GB2132593A

GB2132593A - Fuel transport and storage

Info

Publication number: GB2132593A
Application number: GB08236779A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-12-24
Filing date: 1982-12-24
Publication date: 1984-07-11

Abstract

A tank 7 which can be mounted on a tiltable load carrying platform 4 on a lorry, and is adapted to carry coal or other fuel, can be tilted into position above a fuel receiving hopper 20, where it is supported. The tank 7 and hopper 20 co-operate with one another e.g. by pegs 13 or plate 11 engaging holes 24 in lid 23, so that when the plate and lid are opened together, fuel in the tank 7 may pass down into the hopper 20. The tank 7 remains in position until the fuel supply is low, whereupon it is exchanged for a full tank 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fuel transport and storage This invention relates to the transport and storage of fuel, and is concerned particularly although not exclusively with the transport and storage of coal or other solid fuel, in bulk.

Solid fuel heating installations continue to be very popular, particularly for large buildings, institutions, factories, etc. Modern solid fuel furnaces generally have automatic fuel feed systems of varying degrees of sophistication, which enable the furnaces to operate without a great deal of attention. Such furnaces are usually fed with fuel from a hopper, which may be provided with an auger feed system, for example.

However, despite the modernization of solid fuel systems in many areas, the actual transport and storage of the solid fuel is still underdeveloped, and generally suffers many disadvantages.

Almost exclusively, coal is transported to its point of use by an open lorry. Consequently, because the lorry is open, the coal is readily contaminated by rain, snow and foreign matter, all of which may be detrimental to the operation of a boiler and/or its feed system. Moreover, it is very easy to pilfer fuel from an open lorry.

When a lorry carrying solid fuel arrives at its delivery site, the coal is usually unloaded in one of two ways. Firstly, the lorry may simply tip the coal into a storage hopper or the like. This is a relatively simple and quick operation. However, it places great limitations on the design and location of the hopper, and also creates a great deal of dust as the solid fuel is being tipped.

Where automatic solid fuel feed systems are in use, it is usually necessary to store the coal elsewhere than in a simple hopper or bin which is accessible by simply tipping an open lorry. To this end, solid fuel delivery lorries have blowers which are arranged to blow the solid fuel through a pipe into a hopper. However, this has many disadvantages. For example, it may typically take between one half and one and a half hours to discharge a load of solid fuel into a hopper. This is usually a very noisy and dirty operation, and uses a lot of fuel to power the blower-for example, ten gallons of diesel fuel may well be required merely for the unloading operation. It will be appreciated that, due to the nature of the solid fuel, the mechanical parts involved are very susceptible to damage and to wear.Wear is especially significant due to the friction of the solid fuel on the delivery pipes.

Unloading by means of a blower also tends to cause appreciable wastage. For example, some solid fuel tends to be lost through spillage, each time a blower is connected up and disconnected.

It is quite common for delivery pipes to fracture due to wear, whereupon solid fuel and dust tends to be blown all over the place. Another source of wastage that is less immediately obvious involves stock control. For example, if a user has a twenty ton bunker which he considers requires refilling, he may order fifteen tons of solid fuel. However, when the fuel arrives, the bunker may still contain as much as ten tons, so that the user has actually ordered five more tons of coal than can be delivered. It is usually the case that the user will have to pay for all of the coal that he has ordered, although he has not received it all.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a transport and storage system for solid fuel in bulk, which may be generally improved in the foregoing respects.

More generally, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bulk fuel transport and storage system comprising a first fuel container adapted to be installed at a plant where fuel is used, and a second fuel container adapted to be transported by a load carrier from which it may be removed, the containers being adapted to co-operate with the second container mounted above the first to allow fuel in the second container to pass down into the first.

Preferably, the first fuel container includes feed means for feeding the fuel to a boiler or other appliance. Such feed means may comprise a screw feed mechanism, for solid fuel.

Preferably, the capacity of the first container is less than that of the second. The first container may be provided with a cover.

