CA2100673C - Method and an apparatus for compacting material - Google Patents
Method and an apparatus for compacting material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2100673C CA2100673C CA002100673A CA2100673A CA2100673C CA 2100673 C CA2100673 C CA 2100673C CA 002100673 A CA002100673 A CA 002100673A CA 2100673 A CA2100673 A CA 2100673A CA 2100673 C CA2100673 C CA 2100673C
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- Prior art keywords
- casing
- spiral
- shaftless spiral
- disposed
- feed compartment
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
- B30B9/12—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing
- B30B9/121—Screw constructions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B11/00—Presses specially adapted for forming shaped articles from material in particulate or plastic state, e.g. briquetting presses, tabletting presses
- B30B11/22—Extrusion presses; Dies therefor
- B30B11/24—Extrusion presses; Dies therefor using screws or worms
- B30B11/246—Screw constructions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
- B30B9/04—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using press rams
- B30B9/10—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using press rams without use of a casing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
- B30B9/12—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
- B30B9/12—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing
- B30B9/16—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing operating with two or more screws or worms
- B30B9/163—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing operating with two or more screws or worms working in different chambers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
- B30B9/12—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing
- B30B9/18—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using pressing worms or screws co-operating with a permeable casing with means for adjusting the outlet for the solid
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/30—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for baling; Compression boxes therefor
- B30B9/3003—Details
- B30B9/3039—Fluid removing means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
- B30B9/30—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for baling; Compression boxes therefor
- B30B9/3082—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for baling; Compression boxes therefor with compression means other than rams performing a rectilinear movement
Abstract
The disclosure relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for compacting material, in which the apparatus comprises a path (10), an infeed device (40) which discharges in an opening (11) disposed in the path, and a spiral (30) which is rotary about its longitudinal axis and has no mechanical shaft. In connection with the discharge opening (12) of the apparatus, baffle means (13) are provided which impede displacement of the material. Between the free end (39) of the spiral and the discharge opening (12) of the apparatus, the casing forms a compaction cell (15). The spiral is disposed to at least intermittantly abut against the path, in addition to which the spiral and the path form, in the region of the opening (11), a feed compartment (35) for supplied material.
this compartment directly merging into the compaction cell (15).
this compartment directly merging into the compaction cell (15).
Description
2~ aos ~3 A METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOI~ COMPACTING MATERIAL
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving and compacting material.
BACKGROUND ART
There is a need in this art to be able to compact material which includes components of various sizes, densities, elasticity, moisture content etc.
Material of the type mentioned by way of introduction is often massive and bulky and needs to be compressed or compacted in order to be capable of being handled and transported in an economically viable manner.
Such needs occur, for example, in industrial operations and in municipal waste disposal, for example in refuse collection. For wet matter, it is also often desirable to reduce the moisture content of the material in connection with its compression (compaction).
Prior art technology calls for the employment of hydraulic compactors for compacting material of the above-disclosed type. Hydraulic compactors are expensive, unwieldly and heavy, in addition to which the reduction in volume which is obtained is relatively slight. As regards, for example, domestic or commercial waste, the reduction involved is no greater than a factor of 3. This slight degree of compaction is because all material to be found in the transport container is compacted at the same time.
For compaction purposes, us~a is also made of screw compactors consisting of a mechanical shaft which is fitted with thread blades and is surrounded by a tubular casing. Compaction is achieved in that the screw compactor presses the material into a container which is WO 93/09936 ~~ ~ ~~"~ '~ PCT/SE92/008024 filled in due course. L~!hen the container has been filled, the screw compactor is employed to continue to 'Force material into the container and there is thereby obtained a certain degree of compression of the material which is located in the container.
However, the level of compaction is relatively slight: nor does this technique exceed a level of compaction of a factor 3. The explanation for the slight degree of compaction is that those pressure forces which are exercised by the screw compactor are absorbed by substantially all material located in the container, with the result that those forces which act on each individual component vrill, naturally be relatively slight. Screw compactors have relatively lour capacity in relation to their size, suffer from difficulties in handling large objects and require considerable po~,~er for their operation. In addition, screw compactors are large and heavy, as ~~rell as being expensive in both purchase and operation.
Spiral compactors are also employed for compacting material. The term spiral compactor is here taken to signify compactors including a spiral which is rotary about its longitudinal axis, vrhich lacks a mechanical shaft and which includes a spiral or helical blade stood on its end and surrounded by a casing. In such instance, the spiral and the casing form a precompaction zone where compaction of the material commences. In the precompaction zone the spiral has an outer diameter which is slightly less than the inner diameter of the casing. Thereby, the spiral closely approaches (vrith slight clearance) the surrounding casing. The precompaction zone is followed, in the direction of displacement of the material, by a region which has no spiral and in vrhich the final compaction of the material takes place.
Spiral compactors have a relatively simple design and construction which results in low practical and running costs, at the same time as the degree of compaction is considerably better than the above-disclosed factor of 3. The construction of spiral compactors described in the preceding paragraph (slight clearance between casing and spiral) entails, however, the disadvantage that, on varying material size, the material is occasionally jammed between the spiral and the casing. In particular when large-piece material is involved, blockages readily occur, with resultant operational disturbance or operational disruption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, in accordance w:ith the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for compacting material comprising a casing defining an infeed opening and a discharge opening, at least one shaftless spiral member disposed in said casing and having a longitudinal axis, said shaftless spiral member comprising a spiral blade, drive means connected to a first end of said shaftless spiral member for rotating said shaftless spiral member around said longitudinal axis thereof, a feed compartment formed by said shaftless spiral member and said casing, said casing defining a chamber between said infeed opening and said discharge opening, said chamber inc7_uding a shaftless spiral member free region defining a compaction cell proximate said discharge opening, said shaftless member being journalled solely at said first end portion thereof, baffle means disposed in association with said discharge opening for impeding displacement of material advanced through said apparatus, and at least one mechanical guide member disposed in said casing upstream of said shaftless spiral member in the region of said infeed opening.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for compacting material comprising:
a casing having an infeed opening for material to be compacted, a rotatable shaftles~, spiral in said casing having a longitudinal axis c>f rotation, drive means drivingly connected to one end of said spiral for rotating said spiral around said longitudinal axis of rotation, said spiral having an opposite end which is free and unsupported in said casing, said casing defining a feed compartment having a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of said infeed opening, said casing further defining a compaction cell extending in longitudinal continuation of said feed compartment and directly merging therewith at a transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell, said opposite free end of said spiral being disposed in the region of: said transition between said feed compartment and s<~id compaction cell, said compaction cell having a discharge outlet spaced longitudinally from said transition, and baffle means at said discharge outlet of said compaction cell for opposing displacement of said material and discharge thereof from said outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 shows one embodimE~nt of a spiral compactor cut away in the longitudinal direction, provided with but a single spiral;
Fig. 2 shows a section taken along the line II-II
in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a section taken along the line III-III
in Fig. 1;
3x> 2100673 Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a spiral compactor cut away in the longitudinal direction, with twc> spirals;
Fig. 5 shows a section taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 shows a section taken along the line VI-VI
in Fig. 4.
