IE60138B1

IE60138B1 - Improvements in vacuum tankers

Info

Publication number: IE60138B1
Application number: IE32988A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Nolan Michael; Nolan Henry; Nolan John; Nolan Tom
Priority date: 1988-02-05
Filing date: 1988-02-05
Publication date: 1994-06-01
Also published as: GB2215405A; GB8902364D0; IE880329L; GB2215405B

Abstract

A vacuum tanker 10 comprises a tank 11 mounted on a chassis 12, the chassis 12 being capable of being releaseably attached to a tractor or other vehicle. A pump means 15 is provided to draw liquid or semi-liquid material into the tank 11 and expel liquid or semi-liquid material out of the tank 11. The tank 11 has an outlet aperture (46) (Figs 3-6) which is selectively openable or closeable. The outlet aperture (46) communicates with a discharge nozzle 41 which projects upwardly, and a splash plate 42 is located above the discharge nozzle 41 and is arranged to cause material emitted from the discharge nozzle 41 to be deflected downwards.

Description

The present Invention relates to improvements in vacuum tankers, for example, slurry spreaders.

According to the present invention there is provided a vacuum tanker comprising a tank mounted on a chassis, the chassis being capable of being releaseably attached to e tractor or other vehicle, a pump means is provided to draw liquid or semi-liquid material into the tank and expel liquid or semi-liquid material out of the tank, the tank having an outlet aperture which is selectively openable or closeable, the outlet aperture communicating with a discharge nozzle which projects upwardly, and a splash plate located above the discharge nozzle, and arranged to cause material emitted from the discharge nozzle to be deflected downwards.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a vacuum tanker according to the Invention; > Figure 2 ls a cross-sectional view of a valve means in the tanker of Figure 1; ΐ Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a back hatch of the tanker of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the back hatch of Figure 3; and Figures 5 and 6 are end and side views respectively of a cover plate of the back hatch of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to Indicate like parts, there ls shown therein a vacuum tanker generally Indicated at 10 according to the invention. The tanker 10 comprises a generally cylindrical tank body 11 mounted on a chassis 12 having wheels 13. The front end 14 of the chassis has fixed thereto a suitable hitch 9 for attaching the chassis 12 to a tractor for towing. The front end 14 of the chassis 12 also carries a conventional vacuum pump system 15 which is connected by conduits 16 via a syphon 17 to a valve means 18 mounted at the top 19 of the tank body 11.

The valve means 18 ls shown more clearly in Figure and comprises a substantially vertical valve housing including upper and lower housing parts 20, 21 respectively which are secured together by means of bolts 22 engaging in flanges 23, 24 fixed to the upper and lower housing parts 20,21 respectively. The lower housing part 21 ls open at its lower end 25 which is in liquid communication with the Interior of the tank body 11. The lower housing part 21 contains a large float and a spherical ball valve 27 is located above the float 26. The flange 23 extends into the ι upper housing part 20 and terminates in a cylindrical bevelled valve seat 28 as shown. The float 26 moves upwards, as the tank body 11 fills with liquid so that the valve 27 seals against the valve seat 28 to prevent liquid from entering the vacuum system 15. The lower end 25 of the lower housing part 21 has a bolt 29 extending across the lower housing part 21 to retain the float 26 and spherical valve 27 within the lower housing part 21. The upper and lower housing parts 20, 21 are generally cylindrical in shape. The lower housing part 21 may contain a number of apertures (not shown) around its circumference adjacent to the top 19 of the tank 11 to enable efficient expelling of air from the tank body 11 as it fills with liquid. The top housing part 20 has a transverse outlet conduit 30 which is connected to the conduit 16 as shown. The conduit 30 projects into the interior of the upper housing part 20 as indicated at 30'. A baffle means in the form of a semi-circular baffle plate 31 is fixed to the inside surface 32 of the upper housing part 20 and extends downwardly and across the inside of the housing, preferably at an angle of 15θ. The arrangement of the baffle plate 31 and conduit 30 prevents or substantially reduces the incidence of liquid being drawn into the vacuum system 15 as will be described below. The free end 33 of the baffle plate preferably terminates at a position to the right of the opening 30 of the conduit part 30.

At the rear end 35 of the tank body 11 there is provided a spreading unit 36 comprising an outlet conduit 37 including a pipe 38 connected to the tanker body 11 via a back-hatch 39 and a conduit 40 connected to a suitable discharge nozzle 41.

The conduit 40 curves upwards so that the discharge nozzle 41 is directed upwardly towards a splash plate 42 mounted above the nozzle 41. The splash plate 42 is generally horizontal or may slant upwards slightly and is attached to the outlet conduit 37 by means of a support arm 43. The splash plate 42 has a flange or bar 44 to prevent splash-back as will be described below.

The details of the back-hatch 39 are more clearly illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, and comprise an annular cover plate 45 which is attachable to a rim 34 at the rear 35 of the tanker body 11. The cover plate 45 has an outlet aperture 46 in which is fixed the pipe 38. The pipe 38 is secured to the conduit 40 at 47 by means of bolts (not shown). A hatch-plate 48 is vertically slidable adjacent the inside surface 60 of the cover plate 45 to selectively open or close the aperture 46.

