EP2783992B1 - Device for filling a flexible bag with material, and device and method for depositing the filled bag on the bottom of a water mass - Google Patents
Device for filling a flexible bag with material, and device and method for depositing the filled bag on the bottom of a water mass Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2783992B1 EP2783992B1 EP14162049.2A EP14162049A EP2783992B1 EP 2783992 B1 EP2783992 B1 EP 2783992B1 EP 14162049 A EP14162049 A EP 14162049A EP 2783992 B1 EP2783992 B1 EP 2783992B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- receptacle
- entrance
- filled
- exit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 title claims description 66
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 33
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 title claims description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 13
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000011241 protective layer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 2
- 240000000491 Corchorus aestuans Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000011777 Corchorus aestuans Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000010862 Corchorus capsularis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005429 filling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 239000012209 synthetic fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001059 synthetic polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
- B65B1/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
- B65B1/06—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by gravity flow
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/60—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation rotatable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/28—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for discharging completed packages from machines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B67/00—Apparatus or devices facilitating manual packaging operations; Sack holders
- B65B67/12—Sack holders, i.e. stands or frames with means for supporting sacks in the open condition to facilitate filling with articles or materials
- B65B67/1222—Sack holders, i.e. stands or frames with means for supporting sacks in the open condition to facilitate filling with articles or materials characterised by means for suspending sacks, e.g. pedal- operated
- B65B67/1233—Clamping or holding means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B67/00—Apparatus or devices facilitating manual packaging operations; Sack holders
- B65B67/12—Sack holders, i.e. stands or frames with means for supporting sacks in the open condition to facilitate filling with articles or materials
- B65B67/1238—Inserts or external supports, e.g. baskets, for stiffening sacks in the open condition
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
- E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
- E02B3/12—Revetment of banks, dams, watercourses, or the like, e.g. the sea-floor
- E02B3/122—Flexible prefabricated covering elements, e.g. mats, strips
- E02B3/127—Flexible prefabricated covering elements, e.g. mats, strips bags filled at the side
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a device for filling a flexible bag with material.
- the invention also relates to a device and method for depositing the filled bags on the bottom of a water mass.
- the base and the seabed in the vicinity of the base of such structures must be protected against erosion and swell.
- the base of offshore structures may for instance also comprise a number of piles driven into the seabed to form a foundation. Since the piles locally resist flow, an amplified flow velocity is generated around the piles. This excess flow velocity causes scour of the unprotected seabed around the piles and this may reduce the bearing force of the foundation.
- scour protection a layer of large rocks with sizes up to 800 kg and more is typically deposited onto the seabed in the vicinity of the base of such structures.
- a suitable device for depositing rocks at a defined location on the bottom of a water mass comprises a vessel provided with a fall pipe that extends with a substantial vertical component into the water mass, and supply means for supplying rocks to the upper end of the fall pipe.
- CA 1150215A1 discloses a collapsible support for bags formed from a single blank of flexible sheet material. The support may be easily stored when in the collapsed state.
- US 2011/005636A1 discloses an implement for filling multiple sandbags simultaneously.
- the implement is provided on a loader bucket of a front-loader, and comprises a planar structure into which filler apertures are formed for accommodating the sandbags. Once filled, the sandbags are released from the implement.
- a device for filling a flexible bag with material comprising a stiff receptacle with an entrance through which a bag can be temporarily received in the receptacle, and an exit through which a bag provided with the material can be released from the receptacle under the action of gravity forces; retaining means, adapted to hold the bag during filling thereof with the material, to keep the bag open to receive the material through the entrance, and to release the bag once filled; and conveying means for conveying the material to the entrance.
- the material used in filling the bags can be any material suitable for the purpose, and may for instance comprise block objects, such as natural rocks and/or human made objects like concrete blocks, granular materials such as sand, stones, crushed stones, polymer or metal granules, blast furnace products, debris, and combinations of the mentioned materials.
- block objects such as natural rocks and/or human made objects like concrete blocks
- granular materials such as sand, stones, crushed stones, polymer or metal granules, blast furnace products, debris, and combinations of the mentioned materials.
- a device wherein the retaining means comprises a tensioning mechanism adapted to tighten an upper rim of the bag around a rim of the receptacle entrance.
- Another embodiment of the invention provides a device wherein the retaining means comprises a release mechanism adapted to release the tightening tension of the upper rim of the bag.
- Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a device wherein the tensioning and release mechanisms are combined.
- the combined tensioning and release mechanism comprises a tensioning member provided with a holding means for a bag drawstring, and an actuating member adapted to actuate the tensioning member from a first position in which a bag drawstring attached to the holding means is tensioned, to a second position in which the tension of the bag drawstring is released and the drawstring freed from the holding means.
- a drawstring of a bag is attached to the tensioning member in the second position and then tensioned around the rim by bringing the tensioning member in the first position to retain the bag and keep it open.
- the drawstring is freed from the rim by bringing the tensioning member back to the second position which releases the tension in the drawstring while the bag is still in the receptacle.
- the filled bag is finally released from the retaining means under the action of gravity, in which final step the tensioning member is in the second position again.
- Actuating the tensioning member may for instance be carried out by pivoting the tensioning member around a pivot.
- Another embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of receptacles.
- drive means are provided for moving the at least one receptacle.
- a convenient device in accordance with the invention wherein the receptacles are aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel.
- a carrousel preferably shaped as the chamber cylinder of a revolver gun, preferably comprises drive means for rotating it around a central axis, i.e. the axis of symmetry of the carrousel.
- an embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises an intermediary distributor that is at an entrance side thereof connected to the conveying means and at an exit thereof connects to the entrance of a corresponding receptacle with which it is aligned.
- an embodiment of the device according to the invention makes use of one or more intermediary distributors that are funnel shaped.
- An advantageous embodiment of the invented device comprises a plurality of intermediary distributors aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel, wherein at least some of the intermediary distributors are aligned with a corresponding receptacle, preferably also aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel.
- the device comprises drive means for moving the at least one intermediary distributor, wherein, more preferably, the drive means are adapted to move the at least one intermediary distributor at about the same speed as a corresponding receptacle.
- the bags to be filled with the material may be any type of bag that is flexible enough to conform to some extend to a shape of a bottom or structure to which it is applied.
- a bag filled with material is preferably closable, for instance by providing it with a drawstring at its upper rim, and with some closing mechanism that maintains the tension in the drawstring.
