GB2178721A

GB2178721A - Slurry tanker

Info

Publication number: GB2178721A
Application number: GB08618505A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Scott Hillam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-07-30
Filing date: 1986-07-29
Publication date: 1987-02-18
Also published as: GB8618505D0; GB8519115D0

Abstract

A method and apparatus for charging slurry into a slurry tanker from a slurry pit or lagoon (26). The method includes the steps of positioning said tanker (2), having a slurry inlet pipe (12), in proximity to said slurry (28), pivoting said tanker so that the end of said inlet pipe enters the slurry, and charging said slurry from said pit or lagoon into said tanker through said inlet pipe. The apparatus comprises a slurry tanker including a body for the reception and storage of slurry, said body having an inlet pipe through which slurry may be charged into said tanker, said body being pivotable about a horizontal axis so as to lower the end of said inlet pipe. The tanker may be provided with a level indicator (20) and a spreader (22). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slurry tanker This invention relates to slurry tankers.

Slurry tankers are used to transport slurry from slurry pits, lagoons, cesspits and so on, the slurry being transferred from the pit, lagoon or the like into the tanker and then, depending upon the form of the slurry, either sprayed or otherwise distributed over agricultural land or disposed of elsewhere.

Conventionally, in the emptying of slurry pits, lagoons etc, it is necessary to connect a flexible pipe of say 4 to 8 inches diameter to an inlet pipe of the slurry tanker, the free end of the flexible pipe being deposited in the slurry in the pit or lagoon. The slurry is then drawn up the flexible pipe by means of a vacuum pump into the tanker through the inlet pipe.

In many instances, in the emptying-or level reducing-of a slurry pit or lagoon, it is necessary to reposition the slurry tanker and flexible pipe as emptying or level reducing progresses so that the slurry can be drawn off from the pit or lagoon, and this involves the disconnection and re-connection of the flexible pipe.

The connection and disconnection of the flexible pipe to and from the slurry tanker is a very distasteful and dirty job, as well as being very heavy work and involves the operator leaving the tractor or other towing vehicle, and this and the re-positioning of the tanker is very time-consuming, and the invention seeks to provide an improved form of slurry tanker which will obviate the above disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of charging slurry into a slurry tanker from a slurry pit or lagoon including the steps of positioning said tanker, having a slurry inlet pipe, in proximity to said slurry, pivoting said tanker so that the end of said inlet pipe enters the slurry, and charging said slurry from said pit or lagoon into said tanker through said inlet pipe.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a slurry tanker including a body for the reception and storage of slurry, said body having an inlet pipe through which slurry may be charged into said tanker, said body being pivotable about an horizontal axis so as to lower the end of said inlet pipe.

Preferably, the body will be mounted on a wheeled chassis, the body being pivotable relative to the chassis by means of fluid pressure or mechanical means so that the body may be raised and lowered relative to the chassis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body will be pivotable about the axle of the wheels of the tanker, and will be pivotable by means of one or more hydraulic cylinder and ram arrangements extending between the body and the chassis.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a diagrammatic side view of a slurry tanker according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a slurry tanker indicated generally by reference numeral 2 comprises a body 4 and a chassis 6 having a towing means (not shown) so that the tanker may be coupled to a tractor or other powered towing means, not shown. The chassis is mounted on a pair of wheels, one of which is referenced 8, mounted on a common axle.

Extending between the chassis 6 and the body 4 of the tanker 2 is a hydraulic cylinder and ram arrangement 10 which is operable to raise and lower the body 4 about the axle of the wheels 8 and relative to the chassis 6, to and from the position indicated by reference numeral 4A.

In the full line position of the body 4, the end of the body is supported on a support 14.

The end of the tanker body 4 remote from the towing means-right hand end in the drawing-has an inlet and discharge pipe 12 located in fixed relationship with the body 4, so that when the body 4 is raised and lowered the pipe 12 is also raised and lowered from its full line position to the dotted line position shown by reference numeral 12A.

The pipe 12 has a gate or other valve (not shown).