A pair of spaced apart guide members 49 are mounted on the inside surface 60 of the cover plate to guide the vertical movement of the hatch-plate 48. As shown, the hatch-plate 48 is generally wedge shaped and the guide members 49 define a corresponding wedge shaped recess 50 to receive the hatch-plate 48. The hatch-plate 48 is attached to a rod 51 which in turn is connected to e conventional hydraulllc ram 52 and return spring 53 arrangement. The hydraulic ram 52 is secured to a hollow boss 54 mounted at the top of the cover plate 45. The rod 51 is slidable within en aperture 55 in the top of the cover plate 45 corresponding with the hollow boss 54. The hydraulic ram may be operated from the tractor hydraulic system. The cover plate 45 has fixed on its outer surface 56 a number of flanges 57 having apertures 58 which can accommodate conventional bolts (not shown) to secure the cover plate to the rim 34 of the tank body 11. The tank body may also have a closable inlet conduit 59 for filling the tank with liquid.

In use, to fill the tank body 11 with liquid material, for example, slurry, a hose (not shown) from a slurry tank (not shown) is connected to the inlet conduit 59 and the aperture 46 Is closed by the hatch-plate 48.

Alternatively, the hose from the slurry tank may be connected to the conduit 37 and the hatch-plate 48 is moved upwards to open the aperture 46. The vacuum system 15 is then operated to suck air out of the tank body 11 and cause a partial vacuum to draw in the slurry into the tank body 11. As the tank fills with slurry, the float 26 rises causing the ball valve 27 to seal against the valve seat 28 thus preventing slurry from being drawn into the vacuum system 15. If the conduit 37 has been used to draw in the slurry, the hatch-plate 48 is then closed to seal the tank body 11. If the conduit 59 has been used, this is then closed by conventional means and the vacuum system 15 is switched off. The tanker 10 may then be hitched to a tractor and moved to a location where it is desired to spread the slurry.

To spread the slurry, the vacuum system 15 is operated in reverse thus pumping air into the tanker body 11 through the valve means 18 to cause a pressure build-up Inside the tank. The hydraulic ram 52 is energised to move the hatch-plate 48 vertically upwards against the spring bias 53 and open the outlet aperture 46. Slurry in the tank is then ejected from the tanker 11 through the conduit 37 and discharge nozzle 41. The slurry Is ejected generally upwards and strikes the splash plate 42 which redirects the slurry down towards the ground surface. The flange 44 prevents back-splash of the slurry towards the tanker. To close the outlet aperture 46 once again, the hydraulic ram 52 is de-energised and the return spring 53 forces the hatch-plate 48 downwards again.

The primary advantages of the invention are that the hatch-plate 48 is readily movable within the cover plate 45 and operates simply without creating any mechanical problems. Also the baffle plate 31 and conduit 30' arrangement, substantially prevent any liquid which may get past the valve seat 28 from entering the vacuum system 15. Moreover, the splash plate 42 provides for accurate direction control of the ejected slurry and maintains the slurry close to the ground by deflecting it downwards.

Claims

1. A vacuum tanker comprising a tank mounted on a chassis, the chassis being capable of being releaseably attached to a tractor or other vehicle, a pump means ls provided to draw liquid or semi-liquid material into the tank and expel liquid or semi-liquid material out of the tank, the tank having an outlet aperture which le selectively openable or closeable, the outlet aperture communicating with a discharge nozzle which projects upwardly, and a splash plate located above the discharge nozzle, and arranged to cause material emitted from the discharge nozzle to be deflected downwards.

2. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the pump means is in fluid communication with the interior of the tank via a valve means at the top of the tank.

3. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve means comprises a substantially vertical valve housing including a valve seat which ls closeable by a float valve as the tank fills with liquid.

4. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the pump means causes liquid or semi-liquid material to be drawn into the tank from an external supply by causing a pressure reduction in the tank by the withdrawal of air from the tank through the valve means, and the pump means causes liquid or semi-liquid materiel in the tank to be forced out of the tank by forcing air under pressure into the tank via the valve means.

5. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the valve means includes a baffle means located above the valve seat. «

6. λ vacuum tanker as claimed In Claim 5, wherein the baffle means comprises a baffle plate which projects downwardly from a sidewall of the valve housing and projects across the region of the valve seat. 5 •

7. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the valve housing communicates with the pump means via an outlet conduit one end of which ls located in the valve housing, said one end being shielded from the valve seat by the baffle plate. 10

8. A vacuum tanker as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tanker has a back-hatch through which liquid or semi-liquid material in the tank ls expelled. 15

9. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the back-hatch comprises a hatch plate vertically moveable to open and close an outlet aperture, the hatch-plate being biassed into a position In which the outlet aperture is closed. 20

10. A vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the hatch-plate ls located within an annular cover plate, which ls fixed to the tank. 25 Λ

11. λ vacuum tanker as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the hatch-plate ls wedge shaped and guide members are provided fixed to the Inside surface of the cover plate to guide the vertical movement of the hatch-plate.

12. A vacuum tanker substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 9 F. R. KELLY & CO., AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS. TOM NOLAN, JOHN NOLAN, 5 sheets MICHAEL NOLAN and HENRY NOLAN sheet 1 FIGURE P. R. Kelly & f!o C1 TOM NOLAN, JOHN NOLAN, 5 sheets MICHAEL NOLAN and HENRY NOLAN sheet 2 I· 30;