GB873031A - Improvements in or relating to devices for the delivering into a container a meteredmixture of granular materials - Google Patents

Abstract

873,031. Delivering measured quantities of granular materials. SOC. D' ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES INDUSTRIELLES SOTREMA. Dec. 30, 1958 [Jan. 13, 1958; April 30, 1958], No. 42046/58. Classes 106(5) and 143 [Also in Group XXX] Apparatus for feeding a container with a mixture of solid substances, such as the components of concrete, consists of a plurality of bins containing the components and, mounted on rails below the bins, a metering hopper which may receive a known quantity from each bin and deliver the mixture to a container. The rails are downwardly inclined from the position in which the hopper lies under the first bin and the hopper, when empty, is held in this position by a cable and counter-weight. As shown in Fig. 1, the cable 12 is attached at one end to the carriage 8 of the hopper 7 and is wrapped round a drum 13 around which is also wrapped the cable 12awhich may be an extension of cable 12 or a separate cable-extending over the pulley 15 to the counterweight 16. A brake drum 14 attached to the drum 13 is retainable by the band 17 actuated by lever 18 so as to allow the laden truck to move, under control, down the rails. As illustrated stopping of the hopper under each bin in turn is manually effected but automatic means such as stops or catches may be provided. At the lower end of the rail (in the case illustrated, when in position under bin 2), the hopper overlies the container 10 to be loaded. The whole apparatus may, as shown, be mounted on wheels carried by axles 4. The metering hopper may either be fitted with weighing means such as the steelyard 19 or be mounted on a mechanical, hydraulic or electric load cell: alternatively it may meter the contents volumetrically. In the latter case, the hopper is divided into compartments each of which is positioned during the loading operation under the appropriate bin. To allow adjustment of both the proportions of the mixture and of the total quantity delivered, the compartments are defined by partitions such as 31, 32 (Fig. 8) pivoted at 34 and settable in different positions by means of the angle members 43, 44 engageable with the slotted segment 45. As shown the hopper is adapted to receive volumes V 1 , V 2 respectively of material from the bins 1 and 2 of Fig. 1. Discharge of the hopper contents is achieved by the opening of shutter 7a by means of the linkage system of levers 21, 22 (Fig. 5) operable on rotation of shaft 23. This shaft carries at one end a fork (not shown) which engages a crankpin carried by a shaft fitted with a hand lever, the latter shaft being mounted on the main frame of the apparatus in such a position that the hopper shutter can only be opened when the hopper is in the correct unloading position.