chamber 3 and the storage chamber 1, respectively.

[0046] By arranging the metering chamber 3 below the storage chamber 1 and using a right-angled discharge pipe 12 connected to both the storage chamber 1 and the metering chamber 3 at both ends, a smooth and efficient conveying of powder from the storage chamber 1 to the metering chamber 3 is achieved. Under the combined effect of gravity and negative pressure, the right-angled pipe structure guides the powder smoothly towards the metering chamber 3 while reducing powder impact, scattering, and retention within the pipe, thus maintaining the continuity of the low-oxygen inert atmosphere. Simultaneously, the metering chamber 3, located below the storage chamber 1, forms a natural gravity buffer, ensuring more uniform powder descent and contributing to stable powder accumulation and uniform discharge within the metering chamber 3. This arrangement, combined with negative pressure conveying, inert gas protection, and a conical bottom design, significantly improves the flowability, metering accuracy, and safety of the high-activity metal powder conveying process, preventing dust leakage and oxygen infiltration, and achieving safe and reliable closed-loop conveying and metering.

[0047] This invention provides a powder conveying and metering mechanism, in which a storage silo 1 is provided with an inlet pipe 11 and an outlet pipe 12, a feeding silo 2 is connected to the storage silo 1 via the inlet pipe 11, and a metering silo 3 is connected to the storage silo 1 via the outlet pipe 12. A first exhaust port 301 is provided on the metering silo 3. A vacuum device 4 is used to generate negative pressure within the storage silo 1. A gas supply device 5 has its gas delivery end connected to both the storage silo 1 and the feeding silo 2, providing inert gas to both silos. In actual operation, inert gas is first continuously supplied to the storage silo 1 and the feeding silo 2 via the gas supply device 5, and the first exhaust port 301 of the metering silo 3 is opened, allowing the original air in the silo to be gradually replaced by inert gas until the oxygen content in the silo drops below a safe threshold. Subsequently, the first exhaust port 301 is closed, and the vacuum device 4 is activated to create a stable negative pressure in the storage silo 1. This allows the powder in the feeding silo 2 to be actively drawn into the storage silo 1 through the feeding pipe 11 under the action of the pressure difference, achieving powder transfer in a closed, low-oxygen environment. After the feeding operation is completed, the storage silo 1 continues to be filled with inert gas through the gas supply device 5 to maintain a safe state of slightly positive pressure and low oxygen.

[0048] During the process of conveying powder from storage silo 1 to metering silo 3, gas supply device 5 maintains a stable micro-positive pressure inert gas environment above discharge pipe 12, allowing the powder to be smoothly conveyed to metering silo 3 under completely oxygen-free conditions. Storage silo 1 and feeding silo 2 can be equipped with weight measuring devices 8 or vibrators 7 as needed to monitor material weight in real time and improve powder flowability, preventing bridging, agglomeration, or stagnation. Metering silo 3 can be equipped with a metering screw 9 at the bottom to achieve continuous, uniform, and quantitative output of powder, thereby ensuring accurate metering requirements in downstream processes. This embodiment, through the closed-loop configuration of storage silo 1, feeding silo 2, and metering silo 3, combined with negative pressure conveying, inert gas replacement, and micro-positive pressure maintenance, ensures that the powder remains in a low-oxygen inert environment throughout the entire conveying and metering process. This significantly reduces the risk of combustion and explosion of highly reactive metal powders caused by air oxidation, static electricity accumulation, or localized sparks, while ensuring the continuity of powder conveying and the accuracy of metering.

[0049] It should be understood that the various forms of processes shown above can be used to reorder, add, or delete steps. For example, the steps described in this invention can be executed in parallel, sequentially, or in different orders, as long as the desired result of the technical solution disclosed in this invention can be achieved, and this is not limited herein.

[0050] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A powder conveying and metering mechanism, characterized in that, include: A storage silo, wherein the storage silo is provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe; A feeding hopper, which is connected to the feeding pipeline; A metering chamber, which is connected to the discharge pipeline, and the metering chamber is provided with a first exhaust port; A vacuum device for generating negative pressure within the storage silo; A gas supply device, wherein the gas supply end of the gas supply device is connected to the storage bin and the feeding bin, and the gas supply device is used to provide inert gas to the storage bin and the feeding bin.

2. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage bin is provided with a storage cavity. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are both connected to the storage cavity. The outlet pipe is located below the storage cavity, and the bottom of the storage cavity is conical.

3. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes two oxygen content detectors, which are respectively installed on the storage silo and the feeding silo. The storage chamber is provided with a second exhaust port, and the gas supply end of the gas supply device is also connected to the metering chamber.

4. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The gas supply device is equipped with a voltage regulator and a reflux compensation branch, and the gas supply device adopts independent gas supply in zones.

5. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, All interfaces of the storage silo, the metering silo, the inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe are equipped with double-layer sealing flanges. The inner layer of the double-layer sealing flange is provided with a corrosion-resistant sealing gasket, and the outer layer of the double-layer sealing flange is provided with sealant.

6. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the storage silo and the feeding silo are equipped with explosion relief devices, which are replaceable pressure relief plates or explosion relief valves with spring preload.

7. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes two weight measuring devices, which are respectively installed in the storage bin and the feeding bin.

8. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes three vibrators, which are respectively installed on the bottom of the storage silo, the bottom of the feeding silo, and the bottom of the metering silo. The bottom of the feeding silo and the bottom of the metering silo are both conical.

9. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a metering screw, and the bottom of the metering chamber is provided with an output port, on which the metering screw is disposed.

10. The powder conveying and metering mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metering chamber is located below the storage chamber, and the discharge pipe is a right-angled pipe, with both ends of the right-angled pipe connected to the metering chamber and the storage chamber, respectively.

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