The body 4 is provided with a control valve 16, a manhole 18-through which slurry may be charged into the tanker by extraneous pipe means (not shown)-and the usual level or capacity indicating means 20 as well as a spreader plate 22 which is located in line with the pipe 12 but which is pivotable or otherwise movable relative to the pipe 12.

A vacuum/pressure pump 24 is mounted on the chassis 6.

It will be appreciated that suitable control means and connections for the control valve 16, cylinder and ram arrangement 10, spreader plate 22 and pump 24 will be provided-all preferably coupled to a control panel or the like mounted on the tractor or other towing vehicle-but as these form no part of the invention, they are not shown in the drawing or described herein.

In use, the tanker 2 is positioned in proximity to a slurry pit or lagoon 26 containing slurry 28 and the spreader plate 22 is moved from its position in-line with the pipe 12, whereafter the cylinder and ram arrangement 10 is operated to raise the body 4 of the tanker to the position indicated by reference numeral 4A which has the effect of lowering the pipe 12 to the position indicated by refer ence numeral 1 2A at which position the end of the pipe enters the slurry 28. The pump 24 is then set to the vacuum mode so as to pull slurry from the pit or lagoon 26 through the inlet pipe and into the body 4 of the tanker, the gate valve in the pipe having previously been opened.

When charged-the operator can determine this by observing (fronl his position on the tractor or other towing vehicle) the indicator 20-the gate valve will be operated to close off the inlet pipe 12, whereafter the cylinder and ram arrangement is actuated to lower the body 4 to its full line position resting on the support 14 and to simultaneously raise the pipe 12 from the slurry 28. The tanker is then towed away for the content to be discharged.

If the discharge is to be over agricultural or other land for fertilisation purposes, the pump 24 will be set to the pressure mode and the spreader plate will be returned to its normal position so as to discharge and spread the slurry from the tanker body 4 through the pipe 12, the gate valve therein having been opened.

Thus the invention provides a slurry tanker which is convenient and clean (to the operator) to use, avoiding the necessity of manually connecting and disconnecting a flexible pipe or flexible pipes to the pipe 12. In addition, the tanker may be operated without the operator needing to leave his position on the tractor or other towing vehicle.

Finally, because it is not necessary for the operator to connect and disconnect a flexible pipe to the pipe 12, the restraints on the diameter of the inlet pipe are removed-the conventionally used flexible pipes are extremely heavy-so that it is possible for the diameter of the inlet pipe 12 to be twelve inches or more, meaning of course that much thicker and heavier slurry can be charged into and discharged from the tanker.

Claims

1. A method of charging slurry into a slurry tanker from a slurry pit or lagoon including the steps of positioning said tanker, having a slurry inlet pipe, in proximity to said slurry, pivoting said tanker so that the end of said inlet pipe enters the slurry, and charging said slurry from said pit or lagoon into said tanker through said inlet pipe.

2. A method according to Claim 1, including the further step of progressively moving said tanker and said inlet pipe further into the lagoon or pit as emptying of said lagoon or pit progresses.

3. A method of charging slurry into a slurry tanker substantially as herein described.

4. A slurry tanker including a body or the reception and storage of slurry, said body having an inlet pipe through which slurry may be charged into said tanker, said body being pivotable about a horizontal axis so as to lower the end of said inlet pipe.

5. A slurry tanker according to Claim 4, wherein said body is mounted on a wheeled chassis.

6. A slurry tanker according to Claim 5, wherein said body is pivotable relative to said chassis by means of fluid pressure means or mechanical means so as to raise and lower said body relative to said chassis.

7. A slurry tanker according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said body is pivotable about an axle of the wheels of the chassis, said body being pivotable by means of one or more hydraulic cylinder and ram arrangements extending between the body and the chassis.

8. A slurry tanker according to any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein said slurry tanker has a spreader plate which is pivotable or otherwise movable relative to the inlet pipe.

9. A slurry tanker according to any of Claims 5 to 8, including a vacuum/pressure pump mounted on said chassis.

10. A slurry tanker constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.