WO 93/09936 ~ 10 0 6 7 3 PCT/SE92/00802 - ~ - -Figs. 1-3 show one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention including a spiral 30 :which is placed in path 10.
The spiral is rotary about its geometric centre axis 31, The path has a lower portion 26 vrhich is of a cross-section entailing that the lower region surrounds the spiral with relatively slight clearance.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the cross-section of the lower portion is semicircular, in addition to vrhich the lower portion merges into two substantially upstanding walls 2~a,b, which form the upper portion 27 of the path. The one end 34 of the spiral, its driving end, is connected, via a journal 16 in the one end, the drive end of the path 10, to drive means 60 for rotating the spiral. The spiral 30 includes a spiral blade 33 which is stood on its end and is, in the illustrated embodiment, composed of an inner part spiral blade 37 and an outer part spiral blade 3v connected vrith the inner part spiral blade. The arrows ~ indicate the direction of rotation of the spiral.
The spiral blade 33 is journalled only in connection vrith its drive means G0, while its other end 39 is non-journalled. hereinafter, the non-journalled end :rill generally be designated the free end 39 of the spiral blade or the spiral. The free end 39 is located in or adjacent the discharge end 43 of the path. The jornal 16 is placed such that the spiral blade 33 rotates, most proximal the journal lv, without any mechanical contact with 'the lover portion 26 of the path or with the upvrardly directed walls ~?2a,b of the path. On rotetion, the spiral is disposed, with the exception of its portion located most proximally the journal, to abut with its outer defining edge 32, against the lover portion 20 of the path 10. However, as a rule the spiral blade abuts against only a limited region of the loner portion of the path, defined as that region of the lower portion with which the spiral blade 33 during rotation progressively alters its direction of movement from being substantially vertical to being substantially horizontal. This side of the path against which the spiral substantially abuts will hereafter be designated the support side. It is clear that, on rotation of the spiral blade, material particles are often entrained between the path and the WO 93/09936 21 0 0 6 7 3 , PCT/SE92/00802 defining edge and also often form a i~f~~'~ayer of material between the spiral blade and the path. As a result, in operation, abutment between the spiral blade and the path is intermittent. Elowever, for the sake of simplicity it will hereinafter be disclosed that the spiral blade abuts against the path or is supported by the path 10 irrespective of whether the spiral blade 33 is in direct contact with the path or in contact via a material layer located between the spiral blade and the path. In order to achieve the sought-for abutment against the path, the journal if and the spiral hlade 33 are, as a rule, designed so as, on heavy loading, to alloy; the spiral to be resiliently displaced in a radial direction.
On abutment of the spiral 30 against the path 10, the outer defining edge 32 of the spiral is substantially parallel with the inner defining surface of the path. As a result of the elasticity of the spiral in the radial direction, the spiral will, on rotation, progressively abut v:ith its outer defining edge 32 against the pith along the greater portion of the length of the spiral according as the abutment surface moves in the longitudinal direction of the path.
Nereby, wear of the inside of the path will not be concentrated at a restricted area, as would be the case if the spiral had been radiahly rigid. A spiral supported by a central mechanical shaft entails such a "concentrated" year if the spiral abuts against the path in its end regions.
An infeed device 40, shown in Fig. 1 as a hopper-like device, connects to an opening 11 provided in the path, the infeed opening of the path. In the longitudinal direction of the path the infeed opening 11 is of a length which essentially corresponds to the entire length of the spiral 30. The spiral and the path form, in this region, a feed compartment 35 for the supplied material. In one preferred embodiment, the diameter a.nd pitch of the spiral are then adapted such that the spiral has substantially but one spiral turn.
Between the infeed opening 11 of thr path and the discharge opening 12 of the apparatus, there is disposed a chamber 41 surrounded by a casing 42 in the circumferential direction. That part of the space which is located between the free end 39 of the spiral and the discharge opening 12 of the path forms a space which, 2~pp6~3_ 6 hereinafter, will generally be designated the compaction cell of the apparatus. The compaction cell normally consists of a part of the chamber 41, but in certain embodiments a part of the feed compartment 35 is also included in the compaction cell. U!ith the exception of the dimensions, the cross-sectional configuration of the compaction cell is optional. It may, for example be circular, oval, include curved portions, be polygonal etc.
The free end 39 of the spiral is disposed in the region of the transition 36 between the opening 11 and the compaction cell 15. The intention here, in certain embodiments" is to project the spiral a short distance into the chamber 41, at most approximately half of the length of the chamber and, as a rule, at most approximately one third of the length of the chamber. In another emhodinrent, the free end 39 of the spiral is located in the region of a plane transversely of the axial direction of the spiral path the bounding definition of the infeed opening 11, most proximal the discharge opening 12, in a third embodiment, the spiral terminates ahead of the above-mentioned plane and at a distance therefrom corresponding to at most one third of a thread pitch, as a rule at most a quarter of a thread pitch.
The chamber" 41 surrounded by the casing <<2 is dimensioned so as to eliminate the risk of jamming of material v;hich is fed into the chamber. This is achieved in that the chamber 42 is given larger cross-section than the feed compartment 35. Primarily the upper bounding definition 4v of the chamber is raised in relation to the corresponding part of the feed compartment. As a rule, the side definitions 44a,b and lower definition 45 of the chamber are also placed at a greater distance from a geometric centre line 31 continuing from the spiral 30 than corresponding parts of the feed compartment in relation to the centre line. To this end, in certain embodiments the transition between the feed compartment and the chamber forms a step, while in other embodiments the transition diverges continually. There are also embodiments in urhich the step is substantially replaced by the chamber 41 continually flaring tovrards the discharge opening 12 of the chamber (the apparatus). Elowever, in this latter case, the upper bounding definition of the chamber is, as a rule, raised in comparison with the corresponding portion of the ~ WO 93/09936 PCT/SE92/00802 - ' -21006'73 feed compartment. In certain embodiments, the chamber is provided with substantially continually tapering cross-sectional area after the step.
In connection with the discharge opening 12 of the casing there is disposed a baffle member l3a,b which prevents displacement of the material. The baffle members are designed to assume a position ~:~hich does not prevent displacment of the material on a pressure loading which exceeds a certain value. In Fig. 1 examples of alternative embodiments of the baffle member are shov:n in which these are journalled in the outer edge of the opening 12.
