GB2084548A

GB2084548A - Container equipment for powdered or particulate material

Info

Publication number: GB2084548A
Application number: GB8031155A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1980-09-26
Filing date: 1980-09-26
Publication date: 1982-04-15

Abstract

A storage container (1) for powdered or particulate material e.g. cement, has a deck having two deck plate sections (7 and 8) downwardly inclined towards a central longitudinally extending driven screw conveyor (12). An arrangement of flow passages (21, 22, 23) for fluidising medium, e.g. compressed air, is provided on the deck plate sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container equipment for powdered or particulate material This invention relates to container equipment for powdered or particulate material, the equipment having unloading means for the material.

In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to transportable container equipment comprising fluidised air unloading means.

It has been proposed for a transportable container for powdered or particulate material, for example cement, to comprise a fluidised storage container for the material, the container having an inclined deck of a permeable type material which allows compressed air fed to a compartment below the deck to fluidise the material which thereby flows relatively easily down the inclined deck towards a central vertical discharge port or chute. From the vertical discharge chute the material flows into a relatively lower compartment. In order to provide a metering discharge arrangement with such a container it is necessary to provide an upwardly directed driven screw conveyor which urges material out of the relatively lower compartment at a controlled rate.

Unfortunately, the material discharged from the upwardly directed screw conveyor has to be transported down a further discharge chute to a mixing unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved container equipment for powdered or particular material which tends to provide an improved unloading action.

According to the present invention container equipment for powdered or particulate material comprises a transportable storage container for powdered or particulate material, the container having deck means adapted for discharging material fluidising fluid into the container, and mechanical driven discharge conveyor means extending along at least a portion of the container and arranged to receive material urged to flow over the deck means towards the conveyor by the fluidising fluid.

Preferably, the mechanical driven discharge conveyor means comprises a driven screw conveyor.

Preferably, the deck means comprises two downwardly inclined deck means sections.

Advantageously, the two deck means sections are downwardly inclined towards the driven screw conveyor which substantially extends longitudinally of the container, the deck means sections being arranged on opposite sides of the screw conveyor.

Conveniently, the screw conveyor is located at least partly within an open-topped trough.

Preferably, the each deck means section comprises a downwardly inclined deck surface and a number of flow passages for the fluidising fluid.

Preferably, the or at least some of the flow passages have walls permeable to the flow of fluidising fluid.

Preferably, the flow passages of each deck means section comprise a main feed pipe extending longitudinally along the container adjacent to a side of the container, and a number of transverse flow passages branching from the main feed pipe towards the discharge conveyor.

Preferably, the transverse flow passages have permeable walls.

By way of example only one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of container equipment for powdered or particulate material constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is an incomplete cross-section view taken along line Il-Il of Figure 1.

The drawings show a generally box-shaped, transportable storage container 1. for powdered or particulate material, for example, cement, the container having a removable lid or hatch 2 which is sealably retained in a closed position by locking wedges 3. The container is flood filled from a main storage hopper (not shown) by removal of the lid or hatch. The container has feet 4 suitable for securing the container to the flat deck of a vehicle 5, for example, an underground mine rail mounted vehicle (only a part of the vehicle is shown in Figure 1, the feet and vehicle being omitted in Figure 2).

Deck means provided within the container 1 comprise two deck plate sections 7 and 8 which are downwardly inclined (at for example an angle of about twelve degrees) from adjacent to the side walls 9 and 10 of the container towards a central, longitudinally extending open trough 11 within which is mounted a driven screw conveyor 12 rotatably supported in bearings 1 3 and 14 and driven by a hydraulic motor 1 5 via reduction gearing 1 6 and coupling 1 7. The conveyor drive is detachably mounted on a support bracket 1 8 for relatively easy removal and is retained in the operating position by a locking clip 1 9. The two deck plate sections 7 and 8 together with the base of the container 1 define a compartment or chamber 20.A downward directed discharge outlet 25 is provided in a portion of the conveyor trough projecting from the container.

