IE55740B1

IE55740B1 - A metering device for flowable particulate material

Info

Publication number: IE55740B1
Application number: IE259184A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Patrick Keehan; Daniel Keehan
Priority date: 1984-10-10
Filing date: 1984-10-10
Publication date: 1991-01-02
Also published as: GB8524433D0; BE903374A; GB2165526B; GB2165526A; IE842591L

Abstract

A metering device is provide for dispensing flowable particulate material such as pelletized cattle fodder, and comprises a passage (13) defined by plates at least one of which (14) is movable to convert the passage from an upwardly open or loading condition (Fig 4) to a downwardly open or discharging condition (Fig 5) and vice versa, and said movable plates also extends to provide a closure member (22) for a hopper (3) with which the device is in fed communication. The passage may have a second movable plate (15), linked to the aforementioned movable plate (14), and responding to the movement of the latter to improve the speed and completeness of the conversion. In the loading condition, leg (24) of plate (14) co-operates with lug (23) to close the bottom of space (13).

Description

This invention relates to a metering device for solids. It relates in particular to a metering device for repeatedly dispensing a predetermined volume of a flowable particulate material under gravity from a hopper bottom outlet to a place of use. The device is useful especially for feeding pelletized fodder to livestock, but is not limited thereto. Thus, for example, the flowable particulate materials referred to may include grain, rice, sugar, gravel, crushed stone, fertilizer. Furthermore the term hopper is intended to include all forms of containers and bulk storage devices for such flowable materials.

It is frequently desired to dispense predetermined quantities of a flowable material from a hopper. For this purpose it is known that weighing equipment can be employed, in conjunction with sensors and servomechanisms for cutting off the supply when the correct amount has reached the weighing pan. Another known method fixes the duration of opening of a hopper outlet. Other known methods utilize the repetitive filling and emptying of a container which holds a predetermined volume of material. All these methods and the known devices for carrying them out are complicated, expensive and liable to break down.

There is a need for an economical, efficient and robust apparatus which will dispense predetermined volumes of flowable material. We are aware of one proposal to do this by means of a rotatably mounted cylindrical member wherein the interior is partly hollow to constitute a metering chamber. Such apparatus however has relatively large areas in moving mutual contact with consequent danger of jamming or fouling , especially when hard pellets are being handled. This invention is directed towards the provision of simpler and more robust apparatus.

The invention accordingly provides a metering device for repeatedly dispensing a predetermined volume of a flowable particulate material under gravity from a hopper bottom outlet to a place of use, the device being characterized by a pair of fixed upright parallel plates extending downwardly from respective opposite sides of the hopper bottom outlet so as to define between them a gap, and by a first and a second movable plate disposed so as to bridge the gap, whereby the fixed and the movable plates define a generally upright passage of variable shape connecting the hopper bottom outlet to the place of use, said first and second movable plates being mounted on respective first and second fixed pivotal axes perpendicular to the fixed plates, the first axis being remote from the hopper outlet and the second axis adjacent thereto, characterized also by a rigid link pivotally attached to both said movable plates at points remote from said first and second axes, the movable plates thus having a pivotal locus between an upwardly diverging attitude or loading position wherein the passage is upwardly open to the hopper outlet and downwardly closed by the movable plates, and a downwardly diverging attitude or discharging position wherein the passage is upwardly closed by the movable plates and downwardly open for dispensing the contained material to the place of use, and finally characterized in that the first movable plate is furnished with an extension adapted, in the discharging position aforesaid, to close the hopper bottom outlet and, in the loading position, to open said outlet.

By a generally upright passage is meant one adapted to be filled from above and to discharge downwardly, both under gravity. Nothing more is intended to be implied as to the uprightness of the passage, and, in particular, no implication as to the shape of the passage is intended.

Preferably the first moving plate is spring-biased into the loading position, and actuating means are provided to . displace it to the discharging position. The actuating means can be operated in turn by servomechanisms in response to situation sensors or microswitches tripped, for example, by livestock seeking fodder.

The extension of the first movable plate, mentioned above, is preferably another plate curved into a cylindrical arc co-axial with the pivotal axis of the first movable plate.

Thus when the first movable plate pivots from the loading position into the discharging position it does so with a slicing action through the material to be dispensed, thereby consuming the minimum energy in closing the hopper bottom outlet.

Preferably the rigid link is length-adjustable, so that the size of the load dispensed can be varied within certain limits, by adjusting the capacity of the upright passage.

Preferably one of the two fixed parallel plates is detachable for adjustment, maintenance and cleaning of the interior of the device.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a particular and preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1 is a front elevation of a metering device and hopper; Fig 2 is a side or end elevation of the metering device and hopper of Fig 1, viewed from the right hand end as seen in Fig 1; Fig 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the metering device ofFig 1 with the front plate removed; Fig 4 is a perspective view of the metering device of Fig 3, in the loading state, seen from left of centre; and Fig 5 is a view similar to Fig 4, but in the discharging state, and seen from right of centre.