The second container is preferably a closed container. It may be provided with a discharge door and means for locking the same, which locking means is arranged to be relatively difficult to unlock unless the second container is mounted above the first. The locking means may be so arranged that the weight of any fuel within the container assists unlocking of the locking means when the second container is mounted above the first.

The second container may have a discharge door which is adapted to be opened by a cooperating mechanism or part on the first container when the second container is mounted above the first. To this end, the containers may have corresponding projections and recesses which engage to enable the discharge door to be opened, when the second container is mounted above the first. Where the first container is provided with a cover, the cover and the discharge door on the second container may be adapted to engage and to be opened together, when the second container is mounted above the first.

The system may include a lorry or trailer adapted to transport the second container, as said load carrier. The lorry or trailer may be adapted to transport the second container on its side, and to tip the second container into an upright position such that it may be mounted above the first container.

The lorry or trailer may comprise releasable securing means for securing the second container to the lorry or trailer. Such securing means may be hydraulically operated.

Preferably, the system is adapted for the transport and storage of solid fuel, with which it may be used with particular advantage. However, it is possible that the system may also be adapted for the transport and storage of liquid fuel.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first container of the system according to the first aspect of the invention. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided the second container of the system according to the first aspect of rhe invention.

The invention also extends to a plant provided with a system according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of transporting and storing bulk fuel, comprising the steps of filling with fuel the second container of a system according to the first aspect of the invention, transporting the second container to the first container of the system, and mounting the second container above the first to allow fuel in the second container to pass down into the first.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective sketch of a trailer carrying a bulk coal tank; Figure 2 is a perspective sketch, partly broken away, of a coal hopper; and Figure 3 is a perspective sketch showing the coal tank of Figure 1 mounted above the coal hopper of Figure 2.

In Figure 1, a wheeled trailer 2 has a chassis 3 on which there is mounted a load platform 4. The load platform 4 is connected to the chassis 3 at rear pivot points 5, and an hydraulic ram 6 is provided, to cause the load platform 4 to tilt upwardly.

A cylindrical tank 7 is mounted on the load platform 4 on which it is retained by clamps 8 which engage securing brackets 9 along the sides of the tank 7. The clamps 8 are hydrauiically operated, such that they may be brought towards and away from the illustrated position, in which they clamp the tank 7 on the load carrying platform 4.

The rear of the tank 7 is formed with a tapering portion 10 of generally conical shape, which terminates in a discharge door 11. The discharge door 11 is mounted in channels 12, whereby it may be opened by sliding it upwardly (as seen in Figure 1). A pair of pegs 13 project outwardly from the door 11.

The hopper 20 which is illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a main body 21, of generally rectangular shape. Towards the bottom of the hopper body 21 there is mounted a feed screw 22, which is arranged to feed coal to a boiler or other appliance, in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

The top of the body 21 is closed by a cover 23, which is provided with a pair of recesses 24, which correspond generally in shape and spacing to the pegs 13 on the door 11 of the coal tank 7.

The cover 23 is adapted to slide horizontally, and to this end, is mounted in channels 25 along the top of the main body 21. In order to move the cover 23, there is provided a hand wheel 26, which may be rotated on the outside of the body 21. Rotation of the hand wheel 26 is transmitted via gearing 27 to a pinion 28, which co-operates with a rack 29 on the underside of the cover 23.

Thus, it will be appreciated that rotation of the hand wheel 26 in opposite directions causes the cover 23 to slide across the top of the main body 21 in opposite directions.

Flared side walls 30 project above the top of the main body 21.

The coal tank 7 is adapted to be mounted above the coal hopper 20, as is illustrated in Figure 3. To this end, suitable means (not shown) are provided for supporting the coal tank 7 above the hopper 20. When in the position illustrated in Figure 3, the pegs 13 on the tank door 11 engage the recesses 24 in the hopper cover 23, such that the door 11 and cover 23 are entrained to move together.

The illustrated system is used as follows.