The deck means also comprises two longitudinally extending main flow passages 21 and 22 extending adjacent to the side walls of the container and a plurality of transversely extending flow passage 23 fed from one or other of the main flow passages and having a permeable outer wall surface permitting controlled leakage of fluidising fluid fed through the flow passages as will be explained later in this specification. The transversely extending flow passages extend down the inclined deck plates towards the central screw conveyor, ends of the passage adjacent to the screw conveyor are closed and the passages are retained in position by clips 24.

Advantageously, the transverse passages are made of canvas type material. Alternatively, the transverse passages are of a rigid construction.

The main flow passages 21 and 22 are connected to a blower unit (not shown) arranged to feed fluidising fluid typically compressed air into the flow passage system.

In use, the container is filled with powdered or particulated cement via the open lid or hatch 2.

When full the container is sealed by replacement of the lid or hatch and loaded on an underground vehicle for carriage to a desired site in the main.

Upon reaching the site the main flow passages are connected to the blower unit at the discharge outlet 25 and the screw conveyor is connected to the feed of a mixer unit for mixing the cement with liquid, for example, water and if desired with other crushed or broken rock or mineral material.

Once the connection is made the screw conveyor is activated to urge cement material to flow at a desired metered rate towards the outlet 25, the rate of discharge being varied by suitably adjusting the rotational speed of the screw conveyor. Upon the screw conveyor starting the blower unit is started to feed compressed air to the flow passage system, the compressed air passing through the permeable walls of transverse flow passages to fluidise the cement urging it to flow relatively easily towards the rotating screw conveyor.

When the container is empty it is quickly replaced by another full container and desptached back to the main storage site to be refilled.

From the above description it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a transportable container having an efficient unloading arrangement which is capable of discharging stored material at a desired controlled rate and which tends to have a relatively high storage capacity.

In other embodiments of the invention the deck plate is replaced by a permeable surface allowing flow of fluidising fluid through the deck. With such an embodiment the flow passages arranged over the deck plate may be dispensed with.

Claims

1. Container equipment for powdered or particulate material comprising a transportable storage container for powdered or particulate material, the container having deck means adapted for discharging material fluidising fluid into the container, and mechanical driven discharge conveyor means extending along at least a portion of the container and arranged to receive material urged to flow over the deck means towards the conveyor by the fluidising fluid.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, in which the mechanical drive discharge conveyor means comprise a driven screw conveyor.

3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2, in which the deck means comprises two downwardly inclined deck means sections.

4. Equipment as claimed in claim 3, in which the two deck means sections are downwardly inclined towards the driven screw conveyor which substantially extends longitudinally of the container, the deck means sections being arranged on opposite sides of the screw conveyor.

5. Equipment as claimed in claim 4, in which the screw conveyor is located at least partly within an open-tapped trough.

6. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, in which the each deck means section comprises a downwardly inclined deck surface and a number of flow passages for the fluidising fluid.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, in which the or at least some of the flow passages have walls permeable to the flow of fluidising fluid.

8. Equipment as claimed in claim 7, in which the flow passages of each deck means section comprise a main feed pipe extending longitudinally along the container adjacent to a side of the container, and a number of transverse flow passages branching from the main feed pipe towards the discharge conveyor.

9. Equipment as claimed in claim 8, in which the transverse flow passages have permeable walls.

10. Container equipment for powdered or particulate material substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

New claim 1 filed on 15.5.81 Superseded claim 1 New claim 1 CLAIM

1. Container equipment for powdered or particulate material comprising a sealed transportable storage container for powdered or particulate material and having an openable lid or hatch for permitting the container to be filled with powdered or particulate material, the container having deck means adapted for discharging material fluidising fluid into the container, and mechanical driven discharge conveyor means extending along at least a portion of the container and arranged to receive material urged to flow over the deck means towards the conveyor by the fluidising fluid, the container being adapted for mounting on a vehicle deck.