GB1569767A

GB1569767A - Discharge device for a container

Info

Publication number: GB1569767A
Application number: GB45767/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FAUVET GIREL ETS
Current assignee: FAUVET GIREL ETS
Priority date: 1976-06-29
Filing date: 1976-11-03
Publication date: 1980-06-18
Also published as: PT65747A; PT65747B; NL7613038A; ATA781676A; BE847366A; ES453711A1; DE2649610A1; CH617137A5; OA05453A; FR2356586B1; DE7634328U1; IT1071824B; FR2356586A1; AT349054B

Description

(54) A DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER (71) We, ETABLISSEMENTS FAUVET GIREL SOCIETE ANONYME, a French Body Corporate of 4ter, Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be per formed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a discharge device for a container.

The discharge or unloading of tanks or hoppers, used for the storing or transporting of cereals, powdered materials or any products of similar nature, causes difficulties in the opera tions carried out at unloading and storage stations.

The ground environments for storage pur poses are generally designed for permitting unloading operations on the track, or on one side of the track, or simultaneously on two sides of the track when the transport is by trucks.

These arrangements are also applicable in the case where the transport is by road.

On the other hand, certain ground environ ments necessitate the load being transferred for being stored in elevated hoppers or for trans ferring the load.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a discharge device which permits the discharge operations to take place in several directions, depending on the unloading require ments, that is to say, in the case of a truck or wagon, the unloading into a hopper between the tracks, the unilateral or bilateral discharge into a hopper or the unilateral or bilateral discharge by means of a transfer arrangement such as a portable conveyor.

The invention provides a discharge device in a road or rail vehicle for unloading from a container of the vehicle enabling multidirec tional unloading, the device comprising two spouts supported by supporting means, the spouts being mounted for movement about a common axis aligned in the longitudinal direction of the container and located directly under an outlet of the container, the spouts each being able to occupy two positions, one position being a raised position and the other position being tilted downwards from the axis, the inner ends of the spouts being shaped and positioned so as to leave a central opening for central discharge when the spouts are both in the raised position, whereas for unilateral discharge one of the spouts is in a tilted downwards position and the other spout is raised and for bilateral discharge both spouts are tilted downwardly.

In a first preferred embodiment the two parts are pivotably mounted on a common shaft.

In a second preferred embodiment the two parts are mounted between two side plates.

A device according to the invention is so designed that it can easily be positioned under a container, such as a tank or compartment of a rail truck by quick-action fixing means known per se.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hopper-type truck having three compartments, each provided with a device according to the invention, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the truck shown in Figure 1 showing a first compartment with a device according to the invention in a position for central discharge, Figure 3 is the same end elevation as that in Figure 2 with the same device in a position for unilateral discharge, Figure 4 is the same end elevation as that in Figure 2 with the same device in a position for bilateral discharge, Figure 5 is the same end elevation as that in Figure 3 with the same device in the same position co-operating with a portable conveyor, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of the device shown in Figures 2 to 5.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention in a position for bilateral discharge, Figure 8 shows the same view as in Figure 7 with the same device in a position for central discharge, Figure 9 is the same view as in Figure 7 with the same device in a position for unilateral discharge, and Figure 10 is the same view as in Figure 7 with the same device in a position in which it is locked for transport.

A hopper-type truck 1 shown in Fig. 1 has three compartments each of which is provided with a device dl, do, d3 according to the invention disposed directly beneath the outlet openings for the product contained in the compartment.

The first embodiment of a device shown in Figure 2 is formed essentially of a spout comprising two substantially identical parts 3 and 4, each formed by a Unction having flanges the height of which decreases from one end to the other, namely from the inner end to the outer end of each of the parts. The parts 3 and 4 are pivotably mounted at 2 on a common shaft which is not shown in the drawing. The shaft extends in the longitudinal direction of the truck. In the illustrated example the truck and also the compartment or tank is perfectly symmetrical and the shaft is disposed in the plane of longitudinal symmetry thereof. The product contained in the tank may be discharged through two outlet openings 5 and 6 which are arranged symmetrically on either side of the said plane of symmetry.

