US2265802A

US2265802A - Bin structure

Info

Publication number: US2265802A
Application number: US317730A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cox Merrill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-02-07
Filing date: 1940-02-07
Publication date: 1941-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1958-12-09

Description

Dec. 9, 1941. v M. cox 2,265,802

BIN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 7, 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hihi - INVENTOR. MERE/ COX 4 A WOP/VWS I Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE BIN STRUCTURE Merrill Cox, Universityeivghts, Ohio Application February 7, 1940, Serial No. 317,730

7 Claims.

This invention relates to bin structures, and more particularly to certain improvements in gate mechanism for ore bins or similar structures adapted to hold flowable aggregatesand provided with bottom outlet openings and movable gates therefor.

My invention is especially adapted for use in connection with the ore bins of blast furnace stock houses. These bins are usually grouped in long rows, open at the top and provided with a series of separate bottom outlet openings, each of which is closed by a movable gate or door. When handling ore or vother materials which do not ow with entire freedom, such as moist or sticky ore, diiculty is sometimes experienced due to bridging of the material across the outlet opening. Prior to my invention, when this occurred, the operator usually had to poke up through the outlet to start the ore flowing again although in some cases the ore could be started in motion by pounding on the sides of the bin with a Sledge or other heavy instrument.

However, such operations were time consuming and not always effective and it is among the objects of my present invention to provide a storage bin bottom for any type of heavy material, such as coalgravel, iron ore etc., which includes means for promptly and effectively starting the ow of material through the outlet when it is stopped due to bridging or clogging of the outlet opening.

Other objects of my invention are: to provide means, operable by movement of the gate opening mechanism of ore bins or the like, for preventing arching over of sticky ore or the like; to provide in a bin structure of the type described, means for vibrating a section of the bin wall to free and start the -material in the bin owing in case, for any reason, it ceases to ow through the open outlet; to provide an extremely simple mechanism; for loosening arched-over material at the outlet which can be installed on present bins without seriousmodication; to provide a material loosening mechanism for bin bottoms which is rugged, easily operated, economical to install, and needs substantially no upkeep or maintenance.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic, transverse vertical cross-sectional view of an ore bin incorporating my improved vibrating apparatus;

taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig 1, show-i ing two of the gates which are provided to close the bottom outlet of the bin and a part of a third; l

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, the gate being shown in closed position in full lines and in open position in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Although I vhave illustrated and will describe my invention particularly in connection with ore bins, it will be understood lthat it is equally adapt-` able for use in connection-with bins or hoppers for containing various other types of materials. The ore bin illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the general type shown in Patent No. 1,338,482 which issued April 27, 1920, to Robert E. Baker. In blast fur; nace stock houses these bins are arranged in long rows. Each bin'is provided with a plurality of bottom gates, andas all of these gates are the same in any given installation, it will suiice to describe only a single pair of gates and the supporting and Operating mechanisms therefor.

In Fig. 1 the side walls of a bin are Vshown at I and-2, and one end wall is Vseen at 3. The bottom outlet openingvd extends across the bin between the end walls and is closedlby a series of gates which are generally indicated in Fig. 1

.-10 at G. The side wall I of the hopper projects below the opening 4 and'l serves toguide disengaged material into the car` 5fb`elow lthe bin. The mechanism for .supporting and operating the gate G is supported by Vdiaphragm platesforwebs 6 which extend perpendicularly outwardly from the wall 2 and Yare secured thereto and to the beam 1. The plates 6 extend across `the outlet opening 4 andare secured at their lower ends to the bottom portion of the side wall I. As is seen in Fig. 2, these diaphragme 6 are spaced apart lengthwise of the bin `just enough Ato ac-v commodate a part of gates G in side-by-side relation. K The gate shaft 8 is supported in brackets 9, I0, and II, secured to the webs 6, and preferably extends the length of the bin structure. Gate-carrying lever arms I2', I3, and I4 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 8 and carry operating handles I5, I6, and I1.

As the gate structures are substantially alike, the parts described'hereinafterv will be referred to in most instances by similar reference characters. AThe closure plates IB are curved as seen in- Fig. 3 to facilitate the opening and closing of the' gates under pressure of material in the bin.'Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, 55 These plates are secured to the enlarged gate carrying portions I9 of the arms I2, and it will be seen that, when the operator pulls downwardly on the handle I5, the gate will rotate counterclockwise, and will open the bottom outlet, permitting the material to ow out of the hopper into the car 5. As soon as enough material has been deposited in the car, the gate is closed, and, during normal operation, the only movement of the gate structure is from the full line closed position shown in Fig. 3 into the dot and dash line open position and back again to the closed or full line position.

However, as explained above, at times the material in the hopper refuses to flow through the opening, and arches or bridges across theoutlet 4. In order to make it possible easily and `quickly to free such bridging or arching of the material,

I provide movable members 2|lwhich1arelocated just below the bottom edge of the side wall 2, and

which extend across between each pair of webs or diaphragms 6. These members 29 are channels which in effect form continuations ofthe side wall 2 and define the upper boundary of the outlet opening 4. Auxiliary angle members 2I are secured to the top edge of each channel to prevent leakage of material and each channel 20 is provided with a pair of transverse supporting

ribs

22 and 23 which extend across between the anges 20a and 2Gb of the channels and are welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

Supporting rods or

bars

24 and 25 are mounted in brackets 26 and 2'I secured to the anges 6. These bars are preferably made of a resilient material such as spring steel and` are of such diameter that a vibratable support is provided for the channel 20. They pass through suitable holes in the

ribs

22 and 23 of the channel members 2|] and thus these channels are supported solelyv by the

bars

24 and 25 and their point of support is removed materially from the end mountings of the bars in the

brackets

23 and 21.