In the lower region of Fig. 1, there is shown a baffle member 13a which is connected to the opening '12 of the compaction cell 15 in a journal 17, This 1S designed as a hinge with a built-in return spring, i.e. a spring which returns the baffle member to its starting position when the baffle member is not under the influence of external forces. The hinge is provided with means for adjusting the size of that force with which the integral spring of the hinc_te acts on the baffle member.
In the upper portion of the Figure there is shown an embodiment in which a baffle member 13b is journalled in a journal 1G, The baffle member is provided with one or more projecting portions 20 which, via one or more spring members 1°, hold the baffle member in the position illustrated in the Figure. Ey modifying the distance between the journal 16 and the anchorage point of the spring member 18 in each respective projecting portion 20, that force which is required for moving aside the baffle member 13b from the starting position of the member is regulated. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the baffle can be of any optional design and also be connected to any optional suitable, fixed portion of the apparatus.
Similarly, means are provided in certain embodiments for pretensioning the spring members Two embodiments for returning the baffle members and for governing the force required for moving the baffle members in a direction away from the starting position of these members have been describes above -and shovrn on the Drawings. It will be obvious to the skilled reader that a corresponding function will also be achieved in other embodiments, for example employing pneumatically or hydraulically operating devices. It ~o~ill likewise be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the positions of the journals 16 and 17 for the baffle members are selected in certain embodiments so that the journals are disposed within the compaction cell 15. In such instance, the baffle members are at least partly disposed within the path 10. In certain embodiments, the baffle members are designed as resiliently returning throttle cones.
At least one first mechanical guide member 50 is disposed substantially above the spiral 30 and in the region of the opening 11. The guide member is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the spiral and is of a length which substantially corresponds to the length of the infeed opening in the longitudinal direction of the spiral. It further applies according t:o the invention that the guide member is disposed on the support side of the path, i.e. on that side against which the spiral blade 33 is displaced in a radial direction on rotation of the spiral. The disclosed displacement in a radial direction depends upon the direction of rotation (right or left-hand turn; of the spiral and those reaction forces which occur bet:~:een the spiral and the material displaced by i:he spiral. The guide member 50 is located closely adjacent or abuts against the outer defining edge 32 of the spiral, at least when the spiral 30 rotates. The guide member also forms a scraper blade for material which accompanies the spiral on its rotation, In addition, i~he guide member prevents the spiral from being lifted up out of thE~ path as a result of upvrardly directed forces which may occur on roi~ation of the spiral. In one preferred embodiment in which the apparatus includes one or more first guide members 50, the minimum distance between the first guide member and the opposing wall 28a of the opening is generally less than the diameter of the spiral, also in this embodiment, it is ensured that the spiral remains in its path if the spiral were to be exposed to upwardly directed forces. .As a rule, the first guide member 50 constitutes a sufficient obstacle preventing the spiral from being lifted up out of its path.
- ~1~~6'~3 In certain embodiments, at least one supF ementary mechanical ouide member 51 (,second guide member) is provided in the region of the opening 11. The supplementary guide member is disposed on the opposite side of the opening 11 in relation to the previously mentioned (first) guide member. Generally, the second guide menber is also of a length corresponding to the length of the first guide member and is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the spiral.
The distance betvreen the first guide member 50 and the second guide member 51 is less than the diameter of the spiral. It will hereby be ensured that the spiral is not lifted up out of its path as a result of possible up~.vardly directed forces. which may occur in connection with rotation of the spiral.
In one preferred embodiment in which the apparatus is intended to compact moist material and, in such instance, reduce the moisture content in the material, the path 1C and/or the casing 42 is proviaed vrith drainage apertures 14 through vuhich liquid pressed out of the material leaves the feed compartment 35 and/or the compaction cell 15. As a rule, drainage means 14, such as perforations, apertures etc, are provided in both the feed compartment and the compaction cell.
Fig. 1 also sho~~rs one embodiment of the present invention in which the compaction cell 15 accommodating the feed compartment 35 and the chamber 41 consists of ttvo separate parts tvhich are interconnected by means of connection devices 19 and 21, respectively. These are shown in the Figure as flange elements, but it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that any appropriate oesign whatever of the connection devices may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In certain embodiments, the chamber ~'~1 is connected to a container (not shown), in which event the compaction cell is, in certain practical applications, connected to the container in the region of the discharge opening of the compaction cell while, in othe r practical applications, the compaction cell is wholly or partly housed in the container.
~~,~p06~3 to -The design of the feed compartment 35 and the compaction chamber 15 as two separate units also affords considerable freedom in the dimensioning of the feed compartment and cornpaction cell in dependence upon the relevant composition of the material which is to be handled by the apparatus. Thus, it applies that the length of the compaction cell is selected, for instance, depending upon the desired degree of compaction and/or total solids of the material once it has passed through the apparatus, or requisite friction to achieve a stable material plug in the compaction cell. The other dimensions involved may also be adapted in response to the relevant material type. Thus, the compaction cell is preferably given greater height and width than the feed compartment in the event of massive material pieces. Both the feed compartment 35 and the compaction cell 15 are given cross-sectional configuration which is adapted to suite the relevant material type. Likewise, the clearence betareen the path and the spiral is dimensioned in view of the material which is to he handled.
Figs. 4-6 show one embodiment of the present invention in urhich tyro mutually cooperating spirals 30a,b are provided for infeed of material to the compaction cell 15a. l:n this embodiment the apparatus is substantially constructed corresponding to that previously described vrith particular reference to Figs. 1-3. For the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals vrill be employed for the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 as those previously used for devices corresponding to previously described devices. The path 10 for each respective spiral is of a design corresponding to that disclosed above for previously described embodiments, entailing that, in those areas where the spiral normally abuts against the path 1G or, in certain operational cases is brought into abutment against the path, the minimum radius of curvature of the path corresponds substantially to or exceeds half of the outer diameter of each respective spiral.
Even though the expression radius of curvature has been employed here, the described principle is also applicable when only portions of the path forr~ supports which are discrete in the longitudinal direction. Urive means 60 impart to the spirals counter-directed rotation (cf, the arro~t~s A), the direction of rotation being selected so that the material, on displacement towards WO 93/09936 ~ 3 PCT/SE92/00802 the compaction call 15a, will also :;how a tendency to be disple.ced tovrards the region between the tyro spirals. Hereby, material is accumulated in a central material >trand which forces the spirals downwardly and assists in preventing the spirals from being raised up from the path 10a.