Firstly, the coal tank 7 is filled with coal at a coal depot. This may be done by any suitable means. As just one example, the front of the tank 7 (i.e. the left hand side as seen in Figure 1) may be provided with a further door, such that, with the tank 7 tilted generally upright on the load platform 4, the tank 7 may be filled through its then upper door, from a suitable coal dispensing hopper. When the tank 7 is full, the then top door is closed, and preferably sealed with a lead tag.

During this time, the rear door 11 is of course also closed, and preferably sealed with a further lead tag. The full tank 7 is then tipped down on the load platform to the generally horizontal position illustrated in Figure 1.

The tank 7 is then transported on the trailer 2, to the plant where the hopper 20 is located. It will be appreciated that, during this transport phase, the coal within the tank 7 is perfectly free from pollution by weather or foreign matter, and due to the presence of the lead seals on the rear door 11 and optional front door, the likelihood of pilfering is much reduced. It will be appreciated that any other suitable security means may be provided for preventing unauthorised opening of the rear door 11 and front door (if provided). Also, although the coal tank 7 is transported on a trailer 2, it may equally well be transported on the platform of a suitable lorry.

As the site of the hopper 20, the trailer 2 is brought into a position such that the rear of the tank 7 is just above the hopper 20. The load platform 4 is then tilted, to bring the coal tank 7 into the position illustrated in Figure 3. The hydraulic clamps 8 on the load platform 4 are then released, to leave the coal tank 7 supported above the hopper 20. Suitable guiding means may be provided to facilitate this phase of the operation, and particularly to bring the tank 7 into its desired position with sufficient accuracy as to position the pegs 13 on its door 11 within the recesses 24 on the hopper cover 23.

With the tank 7 in the position illustrated in Figure 3, the hand wheel 26 is operated to slide back the hopper cover 23 and the tank door 11.

Coal is thus free to pass down from the tank 7 into the hopper 20, under the influence of gravity.

The tank 7 therefore acts somewhat as a silo, storing coal vertically above the hopper 20.

Typically, the coal tank 7 will have a relatively great capacity, and the hopper 20 need have only a relatively small capacity. The illustrated arrangement is particularly advantageous in providing a constant supply of coal to the feed screw 22.

At the plant, there is preferably a plurality of feed hoppers, such as 20. Thus, when a full coal tank 7 is delivered onto a waiting hopper 20, the delivery lorry or trailer can be used to take away a waiting empty coal tank 7, on another hopper 20.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated arrangement has numerous advantages over conventional arrangemens for the transport and storage of coal. As already mentioned, the tank 7 minimizes polution and pilfering of coal therein.

The tank 7 may be of any desired capacity-for example, from five to twenty-five tons. The unloading operation can be carried out much more quickly than conventional unloading operations. Because the tank door 11 is not opened until the tank 7 is fully positioned above the hopper 20, the unloading operation is also very much more clean, and less susceptible to wastage.

As mentioned above, the coal tank 7 may be of any desired size. For example, it may be made up of a number of cylindrical sections, any desired number of which are bolted or otherwise secured together to form a tank 7 of desired size. As well as being suitable for large bulk deliveries for industrial and commercial use, the illustrated system is equally suitable for use on a relatively small scale, for domestic use.

It will be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to the illustrated system.

For example, the coal tank 7 may be formed towards it rear with parts which engage with corresponding parts on the hopper 20 to form a fixed pivot point about which the tank 7 is pivoted from its horizontal position on the trailer 2 to its vertical position above the hopper 20. The tank 7 and hopper 20 may be formed with interengaging catches to retain the tank 7 in its position above the hopper 20. The tank 7 and hopper 20 may be of sufficient intrinsic strength and provided with suitable co-operating parts as to allow the tank 7 to be supported directly on the hopper 20, without further support. However, if desired, and particularly if the tank 7 is of appreciable length, additional external supports for the tank 7 may be provided.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated system could be adapted to transport and store liquid fuels, rather than solid fuels. The main differences would reside in making both the tank 7 and hopper 20 fluid-tight, replacing the tank door 11 with a valve, and replacing the feed screw 22 of the hopper 20 with a suitable alternative feed path to the boiler or other appliance. Thus, a fuel supplier could use the same lorry to carry different tanks, for carrying coal or oil, for example, which ever was required by a customer. Customers using coal and oil would have generally the same design of hopper, which could receive a coal or oil tank, as desired.

