GB2043145A - Slurry stores - Google Patents

Abstract

A slurry or like store comprises a metal framework (39) carried on a base (1) and a plurality of panels (38) of concrete or other non-corrodible material supported at their lower ends on the base (1) and towards their upper ends on the metal framework (39) so as to leave a small spacing between the panels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slurry or like store This invention relates to a slurry or like store.

Existing slurry or like stores are often of relatively complicated construction and require relatively skilled labour for their erection.

The present invention seeks to provide a slurry or like store which is of a sturdy but relatively simple construction.

According to the invention, there is provided a slurry or like store comprising a plurality of supported panels of concrete or other non corrodible material wherein the panels are supported towards their upper ends by a metal framework and are supported at their lower ends on a base to which the metal framework is attached, the panels being arranged with a small spacing between them.

Preferably the base is concrete, the panels may be raked and rest on the metal framework, the lower ends of the panels being located against a shoulder on the base or the panels may be vertical and attached to the metal frame, the lower ends of the panels being seated in a channel in the base. The panels may be attached to the metal frame by means of elements positioned between the panels and acting at the same time as spacers.

The base may be formed with an upstanding rib substantially surrounding the store so as to form, with the panels, a liquid channel for receiving liquid material escaping between the panels. This liquid material in the channels may then be conducted to a holding tank.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slurry or like store in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a sectional view through the panelling arrangements as shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a small section of panelling in accordance with a second embodiment of the store as seen from the interior of the store and: Figure 4 is a view of the panels in Fig. 3 as viewed from the outside of the store.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 there is shown a slurry store which comprises a concrete base 1 on which are mounted walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 delimiting a storage area of generally rectangular shape. These walls are broken in two places namely at 6 where a removable access structure is situated and at 7 where a ramp is provided.

The walls comprise a number of concrete panels 8 which lie against a metal framework 9 towards their upper end located against a shoulder 10 at their bottom end (Fig. 2) so as to stand with a small rake. The panels 8 are spaced apart by a small distance, as will be described, so as to allow the passage of liquid from the settling slurry to pass out through the walls.

The liquid passing through the walls is collected in a channel 11 which generally surrounds the store with the exception of the position of a ramp 7 and the provision of a break 1 2 which allows the liquid to pass out of the channel 11 and into a holding tank, the intake for which is shown at 1 3.

Referring to Fig. 2 for detailed construction of the walls, it will be seen that the metal framework 9 on which the panels rest comprises a bar 1 5 of channel construction which extends around the slurry store and is maintained in position by means of a number of pairs of bracing elements 16, in the form of pairs of right-angled members which are attached together and to the bar 1 5 at the underside thereof and to base plates 1 9 and a tie bar 20 cast in the concrete base 1. Thus, the bracing elements form substantially A shaped members.

Each of the panels 8 is of plain rectangular section and extend above the bar 15, and are spaced apart by a small distance.

The panels 8 are seated at their lower end, as previously mentioned against a shoulder 10 and are retained therein suitably by means of a concrete fillet 1 8 which holds the panels against the shoulder 1 0. Also provided on the base is a rib 27 in the form of a block which forms the outer edge of the liquid channel 11.

The other edge of the liquid channel 11 is formed by a further fillet 29 which provides for the exterior outlet from between the panels 8 to be at approximately the same height as the outlet at the other side of the panels determined by the fillet 18.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the removable structure indicated at 6 comprises a number of horizontally orientated panels 32 which are mounted up and down in a vertical direction and may be removed entirely by lifting them out of the top of the guides. Provision is suitably made for the horizontal panels 32 to be spaced apart in a similar fashion to the vertical panels 8 but this is not essential.

As can also be seen from Fig. 1, the ramp provided at 7 comprises a part 36 which extends in to the slurry store itself, the ramp at this point being substantially the same height as the walls produced by the panels 8.

The remainder of the ramp which is indicated at 37 extends outside the slurry store and forms a continuation of the part 36 within the store. The provision of the ramp enables easy loading of the store.

If desired, in order to assist in the draining of the slurry, chimneys (not shown) also having gaps, may be provided within the slurrystore, these allowing liquid to pass through the slurry store into the chimneys, the chimneys being connected by means of piping to the liquid holding tank. However it is believed for most circumstances, the chimneys are not essential.

It is also to be understood that the ramp indicated at 7 is only necessary when the slurry store is built on a level site. In other circumstances, the upper part of the store may be readily accessible without the need for a ramp.

In order to operate the slurry store, the slurry is spread over the concrete base 1, from vehicles which have been driven up the ramp or from any other source, and the slurry will gradually settle and dry out, the liquid collecting from the slurry passing out through the spaces in the walls into the liquid channel 11 and from thence into the holding tank which may be emptied as desired. After the slurry has been in the store for some time, which may be for example the whole of a winter period, the slurry has largely solidified with the liquid having been drained off so that, on removal of the removable panels 32, the slurry can be trarisported away and used for fertilising purposes. The number of panels removed will depend on the amount of slurry in the store and also on the state of the slurry.

In a second embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the slurry store is provided with vertical walls instead of the raked walls provided in the first embodiment.

