Any ideas how I could fill a steel tube with pellets?

[redarmytyke]

Hello,

I have a production problem and would welcome any ideas which would make this task easier.

I need to fill a 5 meter tube with pellets of 5mm grain size.

The inner diameter of the tube is approx 40mm.

Here's the problem...I need to fill the tube while the pipe has only a gradual incline - ie it is not practical to stand the heavy tube vertically and pour in the pellets using a funnel.

Can anyone think of a way I could pack the tube with the pellets while the tube is laid flat or with a maximum 45degree incline?

I appreciate any simple or crazy ideas - Andy

 

[AlephZero]

I would have thought a slope of 45 degrees would have been enough for the pellets to slide down OK.

You may need to put a piece of flexible pipe on the bottom the funnel, so the funnel can stay vertical and feed into the angled tube. You could make a special funnel with an angled pipe, once you know the system will work OK.

Or is part of the problem getting the pipe completely full, including the last little bit of space at the top of the sloping pipe?

 

[SteamKing]

If you can fill a pipe laying flat with tiny pellets and not have the pellets run out the end, let me know.

 

[LeroyLaRey]

1) if the pellets flow easily, put a mesh screen on the bottom end and attach a vacuum hose.
2) if not, fill a slightly smaller tube w/ the pellets and push it to the end of the 40mm tube, use a ramrod to push them in as you withdraw the inside tube,
3) some kind of fluid to keep them suspended might work too
4) all of above in a centrifuge at cryo temp w/ a zipper down the side.

 

[poor mystic]

... or the pellets could be swept up from the bottom of the tube by air moving towards a partial vacuum at the top, or Lester's "2)" could use air pressure instead of a ramrod