- a filled bag is preferably suspendable by a lifting means such as crane, where the drawstring acts as suspension rope, but this is not essential for the invention.
- the bag may be made of natural materials, such as jute or the like, or from a synthetic polymer material, such as polyester, polyamide, polyethylene or polypropylene.
- the bag may be made from a sheetlike (continuous) material or may comprise a woven, knitted or netted structure of yarns.
- the yarns may be natural or synthetic fiber yarns, or may be made from a metal, such as steel.
- the mesh size of a woven, knitted or netted bag is preferably relatively small, forming a tight structure, such that the material is kept inside the bag.
- the mesh size between yarns is preferably lower than 3 times the yarn diameter and more preferably about equal to the yarn diameter.
- the amount of material in a bag can be varied at will and depends on the application, on the size of the material particles, on the desired size of the filled bags, and other factors.
- the size of the filled bags may also vary widely, but the size preferably ranges from 400 to 1200 kg, which roughly corresponds to a volume ranging from 0,25 m 3 to 0,75 m 3 , and more preferably from 600 to 1000 kg.
- the receptacles according to the invention have dimensions, such as a diameter in case of a cylindrical receptacle, that are adapted to the desired size of a filled bag.
- the material contained in the filled bags preferably has - although not limited thereto - an average particle diameter from 25-125 mm and a specific density that is large enough to prevent the filled bag from being dragged when installed on a seabed.
- the invention also relates to a device for depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass, comprising a vessel provided with a bag filling device according to the invention, wherein the exit of a receptacle connects (directly or indirectly) to the water mass.
- a useful embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the exit of a receptacle connects to supply means provided on the vessel for supplying the flexible bags filled with material to the water mass.
- Another particularly useful device according to the invention is characterized in that the exit of a receptacle connects to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on the vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass.
- the invention is by no means restricted to the use of a fall pipe and any other method of depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass is applicable.
- the description of embodiments of the invention that use a fall pipe are only intended to illustrate the invention.
- Still another embodiment provides a device wherein the fall pipe is connected at its upper end to the vessel by a gripper, the gripper comprising a support construction for the fall pipe adjustable at an angle to the vertical direction by means of fall pipe angle adjusting means.
- the position of the underside of the fall pipe can be precisely determined.
- the fall pipe angle adjusting means provide the option of properly determining the angle of the support structure to the vertical direction, whereby the angle at which the fall pipe extends relative to the vertical direction is likewise properly determined. It hereby becomes possible to accurately control the whole position of the fall pipe, and thereby the position of the underside of the fall pipe.
- the chance of damage to a structure to be protected against scour is greatly reduced as a result of this accuracy.
- To transport the (bags filled with) material to the top side of the fall pipe use is preferably made of a conveyor belt.
- the upper part of the fall pipe or of the upper fall pipe segment therefore preferably takes a funnel-like form, wherein the conveyor belt drops the (bags filled with) material into the funnel-like part.
- the device is used in a method for depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass, whereby the method comprises filling a flexible bag provided in a stiff receptacle with material, and supplying the bag filled with material through the exit of the receptacle to the water mass.
- the device may also be used supplementary and to advantage in a method for depositing materials with different sizes. This may be needed to form a layer of block objects with relatively low size first on a water mass bottom or foundation, and then on top thereof form a protective layer of materials of relatively high size.
- the device in such an embodiment is characterized in that the exit of a receptacle connects to the entrance end of a conveyor or other conveying means, which at its outer end connects to the entrance end of another conveyor or other conveying means, that with its outer end connects to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on a vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the seawater.
- Second (secondary) conveying means in the form of a hopper, provided with a feeder, are positioned at the entrance end of the second conveyor and allow to convey other materials, such as the smaller sized material to form the filter layer to the upper end of the fall pipe. After the filter layer has been applied, filled bags are fed to the upper end of the fall pipe with the aid of both conveyors.
- a pile foundation is typically protected by first depositing a filter layer of relatively fine material onto the bottom, and then providing the piles in the bottom through the filter layer. After the piles have been provided in the bottom, the protective layer of coarser material is applied onto the filter layer, to provide effective scour protection.
- An additional advantage of the present invention is that it becomes possible by using bags filled with block objects of smaller size than the coarser material to actually deposit one layer of filled bags only and then provide the foundation piles through the filled bags. The sole layer applied offers sufficient scour protection. Providing the piles through the filled bags is readily performed since some bags will rupture and the relatively small sized block objects contained therein will easily be displaced by the pile. Providing a pile through a layer of coarse material is to this date considered unfeasible.
- the bag filled with material is supplied from the exit of the receptacle to supply means provided on the vessel that supplies the bag with material to the water mass.
- An embodiment of the method wherein the bag filled with material is supplied from the exit of the receptacle to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on the vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass, which fall pipe supplies the flexible bag with material to the water mass is preferred.
- the fall pipe can extend to great depth, and to so great a depth that it is structurally less attractive to make use of a fall pipe formed by a single part. In such situations it is attractive for the fall pipe to comprise at least two mutually connecting segments.
- the segments of the fall pipe are connected rigidly to each other. It is however also possible to connect the subsequent fall pipe segment pivotally to the upper fall pipe segment, and to connect the successive segments making use of adjusting means which are adapted to adjust the angle between successive segments of the fall pipe.
- the angular position of the fall pipe relative to the vessel is preferably controlled for the purpose of maintaining the position of the underside of the fall pipe.
- a device in accordance with the invention allows to produce a plurality of bags filled with block objects on site and in a continuous manner at a high production rate. Typical production rates of 125 to more than 600 filled bags of 800 kg each per hour are possible. The filled bags produced may be used on site immediately to provide a foundation of a structure with an effective scour protection.
- the device 1 for filling flexible bags 5 with block objects 50, such as stones, is shown.
- the device 1 comprises a revolving carrousel 2 of plural stiff receptacles 3, conveying means in the form of a hopper 4, provided with a feeder 40, preferably a vibratory feeder, for conveying the block objects 50 to an entrance 31 of the receptacles 3, possibly through an intermediate distributer 30, used to continue the bag filling process.
- a feeder 40 preferably a vibratory feeder
- flexible bags 5 once filled with material which in the exemplified embodiment constitutes block objects 50 are released from the receptacles 3 through an exit 32 of the receptacles 3 under the action of gravity forces, and are deposited onto supply means for the bags 5 in the form of a conveyor belt 6, that connects to the exit 32 at an entrance end 61 thereof. Conveyor belt 6 then transports the filled bags 5 further to a desired location.
