NZ270662A - Trailer mounted bin with conveyor that collects material from v-shaped compartments within the bin - Google Patents

Description

210<ot,2 Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: AA800708 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 270662 Filed: 8 March 1995 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION BIN UNLOADER We, SOUTHERN EQUIPMENT CENTRE LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 6nr Benmore & Howorths Streets, Invercargill, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 27 0 6 The present invention relates to unloading bins of flowable material, such as fertiliser and grain.

A cost-effective and efficient method of distributing flowable material such as fertiliser has always been problematic. Often a large volume is involved, and more than one person is required to assist with distribution. Previously several vehicles, such as a truck, trailer and a loader were required.

For example, the fertiliser is usually deposited on the ground from a large truck or trailer. The farmer then has to use the loader to move the fertiliser into whatever vehicle is used as a distributor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bin for unloading flowable material which will go some way in overcoming the above disadvantages, or which will at least provide the public with a useful alternative choice.

I According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-contained transportable bin for a perishable flowable material, the bin including at least one generally V-shaped, in section, compartment, the bin is adapted to be mounted in any truck or trailer configuration so to allow a first end of the bin to be raised, each compartment having at least one door for allowing the flowable material to be unloaded from the bottom of the compartments onto an endless conveyor positioned in or on a floor of the bin, the conveyor transporting the flowable material along the floor to an outlet at or near a first end of the bin to thereby remove/unload the flowable material from the compartments. ^ i I . i The outlet can be a hole in the floor. « - . ! 2 1 ' iCQ7 270622 The bin can be adapted to be raised at one end.

The bin can be positioned on a chassis.

The chassis can be a two, three or four axle trailer chassis.

Preferably, a hydraulic or pneumatic ram can be located on the trailer chassis for raising one end of the bin.

The flowable material can be fertiliser, grain or the like.

The bin can have a 20 ton capacity.

The bin can have up to four compartments. Preferably, as the number of compartments increases, the capacity of the compartments decreases accordingly.

When two compartments are provided, four doors can be located in the lower region of each compartment, two doors being on each side of each compartment. Alternatively, when four compartments are provided, two doors can be located in the lower region of each compartment, one door being on each side of each compartment.

The endless conveyor can be a chain conveyor which extends along the floor of the bin. The con 'eyor can be a double link chain conveyor. 270622 The endless conveyor can rotate about transverse drive sprockets at either end of the bin. Only one of the drive sprockets need be driven. A removable or openable cover can be provided over each drive sprocket.

A substantially inverted V-shaped member can be provided above the conveyor, so as to cause the flowable material to flow into a region behind the doors.

The endless conveyor can unload up to two tons of flowable material every minute.

The rate at which the flowable material is unloaded can be varied by adjusting the number of doors opened and the type of flowable material carried. The doors can be opened by means of a handle located on each door.

The hydraulic ram can lift one end of the bin, so as to allow the flowable material to be deposited into a vehicle, such as a ground spreader, or into a storage facility.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of one example of the bin; Figure 2 shows a side view of the example of the bin shown in Figure 1; and 270622 Figure 3 shows a front view of the example of bin shown in Figure 1.

In the example the generally V-shaped, in section, bin 2 is located on a trailer chassis 3. The trailer chassis 3 has preferably three axles, so as to support the weight of the bin and that of a flowable material, such as fertiliser, stored therein. A hydraulic ram 4 may be provided at the rear 5 of the bin 2. Preferably, the hydraulic ram is capable of lifting the rear 5 of the bin 2 to a height of up to three metres above the ground. This is to allow a vehicle onto which the fertiliser is to be unloaded to be positioned underneath the rear of the bin 2. The vehicle may be a ground spreader.

As is shown in Figure 1, the bin 2 comprises two compartments 6 and 7 divided by a transverse partition 8. Preferably, each compartment is capable of holding up to 10 tons of fertiliser or similar flowable material. It is to be appreciated that the bin 2 may be divided into more or less compartments, each being capable of holding a corresponding volume of fertiliser or the like (the bin as a whole being capable of holding 20 tons).

Each compartment 6 and 7 has four doors. Figure 1 shows doors 9 and 10 in compartment 6, and doors 11 and 12 in compartment 7. By opening the doors 9, 10, 11 and 12, by means of handles 21 and 22 (see Figure 3), gravity causes fertiliser or the like to be emptied on to a floor 25 of the bin and an endless conveyor 13, the endless conveyor being directly above the floor 25. The handles are accessible from outside the bin, and move 270 from one position to another by means of a spring clip. For example, having the handle in an upper position opens the door, and having the handle in a lower position closes the door. A layer of plastics can be placed between the conveyor and the floor to prevent wear to the floor 25.

