GB2123158A

GB2123158A - Metering and dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2123158A
Application number: GB08317583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Cashman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-30
Filing date: 1983-06-29
Publication date: 1984-01-25
Also published as: IE821584L; GB8317583D0

Abstract

A metering device for fluent material such as grain, animal feedstuffs and crushed stone comprises a weigh container 20, a dispensing flap valve 21 for delivery of feedstuff into the container 20 and an actuator 40, 41, 42 for operating the valve 21. The container 20 is biased by a counterweight 46 to pivot from an upper loading position to a lower loaded position (shown). The flap valve 21 is also counterweighted by an extension arm 43 having an arcuate rib 42 engageable by a wheel 41 mounted on a counterweight operating arm 40 carried on a wall 26 of the container 20. The actuator opens the flap 21 when the container 20 is in the upper loading position and closes the flap when the container is in the lower loaded position. Material is discharged via sprung loaded door 35 operated by push rod 52. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A metering device and dispensing apparatus The invention relates to a metering device and to an apparatus for dispensing granular material incorpor- ating such a metering device.

In this specification the term "granular material" includes grain, animal feedstuff such as dairy nuts, pulp nuts, rice, sugar, crushed stone and the like relatively free-flowing materials. The term "hopper" includes all forms of containers and bulk storage devicesforsuch granular materials.

The term "fluent material" includes not only granular materials as hereinbefore defined but also relative lyfreeJiowing liquids, as well as sand, cementandthe like.

Metering devicesforfluent material ofthetype including a weigh container, an associated dispensing valvefordelivering material into the container and control means for opening and shutting offthevalve in response tothe amountof material in the container are known. An example of one such device which has a high degree of accuracy uses load cells as a means of determining preset quantities. Such devices however, are generally speaking of complex construction and consequentlytheirapplication is limited because of their high cost. Simpler and hence cheaper devices are also known however, their inaccu racy limits their application.

There is therefore, a need for a relatively inexpensive and reasonably accurate metering device for fluent materials.

One object of this invention isto provide such a device.

In particular, there isa needfora relatively inexpensiveandeasilyoperated apparatusfordis- pensing granular material such as animal feedstuffs incorporating a metering device to dispense preset weights with good accuracy.

According to the invention there is provided a metering device forfluent material comprising a weigh container, a dispensing valve for delivery of material into the container and an actuator means for operating the valve wherein the container is biased to pivotfrom an upper loading position to a lower loaded position and the actuator means opens the valve with the container in the upper loading position and closes the valve with the container in the lower loaded position.

In one embodiment ofthe invention the container is biased buy a counterweight.

In one embodiment of the invention a dispensing valve is a flap valve.

Typicallythe flap valve is counterweighted to pivot from an upper closed position to a lower open position in response to movement ofthe actuator means.

In another embodiment ofthe invention the actuating means is an upwardly extending counterweight operating arm mounted on the weigh container.

Preferably the arm is formed with a bearing surface interengageablewith a complementary bearing sur face on the flap valve.

Typically a wheel is rotatably mounted on the uppermost end of the arm, the outer rim ofthe wheel engaging with an arcuate guide rib mounted on the valve, the outer rim of the wheel and rib forming the complementary bearing surface.

In another aspect the invention provides apparatus for dispensing preset quantities of granular material incorporating such a metering device.

In oneembodimentofthisaspectofthe invention the apparatus for dispensing preset quantities of granular material comprises a hopper, a weigh container, a delivery chute communicating between the hopper and the weigh container, the chute having a dispensing valveatthe lower end thereof, and an actuator means to open the valve in an upper loading position and to close the valve in a lower loaded position when the weigh container is counterweighted to pivot between the upper loading position and the lower loaded position.

Usually the hopper is of rectangular cross-section and has a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls interconnecting the end walls, a top inlet opening and a bottom outlet opening, the weigh container having an inlet aperture communicating with the inlet opening and a discharge outlet communicating with the discharge opening in the hopper, the discharge outlet being closable by an outlet door hingedly mounted to the container, operating means being provided to preventthe container pivoting to the loading position when the dooris open and to permit the container to pivot to the loading position when the door is closed.

In one arrangementthe operating means comprises a push rod slidably movable two open the container outlet door and a stop mounted on the wall of the hopper and extending to engage the door in the open position to preventthe container pivoting to the loaded position.

Alternatively the operating means may comprise an operating lever mounted on the door and having a bearing surface interengagablewith a complementary stop surface on a side wall of the hopper.

