GB2082540A

GB2082540A - Apparatus for emptying drums

Info

Publication number: GB2082540A
Application number: GB8123341A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MID ANGLIA PROJECT ENGINEERING
Current assignee: MID ANGLIA PROJECT ENGINEERING
Priority date: 1980-08-05
Filing date: 1981-07-30
Publication date: 1982-03-10
Also published as: GB2082540B

Abstract

An apparatus for discharging toxic materials from a metal drum (20) has a presshead (14) which retains the drum in position on a platform (16) in a sealed chamber and a ram head (26) which is first driven from below through an opening in the platform into the drum base (30) to form a hole and then withdrawn to pull that part of the base around the edge of the hole outwardly and allow the material to discharge into a sealed duct (34, 40). The discharge is assisted by high pressure jets of air or liquid from nozzles in the ram head, which can be rotated. Once empty, the drum is compressed by the press head (14) and then tipped from the chamber by pivoting of the platform. The ram head (26) may comprise an expansible cruciform member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handling of materials The present invention relates to the handling of materials including waste disposal and particularly to the emptying and cleansing of containers such as drums of toxic or hazardous substances.

One of the problems associated with the use of toxic and hazardous substances is that, where such substances are supplied in rigid containers such as metal drums, extreme care must be taken in opening and emptying the containers to avoid spillage and contact with the contents of the containers. In addition, after the containers have been emptied there is always some residual waste present in the container which must be removed or neutralised before the container can be scrapped.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for discharging a substantially rigid container, the apparatus comprising means for receiving and retaining the container in position and means for puncturing the base of the container such that the edge region of said puncture extends generally outwardly of the container.

Preferably the apparatus also comprises means for directing pressurised fluid internally of the container for dislodging waste materials from the walls of the container and evacuating said waste through said puncture.

Preferably the means for puncturing the container is a ram which is conveniently pneumatically or hydraulically operated and has a head shaped such that withdrawal from the container after the container has been punctured draws the edge regions of the puncture outside the container.

Advantageously the means for directing pressurised fluid comprises one or more nozzles formed in the ram head, the nozzles being connected through one or more fluid passages in the ram to a source of pressurized fluid. The fluid may be suitable for assisting emptying of the container, for example as an air jet or by taking the contents into solution, or may be a suitable cleansing agent such as water.

In a preferred form of the invention the ram head is rotatable to improve the effectiveness of the cleansing operation.

The apparatus is conveniently located in a sealed environment to reduce the hazards normally associated with such an operation to a minimum.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional view through a preferred form of apparatus according to the present invention showing the apparatus at one operational stage; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the apparatus at a second, later operational stage; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified head of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the head of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings the apparatus 10 comprises a preferably hydraulic press, although a pneumatically operated press may be used, having a base member 12 and a press head 14 which is hydraulically displaceable towards and away from the base member 12. The latter includes a platform 16 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot axis 18 located to one side of the base member 12. A container, here shown as a metal drum 20, which has previously been filled with a toxic or hazardous material is initially positioned in an upright manner on the platform 16 centrally of the hydraulic press, an upstanding flange 22 on the platform 16 serving to locate the drum 20 accurately in position. The press is then actuated to bring the head 14 down under relatively low hydraulic pressure to grip the drum 20 firmly between the head 14 and the platform 16.

Once the drum 20 is secured in position a hydraulic ram 24 which is positioned immediately below the drum 20 is actuated to drive a ram head 26 upwardly through a conveniently circular opening 28 in the base member 12 and platform 16 and through the base 30 of the drum 20, tearing a jagged hole in the base 30. The head 26 is substantially conical in shape for ease of penetration, the apex of the head having a somewhat larger angle than the main body portion. Movement of the head 26 is conveniently along the same axis as that ofthe press head 14 although this is obviously not essential.

As is diagrammatically shown in Figure 1 the opening formed in the base of the drum 20 is not a clean opening but has jagged edges 32 caused by tearing and stretching of the metal of the base 30 as the ram head 26 is driven through the base. The ram 24 is then actuated to withdraw the head 26 from the interior of the drum 20 and as the head 26 is withdrawn it catches the ragged edges 32 of the opening and draws these edges with it through the opening so that when the ram head 26 is fully withdrawn the edges 32 of the opening are left pointing outwardly of the drum as is best seen in Figure 2. This provides a funnel-like opening in the base of the drum 20 to facilitate removal of the drum contents. In order to assist in forming the opening as shown in Figure 2 the ram head 26 may conveniently be formed with protrusions or barbs or the like.

The ram head 26 is retained in the lower position shown in Figure 2 for a short period of time to allow the material in the drum to fall through the opening and into a collecting funnel 34 located below the base member 12. If necessary, the drum may be vibrated to assist the discharge of material. The uppermost edge 36 of the funnel 34 is conveniently sealed with a depending flange 38 of the base member 12 to prevent escape of the material. The funnel 34 connects with a duct 40 which extends laterally of the apparatus 10 to carry the material to, e.g. a suitable receptacle. Where the ram 24 projects through the wall of the duct 40 it is sealed thereto by suitable sealing means to prevent escape of material.

