GB2262930A

GB2262930A - Handling system.

Info

Publication number: GB2262930A
Application number: GB9126851A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-18
Filing date: 1991-12-18
Publication date: 1993-07-07
Also published as: GB9126851D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a discharge system for handling bulk particulate material 3 in a storage container 2 and comprises an elongate endless conveyor 4 having flights 28 for picking up particulate material 3 from the upper surface 5 of material at a first end portion 18 of the elongate conveyor 4, and conveying said material 3 towards a second end portion 16 of the elongate conveyor 4 for discharging out of an upper part of container 2. A first support means 12a is formed and arranged for supporting the first end portion 18 of the elongate conveyor 4 at a raised level to allow filling and then allowing said first end portion 18 to rest on the surface 5 of the particulate material 3 in engagement therewith for discharging of the particulate material 3. A second variable height support means 12b is provided for supporting the second end portion 16 of the elongate conveyor 4 at said container upper part and allowing said second end portion 16 of the elongate conveyor 4 to rest on the surface 5 of the body of particulate material 3 in engagement therewith at lower levels within the container 2. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDLING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a discharge system suitable for use in discharging bulk particulate material from a container, especially ice for use in the fishing industry from a dockside container onto a fishing boat.

Fishing ports generally have a dockside ice making facility for supplying fishing vessels, road transporters and fish markets with a ready supply of ice to help keep the fish fresh. Conventionally the particulate ice, once made, is loaded into large containers which may store up to 100 tonnes of ice. The containers are generally cuboid and ice is discharged therefrom by an elongate endless rake conveyor. In one conventional system there is used a pendular rake conveyor which is fixed at one, upper end thereof to an upper end of an end wall of the container.The other end of the rake conveyor lies on the surface of the ice and the downward motion of the endless conveyor belt at the underside of the conveyor apparatus rakes the ice towards the lower end of the upwardly moving run of the endless conveyor belt of the rake conveyor at the uppermost side thereof at the lower end of the conveyor. The endless conveyor belt then conveys the ice up the conveyor towards a discharge point at upper end of the container. At the discharge point the ice drops down onto a screw conveyor disposed thereat for discharge from the container.

In another known arrangement there is used a horizontally extending rake conveyor which simply rests on the surface of the body of particulate ice and drags it across to one side of the container where it drops down into a vertical channel defined by a ram retractable wall of the container and a generally self supporting wall of the main body of the particulate ice in the container. At the bottom of the channel is a screw conveyor which finally discharges the ice out of the container. A major disadvantage of this arrangement is that as the rake scrapes away at the surface of the body of particulate ice it tends to disturb the stability of the unsupported wall of the body of ice defining one side of the vertical channel so that this ice wall is prone to collapse into the channel with the risk of jamming up the cavity and/or the discharge screw conveyor.

With the pendular rake system the angle of inclination of the rake conveyor is controlled by a winch connected between a second end of the container and the conveyor in proximity to its lower end thereby supporting the upper end of the conveyor at different heights above the base. In use of this conveyor, though, due to said one end of the conveyor being fixed, a large proportion of the ice within the container cannot be reached by the rake conveyor and thus cannot be used readily.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a discharge system suitable for use in handling bulk particulate material stored in a bulk storage container means for containing bulk particulate material, which discharge system comprises an elongate endless conveyor means having flight means formed and arranged for picking up particulate material from the surface of a body of said particulate material contained in said container at a first end portion of the elongate conveyor means, and conveying said material towards a second end portion of the conveyor means for discharging said material out of an upper part of said container, with first support means formed and arranged for supporting said first end portion of the conveyor means at a raised level proximal said upper part of said container to allow filling of said container with bulk particulate material; and allowing said first end portion of the elongate conveyor means to rest on the surface of the body of particulate material in engagement therewith at lower levels within the container for said discharging of the particulate material in use of the system, wherein said system is further provided with a second variable height support means formed and arranged for supporting the second end portion of the elongate conveyor means at a discharge level proximal said upper part of said container; and allowing said second end portion of the elongate conveyor means to rest on the surface of the body of particulate material in engagement therewith at lower levels within the container, in use of the system, for displacing particulate material within said container towards said first end portion of the endless conveyor means, whereby in use of said system particulate material can be alternately removed for discharge from one part of the container in the region of the first end portion, and transferred from another part of the container to said first part, by raising and lowering opposite end portions of said endless conveyor means.

Thus with a discharge system of the present invention, bulk particulate material may be stored in a suitable container and substantially completely discharged from an upper portion thereof in a convenient and easy manner.

It will be understood that the term bulk particulate material relates to ice in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the ice may be more or less crushed and/or in larger pieces. Nevertheless the term bulk particulate material may also include coal, stones, grain or other particulate material that is handled in bulk.

The container is preferably cuboid and of generally known size, capable of containing 50-100 tonnes of ice, preferably 70-80 tonnes of ice, desirably 75tonnes. It will be appreciated that other shaped containers may be used if desired.

Preferably said endless conveyor means is provided with a plurality of transversely extending flight members, said flight members being formed and arranged for engement with said bulk particulate material to retain said particulate material on the endless conveyor means e.g. conveyor belt to a greater or lesser extent, during upward travel thereof. It will be understood that movement of said material can take place at both the upper and under sides of said conveyor means, with flights on the underside of said conveyor engaging said material and moving material under said conveyor, in the direction from said first towards said second end portion of said conveyor.Bulk material accumulated in proximity to said second end portion of said conveyor means is conveyed onto said upper side of said conveyor means so as to be conveyed from said second end portion of said conveyor means to said first end portion of said conveyor means for discharge from the latter.

Desirably said system is provided with a discharge means, disposable more or less adjacent said first end of said conveyor, and formed and arranged for receiving bulk material from said conveyor for discharge thereof out of said upper part of said container means.

Preferably said discharge means is mounted at the upper part of said container and is formed and arranged to be operable when said first end of said conveyor means is in said first raised position, proximal said upper part of said container.

Said container means is preferably provided with guide means mounted to extend generally vertically from said first raised portion to said second position proximal said base portion said guide means being formed and arranged so as to guide said first end of said conveyor means from said first position to said second position thereof.

Both said first and second variable height support means may be based on any suitable displacement means, for instance, using hydraulic rams but preferably using a winch system comprising powered winches and cables, formed and arranged to raise and/or lower said first and/or said second ends of the conveyor means Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of some preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:: Fig. 1 is a section through a side elevation of a containment and discharge system of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the containment and discharge system of Fig. 1; A discharge system, generally indicated by reference number 1, comprises a container 2, an endless conveyor 4, a discharge means 6 and a variable height conveyor support system 8 for raising and lowering the conveyor 4.

In more detail, the container has a base 10 for supporting the combined weight of the container 2 and ice 3 contained inside, which may be substantial given that in a preferred embodiment the container 2 has dimensions of approximately 6m by 14m by 8m in height for holding up to around 100 tonnes of ice.

The conveyor support system 8 comprises two winches 12 and an arrangement of cables 14 for raising and/or lowering a first 16 and/or second 18 end of the conveyor 4. A first winch 12a mounted above the first end wall 11 of the container 2 is connected by a cable 14a to the first end 16 of the conveyor 4 between the base 20 and the upper part 22 of the container 2. The container 2 is provided with two vertically extending guideways 24 so as to guide the first end 16 of the conveyor 4 in a substantially vertical plane. A second winch 12b, again mounted above the container 2, is connected by a cable 14b, via a pulley 26, above the second end wall 13 of the container 2, to the second end 18 of the conveyor 4.In use of the conveyor support system 8 the first end 16 of the conveyor 4 may be raised and lowered independently of the second end 18 and vice versa such that the conveyor 4 may be lowered from a first generally horizontal position A towards the roof 19 of the container 4 to a second generally horizontal position D (shown in dashed line) near the base 32 of the container 4.

As may be seen in Fig. 1, by operating the second winch 12b the second end 18 of the conveyor 4 may be lowered so as to bring the underside 4a of the conveyor 4 into contact with bulk particulate material (not shown) whilst still keeping the first end 16 in a more or less fully raised position. The direction of travel of the conveyor 4, from the first end 16 to the second end 18 drags material towards the second 18 end where it accumulates and is engaged by the upperside 4b of the conveyor 4 which then conveys the bulk material towards the first end 16 of the conveyor 4 and to the discharge means 6 for discharging the material.As material is conveyed away from the container 2, the second end 18 of the conveyor 4 is progressively lowered towards the base 20 of the container (or simply allowed to rest on the progressively lowering surface 5 of the material 3) and eventually reaches the base 20 of the container 2 as shown by position s. In this position B no further material can be conveyed away to the discharge means 6 as there is no material at the second end 1B of the conveyor 4.In order to move material presently under the conveyor 4 towards the second end 18 of the conveyor 4, and the second end 13 of the container, the second end 18 of the conveyor 4 is raised back up again by the second winch, 12b and the first end 16 of the conveyor 4 is now progressively lowered so that the underside 4a of the conveyor 4 engages the surface 5 of the material 3 and pushes it across towards the second end wall 13 of the container 4 until the first end 16 of the conveyor 4 (corresponding to position C of the conveyor) and the body of ice 3 remaining adjacent the first end wall 11 has been largely displaced towards the second end wall 13. The first end 16 of the conveyor 4 is then raised again (to bring the conveyor back into position A) and discharge resumed as before by progressively lowering the second end 18 of the conveyor 4.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and shows in more detail the conveyor 4 and the discharge means 6. The conveyor 4 has a plurality of flights 28 (not shown in Fig. 1 in the interests of clarity) at intervals therealong for engaging with and driving material 3. Material 3 on the upper side of the conveyor 4b is conveyed towards the discharge means 6 which comprises a revolving archimedes screw conveyor 30 provided with suitable rotary drive means 31 and which discharges the material out of a discharge outlet 32 at the side 33 of the container 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the container has a double skin 34 containing insulating material 36 so as to minimize thermal transfer to the ice contained therein.

It will be seen that the container 2 is supported by a rigid support structure 38 which supports both the container 2 and its contents and also the conveyor 4 the discharge means 6 and the conveyor support means 8.

It will be appreciated that any suitable form of endless conveyor means with flights for engagement with particulate ice may be employed. Conveniently there is used an endless conveyor comprising a plurality of regularly spaced flights 28 of generally bucket-form cross-section (as shown in the detail view in Fig. 1) mounted on endless chains 39. In more detail the "buckets" 28 have a forwardly inclined shallow wall 40 which digs into the body of particulate ice 3 at the leading side 41 of the bucket flight 28. A deeper rear wall 42 has a generally upright portion 43 and a forwardly inclined outer portion 44 which also tends to dig into the body of ice 3 and scoop it up into the interior 45 of the bucket flight 28, wherein it is retained between the front and rear walls 40, 42 on the upper run 4b of the conveyor 4.

Due to irregularities in the body of particulate ice 3 the conveyor 4 can be subjected to differential loading from side to side thereof resulting in flexing thereof and lateral displacement against the sides of the container, especially at the second end 18 of the conveyor 4. Accordingly there is desirably provided at each side of the second end 18 of the conveyor 4 a spring loaded 46 guide wheel 47 which engages the side wall 48 of the container 2 (as shown in the detail vertical transverse section of Fig. 3) to allow said second end 10 be raised and lowered more or less freely as required and at the same time minimising lateral displacement and possible damage arising from deflection against either side wall 48 of the container 2. Also shown in this detail view is a pulley wheel 49 around which the winch cable 14b extends for raising and lowering of said second end 18 of the conveyor 4.

Claims

1. A discharge system suitable for use in handling bulk particulate material stored in a bulk storage container means for containing bulk particulate material, which discharge system comprises an elongate endless conveyor means having flight means formed and arranged for picking up particulate material from the surface of a body of said particulate material contained in said container at a first end portion of the elongate conveyor means, and conveying said material towards a second end portion of the conveyor means for discharging said material out of an upper part of said container, with first support means formed and arranged for supporting said first end portion of the conveyor means at a raised level proximal said upper part of said container to allow filling of said container with bulk particulate material; and allowing said first end portion of the elongate conveyor means to rest on the surface of the body of particulate material in engagement therewith at lower levels within the container for said discharging of the particulate material in use of the system, wherein said system is further provided with a second variable height support means formed and arranged for supporting the second end portion of the elongate conveyor means at a discharge level proximal said upper part of said container; and allowing said second end portion of the elongate conveyor means to rest on the surface of the body of particulate material in engagement therewith at lower levels within the container, in use of the system, for displacing particulate material within said container towards said first end portion of the endless conveyor means, whereby in use of said system particulate material can be alternately removed for discharge from one part of the container in the region of the first end portion, and transferred from another part of the container to said first part, by raising and lowering opposite end portions of said endless conveyor means.

2. A discharge system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor means has a plurality of transversely extending flight members.

3. A discharge system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one of said variable height support means comprises a winch means.

4. A discharge system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one of said variable height support means has a generally vertically extending elongate guide means for laterally supporting the respective end portion of the conveyor means as it is raised and lowered along a predetermined pathway.

5. A discharge system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said container is generally cuboid.

6. A discharge system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein is provided a second discharge conveyor means downstream of said elongate conveyor means for discharge of said material, in use of the system, via a discharge outlet of the container.

7. A discharge system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second conveyor means comprises a screw conveyor.

8. A bulk storage container provided with a discharge system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A discharge system substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.