Indeed, in a suitable arrangement, a user could simply change over between oil and coal as fuels, by using either a feed screw such as 22, or a suitable oil feed path, as necessary.

In a modification to the illustrated system, the load platform 4 of the trailer 2 may be provided with upright bars which engage within apertures formed within the tank 7. These bars would locate the tank 7 positively on the load platform 4, and prevent substantial movement thereof off the load platform 4, if the hydraulic clamps 8, for example, should fail. The bars would also help to support the weight of the tank 7 as it is tipped into an upright position, and the bars would be withdrawn from their recesses as the trailer 2 is taken away from the tank 7. By way of example, there may be provided a pair of bars towards the front end of the load platform 4, and/or a pair of bars towards the rear of the load platform 4.

Claims (Filed on 23/12/83) 1. A bulk fuel transport and storage system comprising a first fuel container adapted to be installed at a plant where fuel is used, and a second fuel container adapted to be transported by a load carrier from which it may be removed, the containers being adapted to co-operate with the second container mounted above the first to allow fuel in the second container to pass down into the first.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the first fuel container includes feed means for feeding the fuel to a boiler or other appliance.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein said feed means comprises a screw feed mechanism, for solid fuel.

4. A system according to Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the capacity of the first container is less than that of the second.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first container has a cover.

6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the second container is a closed container.

7. A system according to Claim 6, wherein the second container has a discharge door and means for locking the same, which locking means is arranged to be relatively difficult to unlock unless the second container is mounted above the first.

8. A system according to Claim 7, wherein said locking means is so arranged that the weight of any fuel within the container assists unlocking of the locking means when the second container is mounted above the first.

9. A system according to Claim 6 or 7 or 8,

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Claims

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position the pegs 13 on its door 11 within the recesses 24 on the hopper cover 23.

With the tank 7 in the position illustrated in Figure 3, the hand wheel 26 is operated to slide back the hopper cover 23 and the tank door 11.

Coal is thus free to pass down from the tank 7 into the hopper 20, under the influence of gravity.

The tank 7 therefore acts somewhat as a silo, storing coal vertically above the hopper 20.

Typically, the coal tank 7 will have a relatively great capacity, and the hopper 20 need have only a relatively small capacity. The illustrated arrangement is particularly advantageous in providing a constant supply of coal to the feed screw 22.

At the plant, there is preferably a plurality of feed hoppers, such as 20. Thus, when a full coal tank 7 is delivered onto a waiting hopper 20, the delivery lorry or trailer can be used to take away a waiting empty coal tank 7, on another hopper 20.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated arrangement has numerous advantages over conventional arrangemens for the transport and storage of coal. As already mentioned, the tank 7 minimizes polution and pilfering of coal therein.

The tank 7 may be of any desired capacity-for example, from five to twenty-five tons. The unloading operation can be carried out much more quickly than conventional unloading operations. Because the tank door 11 is not opened until the tank 7 is fully positioned above the hopper 20, the unloading operation is also very much more clean, and less susceptible to wastage.

As mentioned above, the coal tank 7 may be of any desired size. For example, it may be made up of a number of cylindrical sections, any desired number of which are bolted or otherwise secured together to form a tank 7 of desired size. As well as being suitable for large bulk deliveries for industrial and commercial use, the illustrated system is equally suitable for use on a relatively small scale, for domestic use.

It will be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to the illustrated system.