Ion a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention the dispensing valve is a flap valve mounted on aflap pivotshaftjournalled in bearing intheside walls of the hopper, the flap being spaced-apartfrom the walls of the hopper and having a pairof upstanding end platesforguiding material to be delivered from the hopper to the inlet aperture of the weigh container.

Preferably, the flap valve is counterweighted by a counterweight mounted on a counterweight arm fixed to and extending radially rearwardlyoftheflap pivot shaft.

Advantageously the counterweight is slidably adjustable along the counterweight arm.

In an alternative embodiment of this aspect of the invention upper and lower deflector plates are mounted on each sidewall of the hopper, the upper deflector plates being arranged to direct material to the flap and the lower deflector plates being mounted belowtheflapto direct material falling through the flap, when open, into the container.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. is a perspective, partially cut-away view of an apparatusfordispensing preset quantities or granular material incorporating a metering device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the metering device in a loading position, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the metering device in a loaded position, and Fig. 4 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of an alternative construction of apparatus for dispensing preset quantities of granular material.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 3 thereofthere is illustrated apparatus for dispensing granular material indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 incorporating a metering device 2 for dispensing a predetermined quantity ofthe material also according to the invention.

The apparatus 1 comprises a hopper3 of rectangular cross-section having a pair of end walls 4, a pair of side walls 5 extending between the end walls 4, a top inlet opening 6 and a bottom outlet opening 7.Achute 8formedfrom a pair of rectangular inwardly directed plates 9welded to the end walls extends from the inlet opening 6 to a chute discharge outlet 10.

The metering device 2 comprises a weigh container 20 and a dispensing valve, in this case a flap valve 21 for delivery of fluent material from the chute discharge outlet 10 into the container 20. The flap valve 21 is mounted on a flap shaft 22 journalled in flap shaft bearings 23 mounted on the side walls 5 ofthe hopper 3. The container 20 is mounted on a container pivot shaft 31 journalled in container shaft bearings 32 in the side walls 5 ofthe hopper 3.

The weigh container 20 is of rectangularshape in plan and comprises a pair of side walls 25, a rearwall 26anda bottom wall 27 inclined downwardlyfromthe rearwali 26to a front wall 28. The container is open topped to form an inlet aperture 29 for material discharged from the chute 8 and the front wall 28 is formed with a rectangular cut-portion defining a discharge outlet 30 communicating with the outlet opening 7 in the hopper 3.

The discharge outlet of the container 20 is closed by an outlet door 35 pivotally mounted on a hinge shaft 36 extending across the front wall 28 of the container 20. The operation of the door 35 is controlled by an operating means which in this case comprises a push rod 52 slidably mounted in push rod guides 53 along the side wall 25 ofthe container 20. The forward end 54 ofthe push rod 52 is pivotally mounted to the door 35 by a bolt 55 screwthreadingly engaging a complementary nut 56 welded to the door 35. The push rod may be manually or automatically operated, for example, by pneumatic or hydraulic rams and/or a solenoid valve.The door 35 is biased into the closed position by a coil spring 57 joined at one end 58 to the door35 and atthe other end 59 to the container side wall 25.

Astopper 61 is welded to the end wall 4 and extends inwardly and downwardly to engage against the outlet door 35 ofthe weigh container 20 when the door is open as illustrated by interrupted lines 35a in Fig. 3.

The stop 61 bearsagainstthedoor35to preventthe container pivoting to the loading position when the door 35 is open and disengages from the doorwhen it is closed to allowthe container 20 to pivot to an upper loading position. Thus, direct unmetered flowfrom the chute 8 to the container 20 is prevented.

An actuator means in this case comprising a counterweight operating arm 40 mounted on and extending upwardlyfrom the rearwall 26 ofthe weigh container is provided for opening and closing the flap valve 21. Awheel 41 is rotatably mounted at the uppermost end of the arm 40 and the outer rim of the wheel engages with an arcuate guide rib 42 formed on an extension arm 43 oftheflap 21, the rim ofthe wheel 41 and the rib 42 togetherforming complementary bearing surfaces. The container 20 is counterweighted by a counterweight 46 slidably mounted on a counterweight arm 47, fixed to the containerpivotshaft31 and extending radially rearwardly of the shaft.The counterweight 46 biases the container 20 into an upper loading position with the wheel 41 engaging against the rib 42 to open the flap 21 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the desired preset quantity of material is delivered into the container 20 the moment due to the counterweight is overcome and the container pivots aboutthe pivot shaft in the direction ofthe arrow A into a lower loaded position illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, a delivery of material into the weigh container is allowed only when the container 20 is in the upper loading position with the flap valve 21 open.