- the revolving carrousel 2 of stiff receptacles 3, the hopper 4 and other components that will be described in more detail below are supported by a support frame 7.
- a support structure 7 is provided to support some device components.
- Support structure 80 for instance provides support for the hopper 14, provided with feeder 140.
- a wall 8 of optional material holds is also shown.
- Device 1 is preferably used in a device for depositing block objects 50 on the bottom of a water mass, such as a seabed 10 (see figure 9 ).
- a water mass such as a seabed 10
- an embodiment of the invented device 1 for filling bags is positioned on deck of a vessel 11.
- the carrousel 2 is positioned partly overboard such that the exit 32 of one or more receptacles 3 directly connects to the water mass, and bags filled with block objects are directly dumped into the water and sink onto the seabed 10.
- the exit 32 of a receptacle 3 connects to the entrance end 61 of conveyor belt 6 provided on the vessel 11, which conveyor belt 6 dumps the flexible bags 5 with block objects 50 into the seawater by connecting its outer end 62 directly to the water mass.
- the exit 32 of a receptacle 3 connects to the entrance end 61 of conveyor 6, which at its outer end 62 connects (see figure 9 ) to the upper end 121 of a fall pipe 12, provided on the vessel 11 and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass, or, as shown in combined figures 1 and 9 , to the entrance end 91 of another conveyor 9 that with its outer end 92 connects to the upper end 121 of the fall pipe 12 for conveying the block objects 50 to the upper end 121 of the fall pipe 12.
- the device 1 preferably further comprises a second conveying means in the form of a hopper 14, provided with a feeder 140.
- the hopper 14 is positioned at the entrance end 91 of the second conveyor 9 and allows to convey other materials, such as smaller sized material 51 to form a filter layer on the seabed 10, to the upper end 121 of the fall pipe 12.
- the embodiment of the invented device shown in the figures as an example provides a method for depositing block objects 50 on a seabed 10, comprising filling a flexible bag 5 with the block objects 50 and supplying the bag 5 filled with block objects 50 through the exit 32 of a receptacle 3 to the water mass, preferably through a fall pipe 12.
- a sea is shown with a seabed 10 on which a wind turbine designated as a whole with reference number 20 has been placed.
- Wind turbine 20 comprises a foundation in the form of a plurality of piles 203 onto which a jacket structure 204 is arranged.
- Jacket structure 204 debouches above the water surface 207 into a windmilltower 205 on which a nacelle 206 is placed.
- Nacelle 206 is provided with a shaft on which the blades (not shown) of the wind turbine are mounted.
- a mass of filled bags 5 is deposited against foundation base 203 and in the immediate vicinity thereof.
- the fall pipe 12 extends with a substantial vertical component at an angle 130 to the vertical direction 140 from vessel 11 and comprises a number of fall pipe segments 120, wherein the lower part of each fall pipe segment is connected in a substantially rigid manner to the upper part of a following (further downward) fall pipe segment 120.
- the coupled fall pipe segments 120 form a fall pipe 12, the lower segments of which extend below water surface 207 at an angle 130 to the vertical direction 140.
- the angle 130 may be zero but is preferably different from zero.
- Fall pipe 12 is in the example shown connected at its upper end to vessel 11 by a gripper 150, comprising a support construction 151 for the fall pipe 12 that is pivotally connected to vessel 11 by means of a pivot connection 152.
- the upper end 121 of the fall pipe 12 connects to the outer end 92 of conveyor 9, which supplies the filled bags 5 to the upper end 121 of the fall pipe 12.
- the other components of the device 1 according to the invention such as the revolving carrousel 2 of plural stiff receptacles 3, the hopper 4, and the conveyor belt 6 are not shown in figure 9 .
- a stiff receptacle 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises an elongated cylindrical casing 33 of a stiff material such as steel.
- the casing 33 has an opening at its top end 331 providing an entrance 31 through which a bag 5 can be temporarily received, as shown in figure 5 , and through which block objects 50 can be introduced into the bag 5.
- Casing 33 is at its bottom end 331 provided with an exit 32 through which a bag 5 provided with block objects 50 can be released from the casing 33 under the action of gravity forces F.
- the bottom end 332 of the casing 33 may be cylindrical or may provide a wall part with a certain slant angle 333 with the vertical direction 140 to facilitate deposition of the filled bags 5 onto the conveyor belt 6.
- a plurality of interconnected receptacles 3 is regularly arranged along the circumference of a virtual circle 22 to form a carrousel 2.
- the number of receptacles 4 is ten but any other number may also be used.
- the carrousel 2 is rotated around an axis 21, coinciding with the centre of the circle 22, by suitable drive means (not shown). It should be noted that other arrangements of receptacles 3 are also within the scope of the invention, such as a linear line-up of a plurality of receptacles 3 for instance.
- the carrousel 2 is thus rotated around the axis 21, preferably at a substantially constant speed.
- Preferred revolving speeds range form 1 to 20 cm/sec although other speeds are possible. It is also possible to rotate the carrousel 2 intermittently, in which embodiment the carrousel 2 is temporarily halted or rotated at a lower speed.
- the direction of rotation (clockwise or anticlockwise) of the carrousel 2 depends on the relative locations of bag loading (placement of a bag 5 in the receptacle 3), and bag discharge (release of a bag 5 from a receptacle 3), but it is understood that the sequence of bag charging, bag filling and bag discharging is preferably observed in that order.
- the device according to an embodiment of the invention further comprises a plurality of intermediary distributors 301 that are aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel 30, as is best seen in figure 7 .
- An intermediary distributor 301 may in a suitable position connect to the feeder 40 of the hopper 4 through which the objects 50 are conveyed to the receptacle 3.
- Each intermediary distributor 301 forms a funnel that extends from a ridge 302 between distributors 301 downwards towards an exit opening 303 provided in a bottom part of the distributor 301.
- the exit opening 303 of some distributors 301 (the 5 distributors 301 positioned at the right halve of the circle in figure 7 , i.e.
- carrousel 30 of distributors 301 is rotated around an axis 304, coinciding with the centre of the circle, by suitable drive means (not shown).
- the drive means preferably move the intermediary distributor carrousel 30 at the same peripheral rotational speed as the receptacle carrousel 2.
- the device further comprises retaining means 34 that are connected to an upper wall part of casing 33 in the embodiment shown.