The Figures show one embodiment of the compaction cell 15 which is suited for use when the apparatus iincludes tyro mutually cooperating spirals 30. In such instance, the c;ompaction cell 15 has, in the illustrated embodiment, a substantially planar upper bounding definition 46 and a substantially planar lo~~rer definition 45. The upper definition merges in the lov~rErr definition via bounding definitions 44a,b which, in their lover regions curve in tovrards the substantially planar lower definition 45.
In one preferred embodiment, the guiding of the rotation of the spirals is designed such that rotation is terminated by each respective spiral being set in a reception position in ~:rhich that portion of the spiral blade vrhich is located beneath the central region of the infeed opening is located adjacent the lowermost part of each respective path. This disclosure also applies to embodirlents comprising but a single spiral.
hihen the apparatus according to the present invention is reduced into practice, material is suppliec! via the infeed device 4G and the infeed opening 11. The drive means 60 rotate the spiral 3G and this displaces material tovrards the discharge opening 12 of the casinG.
The baffle members 13 arrest the material in its displacement and a material plug of compacted material begins to be built up in the compaction cell 15,15x. i~iew material which is fed in b; the spiral is accumulated and compacted against the material plug and, when this has reached a certain length, it exercises such a pressure against the baffle members that these give vvay. However, movement of the material plug in the casing is still retarded by the friction betn~een the casing, the baffle members and 'the material in the plug, at the same time as the spiral blade, at its free end, forces material towards the plug and thereby compacts the material. As nevi material is fed through the opening, material is accumulated and compacted 21Q4~~'~3 - ~2 - m..
against the plug and this is displaced out of the casing. Gn compaction of the material, extremely high compacting forces are achieved since the material is located in a restricted and small space and since the compressive forces applied against the material are concentrated to a very small surface area whose size is determined by the end portion of the spiral.
On rotation of the spiral, the guide member 50 (which closely approaches the spiral proper) prevents material from penetrating in between the spiral and the path. On rotation of the spiral, material may occasionally adhere to the spiral blade but the guide member scrapes such material free from the spiral blade, compaction apparatus according to the present invention v;ill be of considerably smaller dimensions and display a higher degree of compaction than a screw: compactor of corresponding capacit;,~, since the screvr compactor has a "flow area" for the material which is determined by the height of the thread blade, vrhile the spiral compactor has a "floe area" which i<.> substantially determined by the diameter of the spiral. An increase in the transport area in the compaction cell 15 in relation to the feed compartment 35 will eliminate the clog risk which occurs in prior art spiral compactors.
The compact construction makes it possible to install the spiral conveyor in areas vrhere available space does not permit installation of spiral compactors according to prior art technology for the material vrhich passes into the compaction cell.
The above detailed description has referred to but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, but it will readily be perceived by a person skilled in this art that the present invention encompasses a large number of embodiments vrithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving and compacting material.
BACKGROUND ART
There is a need in this art to be able to compact material which includes components of various sizes, densities, elasticity, moisture content etc.
Material of the type mentioned by way of introduction is often massive and bulky and needs to be compressed or compacted in order to be capable of being handled and transported in an economically viable manner.
Such needs occur, for example, in industrial operations and in municipal waste disposal, for example in refuse collection. For wet matter, it is also often desirable to reduce the moisture content of the material in connection with its compression (compaction).
Prior art technology calls for the employment of hydraulic compactors for compacting material of the above-disclosed type. Hydraulic compactors are expensive, unwieldly and heavy, in addition to which the reduction in volume which is obtained is relatively slight. As regards, for example, domestic or commercial waste, the reduction involved is no greater than a factor of 3. This slight degree of compaction is because all material to be found in the transport container is compacted at the same time.
For compaction purposes, us~a is also made of screw compactors consisting of a mechanical shaft which is fitted with thread blades and is surrounded by a tubular casing. Compaction is achieved in that the screw compactor presses the material into a container which is WO 93/09936 ~~ ~ ~~"~ '~ PCT/SE92/008024 filled in due course. L~!hen the container has been filled, the screw compactor is employed to continue to 'Force material into the container and there is thereby obtained a certain degree of compression of the material which is located in the container.
However, the level of compaction is relatively slight: nor does this technique exceed a level of compaction of a factor 3. The explanation for the slight degree of compaction is that those pressure forces which are exercised by the screw compactor are absorbed by substantially all material located in the container, with the result that those forces which act on each individual component vrill, naturally be relatively slight. Screw compactors have relatively lour capacity in relation to their size, suffer from difficulties in handling large objects and require considerable po~,~er for their operation. In addition, screw compactors are large and heavy, as ~~rell as being expensive in both purchase and operation.
Spiral compactors are also employed for compacting material. The term spiral compactor is here taken to signify compactors including a spiral which is rotary about its longitudinal axis, vrhich lacks a mechanical shaft and which includes a spiral or helical blade stood on its end and surrounded by a casing. In such instance, the spiral and the casing form a precompaction zone where compaction of the material commences. In the precompaction zone the spiral has an outer diameter which is slightly less than the inner diameter of the casing. Thereby, the spiral closely approaches (vrith slight clearance) the surrounding casing. The precompaction zone is followed, in the direction of displacement of the material, by a region which has no spiral and in vrhich the final compaction of the material takes place.
Spiral compactors have a relatively simple design and construction which results in low practical and running costs, at the same time as the degree of compaction is considerably better than the above-disclosed factor of 3. The construction of spiral compactors described in the preceding paragraph (slight clearance between casing and spiral) entails, however, the disadvantage that, on varying material size, the material is occasionally jammed between the spiral and the casing. In particular when large-piece material is involved, blockages readily occur, with resultant operational disturbance or operational disruption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, in accordance w:ith the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for compacting material comprising a casing defining an infeed opening and a discharge opening, at least one shaftless spiral member disposed in said casing and having a longitudinal axis, said shaftless spiral member comprising a spiral blade, drive means connected to a first end of said shaftless spiral member for rotating said shaftless spiral member around said longitudinal axis thereof, a feed compartment formed by said shaftless spiral member and said casing, said casing defining a chamber between said infeed opening and said discharge opening, said chamber inc7_uding a shaftless spiral member free region defining a compaction cell proximate said discharge opening, said shaftless member being journalled solely at said first end portion thereof, baffle means disposed in association with said discharge opening for impeding displacement of material advanced through said apparatus, and at least one mechanical guide member disposed in said casing upstream of said shaftless spiral member in the region of said infeed opening.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for compacting material comprising:
a casing having an infeed opening for material to be compacted, a rotatable shaftles~, spiral in said casing having a longitudinal axis c>f rotation, drive means drivingly connected to one end of said spiral for rotating said spiral around said longitudinal axis of rotation, said spiral having an opposite end which is free and unsupported in said casing, said casing defining a feed compartment having a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of said infeed opening, said casing further defining a compaction cell extending in longitudinal continuation of said feed compartment and directly merging therewith at a transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell, said opposite free end of said spiral being disposed in the region of: said transition between said feed compartment and s<~id compaction cell, said compaction cell having a discharge outlet spaced longitudinally from said transition, and baffle means at said discharge outlet of said compaction cell for opposing displacement of said material and discharge thereof from said outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 shows one embodimE~nt of a spiral compactor cut away in the longitudinal direction, provided with but a single spiral;
Fig. 2 shows a section taken along the line II-II
in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a section taken along the line III-III
in Fig. 1;
3x> 2100673 Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a spiral compactor cut away in the longitudinal direction, with twc> spirals;
Fig. 5 shows a section taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 shows a section taken along the line VI-VI
in Fig. 4.