In Figure 2 the parts 3 and 4 of the device are so positioned that while the upper faces of the flanges of each of the parts extend substantially horizontally, the webs of the parts, forming the bottoms of the two parts, which are substantially trough-shaped, are inclined to the horizontal, each of the said bottoms being inclined from the outer end thereof towards the inner end downwardly to the said axis of symmetry. The two parts 3 and 4 are held in the illustrated position by non-illustrated means. The adjacent end surfaces 3a, 4a of the parts 3, 4 are so shaped that a free space is left between the two parts in the position shown in Figure 2 for central discharge.

In Figure 3 the two parts 3 and 4 are moved to the position where no gap is left between the adjacent end surfaces 3a and 4a and the bottoms of the two parts 3 and 4 are substantially in alignment, so that the two parts 3 and 4 form a single trough which is inclined to the horizontal for unilateral discharge of the product to one side of the truck.

In Figure 4 the parts 3 and 4 of the device are inclined for bilateral discharge of the material to both sides of the track. The illustrated position of the parts 3 and 4 is possible because one of the parts is narrower than the other, so that the inner end portion of that narrower part can be inserted into the inner end portion of the wider part. Naturally it is sufficient if only the inner end portion of one of the parts is narrower without making the whole of the part narrower.

In Figure 5 the device is shown in the position illustrated in Figure 3 i.e. in a position for unilateral discharge with the addition of a portable conveyor 7 for receiving the product from the device. It is obvious that where bilateral discharge is concerned a portable conveyor can be positioned on each side.

The parts 3 and 4 of the device may be held in any of the selected positions by any suitable mechanical or hydraulic means.

Also the movement of each part 3 and 4 from one position to another may be controlled by a suitable mechanical or hydraulic means, preferably means which can be controlled from a centralised control which is easily accessible.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. The device comprises two side plates 10 which are spaced apart and fixed in their mutual position by distance members or braces.

The side plates 10 are pivotably suspended on a shaft 2 and fixed to the tank or truck. Each of the side plates 10 is provided with two guideways 11 and 12. Each of the guideways 11 has at its top end a small branch 1 ib, hereinafter referred to as the top branch, and between its two ends a further branch 1 la, hereinafter referred to, for simplicity, as the central branch, although it is not exactly in the centre of the guideways 11. The device has two trough parts 3 and 4 similar to those described in connection with the first embodiment. The parts 3, 4 have on their outer sides studs 3b, 3c and 4b, 4c, respectively, which may be extensions of braces or distance members.The studs 3b and 4b are displaceable in the guideways 11, and the studs 3c and 4c in the guideways 12, the studs and guideways being so designed that they permit the parts 3 and 4 to be displaced to the selected discharging positions and held there as will be explained in more detail later.

Figure 7 shows the side plates 10 held horizontally by any means A suitable for locking them in that position. The parts 3 and 4 are shown in an inclined position for bilateral discharging in which the studs 3b and 4b are at the bottom end of the guideways 11 and the studs 3c and 4c are at the ends of the guideways 12. Figure 7 shows also the outlet openings of one of the compartments of the truck in a partially open position.

In the position shown in Figure 8 the plates 10 are in the horizontal position shown in Figure 7, in which they are held by the means A, while the parts 3 and 4 are in an inclined position for central discharge in which the studs 3b and 4b are accommodated in the top branches I 1 b, while the studs 3c and 4c are at the ends of the guideway 12.

Naturally one of the parts may be in the position shown in Figure 7 while the other may be in the position shown in Figure 8, in which the first part will discharge laterally while the second part will discharge centrally.

Figure 9 shows the device illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 in a position for unilateral discharge to the right (in full lines) or to the left (in chain dotted lines). Only the position shown in full lines will be explained in detail.

In order to describe the position illustrated in Figure 9 it is necessary to refer first to Figure 10.

Figure 10 shows the side plates 10 in a horizontal position shown also in Figures 7 and 8, in which they are held by the means A. The parts 3 and 4 shown in Figure 10 are in a position in which the bottoms of the trough-shaped parts 3 and 4 extend horizontally, are aligned with each other and form continuation of each other. In this position the studs 3b and 4b are at the bottom of the central branches 1 la, while the studs 3c and 4c are in a symmetrical position between the ends of the guideway 12.

In this position the parts are interlocked and fastened to each other by locking means C of a suitable type known per se. This is the position to which the device is brought for transport.

For bringing the two parts 3,4 to the position shown in Figure 9 in full lines the plates are released so that they are no longer fixed by the means A and tilted about the shaft 2 to the illustrated inclined position and held in that position by a position locking means D for unilateral discharge to the right.

The parts 3, 4 may be provided with slidable extension parts 13 at the outer ends thereof which permit the flow of material to be directed to a desired zone.

The means used for both the described embodiments for keeping the parts 3, 4 or side plates 10 in an inclined position are such which enables an inclination to be chosen which is best suited for any particular material discharged with the use of the device.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A discharge device in a road or rail vehicle for unloading from a container of the vehicle enabling multidirectional unloading, the device comprising two spouts supported by supporting means, the spouts being mounted for movement about a common axis aligned in the longitudinal direction of the container and located directly under an outlet of the con tainer, the spouts each being able to occupy two positions, one position being a raised position and the other position being tilted downwards from the axis, the inner ends of the spouts being shaped and positioned so as to leave a central opening for central discharge when the spouts are both in the raised position, whereas for unilateral discharge one of the spouts is in a tilted downwards position and the other spout is raised and for bilateral discharge both spouts are tilted downwardly.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the inclination of the spouts is adjustable.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a guideway spaced laterally from said axis is provided for each spout, the guideway having a branch so as to maintain the spout in the raised position, and a central guideway to ensure the control of the spacing of the spouts with the laterally spaced guideways.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the two spouts are mounted between two side plates.

5. A device according to Claim 4 in which guideways are provided in the side plates and each of the spouts have studs guided in the guideways, means being provided for retaining the studs in a selected position along the guideways.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the means for retaining the studs in a selected position along the guidways include retaining branches of the guideways.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the side plates are pivotable about a common shaft to a selected adjustable inclination.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of the spouts is provided with an adjustable extension for directing discharge by means of the spout.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims including a central control for the operation of the means for the adjustment and retaining of the selected inclination.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each spout is formed by a U-section having sides the height of which decrease from the inner to the outer end.

11. A discharge device for a container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 6 and 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. position for central discharge in which the studs 3b and 4b are accommodated in the top branches I 1 b, while the studs 3c and 4c are at the ends of the guideway 12. Naturally one of the parts may be in the position shown in Figure 7 while the other may be in the position shown in Figure 8, in which the first part will discharge laterally while the second part will discharge centrally. Figure 9 shows the device illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 in a position for unilateral discharge to the right (in full lines) or to the left (in chain dotted lines). Only the position shown in full lines will be explained in detail. In order to describe the position illustrated in Figure 9 it is necessary to refer first to Figure 10. Figure 10 shows the side plates 10 in a horizontal position shown also in Figures 7 and 8, in which they are held by the means A. The parts 3 and 4 shown in Figure 10 are in a position in which the bottoms of the trough-shaped parts 3 and 4 extend horizontally, are aligned with each other and form continuation of each other. In this position the studs 3b and 4b are at the bottom of the central branches 1 la, while the studs 3c and 4c are in a symmetrical position between the ends of the guideway 12. In this position the parts are interlocked and fastened to each other by locking means C of a suitable type known per se. This is the position to which the device is brought for transport. For bringing the two parts 3,4 to the position shown in Figure 9 in full lines the plates are released so that they are no longer fixed by the means A and tilted about the shaft 2 to the illustrated inclined position and held in that position by a position locking means D for unilateral discharge to the right. The parts 3, 4 may be provided with slidable extension parts 13 at the outer ends thereof which permit the flow of material to be directed to a desired zone. The means used for both the described embodiments for keeping the parts 3, 4 or side plates 10 in an inclined position are such which enables an inclination to be chosen which is best suited for any particular material discharged with the use of the device. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A discharge device in a road or rail vehicle for unloading from a container of the vehicle enabling multidirectional unloading, the device comprising two spouts supported by supporting means, the spouts being mounted for movement about a common axis aligned in the longitudinal direction of the container and located directly under an outlet of the con tainer, the spouts each being able to occupy two positions, one position being a raised position and the other position being tilted downwards from the axis, the inner ends of the spouts being shaped and positioned so as to leave a central opening for central discharge when the spouts are both in the raised position, whereas for unilateral discharge one of the spouts is in a tilted downwards position and the other spout is raised and for bilateral discharge both spouts are tilted downwardly.