- the bag retaining means 34 are adapted to hold a bag 5 during filling thereof with the block objects 50, to keep the bag 5 open to be able to receive the block objects 50 through the entrance 31 of the receptacle 3 in which the bag 5 is received, and finally to release the bag 5 once it has been filled with a sufficient amount of block objects 50.
- the bag retaining means 34 in the embodiment shown in figure 8 comprises a tensioning member in the form of a circular disc 341, that is provided in its periphery with an indentation or notch 342, that acts as a holding means for a bag drawstring 52.
- a tensioning member in the form of a circular disc 341, that is provided in its periphery with an indentation or notch 342, that acts as a holding means for a bag drawstring 52.
- Any shape able to move a notch 342 peripheral from its own axis will be suitable however, such as a crankshaft construction or the like, and the disc 341 is only one example of a suitable tensioning member.
- the disc 341 is rotatable around an axis 343 by an actuating member in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 344.
- Hydraulic cylinder 344 at a lower end connects fixedly to a housing 345, and at an upper end connects to the housing 345 such that its piston may be moved in the vertical direction 140.
- the piston connects to a connection rod 346 that is at another end connected to an eccentric position 347 of the disc 341.
- a vertical movement of the piston thus results in a rotation of the disc 341.
- the disc 341 can be pivoted from a position, shown in figure 8A , in which position the drawstring 52 of a bag 5 can be easily placed in the notch 342 when the notch 342 faces the bag 5, to a position, shown in figure 8C , wherein the bag drawstring 52 is tensioned. It should be clear that other similar combined tensioning and releasing mechanisms also fall within the scope of the invention.
- an empty bag 5 is introduced in a receptacle 3 through its entrance 31.
- This is conveniently performed by an operator 70, taking an empty bag 5 from a rack or roll (not shown) storage facility and placing the bag 5 in a receptacle 3, for instance at the 9 hour position of the carrousel 2 viewed from above, as best shown in figure 3 .
- the bag 5 is preferably provided at an upper rim with a drawstring 52 which when pulled closes the bag 5.
- the operator 70 opens an empty bag 5 and positions the upper rim of the bag 5 around the upper rim 335 of a receptacle 3 in front of him.
- the block objects 50 are in this way dumped into the bag 5, held open by retaining it around the rim 335 of the receptacle 3 with the retaining means 34, until the bag 5 is sufficiently filled. This may require a number of passes under the feeder 40 or may be accomplished in one time, depending on the supply flow of block objects 50, and the rotation speed of the carrousel 2.
- the disc 341 will turn from the tensioned position, shown in figure 8C towards a release position shown in figure 8A , either actively or under the weight of the filled bag 5. This releases the tension in the drawstring 52.
- the bag 5 detaches from the upper rim 335 of the receptacle 3, and hangs with its drawstring 52 still attached to the disc 341. This tensions the drawstring 52 under the weight of the filled bag 5 and the bag 5 may in this way be closed automatically, for instance by providing the drawstring 52 with an automatic closure mechanism, known per se from clothing or sleeping bags for instance.
- the filled bag 5 is now hanging in the receptacle 3.
- the disc 341 is fully in the release position ( figure 8A )
- the drawstring slips from the notch 342 of the disc 341 and the bag 5 provided with block objects 5 is released from the receptacle 3 through the exit 32 thereof under the action of gravity forces F.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Revetment (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a device for filling a flexible bag with material. The invention also relates to a device and method for depositing the filled bags on the bottom of a water mass.
- In recent years more and more structures that partly extend above the water surface are placed at sea. An example of such structures are wind turbines. The base and the seabed in the vicinity of the base of such structures must be protected against erosion and swell. The base of offshore structures may for instance also comprise a number of piles driven into the seabed to form a foundation. Since the piles locally resist flow, an amplified flow velocity is generated around the piles. This excess flow velocity causes scour of the unprotected seabed around the piles and this may reduce the bearing force of the foundation. In order to arrange scour protection, a layer of large rocks with sizes up to 800 kg and more is typically deposited onto the seabed in the vicinity of the base of such structures. Prior to this, a layer of smaller sized material may be applied onto the seabed. A suitable device for depositing rocks at a defined location on the bottom of a water mass comprises a vessel provided with a fall pipe that extends with a substantial vertical component into the water mass, and supply means for supplying rocks to the upper end of the fall pipe.
- Since these large rocks cannot be installed using the state of the art fall pipe systems, and are more complex with respect to for instance handling and production, it is proposed to use flexible bags that are filled with material, instead of using large rocks. The bags are filled with material particles having a substantially smaller size than large rocks, but a filled bag will act similarly to a large rock. A disadvantage of using flexible bags filled with material is that to date filling and transporting such bags is tedious and time-consuming.
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CA 1150215A1 discloses a collapsible support for bags formed from a single blank of flexible sheet material. The support may be easily stored when in the collapsed state. -
US 2011/005636A1 discloses an implement for filling multiple sandbags simultaneously. The implement is provided on a loader bucket of a front-loader, and comprises a planar structure into which filler apertures are formed for accommodating the sandbags. Once filled, the sandbags are released from the implement. - The present invention has for its object to provide a device for filling a flexible bag with material, that does not have the above stated disadvantages and that may be applied onsite. Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient method for filling a flexible bag with material, and to provide a device and method for depositing the filled bags on the bottom of a water mass.
- These and other objects are achieved by providing a device according to claim 1. In particular, a device for filling a flexible bag with material is provided, the device comprising a stiff receptacle with an entrance through which a bag can be temporarily received in the receptacle, and an exit through which a bag provided with the material can be released from the receptacle under the action of gravity forces; retaining means, adapted to hold the bag during filling thereof with the material, to keep the bag open to receive the material through the entrance, and to release the bag once filled; and conveying means for conveying the material to the entrance.
- The material used in filling the bags can be any material suitable for the purpose, and may for instance comprise block objects, such as natural rocks and/or human made objects like concrete blocks, granular materials such as sand, stones, crushed stones, polymer or metal granules, blast furnace products, debris, and combinations of the mentioned materials.
- According to the invention, a device is provided wherein the retaining means comprises a tensioning mechanism adapted to tighten an upper rim of the bag around a rim of the receptacle entrance.
- Another embodiment of the invention provides a device wherein the retaining means comprises a release mechanism adapted to release the tightening tension of the upper rim of the bag.
- Yet another embodiment of the invention relates to a device wherein the tensioning and release mechanisms are combined.
