IE57122B1

IE57122B1 - A solid fuel storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: IE57122B1
Application number: IE260385A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Seamus Walsh
Priority date: 1985-10-21
Filing date: 1985-10-21
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Also published as: IE852603L; GB2181775A; GB2181775B; GB8624980D0

Abstract

A solid fuel storage apparatus comprises a container 11 having a closeable entry aperture (covered by lid 14) for filling solid fuel 23 into the container and a closeable exit aperture 22 in a front wall 12 of the container 11 for removing the fuel 23 from the container. The container is supported above ground level and a spillage collecting tray 30 is located below the exit aperture 22. The tray 30 is slidable from a position underneath the container to an in use position below and to the front of the exit aperture 22, so that fuel 23 which may spill from the exit aperture during removal of solid fuel 23 from the container is collected in the tray 30.

Description

This invention relates to a solid fuel storage ) apparatus for example a coal bunker and, in particular· to a storage apparatus- which may be used either inside or j outside a home.

According to the invention there is provided a solid fuel storage apparatus comprising a container having a closeable entry aperture for filling solid fuel into the container, a closeable exit aperture in a wall of the container for removing the fuel from the container, the IO container being supported above ground level and having a spillage collecting tray located below the exit aperture, the tray being slidable forwardly relative to the container frcm a position underneath the container, to an in use position below and to the front of the exit aperture, so that fuel which may spill from the exit aperture during removal of fuel by a user is collected in the tray.

The spillage collecting tray is preferably t supported above ground level but below the base of the container.

Further preferably, the spillage. collecting tray 1 is of a width greater than that of the exit aperture.

The exit aperture is preferably closable by means of a hatch which is slidable across the exit aperture.

The movement of tlie hatch is preferably limited, by stops. Ίζ I Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a solid fuel 4 5 storage container according to the Invention with the lid and hatch in a closed position, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the container hatch in an open position· Referring now to the drawings wherein similar 10 numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein, a solid fuel storage apparatus generally indicated at 10 according to the invention. The apparatus 10 comprises a container 11 having a front wall 12, opposite side walls 13 and a rear wall, (not shown). The container has a lid 14 which is pivotally mounted on the rear wall by means of hinges 15, the lid 14 having a handle 16 for lifting the lid so that coal may be filled into the container 11.

The rear wall of the container 11' is of a slightly greater height than the front wall 12 so that the lid 14 slopes forwards aryl downwards on the container. Further, the margin 17 of the lid 14 extends beyond the sides 13 and the front wall 12, so that if the container is exposed to rain, the rain will tend to run off the lid and it will not enter the container interior. Each of the side walls 13 has a handle 18 fixed thereon to enable the bunker 10 to be readily moved.

The container 11 further has two spaced apart | front panels 19,20 and a base 21. An exit aperture 22 for J 30 removing solid fuel for example coal 23 from the container is defined between the front panels 19,20, the front wall 12, and the base 21. A hatch 24 is slidable across the container and is retained in position, in conventional manner, by means of guides 25 mounted adjacent to the bottom of the front panels 19,20, and the bottom of the front wall 12 as shown. The hatch 24 has a handle 26, and is of a slightly greater width than that of the exit aperture 22. The hatch 24 is limited in its extent of travel across the container, by means of a stop 27 fixed on the front panel 19 and another stop 28 fixed to the front panel 20, the stop 28 projecting laterally from the panel 20, The side walls 13 project below the base 21, and crbss members 29 are fixed between the sidewalls 13 at the front and rear of the bunker 10. It will be noted that only the cross member 29 at the front of the bunker is shown in the drawings. A flat shelf (not shown) is fixed between the cross members 29 in the region of the exit 22. A spillage collecting tray 30 is located on the shelf, the tray 30 being manually slidable from a closed position (Figure 1) underneath the base of the container 11, to an open position (Figure 2) below and to the front of the exit aperture 22. The tray 30 is of a width greater than that of the exit .aperture 22. The tray 30 has a handle 31 for enabling the tray 30 to be moved between the open and closed positions. in use, the normal closed condition of the apparatus is shown in Figure 1 with the exit aperture 22 closed by the hatch 24. When coal is to be filled into the container it is necessary to simply lift the lid 14 upwards to open the container 11. Prior to removing coal from the container 11, the tray 30 is moved to its open position as shown in Figure 2, and the hatch 24 is moved to the right where it abuts against the stop 28· Coal 23 may then be removed from the container 11, through the exit aperture 22, using a shovel 33 so that a coal scuttle (not shown) can be filled with coal 23 as desired. Any coal 23 which falls off the shovel 33, or which falls out through the exit aperture 22 falls into the tray 30« Once sufficient coal 23 is removed from the bunker 10, the exit aperture 22 is closed by the hatch 24, and the tray 30 can be moved out of its position under the base 21 of the container 11 and, the coal 23 in the tray 30 can be deposited back into the container 11 by lifting the lid 14.

Thus, the advantage of the invention is that with the use of the tray 30, coal 23 is prevented from falling onto the ground surface adjacent to the exit aperture 22 and therefore the apparatus 10 can be located inside a home without causing any damage to floor coverings, for example carpets. The invention will have particular use for old or disabled persons who may have difficulty or find it uncomfortable to go outside their home to an outside fuel supply, particularly in winter, and fill a coal scuttle with coal.

The apparatus is preferably manufactured from 2 mm thick galvanised flat steel sheet.

The front wall 12 of the container 11, may also have an outwardly and upwardly projecting hook 32 on which the shovel 33 for removing coal may be conveniently hung. The hook 32 and shovel 33 are indicated In dotted outline in Figure 1.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the spillage collecting tray 30 may be slidably located in guides (not shown) mounted underneath the base 21 of the container 11.

Claims

CLAIMS: L. A solid tuel storage apparatus comprising a container having a closeable entry aperture for filling solid fuel into the container, a closeable exit aperture

5 . in a wall of tlie container for removing the fuel front the container, the container being supported above ground 9 .level and having a spillage collecting tray located below the exit aperture, tlie tray being slidable forwardly relative j to tlie container iron a position underneath tlie container to an in use ID position below and to the front of tie exit aperture, so tliat fuel which may spill from the exit aperture during removal of fuel by a user is collected in the tray.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the spillage collecting tray is. supported above ground level, 15 but below the base of the container.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim I or 2, wherein the spillage collecting tray is of a width greater than that of the exit aperture.
4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the . 2U exit aperture is closeable by means of a hatch which is slidable across the exit aperture.
5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the movement of the hatch is limited by stops.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim 25 wherein the entry aperture is closeable by means of a lid hinged to the container, tlie margin of the lid extending slightly beyond the wall of the container. [
7. An apparatus as claimed in. any preceding Claim wherein the outside surface of the container wall has a hook for supporting a shovel·
8. A solid fuel storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings*