KR890003669B1 - Swing gates - Google Patents

Abstract

The appts. includes an elongated hopper for positioning above an elongated conveyor belt extending in a horizontal direction. The hopper has a discharge structure including opposed downwardly and inwardly sloping sides extending towards each other to terminate in elongated parallel margins defining between them an elongated discharge channel into a series of outlets in the direction of travel of the belt. Gates for each outlet form part of a floor to the hopper when closed and when opened allow controlled discharge of the material from the outlet as it gravitates from the sloping sides.

Description

Swing gate

1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a hopper coupled with an improved gate in accordance with the present invention, with a ground conveyor etc. which may be used with a large hopper.

2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with a portion cut away to show details, similar to FIG. 2. FIG.

4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a different gate arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken similarly to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: hopper wall 11: edge

12: neck opening or discharge passage 14: hog bag or lateral spacer

16: Conveyor 18: Roller Track Gate

20,21,22,120,220: Swing gate 24,124,224: Bottom plate

26 side wall or straight line 27,127 reinforcement plate

28.128: Support bar or fixing member 29: Coaxial pivot

30,31: arm 32: end or bend

36: shaft end 37: separation wall

38: tubular member or engagement device 40: hydraulic actuator

42,44: hydraulic control line 48: detent

50: protruding member 230,231: fixing member

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating flowable solid materials which will be referred to below as particulate materials.

It relates in more detail to an improved gate structure for controlling the flow from such a device.

In general, a device for controlling the flow of particulate material consists of an inwardly converging wall structure that forms a throat opening at its bottom, into which the particulate material is collected by the wall structure.

Typically, a movable gate is installed in the neck to control the flow of particulate matter through the gate.

The apparatus also includes an upper wall structure forming a containing hopper and the following description is made with respect to the hopper. However, it is to be understood that such terminology is intended to cover devices in which particulate matter is not contained by the top wall structure and is only stacked on the neck.

Several types of gates are known, particularly for use with very large hoppers that form the captain of a ship, for example roller and basket gates. It is well known that some forms of particulate matter do not flow freely.

In this case, especially those containing large masses, certain materials tend to accumulate in arches near the neck.

Other types of materials, especially fine, cohesive powdery materials, aggregate together to form narrow passageways such as rat holes or obstacles in the form of arches or bridges.

To date, various methods have been adopted or proposed to facilitate the flow of particulate matter. The mechanical method includes a vibrator and movable members. Some of these have been found to be somewhat suitable for certain particulate matters, but others have been found to be unsuitable for the first time due to economic factors. Mechanical methods can be used in conjunction with non-mechanical methods or replaced by non-mechanical methods, for example by coating the funnel wall structure to reduce friction and thus reduce the flow rate across the neck of the so-called bulk flow gate. Increasingly, it breaks down obstacles that form arches or narrow passageways just created by the energy of the moving material.

However, volumetric flow gates create difficulties in restricting and controlling the flow of material from the hopper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hopper having an improved flow control device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hopper having a relatively inexpensive structure for facilitating flow through the funnel wall structure of the hopper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for economically replacing an existing hopper for improved flow control therein. It is another object of the present invention to provide a hopper that can vary from very high flow rate to low flow rate in the hopper.

According to a feature of the invention, a hopper for treating particulate matter has at least one gate for closing the neck opening of the hopper and its front end within the boundary of the funnel wall or as the gate moves to its open position. Installing a gate to dig, strike, whip, or break up particulate matter forming a wall with narrow holes, arches or bridges by drawing an arched path over the generally horizontal plane of the upper neck opening. And a device for actuating the gate.

Typically, in large hoppers, in particular the adjacent part of the neck opening is closed by at least another adjacent gate and the arcuate path is preferably located at least partially above the adjacent part, preferably the neighbor part which is independent of one gate. There is also provided a device for operating a gate of a.

If an adjacent gate is opened and an arch is formed above it, a gate is opened (or more open if it is already partially open) and moved over the adjacent gate opening to break the arched wall to facilitate flow through the adjacent gate. Let's do it.

The arched path moved by one gate will vary considerably depending on the device for installing the gate.

Effectively, the gate will be installed on one or more pivots that form the pivot axis. According to another aspect of the invention the pivot axis is generally located above the neck opening of the hopper and one gate, which will be called the wing wing gate, is connected thereto by a link.