WO 93/09936 ~ 10 0 6 7 3 PCT/SE92/00802 - ~ - -Figs. 1-3 show one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention including a spiral 30 :which is placed in path 10.
The spiral is rotary about its geometric centre axis 31, The path has a lower portion 26 vrhich is of a cross-section entailing that the lower region surrounds the spiral with relatively slight clearance.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the cross-section of the lower portion is semicircular, in addition to vrhich the lower portion merges into two substantially upstanding walls 2~a,b, which form the upper portion 27 of the path. The one end 34 of the spiral, its driving end, is connected, via a journal 16 in the one end, the drive end of the path 10, to drive means 60 for rotating the spiral. The spiral 30 includes a spiral blade 33 which is stood on its end and is, in the illustrated embodiment, composed of an inner part spiral blade 37 and an outer part spiral blade 3v connected vrith the inner part spiral blade. The arrows ~ indicate the direction of rotation of the spiral.
The spiral blade 33 is journalled only in connection vrith its drive means G0, while its other end 39 is non-journalled. hereinafter, the non-journalled end :rill generally be designated the free end 39 of the spiral blade or the spiral. The free end 39 is located in or adjacent the discharge end 43 of the path. The jornal 16 is placed such that the spiral blade 33 rotates, most proximal the journal lv, without any mechanical contact with 'the lover portion 26 of the path or with the upvrardly directed walls ~?2a,b of the path. On rotetion, the spiral is disposed, with the exception of its portion located most proximally the journal, to abut with its outer defining edge 32, against the lover portion 20 of the path 10. However, as a rule the spiral blade abuts against only a limited region of the loner portion of the path, defined as that region of the lower portion with which the spiral blade 33 during rotation progressively alters its direction of movement from being substantially vertical to being substantially horizontal. This side of the path against which the spiral substantially abuts will hereafter be designated the support side. It is clear that, on rotation of the spiral blade, material particles are often entrained between the path and the WO 93/09936 21 0 0 6 7 3 , PCT/SE92/00802 defining edge and also often form a i~f~~'~ayer of material between the spiral blade and the path. As a result, in operation, abutment between the spiral blade and the path is intermittent. Elowever, for the sake of simplicity it will hereinafter be disclosed that the spiral blade abuts against the path or is supported by the path 10 irrespective of whether the spiral blade 33 is in direct contact with the path or in contact via a material layer located between the spiral blade and the path. In order to achieve the sought-for abutment against the path, the journal if and the spiral hlade 33 are, as a rule, designed so as, on heavy loading, to alloy; the spiral to be resiliently displaced in a radial direction.
On abutment of the spiral 30 against the path 10, the outer defining edge 32 of the spiral is substantially parallel with the inner defining surface of the path. As a result of the elasticity of the spiral in the radial direction, the spiral will, on rotation, progressively abut v:ith its outer defining edge 32 against the pith along the greater portion of the length of the spiral according as the abutment surface moves in the longitudinal direction of the path.
Nereby, wear of the inside of the path will not be concentrated at a restricted area, as would be the case if the spiral had been radiahly rigid. A spiral supported by a central mechanical shaft entails such a "concentrated" year if the spiral abuts against the path in its end regions.
An infeed device 40, shown in Fig. 1 as a hopper-like device, connects to an opening 11 provided in the path, the infeed opening of the path. In the longitudinal direction of the path the infeed opening 11 is of a length which essentially corresponds to the entire length of the spiral 30. The spiral and the path form, in this region, a feed compartment 35 for the supplied material. In one preferred embodiment, the diameter a.nd pitch of the spiral are then adapted such that the spiral has substantially but one spiral turn.
Between the infeed opening 11 of thr path and the discharge opening 12 of the apparatus, there is disposed a chamber 41 surrounded by a casing 42 in the circumferential direction. That part of the space which is located between the free end 39 of the spiral and the discharge opening 12 of the path forms a space which, 2~pp6~3_ 6 hereinafter, will generally be designated the compaction cell of the apparatus. The compaction cell normally consists of a part of the chamber 41, but in certain embodiments a part of the feed compartment 35 is also included in the compaction cell. U!ith the exception of the dimensions, the cross-sectional configuration of the compaction cell is optional. It may, for example be circular, oval, include curved portions, be polygonal etc.
The free end 39 of the spiral is disposed in the region of the transition 36 between the opening 11 and the compaction cell 15. The intention here, in certain embodiments" is to project the spiral a short distance into the chamber 41, at most approximately half of the length of the chamber and, as a rule, at most approximately one third of the length of the chamber. In another emhodinrent, the free end 39 of the spiral is located in the region of a plane transversely of the axial direction of the spiral path the bounding definition of the infeed opening 11, most proximal the discharge opening 12, in a third embodiment, the spiral terminates ahead of the above-mentioned plane and at a distance therefrom corresponding to at most one third of a thread pitch, as a rule at most a quarter of a thread pitch.
The chamber" 41 surrounded by the casing <<2 is dimensioned so as to eliminate the risk of jamming of material v;hich is fed into the chamber. This is achieved in that the chamber 42 is given larger cross-section than the feed compartment 35. Primarily the upper bounding definition 4v of the chamber is raised in relation to the corresponding part of the feed compartment. As a rule, the side definitions 44a,b and lower definition 45 of the chamber are also placed at a greater distance from a geometric centre line 31 continuing from the spiral 30 than corresponding parts of the feed compartment in relation to the centre line. To this end, in certain embodiments the transition between the feed compartment and the chamber forms a step, while in other embodiments the transition diverges continually. There are also embodiments in urhich the step is substantially replaced by the chamber 41 continually flaring tovrards the discharge opening 12 of the chamber (the apparatus). Elowever, in this latter case, the upper bounding definition of the chamber is, as a rule, raised in comparison with the corresponding portion of the ~ WO 93/09936 PCT/SE92/00802 - ' -21006'73 feed compartment. In certain embodiments, the chamber is provided with substantially continually tapering cross-sectional area after the step.