- In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the combined tensioning and release mechanism comprises a tensioning member provided with a holding means for a bag drawstring, and an actuating member adapted to actuate the tensioning member from a first position in which a bag drawstring attached to the holding means is tensioned, to a second position in which the tension of the bag drawstring is released and the drawstring freed from the holding means.
- Typically, a drawstring of a bag is attached to the tensioning member in the second position and then tensioned around the rim by bringing the tensioning member in the first position to retain the bag and keep it open. After the bag has been filled with material, the drawstring is freed from the rim by bringing the tensioning member back to the second position which releases the tension in the drawstring while the bag is still in the receptacle. The filled bag is finally released from the retaining means under the action of gravity, in which final step the tensioning member is in the second position again. Actuating the tensioning member may for instance be carried out by pivoting the tensioning member around a pivot.
- Another embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of receptacles. In a preferred embodiment, drive means are provided for moving the at least one receptacle.
- A convenient device in accordance with the invention is provided, wherein the receptacles are aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel. Such a carrousel, preferably shaped as the chamber cylinder of a revolver gun, preferably comprises drive means for rotating it around a central axis, i.e. the axis of symmetry of the carrousel.
- In order to be able to fill bags in a continuous process, an embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises an intermediary distributor that is at an entrance side thereof connected to the conveying means and at an exit thereof connects to the entrance of a corresponding receptacle with which it is aligned.
- In order to make the process of filling bags more reliable, an embodiment of the device according to the invention makes use of one or more intermediary distributors that are funnel shaped.
- An advantageous embodiment of the invented device comprises a plurality of intermediary distributors aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel, wherein at least some of the intermediary distributors are aligned with a corresponding receptacle, preferably also aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a carrousel. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises drive means for moving the at least one intermediary distributor, wherein, more preferably, the drive means are adapted to move the at least one intermediary distributor at about the same speed as a corresponding receptacle.
- The bags to be filled with the material may be any type of bag that is flexible enough to conform to some extend to a shape of a bottom or structure to which it is applied. A bag filled with material is preferably closable, for instance by providing it with a drawstring at its upper rim, and with some closing mechanism that maintains the tension in the drawstring. A filled bag is preferably suspendable by a lifting means such as crane, where the drawstring acts as suspension rope, but this is not essential for the invention.
- The bag may be made of natural materials, such as jute or the like, or from a synthetic polymer material, such as polyester, polyamide, polyethylene or polypropylene. The bag may be made from a sheetlike (continuous) material or may comprise a woven, knitted or netted structure of yarns. The yarns may be natural or synthetic fiber yarns, or may be made from a metal, such as steel. The mesh size of a woven, knitted or netted bag is preferably relatively small, forming a tight structure, such that the material is kept inside the bag. The mesh size between yarns is preferably lower than 3 times the yarn diameter and more preferably about equal to the yarn diameter.
- The amount of material in a bag can be varied at will and depends on the application, on the size of the material particles, on the desired size of the filled bags, and other factors. The size of the filled bags may also vary widely, but the size preferably ranges from 400 to 1200 kg, which roughly corresponds to a volume ranging from 0,25 m3 to 0,75 m3, and more preferably from 600 to 1000 kg. The receptacles according to the invention have dimensions, such as a diameter in case of a cylindrical receptacle, that are adapted to the desired size of a filled bag.
- Changing the amount of filling and the size of the material particles in a bag, as well as the porosity of the bag material itself, allows to tune the deformation capacity or flexibility of the filled bag, which may be important in influencing the functionality of the scour protection. A certain deformation capacity or flexibility tends to favour scour protection.
- The material contained in the filled bags preferably has - although not limited thereto - an average particle diameter from 25-125 mm and a specific density that is large enough to prevent the filled bag from being dragged when installed on a seabed.
- The invention also relates to a device for depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass, comprising a vessel provided with a bag filling device according to the invention, wherein the exit of a receptacle connects (directly or indirectly) to the water mass.
- A useful embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the exit of a receptacle connects to supply means provided on the vessel for supplying the flexible bags filled with material to the water mass.
- Another particularly useful device according to the invention is characterized in that the exit of a receptacle connects to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on the vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass. It should be noted that the invention is by no means restricted to the use of a fall pipe and any other method of depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass is applicable. The description of embodiments of the invention that use a fall pipe are only intended to illustrate the invention.
- Still another embodiment provides a device wherein the fall pipe is connected at its upper end to the vessel by a gripper, the gripper comprising a support construction for the fall pipe adjustable at an angle to the vertical direction by means of fall pipe angle adjusting means. In a thus formed device for depositing the filled bags konto the bottom of a water mass the position of the underside of the fall pipe can be precisely determined. This is because the fall pipe angle adjusting means provide the option of properly determining the angle of the support structure to the vertical direction, whereby the angle at which the fall pipe extends relative to the vertical direction is likewise properly determined. It hereby becomes possible to accurately control the whole position of the fall pipe, and thereby the position of the underside of the fall pipe. The chance of damage to a structure to be protected against scour is greatly reduced as a result of this accuracy. To transport the (bags filled with) material to the top side of the fall pipe use is preferably made of a conveyor belt. The upper part of the fall pipe or of the upper fall pipe segment therefore preferably takes a funnel-like form, wherein the conveyor belt drops the (bags filled with) material into the funnel-like part.
- The device is used in a method for depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass, whereby the method comprises filling a flexible bag provided in a stiff receptacle with material, and supplying the bag filled with material through the exit of the receptacle to the water mass.
- The device may also be used supplementary and to advantage in a method for depositing materials with different sizes. This may be needed to form a layer of block objects with relatively low size first on a water mass bottom or foundation, and then on top thereof form a protective layer of materials of relatively high size. The device in such an embodiment is characterized in that the exit of a receptacle connects to the entrance end of a conveyor or other conveying means, which at its outer end connects to the entrance end of another conveyor or other conveying means, that with its outer end connects to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on a vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the seawater. Second (secondary) conveying means in the form of a hopper, provided with a feeder, are positioned at the entrance end of the second conveyor and allow to convey other materials, such as the smaller sized material to form the filter layer to the upper end of the fall pipe. After the filter layer has been applied, filled bags are fed to the upper end of the fall pipe with the aid of both conveyors.