For example, the coal tank 7 may be formed towards it rear with parts which engage with corresponding parts on the hopper 20 to form a fixed pivot point about which the tank 7 is pivoted from its horizontal position on the trailer 2 to its vertical position above the hopper 20. The tank 7 and hopper 20 may be formed with interengaging catches to retain the tank 7 in its position above the hopper 20. The tank 7 and hopper 20 may be of sufficient intrinsic strength and provided with suitable co-operating parts as to allow the tank 7 to be supported directly on the hopper 20, without further support. However, if desired, and particularly if the tank 7 is of appreciable length, additional external supports for the tank 7 may be provided.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated system could be adapted to transport and store liquid fuels, rather than solid fuels. The main differences would reside in making both the tank

7 and hopper 20 fluid-tight, replacing the tank door 11 with a valve, and replacing the feed screw 22 of the hopper 20 with a suitable alternative feed path to the boiler or other appliance. Thus, a fuel supplier could use the same lorry to carry different tanks, for carrying coal or oil, for example, which ever was required by a customer. Customers using coal and oil would have generally the same design of hopper, which could receive a coal or oil tank, as desired.

Indeed, in a suitable arrangement, a user could simply change over between oil and coal as fuels, by using either a feed screw such as 22, or a suitable oil feed path, as necessary.

In a modification to the illustrated system, the load platform 4 of the trailer 2 may be provided with upright bars which engage within apertures formed within the tank 7. These bars would locate the tank 7 positively on the load platform 4, and prevent substantial movement thereof off the load platform 4, if the hydraulic clamps 8, for example, should fail. The bars would also help to support the weight of the tank 7 as it is tipped into an upright position, and the bars would be withdrawn from their recesses as the trailer 2 is taken away from the tank 7. By way of example, there may be provided a pair of bars towards the front end of the load platform 4, and/or a pair of bars towards the rear of the load platform 4.

Claims (Filed on 23/12/83) 1. A bulk fuel transport and storage system comprising a first fuel container adapted to be installed at a plant where fuel is used, and a second fuel container adapted to be transported by a load carrier from which it may be removed, the containers being adapted to co-operate with the second container mounted above the first to allow fuel in the second container to pass down into the first.
2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the first fuel container includes feed means for feeding the fuel to a boiler or other appliance.
3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein said feed means comprises a screw feed mechanism, for solid fuel.
4. A system according to Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the capacity of the first container is less than that of the second.
5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first container has a cover.
6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the second container is a closed container.
7. A system according to Claim 6, wherein the second container has a discharge door and means for locking the same, which locking means is arranged to be relatively difficult to unlock unless the second container is mounted above the first.
8. A system according to Claim 7, wherein said locking means is so arranged that the weight of any fuel within the container assists unlocking of the locking means when the second container is mounted above the first.
9. A system according to Claim 6 or 7 or 8,

wherein the second container has a discharge door which is adapted to be opened by a cooperating mechanism or part on the first container when the second container is mounted above the first.
10. A system according to Claim 9, wherein the containers have corresponding projections and recesses which engage to enable said door to be opened, when the second container is mounted above the first.
11. A system according to Claim 9 or 10 as appendant to Claim 5, wherein said cover and said door are adapted to engage and to be opened together, when the second container is mounted above the first.
1 2. A system according to any preceding claim, including a lorry or trailer adapted to transport the second container, as said load carrier.
13. A system according to Claim 12, wherein the lorry or trailer is adapted to transport the second container on its side, and to tip the second container into an upright position such that it may be mounted above the first container.
14. A system according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the lorry or trailer comprises releasable securing means for securing the second container to the lorry or trailer.
1 5. A system according to Claim 14, wherein said receiving means are hydraulically operated.
1 6. A system according to any preceding claim, adapted for the transport and storage of solid fuel.
1 7. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 1 5, adapted for the transport and storage of liquid fuel.
18. A bulk fuel transport and storage system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 9. The first container of the system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
20. The second container of the system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18.
21. A plant provided with a system according to any one of Claims 1 to 18.
22. A method of transporting and storing bulk fuel, comprising the steps of filling with fuel the second container of a system according to any of Claims 1 to 18, transporting the second container to the first container of the system, and mounting the second container above the first to allow fuel in the second container to pass down into the first.