Conveniently, the link is shaped such that the first and second members are connected to swing gates adjacent the front and rear ends of each link. In one way, each member includes a pair of laterally spaced arms. The arm of the second member, ie the rear member, can be connected to the pivot axis of either the inside or the outside of the hopper. In this regard, the swinggate moves in a circular path around the pivot axis, and the extent to which the adjacent portion of the neck opening overlaps will vary with the position of the pivot axis relative to the swinggate with it closed. It will be appreciated that the position of the pivot axis will largely determine whether the swinggate will go to an open or closed position under the influence of the hopper load.

Generally speaking, the single pivot shaft is slightly off-centered from the swing center shaft to one end, so the swing gate tends to move slightly open, but if the gate is fully open, the neck opening will not be unreasonably blocked. There will be a suitable penetration in the hopper.

Preferably the pivot axis will be taken vertically above the transverse line taken from its front end and located in the range of about 40 to 50 percent of the axis length of the swinggate. The effective penetration of the swinggate in the hopper can be increased by an attachment installed from the swinggate or front link members.

In view of the foregoing description, a typical apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as follows. An extended hopper is located on the extended conveyor belt that extends generally horizontally from the upstream end to the downstream end. The hopper has a discharging structure that includes opposite sloped sides that extend downwards and inwards toward each other, ending at elongated parallel edges that constitute an extended discharging passage that lies above the cone conveyor. A transverse spacer extends between each of the edges to divide the discharge passage into a series of outlets in the direction of movement of the belt.

When closed, there is a gate device for each outlet, which constitutes the bottom of the hopper and, when opened, moves controlled by gravity from the inclined side to allow controlled discharge from the outlet.

The gate device consists of a plurality of gates arranged in succession in the longitudinal axis of the discharge passage at each outlet, each gate covering a separate portion of the outlet and in cooperation with the bottom plate of at least one other gate between adjacent spacers. Has a bottom plate formed to block the entire outlet. At least one of the plurality of gates is a swing gate. Apparatus is provided for mounting the bottom plate of the swing gate which transverses with respect to the longitudinal axis direction of the discharge passage by arcing upward and upward in the horizontal axis around the horizontal axis erected to the height of the outlet. The mounting device allows the swinggate to move from the closed position to the open position in a hopper where at least a portion of the swinggate bottom plate extends over a close adjacent distal portion of the outlet. There is a power unit that acts on each gate individually so that the gates move back and forth individually between the closed and open positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the swing gate is installed on one or more pivots forming the second pivot axis and connected to the second link therein. Typically the second pivot axis is located below the neck opening and the second link is connected to the rear end of the gate by a hinge. In such an embodiment the first and second ends of the gate form different arcs.

The invention will be further described with reference to specific embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Looking in detail in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the laterally spaced hopper wall converging downwards is indicated by the number 10 and the tip is bent downward at 11 to form the neck opening 12 at the bottom of the hopper. do. The hopper extends in the axial direction as in the hopper of the automatic unloading line. The neck opening 12 may be substantially continuous along the length of the hopper, but here the laterally spaced members or hogs commonly used with roller track gates or basket gates to control flow from the hopper. It was considered to be disconnected at an appropriate interval by the hog back 14.

The endless belt shaped conveyor 16 is located below the neck opening 12 that is axially aligned, but such a conveyor does not form part of the present invention. The conveyor belt 16 moves from right to left as in FIG.

The gate installation, illustrated in FIG. 2, is one of those provided for converting a roller track gate hopper system of an existing ship hopper to a gate system according to the present invention.

In such a transition, with respect to the movement of the conveyor belt 16, the existing upstream gate, here represented by the roller track gate 18, remains almost undisturbed. The remaining portion of the neck opening 12 is the same as the improved swing gates 20 and 21 of the present invention, so only one will be described and mentioned except where otherwise required.

The swing gate 20 consists of a side wall 26 that stands up from the bottom plate to fit within the hopper wall portion 11 to form a closure between the bottom plate 24 and the bottom plate 24. Fixing members erected in the form of gate support bars 28 are fixed to the transverse hopper wall 10 so as to span them between each swing gate 20 and the support bars 28 are gussets 27. It is reinforced by). The gate 20 is laterally spaced apart from the upstream gate bottom plate 24 or here the end thereof is rigidly connected to the front end 32 of the gate bottom plate near the roller track gate 18. On the pair of second arms 34 laterally spaced, firmly connected to the superstructure in the form of arms 30 and the gate base plate 24 near the other shaft end 36. By the coaxial pivot 29 to the pivot support bar 28.

The ends of the arms 30 and 34 facing in the axial direction are interconnected by an upstanding small wall 37 which reinforces the bottom plate 24 in the axial direction.