In connection with the discharge opening 12 of the casing there is disposed a baffle member l3a,b which prevents displacement of the material. The baffle members are designed to assume a position ~:~hich does not prevent displacment of the material on a pressure loading which exceeds a certain value. In Fig. 1 examples of alternative embodiments of the baffle member are shov:n in which these are journalled in the outer edge of the opening 12.
In the lower region of Fig. 1, there is shown a baffle member 13a which is connected to the opening '12 of the compaction cell 15 in a journal 17, This 1S designed as a hinge with a built-in return spring, i.e. a spring which returns the baffle member to its starting position when the baffle member is not under the influence of external forces. The hinge is provided with means for adjusting the size of that force with which the integral spring of the hinc_te acts on the baffle member.
In the upper portion of the Figure there is shown an embodiment in which a baffle member 13b is journalled in a journal 1G, The baffle member is provided with one or more projecting portions 20 which, via one or more spring members 1°, hold the baffle member in the position illustrated in the Figure. Ey modifying the distance between the journal 16 and the anchorage point of the spring member 18 in each respective projecting portion 20, that force which is required for moving aside the baffle member 13b from the starting position of the member is regulated. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the baffle can be of any optional design and also be connected to any optional suitable, fixed portion of the apparatus.
Similarly, means are provided in certain embodiments for pretensioning the spring members Two embodiments for returning the baffle members and for governing the force required for moving the baffle members in a direction away from the starting position of these members have been describes above -and shovrn on the Drawings. It will be obvious to the skilled reader that a corresponding function will also be achieved in other embodiments, for example employing pneumatically or hydraulically operating devices. It ~o~ill likewise be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the positions of the journals 16 and 17 for the baffle members are selected in certain embodiments so that the journals are disposed within the compaction cell 15. In such instance, the baffle members are at least partly disposed within the path 10. In certain embodiments, the baffle members are designed as resiliently returning throttle cones.
At least one first mechanical guide member 50 is disposed substantially above the spiral 30 and in the region of the opening 11. The guide member is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the spiral and is of a length which substantially corresponds to the length of the infeed opening in the longitudinal direction of the spiral. It further applies according t:o the invention that the guide member is disposed on the support side of the path, i.e. on that side against which the spiral blade 33 is displaced in a radial direction on rotation of the spiral. The disclosed displacement in a radial direction depends upon the direction of rotation (right or left-hand turn; of the spiral and those reaction forces which occur bet:~:een the spiral and the material displaced by i:he spiral. The guide member 50 is located closely adjacent or abuts against the outer defining edge 32 of the spiral, at least when the spiral 30 rotates. The guide member also forms a scraper blade for material which accompanies the spiral on its rotation, In addition, i~he guide member prevents the spiral from being lifted up out of thE~ path as a result of upvrardly directed forces which may occur on roi~ation of the spiral. In one preferred embodiment in which the apparatus includes one or more first guide members 50, the minimum distance between the first guide member and the opposing wall 28a of the opening is generally less than the diameter of the spiral, also in this embodiment, it is ensured that the spiral remains in its path if the spiral were to be exposed to upwardly directed forces. .As a rule, the first guide member 50 constitutes a sufficient obstacle preventing the spiral from being lifted up out of its path.
- ~1~~6'~3 In certain embodiments, at least one supF ementary mechanical ouide member 51 (,second guide member) is provided in the region of the opening 11. The supplementary guide member is disposed on the opposite side of the opening 11 in relation to the previously mentioned (first) guide member. Generally, the second guide menber is also of a length corresponding to the length of the first guide member and is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the spiral.
The distance betvreen the first guide member 50 and the second guide member 51 is less than the diameter of the spiral. It will hereby be ensured that the spiral is not lifted up out of its path as a result of possible up~.vardly directed forces. which may occur in connection with rotation of the spiral.
In one preferred embodiment in which the apparatus is intended to compact moist material and, in such instance, reduce the moisture content in the material, the path 1C and/or the casing 42 is proviaed vrith drainage apertures 14 through vuhich liquid pressed out of the material leaves the feed compartment 35 and/or the compaction cell 15. As a rule, drainage means 14, such as perforations, apertures etc, are provided in both the feed compartment and the compaction cell.
Fig. 1 also sho~~rs one embodiment of the present invention in which the compaction cell 15 accommodating the feed compartment 35 and the chamber 41 consists of ttvo separate parts tvhich are interconnected by means of connection devices 19 and 21, respectively. These are shown in the Figure as flange elements, but it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that any appropriate oesign whatever of the connection devices may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In certain embodiments, the chamber ~'~1 is connected to a container (not shown), in which event the compaction cell is, in certain practical applications, connected to the container in the region of the discharge opening of the compaction cell while, in othe r practical applications, the compaction cell is wholly or partly housed in the container.
~~,~p06~3 to -The design of the feed compartment 35 and the compaction chamber 15 as two separate units also affords considerable freedom in the dimensioning of the feed compartment and cornpaction cell in dependence upon the relevant composition of the material which is to be handled by the apparatus. Thus, it applies that the length of the compaction cell is selected, for instance, depending upon the desired degree of compaction and/or total solids of the material once it has passed through the apparatus, or requisite friction to achieve a stable material plug in the compaction cell. The other dimensions involved may also be adapted in response to the relevant material type. Thus, the compaction cell is preferably given greater height and width than the feed compartment in the event of massive material pieces. Both the feed compartment 35 and the compaction cell 15 are given cross-sectional configuration which is adapted to suite the relevant material type. Likewise, the clearence betareen the path and the spiral is dimensioned in view of the material which is to he handled.
Figs. 4-6 show one embodiment of the present invention in urhich tyro mutually cooperating spirals 30a,b are provided for infeed of material to the compaction cell 15a. l:n this embodiment the apparatus is substantially constructed corresponding to that previously described vrith particular reference to Figs. 1-3. For the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals vrill be employed for the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 as those previously used for devices corresponding to previously described devices. The path 10 for each respective spiral is of a design corresponding to that disclosed above for previously described embodiments, entailing that, in those areas where the spiral normally abuts against the path 1G or, in certain operational cases is brought into abutment against the path, the minimum radius of curvature of the path corresponds substantially to or exceeds half of the outer diameter of each respective spiral.