Referring now to the drawings, a metering device 1 is secured to a support sheet 2 beneath a feed hopper 3 which is also secured thereto. Securing is by means of lugs 4 and bolts 5 screwed into threaded holes in the sheet 2.

The hopper 3 terminates below in an outlet 6, partly restricted by left and right deflectors 7 and 8 respectively.

The metering device 1 is bounded by parallel front and back plates 10 and 11 respectively, of which the front plate 10 has been removed in Figs 3-5. It is easily removable and replaceable by means of screws engaging in threaded holes 12.

A substantially upright passage 13 is formed, in use, by fixed plates 10, 11 and first and second movable plates 14, 15, supported respectively on pivot pins 16, 17 which are journalled, in use, in the fixed plates 10, ll. The first movable plate 14 is of T-shaped cross-section, the stem of the T providing an anchorage location for bolts or the like 18, 19 for attachment respectively of tension springs 20 and an actuating cable 21. At the end of the plate 14 a ς cylindrical plate 22 is attached by welding, its cylindrical surfaces being coaxial with pivot pin 16. This gives the plate 22 its own cylindrical curvature for a locus when the plate 14 pivots.

A welded lug 23 and a lower extension 24 of the first movable plate 14 together comprise stop means limiting the anticlockwise motion of the plate 14 under the bias of the spring 20. A pair of headed bolts, screwed into threaded holes in the plates 10, 11 until only the heads 25 are seen, comprise stop means limiting the clockwise motion of the plate 14.

The first and second movable plates 14, 15 including the plate 22 are of such a width as to bridge the gap between the fixed frontand back plates 10, 11 with freedom to pivot, thereby defining the upright passage or metering chamber 13. The deflectors 7 and 8, as well as U-section strips 26, 27 which define a dispensing outlet 29, are of a similar width and serve to space the plates 10 and 11 apart accurately. A pulley 30 is mounted on the back plate 11 and its axle 31 serves to anchor the springs 20.

A rigid link 32 connects the first and second movable plates 14, 15 together by pivotal attachment to each of them. Plate 15 is provided with a pair of integral tubular sleeves 33 for a pivot pin 34, the link 32 is screw threaded for engagement with an internal thread in a radial bore through the pin 34 between the adjacent ends of the sleeves 33.

In use, the front plate 10 is fixed in position, of course.

The screw-threaded link 32 is turned to adjust the capacity of the passage 13 (access to it is from the right at 35, with a socket spanner or the like) and then locked by means of lock nuts. The hopper 3 is loaded with particulate material and the actuating cable 21 is connected to a source of tension. The passasge 13 fills with the material. The cable 21 is pulled, and the metering device switches from the loading condition of Fig 4 to the discharging condition of Fig 5. The discharging material exits downwards through the dispensing outlet 29, as shown by the arrows in Fig 5. The tension on cable 21 is released, and the coil springs 20 restore the device to the loading condition of Fig 4, wherupon the passage 13 fills up again and the cycle may be repeated.

Two or more devices as described may be incorporated in a single piece of apparatus and may have a common pair of front and back plates. The source of power for actuation may be manual as well as mechanical and the invention is not limited by it.

Claims

1. CLAIMS c

1. A metering device for repeatedly dispensing a predetermined volume of a flowable particulate material under gravity from a hopper bottom outlet to a place of use, the device being characterized by a pair of fixed upright parallel plates extending downwardly from respective opposite sides of the hopper bottom outlet so as to define between them a gap, and by a first and a second movable plate disposed so as to bridge the gap, whereby the fixed and the movable plates define a generally upright passage of variable shape connecting the hopper bottom outlet to the place of use, said first and second movable plates being mounted on respective first and second fixed pivotal axes perpendicular to the fixed plates, the first axis being remote from the hopper outlet and the second axis adjacent thereto, characterized also by a rigid link pivotally attached to both said movable plates at points remote from said first and second axes, the movable plates thus having a pivotal locus between an upwardly diverging attitude or loadinq position wherein the passage is upwardly open to the hopper outlet and downwardly closed hy the movable plates, and a downwardly diverging attitude or discharging position wherein the passage is upwardly closed by the movable plates and downwardly open for dispensing the contained material to the place of use, and finally characterized in that the first movable plate is furnished with an extension adapted, in the discharging position aforesaid, to close the hopper bottom outlet and, in the loading position, to open said outlet.

2. A metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid link is length-adjustable, whereby the capacity of the upright passage can be adjusted.

3. A metering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first movable plate is spring-biased into the loading position, and in that actuating means are provided to displace it to the discharging position. 05

4. A metering device according to any of claims 1-3 characterized in that the extension of the first movable plate is curved into a cylindrical arc co-axial with the pivotal axis of said first movable plate, whereby said extension can move from the loading position into the 10 discharging . position with a slicing action through the material to be dispensed.

5. A metering device according to any of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that one of the two fixed parallel plates is detachable for adjustment, maintenance and cleaning of 15 the interior of the device.

6. A metering device according to claim 1, substantia 1ly as hereinhefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.