After a suitable time delay to ensure the drum is empty the ram 24 is again actuated to raise the ram head 26 into the interior of the drum 20. As can be seen in the drawings the ram head 26 has a number of nozzels or jets 42 which connect with one or more fluid passages (not shown in the drawings) in the rod 44 of the ram 24. These passages connect through one or more control valves with a source of pressurised cleansing fluid, here conveniently water. Once the ram head 26 has been raised into the drum 20 the valves are opened to supply the pressurised water to the nozzles 42, the jets of water from the nozzles 42 washing the interior walls of the drum 20. To improve the effectiveness of the cleansing operation the ram head 26 is conveniently rotated about its conical axis.The waste cleansing waterfiows out of the drum through the opening and into the duct 40 carrying with it the waste material washed from the drum walls. Here the duct 40 directs the water and waste material for suitable disposal. After the washing operation is complete the valves are closed to cut off the water supply to the head 26 which is then withdrawn from the drum 20. Alternatively, as the ram head 26 is withdrawn the supply of pressurised water to the nozzles 42 may be maintained to ensure that any waste material residue which might otherwise remain in the funnel 34 and on the base member 38 is washed down the duct 40.

Once the ram head 26 is clear of the drum 20 and, preferably, after an elapse of time to allow complete draining of the drum 20, the press is actuated to drive the press head 14 down and compress the drum 20. The press head 14 is then withdrawn and the platform 16 pivoted about its pivot axis 18 to discharge the drum 20 from the apparatus 10, conveniently into a suitable receptacle. Discharge ofthe drum 20 may be effected through an opening which is normally sealed during the cleansing operation but is automatically opened after completion of the operation for passage of the compressed drum 20.

Since the drum 20 is not pierced until it is in position on the platform 16 the drum may conveniently be positioned manually on the platform 16 although automatic positioning may be considered more suitable or convenient.

Although the ram head 26 has been described as having a substantially conical configuration any suitable configuration which provides for a formation of the opening as shown in Figure 2 may be used.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of ram head 26'. Those parts shown in Figures 3 and 4 which are similarto parts of Figures 1 and 2 are given the same reference numbers primed. The head illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 has a base 50 of substantially square cross-section which has a blind bore in its lower end face to receive the ram rod 44.

The base is also provided with four vertical grooves one formed in each side face of the base 50, in which four vertical plates 52 are received, the plates being secured, for example, by welding, both in the grooves and to one another. The upper edges 54 of the plates 52 are angled at, for example, 300 to the vertical so that they come to a point at the tip 56 of the head. The tip is preferably hardened to assist penetration of a drum.

A respective arm 58 formed by two parallel, elon gate plate-like members is pivotally mounted at one end of each plate 52 above the base 50 by way of a respective pivot pin 60. The two plate-like members of each arm 58 are spaced apart sufficiently to receive the associated plate 52 therebetween. In addition, each arm 58 carries at its end remote from the pivot pin 60 a barb 62 which is conveniently in the form of a V-shaped or right-angled bracket welded on the arm 58 with the line of the apex of the angle extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the arm 58. The arm 58 and barbs 62 are shown in their normal rest position in solid lines in Figure 3 and in their extreme raised pivoted position in dotted lines.As can be seen from Figure 3 the ends of the plates of the arms 58 adjacent the pivot pins 60 are angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the arms 58 to a butt the two plates adjacent to the plate 54 on which each arm is pivoted and restrict upward pivoting of the arm 58 to, for example, 450 The head shown in Figures 3 and 4 is preferably used to penetrate drums containing viscous materials. The head is used in the same manner as the head 26 of Figures 1 and 2 and is initially driven through the base 30 of the drum 20. However, the form of the head produces a generally cruciformshaped opening which is ofgenerally smaller area than the opening formed by the head 26 of Figures 1 and 2.As the head 26' is withdrawn the arms 58 and associated barbs 62 catch on the jagged edges of the hole in the drum base and are pivoted outwardly from their rest positions into the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. Continual withdrawal of the head 26' therefore results in a hole being torn by the barbs 62 in the drum base which is considerably larger than the hole produced by the head 26. Pivoting of the arms 58 is assisted by the provision of angled inner edges 64 on the arms, the natural resilience of the torn drum metal being sufficient to ensure that the jagged edges spring back beneath the arms 58.

Pressurized water or other cleaning fluid is applied through nozzles (not shown in the drawings) in the base 50 in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Pivoting outwardly of the arms 58 is also limited by metal reaction blocks 64 secured to the plates 52.

The described apparatus while ideally suited to emptying of containers of hazardous or toxic substances in liquid or solid form may be used for emptying any material which will "flow" through a puncture in the base of the container under the action of gravity. For rapid emptying and assisted cleansing an air jet may be connected to the upper region of container to apply pressurised air to the contents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for discharging a substantially rigid container, the apparatus comprising means for receiving and retaining the container in position and means for puncturing the base of the container such that the edge region of said puncture extends generally outwardly of the container.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for puncturing the base of the container comprises a head and drive means for driving the head into and withdrawing the head from the con tainer.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the head is shaped such that withdrawal from the container draws the edge region of the puncture outwardly of the container.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the head is substantially conical.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the surface portion of the head adjacent the head apex tapers towards said open at an angle greater than the taper angle of the surface portion remote from the apex.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the head has barb means for assisting in drawing the edge region of the puncture outwardly of the container.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said barb means are pivotable between retracted and extended positions.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2,3,6 or 7 wherein the head has a substantially cruciformshaped body.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein said puncturing means is rotatable.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 further comprising means for directing pressurised fluid internally of the container for dislodging waste materials from the walls of the container and evacuating said waste through said puncture.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for directing pressurised fluid comprises at least one nozzle formed in said puncturing means and connectible to a source of pressurised fluid.

12. An apparatus for discharging a substantially rigid container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An apparatus for discharging a substantially rigid container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 when modified according to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.