Even though the expression radius of curvature has been employed here, the described principle is also applicable when only portions of the path forr~ supports which are discrete in the longitudinal direction. Urive means 60 impart to the spirals counter-directed rotation (cf, the arro~t~s A), the direction of rotation being selected so that the material, on displacement towards WO 93/09936 ~ 3 PCT/SE92/00802 the compaction call 15a, will also :;how a tendency to be disple.ced tovrards the region between the tyro spirals. Hereby, material is accumulated in a central material >trand which forces the spirals downwardly and assists in preventing the spirals from being raised up from the path 10a.
The Figures show one embodiment of the compaction cell 15 which is suited for use when the apparatus iincludes tyro mutually cooperating spirals 30. In such instance, the c;ompaction cell 15 has, in the illustrated embodiment, a substantially planar upper bounding definition 46 and a substantially planar lo~~rer definition 45. The upper definition merges in the lov~rErr definition via bounding definitions 44a,b which, in their lover regions curve in tovrards the substantially planar lower definition 45.
In one preferred embodiment, the guiding of the rotation of the spirals is designed such that rotation is terminated by each respective spiral being set in a reception position in ~:rhich that portion of the spiral blade vrhich is located beneath the central region of the infeed opening is located adjacent the lowermost part of each respective path. This disclosure also applies to embodirlents comprising but a single spiral.
hihen the apparatus according to the present invention is reduced into practice, material is suppliec! via the infeed device 4G and the infeed opening 11. The drive means 60 rotate the spiral 3G and this displaces material tovrards the discharge opening 12 of the casinG.
The baffle members 13 arrest the material in its displacement and a material plug of compacted material begins to be built up in the compaction cell 15,15x. i~iew material which is fed in b; the spiral is accumulated and compacted against the material plug and, when this has reached a certain length, it exercises such a pressure against the baffle members that these give vvay. However, movement of the material plug in the casing is still retarded by the friction betn~een the casing, the baffle members and 'the material in the plug, at the same time as the spiral blade, at its free end, forces material towards the plug and thereby compacts the material. As nevi material is fed through the opening, material is accumulated and compacted 21Q4~~'~3 - ~2 - m..
against the plug and this is displaced out of the casing. Gn compaction of the material, extremely high compacting forces are achieved since the material is located in a restricted and small space and since the compressive forces applied against the material are concentrated to a very small surface area whose size is determined by the end portion of the spiral.
On rotation of the spiral, the guide member 50 (which closely approaches the spiral proper) prevents material from penetrating in between the spiral and the path. On rotation of the spiral, material may occasionally adhere to the spiral blade but the guide member scrapes such material free from the spiral blade, compaction apparatus according to the present invention v;ill be of considerably smaller dimensions and display a higher degree of compaction than a screw: compactor of corresponding capacit;,~, since the screvr compactor has a "flow area" for the material which is determined by the height of the thread blade, vrhile the spiral compactor has a "floe area" which i<.> substantially determined by the diameter of the spiral. An increase in the transport area in the compaction cell 15 in relation to the feed compartment 35 will eliminate the clog risk which occurs in prior art spiral compactors.
The compact construction makes it possible to install the spiral conveyor in areas vrhere available space does not permit installation of spiral compactors according to prior art technology for the material vrhich passes into the compaction cell.
The above detailed description has referred to but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, but it will readily be perceived by a person skilled in this art that the present invention encompasses a large number of embodiments vrithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims (27)
1. An apparatus for compacting material comprising a casing defining an infeed opening and a discharge opening, at least one shaftless spiral member disposed in said casing and having a longitudinal axis, said shaftless spiral member comprising a spiral blade, drive means connected to a first end of said shaftless spiral member for rotating said shaftless spiral member around said longitudinal axis thereof, said shaftless spiral member including a second end opposite said first end thereof, said second end being free and unsupported, a feed compartment formed by said shaftless spiral member and said casing in the region of said infeed opening, said casing defining a chamber between said infeed opening and said discharge opening, said chamber extending in longitudinal continuation of said feed compartment and directly merging therewith at a transition between said feed compartment and said chamber, said second end of said shaftless spiral member being disposed in the region of said transition between said feed compartment and said chamber, a compaction cell formed between said second end of said shaftless spiral member and said discharge opening of said casing, and baffle means disposed in association with said discharge opening for impeding displacement of material advanced through said apparatus, and at least one mechanical guide member disposed in said casing upstream of said shaftless spiral member in the region of said infeed opening.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaftless spiral member defines a substantially complete single coil about said longitudinal axis.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said shaftless spiral member is disposed in a region of said transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell.
4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein said infeed opening has a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of said shaftless spiral member.
5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said mechanical guide member is disposed on one side wall of said casing such as to provide a surface against which said spiral blade may abut upon rotation of said shaftless spiral member.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mechanical guide member is laterally disposed with respect to said shaftless spiral member and spaced from an opposite side wall of said casing by a distance less than a diameter of said shaftless spiral member.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least a second mechanical guide member is disposed on said opposite side wall of said casing.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mechanical guide members are spaced by a distance less than the diameter of said shaftless spiral member.
9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein said casing is provided with drainage apertures in at least one of said feed compartment and said compaction cell.
10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 and 7-9, comprising a second shaftless spiral member in said casing disposed substantially parallel to the first said shaftless spiral member and, adapted to be driven in a direction opposite said first shaftless spiral member such that material is carried by the first and second shaftless spiral members towards a central portion of said casing.
11. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, wherein said baffle means include first and second baffle members, and wherein elastic means act on said first and second baffle members to control a degree of opposition to the displacement of said material.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said shaftless spiral member is disposed at most halfway into said chamber.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said second end of said shaftless spiral member is disposed at most one-third of a length of said chamber downstream of said transition.
14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second end of said shaftless spiral member is disposed at most one-third of a thread pitch downstream said transition.
15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said second end of said shaftless spiral member is disposed at most a quarter of said thread pitch downstream said transition.
16. Apparatus for compacting material comprising:
a casing having an infeed opening for material to be compacted, a rotatable shaftless spiral in said casing having a longitudinal axis of rotation, drive means drivingly connected to one end of said spiral for rotating said spiral around said longitudinal axis of rotation, said spiral having an opposite end which is free and unsupported in said casing, said casing defining a. feed compartment having a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of said infeed opening, said casing further defining a compaction cell extending in longitudinal continuation of said feed compartment and directly merging therewith at a transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell, said opposite free end of said spiral being disposed in the region of said transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell, said compaction cell having a discharge outlet spaced longitudinally from said transition, and baffle means at said discharge outlet of said compaction cell for opposing displacement of said material and discharge thereof from said outlet.