- A pile foundation is typically protected by first depositing a filter layer of relatively fine material onto the bottom, and then providing the piles in the bottom through the filter layer. After the piles have been provided in the bottom, the protective layer of coarser material is applied onto the filter layer, to provide effective scour protection. An additional advantage of the present invention is that it becomes possible by using bags filled with block objects of smaller size than the coarser material to actually deposit one layer of filled bags only and then provide the foundation piles through the filled bags. The sole layer applied offers sufficient scour protection. Providing the piles through the filled bags is readily performed since some bags will rupture and the relatively small sized block objects contained therein will easily be displaced by the pile. Providing a pile through a layer of coarse material is to this date considered unfeasible.
- It is also possible to provide a method in accordance with an embodiment wherein the bag filled with material is supplied from the exit of the receptacle to supply means provided on the vessel that supplies the bag with material to the water mass. An embodiment of the method wherein the bag filled with material is supplied from the exit of the receptacle to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on the vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass, which fall pipe supplies the flexible bag with material to the water mass is preferred. Depending on the depths at which the rocks must be deposited, the fall pipe can extend to great depth, and to so great a depth that it is structurally less attractive to make use of a fall pipe formed by a single part. In such situations it is attractive for the fall pipe to comprise at least two mutually connecting segments.
- In order to ensure the accuracy of the position of the underside of the fall pipe, it is to be recommended that the segments of the fall pipe are connected rigidly to each other. It is however also possible to connect the subsequent fall pipe segment pivotally to the upper fall pipe segment, and to connect the successive segments making use of adjusting means which are adapted to adjust the angle between successive segments of the fall pipe. The angular position of the fall pipe relative to the vessel is preferably controlled for the purpose of maintaining the position of the underside of the fall pipe.
- A device in accordance with the invention allows to produce a plurality of bags filled with block objects on site and in a continuous manner at a high production rate. Typical production rates of 125 to more than 600 filled bags of 800 kg each per hour are possible. The filled bags produced may be used on site immediately to provide a foundation of a structure with an effective scour protection.
- The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures. Herein:
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figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device according to an embodiment of the invention; -
figure 2 is a schematic side view of the embodiment shown infigure 1 ; -
figure 3 is a schematic top view of the embodiment shown infigure 1 ; -
figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a receptacle carrousel according to an embodiment of the invention; -
figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a receptacle according to an embodiment of the invention; -
figure 6A is a schematic top view of the carrousel shown infigure 4 ; -
figure 6B is a schematic side view of the carrousel shown infigure 6A ; -
figure 7 is a schematic top view of a receptacle carrousel provided with a distributor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; -
figures 8A-8D are schematic side views of a bag retaining means in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and -
figure 9 is a schematic side view of a device for depositing block objects on the bottom of a water mass in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. - Referring to
figure 1 , a device 1 for fillingflexible bags 5 with block objects 50, such as stones, is shown. The device 1 comprises a revolvingcarrousel 2 of pluralstiff receptacles 3, conveying means in the form of a hopper 4, provided with afeeder 40, preferably a vibratory feeder, for conveying the block objects 50 to anentrance 31 of thereceptacles 3, possibly through anintermediate distributer 30, used to continue the bag filling process. In the embodiment shown,flexible bags 5 once filled with material, which in the exemplified embodiment constitutes block objects 50 are released from thereceptacles 3 through anexit 32 of thereceptacles 3 under the action of gravity forces, and are deposited onto supply means for thebags 5 in the form of aconveyor belt 6, that connects to theexit 32 at anentrance end 61 thereof.Conveyor belt 6 then transports the filledbags 5 further to a desired location. The revolvingcarrousel 2 ofstiff receptacles 3, the hopper 4 and other components that will be described in more detail below are supported by asupport frame 7. Asupport structure 7 is provided to support some device components.Support structure 80 for instance provides support for thehopper 14, provided withfeeder 140. Awall 8 of optional material holds is also shown. - Device 1 is preferably used in a device for depositing block objects 50 on the bottom of a water mass, such as a seabed 10 (see
figure 9 ). To this end, an embodiment of the invented device 1 for filling bags is positioned on deck of avessel 11. In one embodiment, thecarrousel 2 is positioned partly overboard such that theexit 32 of one ormore receptacles 3 directly connects to the water mass, and bags filled with block objects are directly dumped into the water and sink onto theseabed 10. In another embodiment, theexit 32 of areceptacle 3 connects to theentrance end 61 ofconveyor belt 6 provided on thevessel 11, whichconveyor belt 6 dumps theflexible bags 5 with block objects 50 into the seawater by connecting itsouter end 62 directly to the water mass. In yet another embodiment, theexit 32 of areceptacle 3 connects to theentrance end 61 ofconveyor 6, which at itsouter end 62 connects (seefigure 9 ) to theupper end 121 of afall pipe 12, provided on thevessel 11 and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass, or, as shown in combinedfigures 1 and9 , to theentrance end 91 of anotherconveyor 9 that with itsouter end 92 connects to theupper end 121 of thefall pipe 12 for conveying the block objects 50 to theupper end 121 of thefall pipe 12. In the latter embodiment, the device 1 preferably further comprises a second conveying means in the form of ahopper 14, provided with afeeder 140. Thehopper 14 is positioned at theentrance end 91 of thesecond conveyor 9 and allows to convey other materials, such as smallersized material 51 to form a filter layer on theseabed 10, to theupper end 121 of thefall pipe 12. - The embodiment of the invented device shown in the figures as an example provides a method for depositing block objects 50 on a
seabed 10, comprising filling aflexible bag 5 with the block objects 50 and supplying thebag 5 filled with block objects 50 through theexit 32 of areceptacle 3 to the water mass, preferably through afall pipe 12. Referring tofigure 9 , a sea is shown with aseabed 10 on which a wind turbine designated as a whole withreference number 20 has been placed.Wind turbine 20 comprises a foundation in the form of a plurality ofpiles 203 onto which ajacket structure 204 is arranged.Jacket structure 204 debouches above thewater surface 207 into awindmilltower 205 on which anacelle 206 is placed.Nacelle 206 is provided with a shaft on which the blades (not shown) of the wind turbine are mounted. In order to protectfoundation 203 against erosion and scour, a mass of filledbags 5 is deposited againstfoundation base 203 and in the immediate vicinity thereof. - For the purpose of depositing the filled
bags 5, use is preferably made of avessel 11, provided with afall pipe 12. Thefall pipe 12 extends with a substantial vertical component at anangle 130 to thevertical direction 140 fromvessel 11 and comprises a number offall pipe segments 120, wherein the lower part of each fall pipe segment is connected in a substantially rigid manner to the upper part of a following (further downward)fall pipe segment 120. The coupledfall pipe segments 120 form afall pipe 12, the lower segments of which extend belowwater surface 207 at anangle 130 to thevertical direction 140. Theangle 130 may be zero but is preferably different from zero.Fall pipe 12 is in the example shown connected at its upper end tovessel 11 by agripper 150, comprising asupport construction 151 for thefall pipe 12 that is pivotally connected tovessel 11 by means of apivot connection 152. In the embodiment shown infigure 9 , theupper end 121 of thefall pipe 12 connects to theouter end 92 ofconveyor 9, which supplies the filledbags 5 to theupper end 121 of thefall pipe 12. For clarity, the other components of the device 1 according to the invention, such as the revolvingcarrousel 2 of pluralstiff receptacles 3, the hopper 4, and theconveyor belt 6 are not shown infigure 9 . - Referring now to