Thus the walls comprise a number of concrete panels 38 which are in this case attached to the metal framework 39 towards their upper end and are retained at their lower ends in a channel 40 so as to stand vertically.

The metal framework 39 comprises an angle bar 45 which extends around the slurry store and is maintained in position by means of a number of bracing members 46 of angled section attached at one end to the underside of the bar and at the other end to a mounting plate 47 mounted in the concrete base 1.

Each of the panels 38 is of plain rectangular section and extend above the bar 45. The panels are spaced apart by spacers 49, such as bolts carrying rectangular washers 50 on one end which overlays two panels 38 as shown in Fig. 3. These washers 50 may in fact be provided with screw threads and act as nuts. The rear of the spacers 49 are attached to the bars 45 at 52.

The panels 38, seated in the channel 40 are retained there in by a concrete fillet 53 which holds the panels against the exterior edge 55 of the channel 40. Since the arrangement of the metal frame 39 is such that the front face 56 of the bar 45 is vertically in iine with the rear edge of the retaining channel 40, the panels 38 will be maintained in the desired vertical position.

In order to increase the strength of the walls, panels taken at intervals, are provided with angle brackets 60 by means of which the panel itself is attached to the concrete base 1.

This bracket 60 is then covered by a fillet 62.

The structure of the second embodiment is otherwise similar to that of the first embodiment.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, where suitable, the features of the embodiments may be interchanged. In particular while the form of metal frame which has been provided for the second embodiment is of relatively few components and thus to a large extent economical, a stronger frame could be used, the bracing elements being replaced with the substantially A-shaped members provided in the first embodiment. Equally the reduced frame of the second embodiment may be used in the first. If desired, the second fillet for providing a channel edge may not be required.

While the panels have been said to be made of concrete, other non-corrodible materials may be used.

The horizontal arrangement of panels in the removable structure 6 may, if desired, with a suitable construction of the structure, be replaced by vertically aligned panels somewhat corresponding to the standard arrangement of the raked panels 8 or vertical panels 38, furthermore, in order to assist in the draining of the liquid, the floor may be provided with a certain slope; and, in particular, some form of slope may be suitably provided for the liquid channels so as to assist the flow of liquid into the holding tank. From the above it will be seen that the embodiments shown provide for a relatively simple form of slurry store which can be erected without significantly skillful labour and which is economic in its construction.

Claims (22)

1. A slurry or like store comprising a plurality of supported panels of concrete or other non corrodibie material wherein the panels are supported towards their upper ends by a metal framework and are supported at their lower ends on a base to which the metal framework is attached, the panels being arranged with a small spacing between them.

2. A store as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is concrete.

3. A store as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the panels are raked and rest on the metal framework, the lower ends of the panels being located against a shoulder on the base.

4. A store as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the panels are vertical and attached to the metal frame, the lower ends of the panels being seated in a channel in the base.

5. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein the panels are attached to the metal frame by means of elements positioned between the panels and acting at the same time as spacers.

6. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the base is formed with an upstanding rib substantially surrounding the store so as to form with the panels, a liquid channel for receiving liquid material escaping between the panels.

7. A store as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upstanding rib is broken at least at one place and is provided with means for conducting the liquid from the break into a holding tank.

8. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the metal frame comprises a horizontally extending bar positioned with its inner edge aligned with the adjacent face of the panel and the plurality of bracing elements extending outwardly from the horizontal bar at an angle to the ground whereby the panels are supported.

9. A store as claimed in claim 8 wherein appendant directly or indirectly to claim 3, wherein the inner edge of the bar is set back from the shoulder on the base to support the panels at a rake.

1 0. A store as claimed in claim 9 wherein further bracing elements are provided to form pairs with the first bracing elements and extending downwardly from the bar substantially parallel to the panels, the bracing elements of each pair being conhected together at their upper ends and being joined by a tie bar at their lower ends, the tie bar being embedded in the concrete base.

11. A store as claimed in claim 8, wherein appendent directly or indirectly to claim 4, wherein the inner edge of the bar is positioned above the outer edge of the panel support channel so that the panels are supported in a vertical position.

1 2. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 11, wherein the retention of the lower end of the panels is assisted by means of a concrete fillet.

1 3. A store as claimed in claim 12, when appendent directly or indirectly to claim 6, wherein a second fillet is provided on the exterior of the panels to form one wall of the liquid channel.

14. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least some of the panels are provided with brackets towards their lower end which are attached to the panel and to the base to provide additional strength.

1 5. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14, wherein an access panel is provided in one of the walls of the store and comprises a plurality of horizontal extending panels.

1 6. A store as claimed in claim 15, wherein the horizontal panels of the access structure are individually removabie.

17. A store as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the panels of the access structure slide in vertical guides and can be removed by lifting them from the top of the guides.

1 8. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 5 to 17, wherein the horizontal panels are spaced apart by a small spacing when in position.

19. A store as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 18, wherein a ramp ig provided for permitting ease of filling of the store and extends to the height of the panels.

20. A store as claimed in claim 19, wherein the upper end of the ramp extends into the area of the store.

21. A store as claimed in claim 6, or any claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein one or more chimneys are provided to enable additional drainage of liquid, the chimney being connected by pipes to the storage tank.

22. A slurry or like store substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.