The endless conveyor 13 rotates about two drive sprockets 14 and 15, one of which is located at the front end 23 and the other is located at the rear 5 of the bin 2. A hingeable cover is provided over each of the drive sprockets to protect each sprocket. A hole is provided in the floor of the bin, just prior to and underneath drive sprocket 14. When the fertiliser on endiess conveyor 13 reaches the hole, the fertiliser falls out the hole, onto a chute 19 and into a vehicle such as a ground spreader, or into a storage facility. Preferably, the endless conveyor 13 is capable of unloading up to two tons of fertiliser or the like out the chute 19 every minute. The amount of fertiliser unloaded through the chute 19 can be varied by varying the number of doors 9, 10, 11 or 12, opened.

As can be seen in Figure 3, a substantially inverted V-shaped member 24 can be provided in the bin 2. This prevents fertiliser accumulating in the compartment and causes the fertiliser to flow down into the region behind doors 9, 10, 11 and 12 and hence through the doors 9, 10, 11, 12 (when opened). When the endless conveyor 13 travels from drive sprocket 14 to drive sprocket 15, it passes directly underneath the substantially inverted V-shaped member 24, which prevents the flowable material going directly on to the endless conveyor 13. 270 A towbar or connecting section 17 is provided to allow connection between the chassis 3 and a vehicle (not shown). The chassis 3 may house a motor 20 which powers the endless chain conveyor 13. Alternatively, the endless chain conveyor 13 could be powered by a hydraulic motor in the vehicle.

It will thus be seen that the present invention relates to a bin for unloading a flowable material.

Where in the aforegoing description, reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be appreciated that improvements or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as described herein and in the appended claims. 27 0 622

Claims (31)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A self-contained transportable bin for a perishable flowable material, the bin including at least one generally V-shaped, in section, compartment, the bin is adapted to be mounted in any truck or trailer configuration so to allow a first end of the bin to be raised, each compartment having at least one door for allowing the flowable material to be unloaded from the bottom of the compartments onto an endless conveyor positioned in or on a floor of the bin, the conveyor transporting the flowable material along the floor to an outlet at or near a first end of the bin to thereby remove/unload the flowable material from the compartments.

2. A bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hydraulic ram lifts the first end of the bin.

3. A bin as claimed in claims 1 or claim 2 wherein the bin is mounted on a chassis.

4. A bin as claimed in claim 3 wherein the chassis is a two, three or four axle trailer chassis.

5. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a capacity of 20 tons.

6. A bin as claimed in claim 5 wherein each compartment has a 10 ton capacity. i • *' patent office 20 OCT 1997 27 0 622

7. A bin as claimed in either claim 6 or 7 wherein each compartment has four doors.

8. A bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein there are four compartments.

9. A bin as claimed in claim 8 wherein each compartment has a 5 ton capacity.

10. A bin as claimed in either claim 8 or 9 wherein each compartment has two doors.

11. A bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein there is one compartment.

12. A bin as claimed in claim 11 wherein the compartment has 8 t doors.

13. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the endless conveyor rotates about two transverse drive sprockets, one drive sprocket being located at each end of the bin.

14. A bin as claimed in 13 wherein only one drive sprocket needs to be driven.

15. A bin as claimed in 13 or claim 14 wherein a cover is provided over each drive sprocket. ' 1 - " £iNiT 0FRCE 2 0 OCT 1997 - 10 - 27 0 62 2

16. A bin as claimed in clairfi 15 wherein the covers are removable or openable.

17. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the endless conveyor is a double-link chain conveyor.

18. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flow of the bin is protected by a layer of plastics material under each chain of the conveyor.

19. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a substantially inverted V-shaped member extends along the length of each compartment(s).

20. A bin as claimed in claim 19 wherein the substantially inverted V-shaped member forces the flowable material to flow to the area behind the door(s) and onto the endless conveyor {when the door{s) are opened).

21. A bin as claimed in either claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the door(s) in their closed position extend(s) substantially vertically from the lower edges of the substantially inverted V-shaped member to the lower sides of each compartment.

22. A bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the endless conveyor is positioned underneath the substantially inverted V-shaped member. ' "'••VCNT Or~iC3 I 20 OCT TO7 11 - 270 622

23. A bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein when the endless conveyor travels from the drive sprocket at the first end of the bin to the drive sprocket at the second end of the bin, the endless conveyor travels directly underneath the substantially inverted V-shaped member.

24. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the endless conveyor can unload up to two tons of flowable material every minute.

25. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rate at which the flowable material is unloaded is affected by the number of doors opened and the type of flowable material.

26. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flowable material is fertiliser, grain or the like.

27. A bin as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 26 wherein the endless conveyor is powered by a motor located in or on the chassis.

28. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a chute is provided at the first end of the bin to direct the flowable material from the outlet to a desired position.

29. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet is a hole in the floor of the bin.

30. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a handle is provided on each door. - 12- 27 0 62 2

31. A bin substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. fim 1THERN EQUIPMENT CENTRE LIMITED ASPEC58185 end of claims . • .\VE. n C"""- •; £0 OCT 1997 RECEIVED