figures 4 ,5 and6 , astiff receptacle 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises an elongatedcylindrical casing 33 of a stiff material such as steel. Thecasing 33 has an opening at itstop end 331 providing anentrance 31 through which abag 5 can be temporarily received, as shown infigure 5 , and through which block objects 50 can be introduced into thebag 5.Casing 33 is at itsbottom end 331 provided with anexit 32 through which abag 5 provided with block objects 50 can be released from thecasing 33 under the action of gravity forces F. Thebottom end 332 of thecasing 33 may be cylindrical or may provide a wall part with acertain slant angle 333 with thevertical direction 140 to facilitate deposition of the filledbags 5 onto theconveyor belt 6. - As shown in
figures 4 and6 , a plurality ofinterconnected receptacles 3 is regularly arranged along the circumference of avirtual circle 22 to form acarrousel 2. In the embodiment shown, the number of receptacles 4 is ten but any other number may also be used. Thecarrousel 2 is rotated around anaxis 21, coinciding with the centre of thecircle 22, by suitable drive means (not shown). It should be noted that other arrangements ofreceptacles 3 are also within the scope of the invention, such as a linear line-up of a plurality ofreceptacles 3 for instance. Thecarrousel 2 is thus rotated around theaxis 21, preferably at a substantially constant speed. Preferred revolving speeds range form 1 to 20 cm/sec although other speeds are possible. It is also possible to rotate thecarrousel 2 intermittently, in which embodiment thecarrousel 2 is temporarily halted or rotated at a lower speed. The direction of rotation (clockwise or anticlockwise) of thecarrousel 2 depends on the relative locations of bag loading (placement of abag 5 in the receptacle 3), and bag discharge (release of abag 5 from a receptacle 3), but it is understood that the sequence of bag charging, bag filling and bag discharging is preferably observed in that order. - The device according to an embodiment of the invention further comprises a plurality of
intermediary distributors 301 that are aligned along the circumference of a circle to form acarrousel 30, as is best seen infigure 7 . Anintermediary distributor 301 may in a suitable position connect to thefeeder 40 of the hopper 4 through which theobjects 50 are conveyed to thereceptacle 3. Eachintermediary distributor 301 forms a funnel that extends from aridge 302 betweendistributors 301 downwards towards anexit opening 303 provided in a bottom part of thedistributor 301. Theexit opening 303 of some distributors 301 (the 5distributors 301 positioned at the right halve of the circle infigure 7 , i.e. between about the 12 hour and 6 hour position of thecarrousel 30 viewed from above) connect to theentrance 31 of acorresponding receptacle 3 with which it is aligned. In the embodiment shown, the number ofdistributors 301 is eight but any other number may also be used. As withcarrousel 2,carrousel 30 ofdistributors 301 is rotated around anaxis 304, coinciding with the centre of the circle, by suitable drive means (not shown). The drive means preferably move theintermediary distributor carrousel 30 at the same peripheral rotational speed as thereceptacle carrousel 2. - Since the rotation axes 21 of the receptacles carrousel 2 and of the distributors carrousel 30 do not coincide but are off-set instead and their circle diameters differ, some of the
distributors 301, in particular those positioned at the left halve of the circle infigure 7 , i.e. between about the 6 hour and 12 hour position of thecarrousel 30 viewed from above) will not connect to theentrance 31 of acorresponding receptacle 3. This allows to applyempty bags 5 to thereceptacles 3, as will be explained further below. - As shown in
figures 5 and8 , the device further comprises retaining means 34 that are connected to an upper wall part of casing 33 in the embodiment shown. The bag retaining means 34 are adapted to hold abag 5 during filling thereof with the block objects 50, to keep thebag 5 open to be able to receive the block objects 50 through theentrance 31 of thereceptacle 3 in which thebag 5 is received, and finally to release thebag 5 once it has been filled with a sufficient amount of block objects 50. These and other functions may also be fulfilled by two or more retaining means, and need not be combined into one retaining means 34, as is the case in the present preferred embodiment. - The bag retaining means 34 in the embodiment shown in
figure 8 comprises a tensioning member in the form of acircular disc 341, that is provided in its periphery with an indentation or notch 342, that acts as a holding means for abag drawstring 52. Any shape able to move anotch 342 peripheral from its own axis will be suitable however, such as a crankshaft construction or the like, and thedisc 341 is only one example of a suitable tensioning member. Thedisc 341 is rotatable around anaxis 343 by an actuating member in the form of ahydraulic cylinder 344.Hydraulic cylinder 344 at a lower end connects fixedly to ahousing 345, and at an upper end connects to thehousing 345 such that its piston may be moved in thevertical direction 140. The piston connects to aconnection rod 346 that is at another end connected to aneccentric position 347 of thedisc 341. A vertical movement of the piston thus results in a rotation of thedisc 341. Thedisc 341 can be pivoted from a position, shown infigure 8A , in which position thedrawstring 52 of abag 5 can be easily placed in thenotch 342 when thenotch 342 faces thebag 5, to a position, shown infigure 8C , wherein thebag drawstring 52 is tensioned. It should be clear that other similar combined tensioning and releasing mechanisms also fall within the scope of the invention. - In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an
empty bag 5 is introduced in areceptacle 3 through itsentrance 31. This is conveniently performed by anoperator 70, taking anempty bag 5 from a rack or roll (not shown) storage facility and placing thebag 5 in areceptacle 3, for instance at the 9 hour position of thecarrousel 2 viewed from above, as best shown infigure 3 . Thebag 5 is preferably provided at an upper rim with adrawstring 52 which when pulled closes thebag 5. Theoperator 70 opens anempty bag 5 and positions the upper rim of thebag 5 around theupper rim 335 of areceptacle 3 in front of him. He then takes thedrawstring 52 of thebag 5 and places it in thenotch 342 of thedisk 341 of the retaining means 34 in the position, shown infigure 8A . Thedisc 341 is then brought to the position, shown infigure 8C , wherein thebag drawstring 52 is tensioned around therim 335 of thereceptacle 3, as schematically shown infigure 5 . With bothcarrousels feeder 40 to thedistributor 301 that is aligned with thefeeder 40, and from thedistributor 301 to theentrance 31 of areceptacle 3 that is at that moment in alignment with thedistributor 301. The block objects 50 are in this way dumped into thebag 5, held open by retaining it around therim 335 of thereceptacle 3 with the retaining means 34, until thebag 5 is sufficiently filled. This may require a number of passes under thefeeder 40 or may be accomplished in one time, depending on the supply flow of block objects 50, and the rotation speed of thecarrousel 2. When abag 5 in areceptacle 3 is sufficiently filled thedisc 341 will turn from the tensioned position, shown infigure 8C towards a release position shown infigure 8A , either actively or under the weight of the filledbag 5. This releases the tension in thedrawstring 52. During this transition, thebag 5 detaches from theupper rim 335 of thereceptacle 3, and hangs with itsdrawstring 52 still attached to thedisc 341. This tensions thedrawstring 52 under the weight of the filledbag 5 and thebag 5 may in this way be closed automatically, for instance by providing thedrawstring 52 with an automatic closure mechanism, known per se from clothing or sleeping bags for instance. The filledbag 5 is now hanging in thereceptacle 3. When thedisc 341 is fully in the release position (figure 8A ), the drawstring slips from thenotch 342 of thedisc 341 and thebag 5 provided withblock objects 5 is released from thereceptacle 3 through theexit 32 thereof under the action of gravity forces F.
