GB2053418A

GB2053418A - Vessel with discharge means

Info

Publication number: GB2053418A
Application number: GB7922687A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1979-06-29
Filing date: 1979-06-29
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: JPS567481A

Abstract

A vessel, 1, has a bottom consisting of a set of doors, 2, capable of at least partial rotation about parallel axes, 3. The doors in a closed position provide a series of peaks and troughs, and partial rotation of one or more of the doors to an open position permits material in the vessel to flow out. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION -Vessel with discharge means This invention concerns discharge doors for hoppers, tanks and like vessels.

Removal of solids, especially damp or otherwise non-freeflowing solids, viscous liquids, siudges and slurries from vessels is a problem frequently met with. It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for permitting the discharge of solid or liquid materials from a vessel, which offers particular advantages in avoiding excessive agitation of the materials.

The present invention provides a vessel wherein at least part of the bottom thereof comprises a set of doors capable of at least partial rotation about parallel axes, and wherein the doors in a closed position provide a series of peaks and troughs, and partial rotation of one or more of the doors to an open position permits material in the vessel to flow out.

Conveniently, the set of doors constitutes substantially all of the bottom of the vessel.

Although all of the doors may be rotated to the open position at the one time, it may be preferable, according to the material to be discharged from the vessel and to the system or process incorporating the vessel, to arrange that only one or a minor proportion of the doors are in the open position at the one time by providing control apparatus to permit the sequential or staggered opening of the set of doors. The opening and closing of the doors may be additionally controlled by a timing apparatus, or may be triggered by sensing means set to detect particular pre-set conditions.

The opening and closing of the doors may be conveniently effected by actuating rods powered by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement, by an electric motor, or by a mechanical arrangement such as a cam.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section of a vessel according to the invention, including a set of doors, and Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of a different set of doors which may be used in the vessel of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of the set of doors of Figure 2, with a different actuating rod arrangement which may be used in the vessel of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the walls of a vessel, e.g.

d storage hopper, tank or the like, are indicated by 1. The bottom of the vessel is formed by a set of doors, 2, each rotatable about axes, 3, which doors are shown in the ciosed position. Actuating rods, 4, are connected to each door and are linked by means of a yoke, 5, to the piston of a doubie action hydraulic piston and cylinder, 6. The flow of hydraulic fluid to the appropriate side of the piston is controlled by valve, 7, in turn controlled by a controller, 8. The controller 8 may incorporate a timing mechanism.The controller 8. may be actuated manually or may be automatic, so that the doors 2 are opened or closed at fixed intervals or responsive to the actual processing conditions in a plant incorporating the vessel; such controls form no part of the present invention and are already used to control discharge from vessels.

The doors 2 may be actuated in two modes, the first being that in which the doors are moved to a substantially vertical position as an open position then are moved back to the closed position as shown, the second mode being that in which the doors are moved beyond the vertical position and "flip" over to a second closed position.

Referring now to Figure 2, an alternative arrangement of the set of doors, 2, is shown. The doors contact the walls, 1, of the vessel and against vertical plates, 9. A single actuating rod, 4, operates to open and close the doors.

Referring to Figure 3, a modification to the set of doors, 2, of Figure 2, is shown. Separate actuating rods 4a and 4b act upon alternate doors.

It wiil be appreciated that the doors themselves, or the actuating rods or hydraulic piston, may be spring-loaded or otherwise biased to the closed position. Depending on the material to be held in the vessel, the edges of the doors may be provided with sealing strips, e.g. of natural or synthetic rubber, to prevent leakage.

The two different door constructions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 provide simultaneous opening and closing of the doors. However, each door or co-operating pair of doors may be independently operated by an actuating rod to provide a greater degree of control on the rate of discharge and Figure 3 illustrates a set of doors giving staggered opening and partial flow. The vessel incorporating the doors may, for example, be used as a settling tank; the settled solids or sludge could fill the troughs to approximately 2/3 full then one or all the doors may be opened to permit discharge of the solids.

The invention offers a vessel the contents of which can be discharged simply and, if necessary, continuously, with a reduced chance of blocking compared to vessel contents may be achieved then with many conventional discharge mechanisms, such as Archimedean screws.

1. A vessel wherein at least part of the bottom thereof comprises a set of doors capable of at least partial rotation about parallel axes, and wherein the doors in a closed position provide a series of peaks and troughs, and partial rotation of one or more of the doors to an open position permits material in the vessel to flow out.

2. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the set of doors constitutes substantially all of the bottom of the vessel.

3. A vessel according to claim 1 or 2, comprising also control means whereby the timing and/or order of opening of the doors may be

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION -Vessel with discharge means This invention concerns discharge doors for hoppers, tanks and like vessels. Removal of solids, especially damp or otherwise non-freeflowing solids, viscous liquids, siudges and slurries from vessels is a problem frequently met with. It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for permitting the discharge of solid or liquid materials from a vessel, which offers particular advantages in avoiding excessive agitation of the materials. The present invention provides a vessel wherein at least part of the bottom thereof comprises a set of doors capable of at least partial rotation about parallel axes, and wherein the doors in a closed position provide a series of peaks and troughs, and partial rotation of one or more of the doors to an open position permits material in the vessel to flow out. Conveniently, the set of doors constitutes substantially all of the bottom of the vessel. Although all of the doors may be rotated to the open position at the one time, it may be preferable, according to the material to be discharged from the vessel and to the system or process incorporating the vessel, to arrange that only one or a minor proportion of the doors are in the open position at the one time by providing control apparatus to permit the sequential or staggered opening of the set of doors. The opening and closing of the doors may be additionally controlled by a timing apparatus, or may be triggered by sensing means set to detect particular pre-set conditions. The opening and closing of the doors may be conveniently effected by actuating rods powered by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement, by an electric motor, or by a mechanical arrangement such as a cam. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section of a vessel according to the invention, including a set of doors, and Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of a different set of doors which may be used in the vessel of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of the set of doors of Figure 2, with a different actuating rod arrangement which may be used in the vessel of Figure 1. Referring to Figure 1, the walls of a vessel, e.g. d storage hopper, tank or the like, are indicated by 1. The bottom of the vessel is formed by a set of doors, 2, each rotatable about axes, 3, which doors are shown in the ciosed position. Actuating rods, 4, are connected to each door and are linked by means of a yoke, 5, to the piston of a doubie action hydraulic piston and cylinder, 6. The flow of hydraulic fluid to the appropriate side of the piston is controlled by valve, 7, in turn controlled by a controller, 8. The controller 8 may incorporate a timing mechanism.The controller 8. may be actuated manually or may be automatic, so that the doors 2 are opened or closed at fixed intervals or responsive to the actual processing conditions in a plant incorporating the vessel; such controls form no part of the present invention and are already used to control discharge from vessels. The doors 2 may be actuated in two modes, the first being that in which the doors are moved to a substantially vertical position as an open position then are moved back to the closed position as shown, the second mode being that in which the doors are moved beyond the vertical position and "flip" over to a second closed position. Referring now to Figure 2, an alternative arrangement of the set of doors, 2, is shown. The doors contact the walls, 1, of the vessel and against vertical plates, 9. A single actuating rod, 4, operates to open and close the doors. Referring to Figure 3, a modification to the set of doors, 2, of Figure 2, is shown. Separate actuating rods 4a and 4b act upon alternate doors. It wiil be appreciated that the doors themselves, or the actuating rods or hydraulic piston, may be spring-loaded or otherwise biased to the closed position. Depending on the material to be held in the vessel, the edges of the doors may be provided with sealing strips, e.g. of natural or synthetic rubber, to prevent leakage. The two different door constructions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 provide simultaneous opening and closing of the doors. However, each door or co-operating pair of doors may be independently operated by an actuating rod to provide a greater degree of control on the rate of discharge and Figure 3 illustrates a set of doors giving staggered opening and partial flow. The vessel incorporating the doors may, for example, be used as a settling tank; the settled solids or sludge could fill the troughs to approximately 2/3 full then one or all the doors may be opened to permit discharge of the solids. The invention offers a vessel the contents of which can be discharged simply and, if necessary, continuously, with a reduced chance of blocking compared to vessel contents may be achieved then with many conventional discharge mechanisms, such as Archimedean screws. CLAIMS

3. A vessel according to claim 1 or 2, comprising also control means whereby the timing and/or order of opening of the doors may be controlled.

4. A vessel according to claim 1 , substantially as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A settling vessel according to any one of the preceding claims.