GB620231A - An improved silo for pulverulent materials - Google Patents

Abstract

620,231. Silos. LEVER BROS. & UNILEVER, Ltd., and REVEL, H. J. DE L'O. KNIGHT-. Jan. 10, 1947, No. 876. [Class 20(i)] [Also in Group XXX] A silo for pulverulent materials comprises a vertical container of rectangular cross-section provided with flaps hinged alternately on opposite sides of the container. The vertical distance between the hinged ends of consecutive flaps on the same side of the container is arranged to be not greater than the depth beyond which the material loses its free flowing properties under the conditions of temperature and pressure occasioned by storage. Fig. 1 shows one arrangement in which a container 1 comprises five similar flanged boxes stacked symmetrically, each provided with a loose fitting flap 4. The container 1 is supported on boxes 12, 13, double hinged doors 16, 17 being secured immediately above a discharge hopper 20 having a worm conveyer 21 at its base. An articulated rod 33 pases down the central vertical axis of the container 1 through slots in the flaps 4 and at each slot is connected to 'the corresponding flap 4 by a banjo plate-link pin arrangement 37. The rod 33 is secured at its lower end to the doors 16, 17. The upper end of the rod 33 passes through a cover 8 carrying a filling shoot 9 and supporting a column 51 on which is mounted a single acting hydraulic cylinder 54, Fig. 8, and is secured to the lower end of the piston rod 57. To empty the silo, the pressure through the delivery pipe 55 is reduced gradually, thus allowing the rod 33 to descend, together with the flaps 4 and doors 16, 17, when the material falls on to the conveyer 21 at the bottom of the hopper 20. The silo may be used in combination with similar silos which may be caused to deliver their contents simultaneously or individually, and the rate of delivery from any one or all the silos may be controlled or the delivery stopped at any stage. The hydraulic operating mechanism may be replaced by a hand or power operated winch and the articulated rod replaced by any other suitable form of tension member, e.g., a wire rope or a chain. In another modification, the upper end of the rod 33 may be attached to a coarsely threaded rod arranged to work up and down through a suitably mounted nut which may be rotated manually or by power operated means. Devices such as rakes, paddles &c. may be attached to the rod and/or flaps to assist the disintegration of the mass of material during discharge.