FR2488985A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PELLETS - Google Patents

Abstract

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PELLETS. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES AN INPUT HOPPER 12, MEANS 24, 30, 32 FOR DIVIDING THE INPUT CURRENT, MEANS 38 FOR REDUCING THE DOWN TILT OF A PART OF EACH OF THE PELLET CURRENTS, MEANS 34, 36 TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DIVIDE EACH CURRENT OF PELLETS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE FOUR CURRENTS OF ESSENTIALLY EQUAL PELLETS, MEANS 40, 42, 44, 46 TO COLLECT EACH OF THE SAID FOUR CURRENTS OF PELLETS IN THE FORM OF A SEPARATELY CLOSED COLUMN, OF THE MEANS 50, 52 TO PASS AMBIENT AIR FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER OF EACH COLUMN, MEANS 16 FOR CONVERGING ADJACENT COLUMNS OF SUCH COOLED PELLETS IN THE FORM OF A SINGLE PAIR OF CURRENTS, AND MEANS TO EVACUATE COOLED PELLETS. APPLICATION TO THE OBTAINING OF FOOD PRODUCTS FOR ANIMALS.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cooling

continuous way a matter

  in the form of granules and it has a more specific

  to a vertical cooler to simultaneously cool and dry at least four columns of newly granulated material in a manner that saves space and energy. during the production of animal feed pellets

and similar products.

  It is known that it is necessary to provide cooling and, to a certain extent, drying of animal feed pellets and similar substances which have just been granulated, as already described in US Pat. US Patents 2,849,806 and 3,842,516. In addition, according to US Pat. No. 3,842,516, it is known that a limitation of the cooler structure of US Pat. No. 2,849,806 resides in the relatively large overall height required to achieve a given flow rate. The subject of US Pat. No. 3,842,516 has been to form a pellet cooler of less overall height than that of the cooler of US Pat. No. 2,849,806, or a pellet cooler which "allows a more favorable use of space. US Patent 3,842,516 teaches improvements to a cascade type cooler with particular attention to, inter alia, eliminating conduit obstruction.

  exhaust air by fines from the granules.

  Under conditions where the entry of the products is controlled, and when the material entering in the form of granules

  naturally opposes the production of fines, the cooling

  The stripper of US Patent 3,842,516 is working properly. However, it has been found that when the granules of material being produced are not strongly opposed to the production of fines, difficulties are encountered due to obstructions which necessitate downtimes of the plant. view of cleaning. Accordingly, the present invention aims to eliminate

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  the problems posed by fines in certain applications

  coolers of US Pat. No. 3,842,516, while at the same time providing a cooler of

  granules which is characterized by a much better use of

  available space as the cooler covered by patent 2,849,806. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a pellet cooler which makes it possible to increase the production capacity of more than

  % while requiring additional floor space

  about 25% but a height of at least cm lower than what is possible

  with the apparatus of US Patent 2,849,806.

  In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel type pellet cooler, wherein a stream of pellets to be cooled is introduced into the inlet hopper of a vertical cooler, which input stream is then divided into four basically equal currents, which are then each collected

  in the form of a column locked separately. As a result

  quence, each of the separately enclosed granule columns is individually cooled and the cooled material is

  discharged from the cooler in the form of one or more

  output currents. In a particular embodiment

  of the present invention, the incoming stream is divided into a first pair of downwardly diverging granule streams and then each stream of this first pair is divided into a second pair of downwardly diverging granule streams to produce

  thus four currents of granules substantially equal.

  Each of the four streams of granules are then collected as a vertically enclosed column and ambient air is passed from one side to the other of each column for individual cooling. Adjacent columns of cooled granules are then joined by convergence to form a single pair of streams, and then the cooled pellets are discharged as two outflow streams or both.

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  Cooled streams are brought together by convergence to form a single output stream that is discharged from the cooler. Other advantages and features of the invention will be highlighted later in the

  description, given by way of non-limiting example, in

  reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevational view of a single discharge granulator cooler in accordance with the present invention; 2 is a front elevational view of the pellet cooler of FIG. 1, - Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the single discharge pellet cooler of FIG. 1, - Fig. 4 is a detailed diagram of a portion of the inlet hopper of the pellet cooler; - Fig. 5 schematically shows: in view

  side elevation, the lower part of a cooler

  a dual-discharge granule according to the present invention, FIG. Fig. 6 shows details of the interior of a half of a pellet hopper at a single discharge, around its central axis; - Fig. 7 shows details of the interior of a half of an unloaded pellet hopper, around

of its central axis.

  In the drawings, and more particularly in FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a single discharge granulator cooler according to the present invention has been designated. The pellet cooler 10 essentially comprises an inlet hopper 12, a set of cooling columns 14 and a discharge hopper 16. There are also two transition exhaust ducts 18 (one of which is visible in FIG. ) which are connected either separately or together with one or more fans (not shown) to ensure the passage of

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  of ambient air, at a desired flow rate, throughout

cooling columns 14.

  Referring now in more detail to the inlet hopper 12, it is seen that there is provided an inlet 20 of generally rectangular shape, open towards the top and through which the material

  in granules 22 to be cooled is introduced into the cooling

  Granular stripper 10. An inlet baffle 24 of triangular shape extends from one side to the other of the inlet 20, being placed in the center thereof, so as to divide the incoming flow of granules. in a first pair of

  divergent and essentially equal currents (Figure 3).

  As illustrated, the inlet baffle 24 is fixed by its end portions to the inlet hopper 12 by means of screws 26 or similar members engaged in transverse slots 28 (one of which is visible) so that it is possible to adjust the lateral positioning of the deflector 24 in order to better evenly divide the

incoming current of granules 22.

  -Two plates 30, 32, spaced laterally and

  diverging downward, are placed below the deflec-

  24 and they form bearing surfaces intended to maintain the divergence of the granule streams of the first pair. As shown in fig. 3, the bearing plates 30 and 32 terminate at a selected location where it is desired to divide each stream of the first pair into a second pair of currents diverging downwards,

  to produce four streams of essential granules

  exactly equal. For this purpose, the inlet hopper 12 is provided with two basic triangular deflectors 34 and 36 which extend from one side to the other of the inlet hopper and which are each arranged in the diverging displacement path down, from one of the granule streams of the first pair. When each stream of granules comes to touch its respective lower baffle, the current is divided, at the top of the triangular deflectors,

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  in two streams diverging downwards.

  In addition, to better control the equality of these newly produced currents, two means are used.

  appropriate. In the first place, as shown more particularly

  particularly fig. 4, there is a preselected number

  bridges 38 with a preselected width in the inter-

  valle existing between the lower ends of the plates and 32 and the tops of the lower baffles 34 and 36. In this manner, a selected fraction of the granules may overlap the gap while another portion tends to fall by its own weight into said interval. In the second place, the slope of the bridges 38 is given, as shown in FIG. 1, a value less than the slope of the plates 30 and 32 so that the angular momentum, diverging outwards, granules of material,

  interrupted to a certain degree, which obliges

  the granules to enter the gap instead of crossing it. It is thus possible to obtain

  practically the equalization of the four streams of granules.

  Referring now to the set of cooling columns 14, it is seen that there are provided in the figures, four cooling columns designated by, 42, 44 and 46. Between the columns 40 and 42 and below the lower baffle 34, an air exhaust chamber 50 is provided. Also between the columns 44 and 46 and below the lower baffle 36 is an air exhaust chamber 52. In addition, between the columns 42 and 44 , it is planned a canald'entrée d'air

  ambient 54 which is closed at least at its upper end.

  Stainless steel screens 56 form the opposite walls of the exhaust chambers 50 and 52 and correspondingly form a wall of each of the cooling columns 40, 42, 44 and 46 while a group of articulated vents 57 form the other wall of each of the cooling columns, i.e. the opposite walls of the air inlet channel 54 and the outer surfaces of the front and rear walls 55 and

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  58 of the set of cooling columns 14 (or the walls, directed outwardly, of the cooling columns 40 and 46). In this way, there are provided four cooling columns which each comprise a wall consisting of a group of hinged flaps 57 and an opposite wall consisting of a stainless steel screen 56. For reasons to be specified in the thereafter, there is provided on the proximity of the base of each air exhaust chamber 50 and 52 an elongate fin cleaning blade 60, which extends over the entire length of said chambers and suitably mounted so as to to be able to turn 1800 under the impetus of a crank handle 62 placed outside. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the right sides of the chambers 50 and 52 are closed-but each is provided with an inspection pivot door 64, at their lower part, to allow a rapid inspection of this area. The left sides of rooms 50 and 52 are obviously connected

  to the transition exhaust ducts 18.

  Now considering the discharge hopper

  16 of the granulator cooler 10, we see that it is shown in FIGS. 1,3 and 6 a simple discharge hopper and in Figs. 5 and 7 a double discharge hopper. Since many of the components of the two discharge hoppers are identical or nearly identical, the two discharge hoppers will be simultaneously described using common references at appropriate locations. Considering more particularly fig. 3 and 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that the two discharge hoppers essentially comprise an eccentric drive device 66 comprising a drive motor 68 (FIG 2), pairs of feed control flaps 70, a pair of means shake feed or oscillating shoes 72, and one or more discharge outlets 74. The main difference between the single and double dump embodiments of the invention is that it is provided in addition to the hooves oscillator 72 of the single discharge device, an additional chute or shoe support 76 for directing the granules from the power control flaps arranged in parallel to a single outlet 74, instead of two outlets 74. The two structures are equipped with several shoe support springs or similar members 78 (generally two per side for each oscillating shoe 72) as well as two

  hooves 80 which provide the connection of the driving device

  eccentrically 66 with the oscillating shoes 72. It is

  obvious that in the single-shot embodiment

  When the feed flaps 70 are raised, the cooled granules are joined by convergence, at the outlet of two adjacent cooling columns, to form a single pair of streams of granules and then this unique pair of granule streams is joined by convergence in the form of a single output current, the granules

  cooled being discharged in the form of an outgoing current.

  Conversely, in the dual-discharge embodiment, after the convergence meeting of pairs of adjacent cooling columns to form a single pair of cooled granule streams, the decurrent pair of pellets is discharged as two output streams. The mechanical controls for operating the granule coolers in accordance with the present invention comprise an elongated control pad 82 disposed transversely in the cooling column and attached to a rotating pulley 84 and a counterweight 86. The pulley 84 is secured to a cable which passes around a pulley 88 and which is connected to one end of a control panel of the supply shutter 90. As illustrated, the control bar 90 is connected, via a crank 92, to control rods of supply flaps 94 which are in turn connected to actuating levers 96. The actuating levers 96, fixed by means of bearings 98 on arms 100, rotate the flaps 70 between the closed position shown in the drawings and an open or raised position permitting the evacuation of the cooled granules, when the control valve 82 moves in the clockwise direction of a shows towards a vertical position. Additional mechanical controls may include a pneumatic cylinder 102 and a cable 104 or the like to enable priority operation of the control valve 82 for emptying the pump.

  cooler at the end of a walking period.

  Having described in particular the main parts of the various embodiments of the present invention, we will now briefly specify their mode of operation. Hot granules, flowing into the inlet hopper 12 and from a granulator or similar machine, are derived or divided into a first pair of substantially equal currents and diverging downwardly. Then, each of the first pair of granule streams is divided into a second pair of downwardly diverging streams to produce four essentially equal streams of granules. Each of the granule streams flows downwardly to fill its respective cooling column 40,42,44,46. A group of hinged waders constitutes a wall while a stainless steel screen forms the other wall of the cooling columns 40, 42, 44 and 46. The weight of the granules entering, as they rise in the

  cooling columns, rotates the

  The outlets 57 extend outward or downward and open air passages, which air is sucked by a fan (not shown) so as to pass through the column of hot pellets. The part of the islands against which the granules are supported is perforated so as to improve the flow of ambient air. At the desired time, all the rings 57 are actuated and, as the pellets accumulate against the control valve 82, the latter turns clockwise (as indicated), opening the flaps In consequence, as a function of / a unit with one or two discharges is in use, the cooled granules are united by convergence, from adjacent columns, in the form of a single pair. of currents and then the cooled granules are discharged in the form of two outgoing currents or the two cooled streams of the single pair are united by convergence in the form of

  of a single outgoing current and are removed from the cooler.

  Thereafter, the cooler operates to establish a continuous flow of granules from top to bottom until the flow of the incoming material is interrupted or until its operation is otherwise

  stopped. In other words, the input sets the output.

  Periodically, the fines cleaning valve 60 can be actuated and as a result the fines are discharged into the cooler discharge duct, thereby eliminating fines build-up and thus ultimately avoiding the risk of mutual contamination of sucessful charges.

of different granules.

  Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown, from which we can provide other modes and other embodiments without thereby leaving the

framework of the invention.

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Claims (20)