The transverse tubular member 38 forming the engagement device for the gate driver has a gate end 36 below the bottom plate to extend laterally from the bottom edge of the hopper wall portion 11 under the neck opening 12. It is fixed to the gate bottom plate 24 in the vicinity. The hydraulic actuator 40 connects between each end of the tubular member 38 and the hopper wall 10 or a point fixed thereto.

The driver 40 is shown in phantom in FIG. 2, which is shown in the retracted open gate position to clarify that the swinggate is engaged with the swinggate 21 shown in the extended position closed therein. It is combined with a swing gate.

Each hydraulic control line 42,44 is provided to independently drive the hydraulic actuator 40, which engages with the swing gates 20,21, respectively (not shown). Although provided to independently drive the roller track gates 18 of similar control lines, no particular drive is shown here by way of example.

It is desirable that the operation of one gate is independent of the operation of its neighbors, but it will be understood that the operation of non-adjacent gates can be interconnected without serious damage and the collective operation of adjacent gates is not excluded.

The axial sealing between the neck opening 12 and the gate 20 is the aforementioned method, that is, the straight wall (upright wall) 26 of the swing gate 20 is the hopper wall part 11 of the neck opening 12. It is provided in such a way that it fits tightly into the inside.

The transverse closure is provided by a detent 48 secured to the wall portion 11 to bring the first lateral end of one gate into close contact with the other end of the adjacent gate.

The front end 32 of the swinggate 20 is bent upwards, which can be conveniently approximated with one or more strings as shown generally, but preferably draws a radius over the pivot 29. It is good.

The detent 48 conveniently supports the bottom of one end of the bottom plate 24 and covers the other end of the adjacent gate. The tip 32 of the upwardly curved gate 20 generally strengthens the tip of the gate, and the tip 34 is strengthened by the tubular member 38.

More importantly, the tip 32, which is turned upward of the base plate 24, facilitates the movement of the swinggate 20 through the material that has generally entered the hopper.

The drive of the hydraulic actuator 40 of the swing gate 20 or 21 causes the gate to move around the pivot 29 on an arc and the front end 32 of the gate is lifted up towards the stored material. The trajectory of the tip 32 depends on the position of the pivot 29 relative to the gate opening. In general, the pivot 29 will be located between the ends 32 and 36 of the swing gate 20 and the radius of the trajectory is the position where the swing gate is assumed by the gate 20 in FIG. The front end 32 moves in a vertical plane above the opening of the adjacent gate, which is the roller track gate 18, as it moves to the fully open position.

The exact position of the pivot 29 is not critical but it should be understood that its actual position somewhat affects the characteristics of the swinggate 20.

When such a pivot 29 is located out of the shaft center and located toward the rear end portion 36 of the swing gate, the gate tries to close normally, and the vertical through portion in the hopper increases and the axial overlap of the adjacent gate decreases. Conversely, if the pivot 29 is positioned towards the front end 32 of the swinggate, the gate will normally open and the vertical penetration in the hopper will decrease and the axial overlap of the adjacent gate will increase. Generally speaking, the axis of the pivot 29 is located in the range of about 40 to 50 percent of the axial length of the swing gate 20 from the front end so that a proper balance between these factors is obtained and the swing is in its fully open position. It is desirable that the gate does not obstruct the neck opening at all.

The effective penetration of the swinggate in the hopper can be increased by simple measures to install one or more attachments in the form of protrusions as shown by number 50 on the front part of the gate 20.

General mechanical principles for the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 have been described and their operation will be described. In the following discussion the gate 20 is distinguished from the gate 21. Generally speaking, the upstream gate is opened first to open the hopper to drop the contents, where such a gate comprises a roller track gate 18. If the flow through it is stopped or reduced through the formation of narrow holes or arch-shaped obstacles, the drive of the adjacent gate, which is the gate 20 here, breaks the wall with the narrow holes or arches, thereby closing the gate 18. The flow through is restarted. Gates 18 and 20 can be opened simultaneously when trying to increase the flow from the hopper. To some extent arches are formed and break by closing the gate 20 across the gate 18. Narrow hole formations will not be created with both gates 18 and 20 open but are broken by the drive of swinggate 21 in the same way as swinggate 20 as described above even when it occurs. In order to further increase the flow from the hopper, the gates 18, 20 and 21 can be opened respectively.

The possibility of narrow hole formation and arch formation is reduced because of the increased size of the hopper opening in the axial direction because the flow rate at the funnel portion and the neck of the hopper tends to disproportionately increase with the opening size.

It will be noted that the swinggate 20 functions as a chute that sends the flow of material from the hopper to the conveyor belt 16 in an orderly manner and provides the material with a velocity component in the direction of movement of the belt.

This action is very different from that found in basket and volume flow gates, which significantly reduces wear and tear on both the belt and its supporting structure.

It is also known that less leakage from the conveyor belt 16 is obtained using the swing gate.

An axial direction comprising side walls 26 and 37 connected between opposingly mounted arm members 30 and 34, which act in part to reduce the lateral velocity component of the material induced by the conveyor wall 10. This is due to the walls arranged in a row.

It will be appreciated that the first embodiment has been described in particular with regard to possible modifications of current hopper and gate structures. In such an embodiment, three gates in the end-to-end state are shown by way of example, but the invention is not limited to any particular number of gates.

Considering the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5, the same or functionally similar parts as those of the first embodiment will be similarly referred to as the 100th serial number. A hopper having a converging hopper wall 110 that is turned downward from 111 to form a neck portion 112 is provided with a plurality of swing gates in contact with the ends and the straps to prevent the neck portion 112. .

Each swing gate includes a bottom plate 124 and a straight side wall 126 extending along its side.

Gate support bar 128 is connected to gate 120 by a pair of forwardly spaced arms 130 spanning coaxial pivot 129 spanning between hopper walls 110 and forming a pivot axis. Arm 130 is firmly attached to bottom plate 124 by welding to the front end 132 of the gate.

The support bar 128 is reinforced by a joint support plate 127 and the bottom plate 124 is reinforced by a wall 133 that is arranged axially, which wall 37 is also in the embodiment discussed above. It is used to reduce the transverse movement of the material from the hopper in much the same way as

The tubular member 138 is secured to the bottom plate 124 of the gate 120 on the underside of the rear end 136 to extend laterally beyond the wall 111 of the neck portion 112.

The rear end 136 of the swing gate 120 is connected outwardly to the pivot 129a by a laterally spaced arm 134 that is rigidly connected to the tubular member 138. Pivot 1209a is collinear with pivot 129 and is mounted outwardly on hopper by mounting block 139 secured to wall 110 and gate support bar 128 likewise pivots 129a when needed. It may be made to protrude out of the hopper to provide a support for).

The hydraulic actuator 140 is connected between the hopper wall 110 and the rear arm 134 and each control line (not shown) is provided for independent driving of adjacent swing gates. Since the pivots (129, 129a) are located on a common pivot axis, the motion of the swing gate 120 follows an arc arc centered on the pivot axis and its position is controlled in the same manner as in the first embodiment. do.

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 6, a hopper having a wall structure almost as described above and including a wall 210 converging with a wall portion 211 which hangs downwardly to form a neck opening 212 is described above. It is closed by a swinggate 220 made in accordance with the principles.

The swing gate 202 is installed to rotate about a first pivot axis formed by the pivot 229a and a second pivot axis formed by the pivot 229a parallel to or spaced from the first pivot axis.

The gate support bar 228 is located on the neck 212 and is conveniently supported from the hopper wall 210 and the front end 232 of the swing gate 220 is the support bar 229 at the pivot 220. Is connected to. Pivot 229a is supported from block 231 which is located on the outside of the hopper and is secured to an element that is secured to the hopper.

The link between the swing gate 220 and the support bar 228 is a pair of laterally spaced arms that are hinged to the adjacent circumference of the front end 23 of the swing gate at the hinge point 233 ( 230).

Similarly, the link between the swinggate 220 and the block 231 is hinged to the horizontal tubular member 238 which is installed at the coaxial pivot 229a and is fixed to the swinggate 220 near its rear end. And a pair of rear laterally spaced arms 234 connected hinged at point 235.

One end of the hydraulic actuator 240 is connected to the rear arm 234 and the other end is connected to an element fixed to the hopper. The modified device is shown here to effect sealing between adjacent swinggates and includes a flat bar detent 248 whose lower edge abuts the rear end of one gate and the front end of the adjacent gate.

The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary in view of the particular broad aspects of the present invention and they are not intended to limit the present invention.

Indeed, many variations from it can be made by a person skilled in the art to obtain one or more of the goals, objectives, and advantages as described herein. The illustrated embodiment relates to a very large installation that can be used in particular with a conveyor for unloading and the terms gate "front end" and "rear end" have special meaning in relation to the direction of movement of the belt, but in a broad sense In front of the swing gate, the front of the swing gate will form the leading end of the gate as the gate opens.

Claims (14)

On top of an extended conveyor belt that extends generally horizontally from the upstream end to the downstream end to receive and discharge particulate matter that narrows the neck opening in the hopper to form narrow passageways, arches or bridged obstacles. And opposing inclined side surfaces 10 extending downwardly and inwardly, ending at extended parallel edges 11 constituting an extended discharge passage 12 overlying the conveyor 16. An extended hopper having a discharge structure therein, and laterally spaced members 14 extending between the respective edges to divide the discharge passage into a series of outlets in the direction of movement of the belt. ) And, when closed, form the bottom plate portion of the hopper and, when opened, material from the inclined sides A device for receiving and discharging agglomerate of particulate matter when discharged from a discharge port by a force, each having a plurality of gates 20, 21 arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction of the discharge passage. Each having a gate device 20 of the outlet and a bottom plate 24 formed to cover the separate portion of the outlet and to block the entire outlet between adjacent members spaced apart in cooperation with the bottom plate of the at least one other gate. Among a plurality of gates having a gate 20 and a device for mounting the bottom plate of the swing gate transverse to the longitudinal axis direction of the discharge passage by arcing up and down about the horizontal axis erected to the height of the discharge port At least one swinggate 20, and at least a portion of which extends over the immediately discrete portion of the outlet. A device for mounting the swing gate bottom plate 24 to be movable from the closed position to the open position in the hopper to which the wing gate 20 is attached, and by acting separately on each gate 20 A device for receiving and discharging particulate matter comprising a power unit (40) that allows the gates to move individually rearward and forward between a closed position and an open position. The top structure (30, 34) of claim 1, which extends upwardly from the bottom plate of each swing gate (20) and is rotatably mounted to a fixed support (28) extending transverse to said hopper. Device for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that. 3. The superstructure 30, 34 according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a pair of spaced apart arms 30 extending from the upstream end of the bottom plate 24 to the pivot mounting 29. Apparatus for containing and discharging particulate matter. 4. A companion pair according to claim 3, wherein the companion pair of arms (34) is upwards from the downstream end of the bottom plate (24) of the swing gate (20) for connection with the arms (30) extending from the upstream end. Apparatus for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that extended to. The bottom plate 24 of the swing gate 20 has a shallow dividing wall 37 extending upwardly therefrom in the middle of its sides to restrain the transverse movement of the material thereon. Apparatus for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that provided. The bottom plate is provided with an engagement device (38) extending laterally beyond the discharge passage (12), wherein the total force device (40) moves the swing gate (20). Device for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that it operates on the engagement device (38) outside the hopper. 7. The engagement device (38) according to claim 6, wherein the engagement device (38) is mounted underneath the bottom plate (28), and from there beyond the extended parallel edges (11) defining the discharge passage (12). Apparatus for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that the beam extending in the direction. 2. The bottom plate 24 of each swinggate extends from each side to reinforce the bottom plate 24 and to close the gap 11 facing the edges 11 of the outlet passageway 12. Straight line (upright) shallow wall containing and discharging device, characterized in that the device. The bottom plate 24 of each swinggate 20 is provided with an upwardly curved portion 32 at its upstream end to remove material as it is pulled into the hopper. Apparatus for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that. The device for receiving and discharging particulate matter according to claim 1, wherein the swing gate is provided with a device (50) projecting upstream therefrom to remove material in the hopper. The bottom plate 224 of each swing gate 220 is connected to an arm 230, which is rotatably connected to a fixing member 228 erected above the outlet at its upstream end. At the downstream end, it is rotatably connected to an arm pivotally pivoted with respect to the fixing member 231 under the outlet, and the power unit 240 moves the bottom plate 224 in a different position between the closed position and the open position. Receiving and discharging device, characterized in that acting on the lower arm (234). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the gate arrangement (20) of each outlet comprises at least two adjacent swing gates (21) operated independently. The bottom plate (24) of the swing gate (20) is provided with an upwardly curved portion (32) at its upstream end, whereby a shallow wall (26) is provided. A device for receiving and discharging particulate matter, characterized in that it extends upwards at each side to reinforce the plate and close the gaps facing the edges of the outlet passageway. 14. The bottom plate (24) according to claim 13, characterized in that the bottom plate (24) has a shallow dividing wall (37) extending upwardly from it in the middle of its sides to restrain the transverse motion of the material thereon. Device for receiving and discharging particulate matter.

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