The counterweight46 is movable along thecounter- weight arm 47to vary the moment due to the counterweight all about a pivot axis formed by the pivot shaft 46. Movement of the counterweight 46 along the arm 47 varies the weight of material which may be filled into the weigh container 20 before it pivots to the lower loaded position. Thus, the quantity of material dispensed from the hopper3 in each cycle of operation oftheweigh container 20 may be varied.

In the case of granular materials and in particular animal feedstuffs the quantity of feed given to an animal may be varied depending, for example, on the time of year and the type of animal being fed. It will be appreciated that instead of the counterweight all being slidable along the arm 47 a difference size weight, or indeed additional weights may be employed.

In operation, the amount of material required to be delivered in one cycle of the metering device is first set by moving the counterweight 46 along the arm 47 to the desired position. The outlet door 35 is closed to allow the weigh container 20 to pivot into the upper loading position illustrated in Fig. 2. As the container travels into this position the counterweight actuating arm 47 strikes the extension arm 43 ofthe flap valve 21 to open the valve and allow material to be delivered from the hopper3through the delivery chute 8 into the weigh container 20.Delivery of material is continued until the weight of material in the container 20 is sufficient to overcome the amount due to the counter weight 46 and the container 20 pivots to the lower loaded position illustrated in Fig. 3 In this position the actuating arm 40 disengages from the extension arm 43 ofthe flap valve 21 allowing the valve to pivot upwards in the direction of the arrow B to close the delivery chute 8 and preventfurther material being delivered into the container 20. When it is desired to dispense material from the weigh container 20 thrnugh the outlet 30 the door 35 is pivoted upwards aboutthe hinge shaft 36 allowing material to fall through the outlet opening 7 of the hopper 3.

While the door 35 is open the stop engages against the door35to preventthe weigh container 20 from pivoting upwards into the loading position. As soon as the door 35 is closed the stop disengages from the door 35 and the container 20 is then free to pivotto return to the loading position provided the moment developed by the counterweight 46 is g reaterthan that dueto the weigh container and contents. Asthe container 20 pivots upwards the wheel 41 travels along the rib 42andstrikesthe extension arm 43 ofthe flap valve 21 to open it and allow material to fall from the delivery chute 8 into the container 20 to repeatthe cycle as required.

Referring to Fig. 4there is illustrated an alternative construction of apparatus 50 similar to that described abovewith reference to Figs. 1 to3 like parts for clarity being assigned the same reference numerals. In this arrangementtheflap valve 21 does not extend along the full width of the flap shaft 22, a gap 60 (which is for clarity exaggerated in the drawing) being left between the flap 21 and the hopper side walls 5to facilitate free movement oftheflap without rubbing against the side walls 5.A pair ofsegment-shape guide plates 61 extend upwardly from the ends oftheflap 21 to form guides for delivery of material from the chute 8 to the weighcontainer2o. lnaddition,an upperdeflector plate 63 is welded to each side wall Sthe plates 63 diverging inwardlyto direct material to the flap valve 21 atthe outlet end of the delivery chute 8. The deflector plates 63 prevent material escaping from the hopper through the gaps 60. Lower deflector plates 64 are welded to each side wall 5 of the hopper 3 below the flap valve 21 to direct material falling through the valve, when open, into theweigh container 20.

It will be appreciated that by having the flap valve 21 narrowerthan the width of the discharge outlet 10 from the chute 8 the valve 21 does not have to be an interference fit against the side walls 5 to stop unmetered material entering the weigh container 20.

Thus,the apparatus according to this aspect ofthe invention is particularly accurate.

EXAMPLE A dispensing apparatus similarto that described above with reference to Fig. 4 was operated using conventional size dairy nuts. The counterweight 43 was set to deliver the equivalent of one pound of dairy nuts per dispensing cycle. Twenty deliveries were made and the delivered quantities weighted and compared against the setting on the counterweight.

An average deviation of th of an ounce was achieved for each delivery with very little variation.

This corresponds to an accuracy of less than 1%.

The principal advantage of the invention is that it provides relatively inexpensive and yet reasonably accurate metering device which is particularly useful when incorporated in an apparatus for dispensing preset quantities of granular material such as animal feedstuffs.

It will be appreciated thatwhile in the particular embodiment described the container is biased to pivot from an upper loading position to a lower loading position by a counterweight it may be biased by any suitable means such as a spring. The particular advantage of using a counterweight is in the ease of alteration of the set point however, in some cases the weight to be delivered may be fixed in which case a spring may be a less expensive alternative.

It will be appreciated that any suitable actuator means may be used for the dispensing valve. For example, the actuator may comprise a solenoid valve and/or a pneumatic or hydraulic ram. The valve may be spring biased into an open or closed position to assist in the ease of movement ofthe valve.