Claims (14)
- Device (1) for filling a flexible bag (5) with material (50), the device comprising a stiff receptacle (3) with an entrance (31) through which a bag (5) can be temporarily received in the receptacle (3), and an exit (32) through which a bag (5) provided with the material (50) can be released from the receptacle (3) under the action of gravity forces; retaining means (34), adapted to hold the bag (5) during filling thereof with the material (50), to keep the bag (5) open to receive the material (50) through the entrance (31), and to release the bag (5) once filled; and conveying means (4) for conveying the material (50) to the entrance (31), wherein the retaining means (34) comprises a tensioning mechanism adapted to tighten an upper rim of the bag (5) around a rim (335) of the receptacle (3) entrance (31).
- Device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means (34) comprises a release mechanism adapted to release the tightening tension of the upper rim of the bag (5).
- Device according to claim 1 and 2, wherein the tensioning and release mechanisms are combined.
- Device according to claim 3, wherein the combined tensioning and release mechanism comprises a tensioning member (341) provided with a holding means (342) for a bag drawstring (52), and an actuating member (344, 346) adapted to pivot the tensioning member (341) from a first position in which a bag drawstring (52) attached to the holding means (342) is tensioned, to a second position in which the tension of the bag drawstring (52) is released and the drawstring (52) freed from the holding means (342).
- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of receptacles (3).
- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising drive means for moving the at least one receptacle (3).
- Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the receptacles (3) are aligned along the circumference of a circle (22) to form a carrousel (2).
- Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the conveying means (4) connect to an intermediary distributor (301), an exit (303) of which connects to the entrance (31) of a corresponding receptacle (3) with which it is aligned.
- Device according to claim 8, comprising a plurality of intermediary distributors (301) aligned along the circumference of a circle to form a distributor carrousel 30, and drive means for moving the at least one intermediary distributor (301), wherein at least some of the intermediary distributors (301) are aligned with a corresponding receptacle (3).
- Device according to claim 9, wherein the drive means are adapted to move the at least one intermediary distributor (301) at the same speed as a corresponding receptacle (3).
- Device for depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass, comprising a vessel provided with a device according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the exit of a receptacle connects to the water mass.
- Device according to claim 11, wherein the exit of a receptacle connects to supply means provided on the vessel for supplying the flexible bags with material to the water mass.
- Device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the exit of a receptacle connects to the upper end of a fall pipe, provided on the vessel and extending with a substantial vertical component into the water mass.
- Method for depositing bags filled with material on the bottom of a water mass, comprising providing a device in accordance with claim 11, filling a flexible bag with material by temporarily positioning a bag in a stiff receptacle through an entrance thereof, holding the bag and keeping the bag open by retaining means, conveying the material to the entrance and filling the open bag with the material through the entrance, releasing the bag once filled by releasing the retaining means, and releasing the bag provided with the material from the receptacle through an exit thereof under the action of gravity forces, and supplying the bag filled with the material through the exit of a receptacle to the water mass.
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NL2010537A NL2010537C2 (en) | 2013-03-28 | 2013-03-28 | Device and method for filling a flexible bag with material, and device and method for depositing the filled bag on the bottom of a water mass. |
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DK179045B1 (en) | 2016-02-17 | 2017-09-18 | Panpac Eng As | Procedure for adjusting systems for filling large bags, as well as systems for filling large bags |
JP7086384B2 (en) * | 2018-05-15 | 2022-06-20 | ナカダ産業株式会社 | How to manufacture a bag for civil engineering |
CN113879622A (en) * | 2021-10-19 | 2022-01-04 | 湖南富硒壹号生态农业科技有限责任公司 | Rice production is with quantitative partial shipment equipment |
CN115182306B (en) * | 2022-08-11 | 2024-03-05 | 中国安能集团第二工程局有限公司 | Water stop and seepage prevention construction method for hydraulic engineering |
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CA1150215A (en) * | 1981-11-12 | 1983-07-19 | Laureat B. Gagne | Collapsible support for garbage bags |
US7942171B2 (en) * | 2009-07-09 | 2011-05-17 | Barrier Systems, Llc | Device and method for filling multiple sandbags at a time |
NL2006315C2 (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-08-29 | Tideway B V | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PILLING STONES TO A DEFINED PLACE ON THE BOTTOM OF A WATER MASS. |
-
2013
- 2013-03-28 NL NL2010537A patent/NL2010537C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2014
- 2014-03-27 EP EP14162049.2A patent/EP2783992B1/en active Active
- 2014-03-27 DK DK14162049.2T patent/DK2783992T3/en active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2783992A1 (en) | 2014-10-01 |
DK2783992T3 (en) | 2016-07-04 |
NL2010537C2 (en) | 2014-09-30 |
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