GB2029378A

GB2029378A - Transferring Material Between Hoppers or Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2029378A
Application number: GB7923265A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: British Nuclear Fuels Ltd
Current assignee: British Nuclear Fuels Ltd
Priority date: 1978-09-05
Filing date: 1979-07-04
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: GB2029378B

Abstract

A connector for transferring particulate material by gravity from a storage tank (2) or hopper with a diaphragm or iris valve (4) to a transportable container (3). The connector includes a tubular guide (21, 22, 23) which is manually movable relative to the remainder of the guide (8, 15) by means of an external handle (27), a tubular portion (11) arranged between bellows (12, 16) and webs (19) connecting the guide to the portion (11), whereby the bottom of the tubular guide is moved away from the level of material in the container 3, thereby opening a new flow path. In this way material in the tubular guide which may have been blocking the valve (4) is cleared so that the valve can be shut. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transfer of Particulate Material This invention relates to the transfer of particulate material, and in particular to transfer by gravity between a storage tank or hopper to a transportable container of particulate material which is toxic, corrosive or otherwise of such properties or character that precautions require to be taken against leakage or spillage.

In such cases, the storage tank or hopper is usually provided with a valve of the iris or diaphragm type, and a tubular connector is employed between the tank or hopper and the container so that the transfer takes place within a closed system. However, if overfilling takes place with the closure of the valve being delayed until the connector and valve bore become filled with particulate material, release of the connector from the container will allow the material within it to spill, and furthermore the valve will only partially close due to the material within its bore, so that on removal of the connector, material will continue to leak or seep out of the tank or hopper.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connector with provision for avoiding problems of spillage and leakage or seepage as referred to.

According to one aspect of the invention, a connector for use in the gravity transfer of particular material between a valved storage tank or hopper and a transportable container, and connectable to the valved outlet of the tank or hopper and the inlet of the container, comprises a portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the connector, which part has a powder-conveyir,lg tubular part movable therewith.

Preferably, said portion is connected to said remainder by flexible bellows.

The connector preferably has means for enabling the container to be vented during the filling thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a particulate material transfer arrangement comprises a guide means for particulate material detachably connected at one end to a source of particulate material and at the other end to a container for particulate material, the guide means including a tube which is insertable into the container during material transfer, which tube is movable relative to the remainder of the guide means.

Preferably, movement of the tube can open a new flow path into the container for at least material for the time being in the guide means.

A constructional embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein the sole Figure is a side view, half in medial section.

Referring to the drawing, in the construction illustrated therein, we provide a connector 1 for connecting a storage tank 2 or hopper (the base only of the tank 2 being shown in dot-and-dash lines) to a transportable container 3 (the inlet and upper end only thereof being shown in dot-anddash lines). The storage tank 1 has an iris or diaphragm valve 4 (that shown in the drawing being a diaphragm valve the flexible diaphragm of which is designated 5 and the operating handle 6) and a depending screwthreaded skirt 7 depends beneath the valve, on to which a tubular upper end portion 8 of the connector 1 can be secured by a screwed cap 9 against a gasket 10.The upper end portion 8 of the connector 1 is flexibly secured to a tubular intermediate portion 11 of the connector 1 by a bellows 12 and circlips 13, 14 and the intermediate portion 11 is itself connected to a tubular lower end portion 15 of the connector 1 by a bellows 1 6 and circlips 17, 18.

The intermediate portion 11 reduces in diameter and has secured to it by four equiangularly spaced webs 19 (one only being shown) a central tube 20 consisting of an upper part 21 of diameter such that it projects through the portion 8 and has the folds of the flexible diaphragm 5 (when the valve 4 is in the open position) disposed therewithin, a conical intermediate part 22, and a lower part 23 connected to the part 21 by the intermediate part 22. The lower part 23 extends downwardly through the lower end portion 1 5 of the connector 1 projecting by a considerable amount.

As can be seen from the drawing, the lower end of the part 23 extends well into the container 3 beyond the valve and upper end wall thereof.

The lower end portion 15 of the connector 1 has an internal flange 24 carrying a tubular member 25 which embraces the part 23 and extends downwardly to an extent such that its lower end more or less registers with the upper end wall of the container 3. There is a vent pipe 26 extending outwardly from the bore of the upper end portion 8 of the connector 1, the pipe 26 communicating with the interior of portion 8 and with the annular space between the portions 8, 11 and 15 and the central tube 20 and with the annular space between the part 23 of the central tube 20 and the tubular member 25.

The portions 8, 1 5 of the connector 1 each have a circular handle 27, 28 respectively secured thereto.

In operation, if an operator operates the valve 4 correctly so as to stop the flow of particulate material from tank 2 to container 3 before the container 3 is completely filled, the connector 1 operates purely as a means of communication for the particular material between the tank and the container. In the case where the operator operates the valve 4 to close it after the particulate material completely fills the container 3 and also fills the central tube 20 and chokes the valve 4 so it cannot completely close, the situation can be retrieved by the operator grasping the two handles 27, 28 and moving the handle 27 upwardly whilst keeping the handle 28 stationary, the bellows 12, 1 6 allowing such movement to take place and the effect being to move the intermediate portion 11 of the connector relative to the portions 8, 15 which remain stationary. This upward movement frees the end of the part 23 of central tube 20 from the level of particulate material in container 3 thereby opening a flow path for material in the tube.

Because of the larger width of container 3 compared with the diameters of central tube 20, the upward movement need only be minimal to provide space to accommodate all the particulate material which occupies tube 20 and the space beneath valve 4, thereby freeing the valve such that when it is operated again. it will fully close, since the central core which prevented complete closure will have fallen to be accommodated in the extra space in container 3 which the raising of tube 20 provides. The vent pipe 26 allows the air displaced by the filling of container 3 to be passed to whatever means is necessary, eg a dust filter, before discharge to atmosphere.

Claims

1. A connector for use in the gravity transfer of particulate material between a valved storage tank or hopper and a transportable container and connectable to the valved outlet of the tank or hopper and the inlet of the container, comprising a portion which is movable relative to the remainder of the connector, the part having a particulate material conveying tubular part movable therewith.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion is connected to said remainder by flexible bellows.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising means for enabling the container to be vented during the filling thereof.

4. A particulate material transfer arrangement comprising a guide means for particulate material detachably connected at one end to a source of particulate material and at the other end to a container for particulate material, the guide means including a tube which is insertable into the container during material transfer, which tube is movable relative to the remainder of the guide means.

5. A particulate material transfer arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which movement of the tube can open a new flow path into the container for at least material for the time being in the guide means.

6. A connector for use in the gravity transfer of particulate material between a valved storage tank or hopper and a transportable container substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. A particulate material transfer arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.