GB2383031A

GB2383031A - Sand hopper filler apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2383031A
Application number: GB0129802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Hannaford; Christopher John Edward Hoskin
Original assignee: AEA Technology PLC
Current assignee: Ricardo AEA Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-13
Filing date: 2001-12-13
Publication date: 2003-06-18
Also published as: GB0129802D0

Abstract

Sand hopper filling apparatus (10, figure 1) comprising a storage container 18 for sand, and an evacuating air pump (24, figure 1). The pump is arranged to suck air out of an outlet port of the sand hopper (not shown). The storage container encloses a sand extraction pipe 34 extending upwardly from near its base, whose upper end is connected to an inlet port of the sand hopper so air is sucked in through the sand extraction pipe 34. An open ended air inlet duct that may be of inverted funnel shape 32, extends upwardly from a port at the base of the storage container 18, tapering, and projecting into the lower end of the sand extraction pipe 34. Air flowing up the air inlet duct 32 entrains the sand from the base of the storage container 18, which is hence carried into the hopper.

Description

Sand Hopper Filler Apparatus This invention relates to an apparatus for filling a sand hopper, for example on a railway train.

The use of hoppers to store sand on railway trains is widely known, the sand being dispensed onto the line if there is too little adhesion between the wheel and the rail. The sand may be dispensed at a fixed rate such as 2 kg/min when required, using a compressed air system; alternatively it may be dispensed in accordahce with the speed of the vehicle as suggested in EP 0 217 636 (Mitsubishi), or in accordance with a measure of the adhesive force as suggested in WO 00/71399 (AEA Technology). In any event, at intervals the hopper will need to be re-filled. In a known apparatus the hopper is provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; to refill the hopper an air outlet pipe is connected to the outlet port, and a sand inlet pipe is connected to the inlet port, the other end of the sand inlet pipe extending into a container of sand, so the sand can be conveyed into the hopper by a stream of air.

According to the present invention there is provided a sand hopper filler apparatus comprising a storage container for sand, and an evacuating air pump, the air pump being connectable by a hose to an outlet port of a sand hopper; the storage container enclosing a sand extraction pipe extending upwardly from near the base of the storage container, the upper end of the sand extraction pipe being connectable by a hose to an inlet port of the sand hopper, wherein an open-ended air inlet duct extends upwardly from a port at the base of the storage container, tapering, and projecting into the lower end of the sand extraction pipe.

The air inlet duct may be of an inverted funnel shape, and the uppermost part of the duct may be of uniform diameter, extending within the lower end of the sand extraction pipe. There is consequently a venturi effect in the vicinity of the upper end of the air inlet duct, which helps to suck sand into the sand extraction pipe. This has been found to significantly improve the rate at which sand is transferred.

Preferably the apparatus is mounted on a trolley so it can be readily moved.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a sand hopper filler apparatus of the invention ; and Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of part of the apparatus of figure 1.

Referring to figure 1, a sand hopper filler apparatus 10 comprises a trolley 12 with four castors 14 and with a handle 16. The trolley 12 carries a sand storage container 18 of overall height about 0.75 m, the upper part 19 of which is of rectangular cross-section 0.60 m long and 0.48 m wide, and the lower part 20 tapers to a base 0.10 m square. The trolley 12 also carries a vacuum unit 24 with a domed upper part 25 containing an electric motor, and carrying a control panel 26, a central dust-trapping part 27 from which extends a pipe inlet 28, and a base part 29 (which has small castors 30). When the electric motor of the vacuum unit 24 is switched off, any trapped dust falls into the base part 29; the base part 29 can be released by raising the

handle 16, so that the trapped dust can be removed.

Referring now to figure 2, which shows a sectional view of the sand storage container 18, there is a 100 mm circular hole in the base of the sand storage container 18 to which is welded a stainless-steel inverted funnel 32,100 mm at its widest diameter. The funnel 32 hence tapers upwardly to an integral tube 33 of external diameter 10 mm (and internal diameter 8 mm) and of length 65 mm. A stainless-steel tube 34 of external diameter 25 mm (and internal diameter 22 mm) carrying a'support collar 35 is supported by a bracket 36 at the centre of the top of the container 18 so that the other end of the tube 32 extends to near the base, fitting over the upper end of the tube 33 of the funnel 32. The support collar 35 is fixed to the tube 34 at such a position as to ensure a separation (in the vertical direction) between the open end of the tube 34 and the tapering part of the funnel 32, this vertical separation being set to a distance between 10 mm and 20 mm in accordance with the grade of sand. For example with fine sand of typical size about 0.5 mm the separation should be 11 mm, while for coarse sand of typical size about 2 mm the separation should be 17 mm. There are also two expanded steel mesh sheets 38 that rest on the wall of the container 18 at the top of the lower part 20, to prevent large items such as litter from falling into the lower part 20 of the container 18.

The apparatus 10 is used for refilling a sand hopper on a train (not shown), this sand hopper having an inlet port and an outlet port. For such use, the sand storage container 18 is filled with sand. The air suction port 28 of the vacuum unit 24 is connected by a 3.3 m long and 40 mm internal diameter vacuum hose (not shown) to the outlet port of the sand hopper, and the top end of the

tube 34 is connected by a 3.3 m long and 25 mm internal diameter vacuum hose (not shown) to the inlet port of the sand hopper. By means of the control panel 26, the operator then actuates the electric motor of the vacuum unit 24, which is typically 2 or 3 kw. This sucks air through the sand hopper and hence sucks air up the stainless-steel tube 34. Air is therefore sucked up through the funnel 32, and sand is simultaneously sucked up through the annular space between the tubes 33 and 34.

Consequently the sand is conveyed with the air stream into the sand hopper, where it falls out of the air stream. If any sand particles are carried over with the air stream into the vacuum unit 24, they will be trapped in the trapping part 27. When the hopper is full, the operator switches off the vacuum unit 24, and disconnects the vacuum hoses.

If the apparatus is to be used in the open air it is desirable to also provides a cover, for example of transparent plastic, over the top of the sand storage container 18, to keep the sand dry. It will also be appreciated that the trolley may incorporate brackets for hanging the vacuum hoses on when not in use. If the apparatus 10 is to be used with different grades of sand the necessary adjustment in the vertical separation between the open end of the tube 34 and the funnel 32 may be achieved by adjusting the position of the support collar 35 (if this is adjustable), or by replacing the tube 34 by a different tube 34 with its support collar 35 at the appropriate different position. For example the apparatus might be provided with three different tubes 34, differing only in the positions of the support collars 35, for use with three different grades of sand.

Claims

Claims 1. A sand hopper filler apparatus comprising a storage container for sand, and an evacuating air pump, the air pump being connectable by a hose to an outlet port of a sand hopper; the storage container enclosing a sand extraction pipe extending upwardly from near the base of the storage container, the upper end of the sand extraction pipe being connectable by a hose to an inlet port of the sand hopper, wherein an open-ended air inlet duct extends upwardly from a port at the base of the storage container, tapering, and projecting into the lower end of the sand extraction pipe.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air inlet duct is of an inverted funnel shape, and the uppermost part of the duct is of uniform diameter, extending within the lower end of the sand extraction pipe.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 incorporating a trolley so it can be readily moved.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the separation between the lower end of the sand extraction pipe and the tapering part of the air inlet duct is between 10 mm and 20 mm.
5. A sand hopper filler apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

15565 MdDe P. T. Mansfield Chartered Patent Agent Agent for the Applicants