  A method of cooling granules, characterized in that it comprises: (a) introducing a stream of granules to be cooled (22) into the inlet hopper (12) of a cooler vertical position (10).   (b) to divide the incoming current into at least   four essentially equal streams of granules.   each (c) to collect / from the four streams of granules   in the form of a separately enclosed column (40,42,44,46).   (d) individually cooling each of the separately enclosed columns (40,42,44,46), and (e) discharging the cooled granules under the   at least one output current.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that ambient air is passed from one side to the other of each column (40,42,44,46) to individually cool each of said enclosed columns separately. 3. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: (a) dividing said incoming stream (22) into a first pair of streams of granules, and (b) dividing each stream of granules from the first pair into a second pair of streams of granules to thereby produce said four streams of essentially equal granules.   4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it consists of: (a) convertively joining the adjacent columns (40,42,44,46) of said cooled granules to form a single pair of currents, (b) to converging the two currents of the single pair to form an output current, and (c) discharging said cooled granules under the form of an output current.   5. Process according to claim 2, characterized   in that it consists of: (a) concentrating adjacent columns (40,42,44,46) of said cooled granules to form a single pair of streams, and (b) discharging said cooled granule streams from said unique pair in the form of a pair output currents.   6. Process according to claim 2, characterized   rised by periodically adding granular fines   cooled to at least one output current.   7. Process according to claim 3, characterized   characterized by (a) dividing said input stream (22) into a first pair of divergent pellet streams and (b) dividing each stream of the first pair into a second pair of diverging pellet streams. so as to produce the said four currents essentially equal to granules.   8. Process for cooling granules   according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that it consists of: (a) introducing a stream of granules to   cooling (22) in the inlet hopper (12) of a cooler   vertical (10), (b) splitting said input stream into a first pair of downwardly diverging granule streams, (c) reducing the downward inclination of a portion of each of the granule streams. of the first pair, (d) simultaneously dividing each granule stream of the first pair into a second pair of downwardly diverging granule streams to thereby produce four substantially equal granule streams; (e) collecting each of four streams of granules in the form of a column (40,42,44,46) enclosed separately, (f) passing ambient air from one side to the other of each column to individually cool each of said columns encapsulated separately, (g) concentrating adjacent columns of said cooled granules to form a single pair of streams, and (h) discharging the cooled granules under the   at least one output current.   9. Process according to claim 8, characterized in that it consists in: (a) convertively joining the currents of the single pair in the form of a single output current, and (b) discharging said cooled granules under the shape of an output current ..   10. Process according to claim 8, characterized in that the streams of cooled granules are removed from   the pair is in the form of two output currents.   Apparatus for chilling granules, characterized in that it comprises: (12) (a) an inlet hopper / for introducing a stream of granules (22) to be cooled in a vertical cooler (10), (b) means (30,32,34,36) for dividing the input current into at least four streams of granules essentially equal, -   (c) means (40,42,44,46) for collecting each of said four streams of granules in the form of   of a column enclosed separately.   (d) means (50,52) for individually cooling   each of said separately enclosed columns, and (e) means (70,72,74) for discharging the cooled granules as at least one output current.   Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized   characterized in that it comprises means (50, 52) for passing ambient air from one side to the other of each column to individually cool each of said columns locked separately.   Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises: (a) means (30,32,34,36) for dividing said incoming stream (22) into a first pair of pellet streams, and (b) means (34,36) for dividing each stream of granules of the first pair into a second pair of pellet streams to thereby produce   said four streams of granules substantially equal.   14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises: (a) means (16) for joining by convergence of adjacent columns (40,42,44,46), cooled granules in the form of a only pair of currents, (b) means for converging the currents of the single pair in the form of an output current, and (c) means (70, 72, 74) for discharging the   cooled granules in the form of an output stream.   15. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises (a) means (16) for joining by convergence adjacent columns (40, 42, 44, 46) of said cooled granules in the form of a single pair of currents, and (b) means (70,72,74) for discharging cooled granule streams from said single pair   in the form of two output currents.   16. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises means (60) for periodically adding fines of cooled granules to at least one output current.   17. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises: 2488I35   (a) means (24) for dividing said incoming stream (22) into a first pair of divergent pellet streams, and (b) means (34, 36) for dividing each pellet stream of the first pair into a second pair of diverging granule streams to thereby produce said four substantially equal granule streams. 18. Pellet cooling apparatus   according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized   characterized in that it comprises: (a) an inlet hopper (12) for introducing a stream of granules (22) to be cooled in a cooler vertical (10).   (b) means (24) for dividing the input current into a first pair of downwardly diverging pellet streams; (c) means (38) for reducing the downward inclination of a portion of each of the granule streams of said first pair,   (d) means (34,36) for dividing simultaneously   each stream of granules of the first pair into a second pair of pellet streams diverging downwardly to thereby produce four substantially equal pellet streams; (e) means (40,42,44,46) for collecting each said four streams of granules in the form of a separately enclosed column, (f) means (50, 52) for passing ambient air from one side to the other of each column to individually cool each of said columns. separately locked up.   (g) means (16) for convertively joining adjacent columns of said cooled granules as a single pair of streams, and (h) means (70, 72, 74) for discharging the cooled pellets in the form of at least one output current. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises: (a) means (16) for convergence joining the two currents of said single pair in the form of an output current, and (b) means (70,72,74) to evacuate   cooled granules in the form of an output stream.   20. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises means (70,72,74) for discharging the cooled granule streams of:   single pair in the form of two output currents.