Itwill be appreciated thatthe operating means for the outlet door of the weigh container may be of any suitable form, such as, for example, a solenoid valve.

The valve may be energised from a remote location to open or close the outletdooras required. In addition, the dispensing valve could be operated by a solenoid valve controlled in a similar mannerfrom a remote location.Thisarrangementwould be particularly advantageous when applied to animal rearing units with several such dispensing apparatuses arranged in series and all associated solenoid valves controlled through a central control location such as a central computer location which would outputsignalstothe coil of each solenoid valveto open and closethe valves in response to further input signals.

One particular alternative construction of operating meansforthe outlet door ofthe weigh container comprises a pair of operating levers one of which maybemounted on and extend radially upwardly from each end of the hinge shaft and terminate in a wheel rotatably mounted on the lever. Each wheel would have an outer rim forming a bearing surface engagablewith a complementary stop surface which may be formed by an arcuate rib mounted on each side wall ofthe hopper. The wheels bear against the ribs to preventthe container pivoting to the loading position when the door is open and disengage from the ribs when the door is closed to allow the container to pivotto an upper loading position.

Itwill also be appreciated thatthe disengaging valve may be of any convenient construction and not necessarily a flap valve. For example, the dispensing valve may be butterfly valve.

It will further be appreciated that a metering device according to the invention may be used in many applications other than in an apparatus for dispensing granular materials. In particular, it is envisaged thatthe metering device may be used with not only granular material but also relativelyfree-flowing liquids as well as sand, cement and the like.

It will also be appreciated that while the hopper and weigh container have been described of rectangular shape in plan they could be of any convenient shape such as circular in the case of conical or cylindrical containers or hoppers.

Claims

1. A metering deviceforfluent material comprising a weigh container, a dispensing valve for delivery of material into the container and an actuator means for operating the valve wherein the container is biased to pivotfrom an upper loading position to a lower loaded position and the actuator means opens the valvewith the container in the upper loading position and closes the valve with the container in the lower loaded position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the container is biased by a counterweight.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the dispensing valve is a flap valve.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the flap valve is counterweighted to pivot from an upper closed position to a lower open position in response to movement ofthe actuator means.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 in which the actuator means is an upwardly extending counterweight operating arm mounted on the weigh container.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the arm is formed with a bearing surface interengageable with a complementary bearing surface on the flap valve.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which a wheel is rotatably mounted on the uppermost end ofthe arm, the outer rim ofthewheel engaging with an arcuate guide rib mounted on the valve, the outer rim ofthewheel and rib forming the complementary bearing surfaces.

8. Apparatus for dispensing preset quantities of granular material incorporating a metering device as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprising a hopper, a weigh container, a delivery chute communicating between the hopper and the weigh container, the chute having a dispensing valve at the lower end thereof, and an actuator means to open the valve in an upper loading position and to close the valve in a lower loaded position when the weigh container is counterweighted to pivot between the upper loading position and the lower loaded position.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the hopper is of rectangular cross-section and has a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls interconnecting the end walls, a top inlet opening and a bottom outlet opening, the weigh container having an inlet aperture communicating with the inlet opening and a discharge outlet communicating with the discharge opening in the hopper, the discharge outlet being closable by an outlet door hingedly mounted to the container, operating means being provided to pre ventthe container pivoting to the loading position when the door is open and to permit the containerto pivottothe loading position when the door is closed.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the operating means comprises a push rod slidably movable two open the container outlet door and a stop mounted on the wall ofthe hopper and extending to engage the door in the open position to preventthe container pivoting to the loaded position.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the operating means comprises an operating lever mounted on the door and having a bearing surface interengageable with a complementary stop surface on a sidewall of the hopper.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 10 in which the dispensing valve is a flap valve mounted on a flap pivot shaftjournalled in bearing in the side walls of the hopper, the flap beingspaced-apartfrom the walls ofthe hopper and having a pair of upstanding end platesforguiding material to be delivered from the hopperto the inlet aperture ofthe weigh container.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the flap is counterweighted by a counterweight mounted on a counterweight arm fixed to and extending radially rearwardly of theflap pivot shaft.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the counterweight is slidably adjustable along the counterweightarm.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13to 15 in which the upper and lower deflector plates are mounted on each side wall of the hopper, the upper deflector plates being arranged to direct material to the flap and the lower deflector plates being mounted below the flap to direct material falling through the flap, when open, into the container.

17. A metering device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.

18. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto Figs. 1 to4Ofthe accompanying drawings.