a casing having an infeed opening for material to be compacted, a rotatable shaftless spiral in said casing having a longitudinal axis of rotation, drive means drivingly connected to one end of said spiral for rotating said spiral around said longitudinal axis of rotation, said spiral having an opposite end which is free and unsupported in said casing, said casing defining a. feed compartment having a longitudinal length substantially equal to a longitudinal length of said infeed opening, said casing further defining a compaction cell extending in longitudinal continuation of said feed compartment and directly merging therewith at a transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell, said opposite free end of said spiral being disposed in the region of said transition between said feed compartment and said compaction cell, said compaction cell having a discharge outlet spaced longitudinally from said transition, and baffle means at said discharge outlet of said compaction cell for opposing displacement of said material and discharge thereof from said outlet.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said shaftless spiral has a longitudinal length substantially equal to the length of the feed compartment.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said shaftless spiral has a longitudinal length substantially equal to the length of said infeed opening.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said casing has a boundary surface opposite said infeed opening, said shiftless spiral having a periphery adjoining said boundary surface, said apparatus further comprising a mechanical guide member on said casing in said feed compartment, said mechanical guide member being positioned on a side of said shiftless spiral opposite said boundary surface of said casing, said guide member being disposed on one side wall of said casing and spaced from an opposite side wall of said casing by a distance less than a diameter of said spiral.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said casing is provided with drainage apertures in at least one of said feed compartment and said compaction cell.
21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said casing includes separate portions constituting said compaction cell and said feed compartment and means connecting said portions together.
22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, comprising a second said shiftless spiral in said casing disposed parallel to the first said shiftless spiral and driven by said drive means in a direction opposite said first shaftless spiral such that material is carried by the first and second shiftless spirals towards a center of the casing.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, comprising adjustable elastic means acting on said baffle means for controlling a degree of opposition to the displacement of said material.
24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said compaction cell has a greater cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the feed compartment.
25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said casing is substantially horizontal and includes opposite side walls which are vertical and spaced apart, said side walls in said feed compartment extending upwardly to open at an inlet hopper, said side walls in said compaction cell extending vertically and being closed by a flat, upper wall, said compaction cell having a length in the longitudinal direction which is less than the length of the feed compartment in the longitudinal direction.
26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said boundary surface of said casing is round and closely adjoins said periphery of said spiral.
27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said boundary surface of said casing includes at least one corner.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE9103451-2 | 1991-11-19 | ||
| SE9103451A SE9103451L (en) | 1991-11-19 | 1991-11-19 | LOADING AND COMPRESSION DEVICE |
| PCT/SE1992/000802 WO1993009936A1 (en) | 1991-11-19 | 1992-11-19 | Apparatus and method for compressing materials |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2100673C true CA2100673C (en) | 2000-02-15 |
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ID=20384397
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002100673A Expired - Fee Related CA2100673C (en) | 1991-11-19 | 1992-11-19 | Method and an apparatus for compacting material |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (2) | EP0820859A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2860161B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE171417T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU3053892A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2100673C (en) |
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| GB (1) | GB2267053B (en) |
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| SE (1) | SE9103451L (en) |
| TW (1) | TW208677B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993009936A1 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| GB9204059D0 (en) * | 1992-02-26 | 1992-04-08 | Mcgreevy John M | Waste compacting device |
| EP1238792A3 (en) * | 2001-01-13 | 2003-05-14 | Karl Schedlbauer | Method and apparatus for the continuous extrusion of solid or hollow profiles from small parts |
| CN108906280B (en) * | 2018-08-23 | 2024-03-15 | 广州晟启能源设备有限公司 | Stirring, crushing and strip extruding machine |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE604239C (en) * | 1932-11-16 | 1934-10-17 | Guillermo Cotti | Uninterrupted press for grapes and other fruits with feed rollers arranged in front of the pressure screw |
| CH274052A (en) * | 1949-06-29 | 1951-03-15 | Scaler Ivan | Continuous press. |
| US3780645A (en) * | 1972-08-02 | 1973-12-25 | Ward Foods Inc | Screw press assembly |
| FR2265635A1 (en) * | 1974-03-27 | 1975-10-24 | Locaner Sa | Machine for shredding and compacting domestic refuse - has screw conveyor feed to inclined variable section compaction tube |
| LU82574A1 (en) * | 1979-07-27 | 1980-12-15 | Vandekerckhove Nv | SCREW PRESS |
| SE446956B (en) * | 1984-04-19 | 1986-10-20 | Spirac Engineering Ab | DEVICE FOR TRANSFER OF MATERIALS BY AT LEAST ONE AXELLOS SPIRAL |
| SE450104B (en) * | 1985-10-18 | 1987-06-09 | Spirac Engineering Ab | DEVICE FOR COMPRESSING MATERIAL AND REDUCING ITS LIQUID CONTENT |
| DE3915528C1 (en) * | 1989-05-12 | 1990-12-13 | Noggerath & Co, 3061 Ahnsen, De | Screw conveyor with material moisture reduction - has spiral brush in grate region, matching pitch of conveyor screw |
| DE9107404U1 (en) * | 1991-06-15 | 1991-08-08 | Wecker, Heinrich, 4782 Erwitte, De |
-
1991
- 1991-11-19 SE SE9103451A patent/SE9103451L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1992
- 1992-11-19 EP EP97117739A patent/EP0820859A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-11-19 EP EP92924093A patent/EP0675798B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-11-19 AT AT92924093T patent/ATE171417T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-11-19 AU AU30538/92A patent/AU3053892A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-11-19 DE DE69227129T patent/DE69227129T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-11-19 CA CA002100673A patent/CA2100673C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-11-19 JP JP5509212A patent/JP2860161B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-11-19 WO PCT/SE1992/000802 patent/WO1993009936A1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1993
- 1993-01-09 TW TW082100100A patent/TW208677B/zh active
- 1993-06-10 GB GB9312012A patent/GB2267053B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-02-01 HK HK21496A patent/HK21496A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| HK21496A (en) | 1996-02-09 |
| EP0675798A1 (en) | 1995-10-11 |
| EP0820859A2 (en) | 1998-01-28 |
| GB2267053B (en) | 1994-10-12 |
| AU3053892A (en) | 1993-06-15 |
| EP0675798B1 (en) | 1998-09-23 |
| SE9103451D0 (en) | 1991-11-19 |
| EP0820859A3 (en) | 1998-07-01 |
| DE69227129D1 (en) | 1998-10-29 |
| DE69227129T2 (en) | 1999-02-18 |
| JPH07501016A (en) | 1995-02-02 |
| SE9103451L (en) | 1993-05-20 |
| TW208677B (en) | 1993-07-01 |
| JP2860161B2 (en) | 1999-02-24 |
| GB2267053A (en) | 1993-11-24 |
| WO1993009936A1 (en) | 1993-05-27 |
| GB9312012D0 (en) | 1993-09-01 |
| ATE171417T1 (en) | 1998-10-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |