ES2604360B1 - Quick assembly silo to store and dispense powdery and granular materials - Google Patents

Abstract

Silo that has as main elements a tubular structure (1) formed by beams (10, 11, 12) and pillars (13, 14, 15), which are linked together by means of recesses, flexible walls (2) and a rigid conical plate hopper (3), easily assembled by means of mechanical seals and an outlet device (4). The coupling by means of recesses of the tubular structure (1) allows the elimination of the brackets (34) or other type of interfaces and the novel arrangement of elements of the rigid sheet hopper (3) optimizes its tension state and facilitates its assembly .

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Quick assembly silo to store and dispense powdery and granular materials. TECHNICAL SECTOR

The invention falls within the sector of bulk material storage silos, more specifically of the silos of mixed construction rigid bar structure - flexible sheet for storing and dispensing powdered and granular materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The construction of silos for granular or powdery material is common, to such an extent that there is a Euronorma that refers exclusively to the actions in this type of elements.

Generally the silos are composed of a vertical part, cylindrical or prismatic. The bottom can be a hopper to allow unloading or a flat floor. It is optional to have a cover. In the case of having a hopper, the extraction systems are coupled at its lower end. Being the best known transport by vacuum lines, canglions and endless, both with soul and flexible.

Traditionally as seen in Figure 1 of the PL66064Y1 patent, the construction has been done with metal sheets that are assembled by means of screws, rivets or other similar means. This construction has problems that are slow to assemble and expensive to transport.

As an improvement to this design, textile silos began to be manufactured as seen in P-43,775, which are faster to assemble and less expensive to transport. As a disadvantage is the reduced use of space, since the curve that forms the fabric wastes part of it. Already in these designs the pillars are designed in two pieces, which are subsequently screwed, due to the higher cost of transporting too long pieces that do not fit in a Europallet.

The problem of space utilization has been improved by means of silos with the deformable bottom (ES 2,334,430) or with the flat bottom (DE 10.2009.033.230), the first having the disadvantages of existing moving parts and the second the complication of the download system, which can no longer be due to gravity.

Another solution without the aforementioned problems is EP 1,440,915, where space is better utilized using a rigid sheet hopper (3) and flexible walls (2). This patent is essentially claiming the height adjustment process by means of two subframes and the way of joining the flexible walls (2) to the rigid sheet Hopper (3) by means of a clipping. The drawbacks in the practice of this design lie in the slow assembly, due to the high number of screws, and the lack of rigidity of the union of the lower beams (10) with the lower pillars (13) by means of brackets (34 ) bolted, which implies the need for lower beams (10) of greater section and / or the use of intermediate supports in the lower beams (10) of the larger silos. On the other hand, the design of the rigid sheet hopper (3), joining eight plates on the edges and in the center of the flat faces, is not optimal at the level of structural resistance, since there are better alternatives, such as the one presented in the description.

On the other hand, this type of design does not allow the use of standard welded tubes, since these can include a welding cord (32) that protrudes from the inside. The use of

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These tubes with this design prevents a telescopic design, since, as seen in Figure 16, the clearance between tubes (33) necessary to save the weld (32) prevents effective guidance of the upper pillars (14) by the lower pillars (13). To avoid this problem, current designs use bent sheet tubes, which makes it necessary to make long series to be economically profitable.

These types of silos are currently manufactured, as seen in Figures 1 and 2 and EP 1,440,915, with a tubular structure (1), flexible walls (2), supported by the tubular structure (1), more specifically by the upper beams (12) and intermediate beams (11). These flexible walls (2) are attached to the rigid sheet hopper (3), which ends at the bottom

in the output device (4). The output device (4) allows connecting the sheet hopper

rigid (3) with the different extraction systems.

As seen in Figure 1 and according to the model of patent EP 1,440,915, the tubular structure (1) is composed of rigid profiles joined by cartels (34), being the upper part of the

sliding structure with respect to the lower one, in order to adapt the height of the silo to the space

available. The rigid sheet hopper (3) is shaped like a truncated pyramid and is formed by four faces joined at the edges of the truncated pyramid. These faces can be formed by one or several plates joined together. Figure 2 shows a silo with a rigid sheet hopper (3), whose four faces are formed by two rigid sheets each. The rigid sheets that form the faces are joined at the central crimp (36) and the faces at each other at the edge crimp (35). The cases in which the plates are formed by a single piece or by more than two are similar.

The hopper is supported on the lower beams (10), which in turn can be supported only on the lower pillars (13), or have some intermediate support, if the beam light is high.

As mentioned, the union between the beams (10, 11, 12) and the pillars (13, 14) is carried out by means of posters (34) that are joined by welding, rivets or screws to the pillars (13, 14) and by screws or other means similar to the beams (10, 11, 12).

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem whose solution the present patent improves is to have a storage and dispensing silo of granular or powdery materials with the minimum cost and the easiest assembly so that the proposed solution maximizes the use of the available space.

The design of the silo object of the invention has a tubular structure formed by beams and pillars, a sheet hopper, flexible walls and an exit device for the stored material, located at the apex of the tova and in contact with the ground. The hopper rests on the tubular structure, specifically on the lower beams and on the output device. The flexible walls are hung from the structure, specifically from the beams that do not support the hopper and are attached in its lower part to the hopper by means of straps.

The beams and pillars are joined together by means of mechanical joints formed by recesses in the different tubes. In these mechanical joints at least part of the lower beams, those that support the hopper, cross the pillars, passing through mechanized holes in them. This arrangement allows the union of the lower beams and the pillars to be similar to a theoretical embedment, so that the tension state in these is less than if the coupling resembled a simple support or an elastic support.

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In the proposed design the lower beams cross the pillars at the same height, so to avoid interference between beams, their ends have been lowered so that at least half of the beam section is eliminated. The design of the corresponding holes in the abutments takes these recesses into account to obtain a functional coupling. These recesses are made in a progressive manner, so that the entire section, which is where the supported moment is maximum, is conserved in the part that protrudes from the pillar, decreasing this section towards the point where the moment decreases.

This has the following advantages over the state of the art:

a) The union boards between the lower beams and the pillars are eliminated, which improves the economy of the whole, not only by the elimination of these elements, but by eliminating the union elements of these to the structure, such as welds, rivets or screws

b) The stiffness of the union is greater, closer to the concept of bi-recessed, which reduces the efforts caused by the bending moments in the beam, admitting the use of a smaller section for the same light, or the elimination of the necessary intermediate supports in other designs.

c) Improves the rapidity of assembly, by the mentioned elimination of the elements of union.

In a further embodiment, in the larger structures, the two tubes that form the pillars (lower pillars and upper pillars) are coupled to each other by means of the intermediate beams, whose primary function is to support the flexible walls. These intermediate beams enter the pillars through mechanized holes.

The length of the intermediate beams has to be greater than the distance between pillars, to allow the assembly of these. This is solved by making the size of a series of machined holes wide enough to allow intermediate beams to fully penetrate within one of the pillars, so that the protruding length is less than the distance between pillars, allowing subsequent removal partially, to introduce it in the other and fulfill the function of coupling.

By making several series of mechanized windows in which the tubes that form the pillars can be coupled, it is possible to perform the relative assembly of them in different positions, which allows the same structure to be mounted to reach different heights. This height modification is possible, depending on the machined holes:

• Modified the distance from the intermediate beams to the lower beams, by means of several series of holes in the lower beams.

• Modifying the distance of the intermediate beams to the upper beams, by means of several series of holes in the upper pillars.

• Modified both, if holes have been machined in both the lower and upper beams.

The two tubes that form the pillars have a rectangular section and are partially inserted into each other, having contact only in a pair of inner faces of the outer tube that form a dihedral, with another pair of outer faces of the inner tube that also form another dihedral The inner tube has a smaller outer section than the inner outer section, there is a gap between them, which is located between the pairs of faces that are not in contact. This clearance allows for the internal welding of welded tubes, which protrudes towards the bottom of the profile.

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The advantages of this provision regarding the state of the art are the following:

a) The junction joints between the intermediate beams and the pillars are eliminated, which improves the economy of the whole, not only by the elimination of these elements, but by eliminating the union elements of these to the structure, such as welds, rivets or screws

b) Improves the speed of assembly, because it does not require additional means of joining the joint.

c) It allows the use of standard welded profiles, which are cheaper than other alternatives when you want to make a short series, since the gap between tubes saves the weld seam located on one of the internal faces.

In a further embodiment, the beams that are in the upper part of the structure, whose main mission is the support of the flexible walls, called upper beams, are coupled to each other by means of recesses, before being inserted into housings of the pillars This coupling is designed so that one end of the beam prevents upward movement of the end of another beam. Later this end of the beam is fixed, with a fixing means such as a screw to one of the pillars, preventing the first disassembly of the other.

The advantages of this provision regarding the state of the art are the following:

a) The union boards between the upper beams and the pillars are eliminated, which improves the economy of the whole, not only by the elimination of these elements, but by eliminating the union elements of these to the structure, such as welds, rivets or screws

b) Only four fixing means are needed to fix the upper beams with the pillars, compared to the state of the art where at least eight means are normally needed. This implies a lower cost and a lower assembly time.

In a further embodiment, the rigid sheet hopper is composed of rigid sheets that have their union in areas near the center of the hopper faces. These areas of union act as stiffeners of the hopper. The union is carried out by means of mechanical seals, without using other means of union. These mechanical seals consist of protuberances of one of the rigid sheets that penetrate holes made in the other.

In the case of the larger-sized hoppers, these are composed of two types of plates, the corner ones, shaped like a dihedral and the central ones. The surface that has a central plate is similar to the surface that has one of the faces of the dihedral that forms a corner plate, since this arrangement tends to balance, and therefore to minimize the tension state. This arrangement makes the weight of the central plates approximately half the weight of the corners.

The corner plates rest on the structure and the output device and the centrals, if they exist, also rest on the corner plates. This disposition allows to hold all the rigid plates that form the hopper only by holding the central plates, since these prevent the disassembly of the hopper.

The advantages of this provision regarding the state of the art are the following:

a) By concentrating all the joints between plates inside the faces of the rigid sheet hopper, the rigidity and resistance of this one is improved, with respect to the solution of the state of the art,

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which is to have some of the crimps in the edges of the rigid sheet hopper.

b) The assembly process is facilitated, since the process that requires more precision, the assembly of the corner plates with the central plates, only implies the manipulation of the latter, significantly lighter than their equivalent in the state of the art. This is possible because the corner plates are already resting on the structure when the central assembly takes place.

c) The assembly time and cost of the silo are reduced, since the coupling between the rigid sheet hopper and the output device only requires a means of fixing per central sheet, if they exist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being carried out and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, where with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the next:

Figure 1: State of the art.

This figure shows the parts that make up a silo with flexible walls (2) and tubular structure (1).

Figure 2: State of the art

This figure shows the arrangement of the rigid sheet hopper (3) and its outlet device (4), with respect to the flexible walls (2) and tubular structure (1).

Figures 3:

This figure shows the arrangement of the flexible walls (2), the rigid sheet hopper (3) and its outlet device (4), with respect to the tubular structure (1).

Figures 4:

This figure shows the arrangement of the rigid plate hopper (3) and its outlet device (4), with respect to the tubular structure (1). Flexible walls (2) have been removed for better visibility.

Figure 5

This figure shows the parts that make up the rigid plate hopper (3), when it is composed of eight plates (5, 6), design used in the major hoppers and the output device (4). These parts are the corner plates (5) and the central plates (6).

Figure 6

This figure shows the parts that make up the rigid plate hopper (3), when it is composed of four corner plates (7), a design used in the smaller hoppers and the output device (4).

Figure 7

This figure shows the way of joining the plates (5, 6, 7) that make up the hopper by means of teeth (8) and their respective grooves (9).

Figure 8

This figure shows the different parts that make up the tubular structure (1), in the case of

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the silos with greater dimension. These parts are the pillars (13, 14), the beams (10, 11, 12) and the feet (16).

Figure 9

This figure shows the different parts that make up the tubular structure (1), in the case of silos with smaller dimensions. These parts are the integrated pillars (15), the beams (10, 12) and the feet (16).

Figure 10 and 11

In these figures the union of the lower beams (10) with the lower pillars (13) or the integrated pillars (15) are shown from different points of view.

Figure 12

This figure shows the shape of the coupling of the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14), by means of the intermediate beams (11).

Figure 13

This figure shows the shape of the coupling of the upper pillars (14) or the integrated pillars (15), with the upper beams (12).

Figure 14

This figure shows the shape of the joining loops of the flexible walls (2), with which it joins the upper (12) and intermediate beams (11).

Figure 15

This figure shows the union of the flexible walls (2) with the rigid sheet hopper (3), by means of straps (31).

Figure 16

This figure shows the clearance (33) between the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14) and the weld seam (32) of the lower pillars (13).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The silo has a tubular structure (1) formed by beams (10, 11, 12) and pillars (13, 14), which are joined together by means of recesses, as seen in Figure 8. In the case of the smaller structures, the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14), form the integrated pillars (15) and the intermediate beams (11) are not used, as seen in Figure 9. The hopper is supported by both types of structure in the lower beams (10).

Flexible walls (2) are supported by intermediate beams (11) and upper beams (12). These beams (11 and 12) are optionally inserted in the loops (30) of the flexible walls (2) before mounting the tubular structure (1), as seen in Figure 14. Subsequently the flexible wall is fixed to the hopper of rigid sheet (3) by means of straps (31) that the flexible walls (2) have in their lower part, by means of holes in the sheets (5, 6, 7) that make up the hopper of rigid sheet ( 3), as seen in Figure 15. This fixing procedure is different from that presented in patent EP 1,440,915 due to the non-use of a profile and staples that fix it to the rigid sheet hopper (3).

The lower pillars (13) or the integrated pillars (15) are assembled by means of a mechanical joint according to figures 10 and 11 with the lower beams (10). The lower pillars (13) and the integrated pillars (15) have two machined windows for each of the beams

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lower ones that receive, a mechanized window of entry (17) and a mechanized window of exit (18). The lower beams (10) are axially abutted by means of a shoulder (19) that defines their axial position. Each lower beam (10) has two recesses of approximately half section, one of them being located on the lower side and the upper one on the other, in order not to interfere with each other when penetrating the lower pillars (13) or integrated pillars ( fifteen). Once positioned, the lower beams (10) are positioned by means of a fixing means, for example a screw, which uses the holes (20 and 21). This fixing means has no structural character, and only serves to prevent accidental disassembly when the structure is not loaded.

Between the lower pillars (13) and the ground, or between the integrated pillars (15) and the ground in the case of smaller deposits, there are feet (16) that distribute the weight.

In a further embodiment, the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14) of the larger structures, according to figure 8, are fixed to each other by means of intermediate beams (11), which cross the pillars through of mechanized holes (22, 23, 26, 27). The mechanism of this union is explained below:

a) The intermediate beams (11) rely on the recesses (24 or 25) of the lower pillars (13) that are at their ends.

b) The upper pillars are supported by the upper part of their mechanized windows (22 and 23) in the intermediate beams (11).

c) In order to allow the insertion of the intermediate beams (11), whose total length is greater than the distance between the lower pillars (13), the mechanized windows (22), must allow the passage of the total section of the intermediate beams (11), so that the projecting part of the intermediate beams (11) is smaller than the distance between the lower pillars (13).

d) The mechanized windows (26) of the lower pillars (13), also have to totally allow the passage of the intermediate beams section (11) for the same reason.

e) The mechanized windows (23 and 27) corresponding to the other side of the beam, do not necessarily have to allow the intermediate beams (11) to pass, only the final parts, where the form closure is made. These can be made smaller, which increases the resistance of the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14) and lowers the cost of machining.

f) The vertical movement of the upper pillars (14) with respect to the lower pillars (13) can be restricted by means of joining, such as screws, although this is not necessary. These joining means have no structural character, and only serve to prevent accidental disassembly when the structure is not loaded, since the load in the downstream direction is transferred from the upper pillars (14), to the intermediate beams (11) and finally to the lower pillars (13).

g) The coupling of the intermediate beams (11), the upper pillars (14) and the lower pillars (15) can occur in each of the machined windows (22, 23, 26, 27), which allows adjustment of the height of the structure.

h) Setting the vertical distance between the mechanized windows (26, 27) of the lower pillars

(13), halfway between the mechanized windows (22 and 23) of the upper pillars

(14), the adjustment step is the vertical distance between the mechanized windows of the lower pillars (26, 27).

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i) It is possible to adjust the height with only a series of mechanized windows (22 and 23) on each of the upper pillars (14), using several series of mechanized windows (26 and 27) on the lower pillars (13 ).

j) It is possible to adjust the height by not machining any window in the lower pillars (13), using only the holes (22 and 23) of the upper pillars (14) and the recesses (24) of the lower pillars (13 ).

k) It is possible to make a non-height adjustable structure with only a couple of mechanized windows (22 and 23) on the upper pillars (14) and the recesses (24) of the lower pillars (13).

l) In the case of using standard welded profiles, the mechanized windows (22,23,25, 26) and recesses (24 and 25) are offset, to move the upper pillars (14) with respect to the lower ones (13), such as seen in Figure 16. This allows for a gap between tubes (33) between the upper (14) and lower (13) pillars, which allows the upper pillars (14) not to interfere with the welding bead (32 ) of the lower pillars (13).

This procedure is different from that presented in EP 1,440,915 for the following reasons:

a) It is not a telescopic union, since the clearances between tubes (33) between the two pillars (13 and 14) are excessive for the lower pillars (13) to guide the upper pillars (14).

b) Due to the fact that it does not consist of a lower rigid and a flexible upper zone, which is adjusted, since these two zones do not exist before coupling and at the moment of coupling the two rigid zones remain at the same time, and cannot be modified afterwards. In addition, the design presented allows the adjustment of the lower part of the flexible walls (2) with respect to the intermediate beams (11), of the upper part, or of both, as it is more convenient, not limiting itself to adjusting the upper area.

In a further embodiment, the upper beams (12) are coupled together by means of recesses, before being inserted into housings of the upper pillars (14) or of the integrated pillars (15), as seen in Figure 13 Subsequently, one of the two upper beams (12) is fixed with the upper pillars (14) or integrated pillars (15), with a fixing means such as a screw, using the holes (28 and 29) existing in both elements. Given the design of the joint, the upper beam (12) fixed to the upper pillar (14) or to the integrated pillar (15) prevents disassembly of the other upper beam (12).

In a further embodiment, the rigid sheet hopper (3) is composed of several rigid sheets (5, 6, 7), four of them being corner plates (5, 7) and the others, if any, the central plates ( 6), are located in the central part of the plates. The joining areas of these rigid sheets (5, 6, 7) act as stiffeners of the rigid sheet hopper (3). The location of these areas in the middle of the plates improves the tension state of the plates, with respect to the designs in which some of these joints are in the hopper edge.

The union between the plates is produced by a mechanical seal, for example that produced by teeth (8) in a sheet (6, 7) that penetrate the grooves (9) of the adjacent sheet (5, 7). In the narrowest part of the hopper an output device (4) is coupled, which in addition to this function transmits part of the load of the contents of the silo directly to the ground without loading the tubular structure (1).

The assembly process of the hoppers (3) consisting of eight plates (5 and 6) consists of

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position the four corner plates (5) on the lower beams (10), resting on the exit device (4). Subsequently, the central rigid plates (6) are positioned, so that the teeth (8) they possess are inserted into the grooves (9) that possess the rigid corner plates (5). The central plates (6) are approximately half the size of 5 heavier than the corner plates (5), which facilitates their placement, since the union between the plates is the most precise assembly process.

The coupling of the hopper (3) with the output device (4) is done by joining the central rigid plates (6), or the corner plates (7) with the 10 output device (4) with the fixing means such as a screw. ). This coupling only needs four fixing means, since if there are more than four plates (5,6), the rigid corner plates (5) are trapped between the output device (4) downwards and the central rigid plates (6) towards above.

Claims (7)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 ES 2 604 360 A1 I. Silo for powdery and / or granulated materials, consisting of: a tubular structure (1) formed by a plurality of crimped rigid profiles, wherein the plurality of crimped rigid profiles comprises beams (10, 11, 12) and pillars (13, 14, 15); a rigid plate hopper (3) resting on the tubular structure (1); flexible walls (2) supported by the tubular structure (1) and the rigid sheet hopper (3); an outlet device (4) for the rigid sheet hopper (3), on which it rests, characterized in that the lower beams (10) where the hopper (3) is supported pass through the pillars (13, 15), a through mechanized holes (17 and 18). 2. Silo according to the first claim, characterized in that the lower beams (10) do not interfere with each other due to a recess that eliminates the interference zone between them. 3. Silo according to the first claim, characterized in that the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14) are joined together by means of intermediate beams (11) that pass through mechanized windows (22, 23, 26, 27), these mechanized windows (22, 23, 26, 27) being made in at least one of the joined pillars (13 and 14), at least one series of these holes (22, 26) being of a sufficient size to allow the passage of intermediate beams (11). 4. Silo according to the third claim, characterized in that the union between the intermediate (13) and upper pillars (14) includes a clearance (33) that allows the use of standard welded profiles which have a welding cord (32) that protrudes from one of the inner faces. 5. Silo according to the third claim, characterized in that the presence of a plurality of machined windows (22, 23, 26, 27) in the lower pillars (13) and the upper pillars (14) allows the adjustment of the size of both the part bottom of the flexible wall (2) and of the upper part of the flexible wall (2) with respect to the intermediate beam (11). 6. Silo according to the first claim, characterized in that the upper beams (12) are interlocked allowing vertical insertion in recesses in the upper part of the upper pillars (14) or integrated (15), so that each of the upper beams (12) prevents the decoupling of another (12). 7. Silo according to the first claim, characterized in that the hopper (2) is composed of a plurality of plates (5, 6, 7), wherein the plurality of plates comprises corner plates (5, 7) and optionally central plates ( 6), so that the joints between these plates (5, 6, 7) are positioned on the faces of the hopper and not on their edges, acting as stiffeners of the rigid sheet hopper (3).