. At each end of the channels 23 actuating brackets B are secured. These are right and left handed'as is clearly seen in Fig. 2 and comprise top plates 30, web portions 3|, and bottom plates 32. As is seen in Fig, 3, thetop plate 30 and the bottom plate 32 are welded to the top and bottom anges respectively of the channel 29, and the web 3| is provided with a downwardly extending portion 3 3 having a projecting lug 34 secured thereto. The channels 20 and bracketsB form movable units which support and retain material inthe bin. The gate supporting plates I9 are also provided with radially inwardly projecting anges or lugs 35, one disposed on each side of the supporting arm I2. These lugs are so p0- sitioned that, when the gate is wide open as shown in dot anddash lines in Fig. 3, they will engage the lugs 34 on the actuating arm or bracket B. Thus these` lugs 34 act as a limiting stop for the opening limit of the gate.

As has been explainedabove, the brackets B are made right and left handed, one being secured to each end of the channelv 20. The two gates which make up the unit shown in Figure 2, and which are actuated by handles I5 and i6, may be operated singly or simultaneously. The left hand lug 35 of' the gate controlled by handle I5, will engage lug 34 on the' left hand bracket B, While the right hand lug 35 on the gate controlled by handle I6 will engage lug 34 on the bracket B which is secured to the right hand end of channel 20. Thus, if only one gate is operated only one lug 34 will be engaged by a lug 35, while if both gates are operated together both of the lugs 34 will be struck.

If the material in the hopper bridges over the outlet opening between the channel 20 and the hopper wall I, thus stopping the ow of material from the hopper, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the handle of the gate which is open and, by moving it forcibly back and forth, cause the lug 35 to bump against the lug 34. These blows will be transmitted through the bracket structure B to the channel 20 and will cause it to move or vibrate upon its supporting

rods

24 and 25. It has been found in actual practice that several blows of the lug 35 against the lug 34 are usually sucient to jar the material loose and again start the now through the hopper bottom.

Furthermore, if the material should bridge over between the bottom of the wall 2 and the wall I, it has been found that, by opening successive gates and freeing the material adjacent each gate between the channels 2D and the wall I, such relatively high bridging can be causw. to be broken down, due to the weight of the material in the hopper, after not more than three pairs or six successive gates have been opened.

In order to locate the channel 20 and prevent undesirable lengthwise movement thereof, I provide lugs 36 and 3'I which exten-d out from the brackets 26 and 2'I respectively and are loosely disposed in slots 3B and 39 in the ends of the channel 20. This arrangement prevents the channel 20 from sliding endwise on the

rods

24 and 25 into engagement with the diaphragms 6 but permits free vibratory movement of the channel 2U and its supporting

rods

24 and 25.

I have illustrated a specic form of resilient supporting means for the channel 20 but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention contemplates the provision of any suitable means for so supporting a portion of the wall of a hopper, adjacent the outlet of such hopper, that this wall portion can be given a degree of movement suflicient to jar and dislodge material which may be bridged across the outlet of the hopper.

Furthermore, although I have described the illustrated embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that various modifications will be made in the particular form of apparatus employed. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact details herein shown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a structure of the type described, bin defining walls having a material outlet opening, a movable gate for said outlet opening, a member forming a part of the bin walls and supported for movementrelative to said bin walls, normally spaced apart projections on said member and gate, and means for moving the gate beyond its normal open position and thereupon bringing said gate -projection into impacting contact with said wall projection.

2. In a hopper of the type described having a bottom outlet opening, a wall section adja-cent said bottom outlet opening, means for resiliently supporting said wall section, a gate for said bottom outlet opening, a stop member for limiting the movement of said` gate in opening direction, said stop member being connected to said ,wall section, a co-acting stop member movable with saidgate and disposed to enga-ge said rst named Stop member whereby movementl will be imparted to said wall section when said stop members are caused forceably to engage.

3. In a structure of the type described, bin defining Walls having a bottom outlet, a gate mechanism supported for movement into and out of closed position relative to said outlet, a movable member forming part of the bin walls, and resilient means for supporting said movable member adjacent said outlet, said movable member having a lug disposed in the path of said gate mechanism whereby when said gate mechanism is moved to full open position a portion thereof will strike said lug and move said movable member.

4. In a structure of the type described, bin defining walls having a bottom outlet, a gate mechanism supported for movement into and out of closed position relative to `said outlet, a movable member forming part of the bin walls, and resilient means for supporting said movable member adjacent said outlet, said movable member having a lug disposed in the path of said gate mechanism whereby when said gate mechanism is moved to full open position a portion thereof will strike said lug and move said movable member, said gate mechanism including a handle whereby said gate may be opened and said portion thereof caused to strike a blow against said lug.

5. In a hopper having walls and an elongated bottom outlet opening, a member forming a part of the walls of said hopper and extending longitudinally of said opening, means for supporting said member for vibratory movement relative to said walls, a plurality of independently operable gates for said outlet, said member having lugs extending into the paths of movement of said gates, said gates having co-acting lugs positioned to engage said first named lugs when said -gates 'are open, and handles for operating said gates mediate the endsof said rod, a pair of gates adapted to lclose said opening between said webs, independent means for operating each of said gates, and means carried by said gates for moving said wall forming member relative to said wails when either gate is actuated beyond its normally open position.

7. In a hopper of the type described having a bottom outlet opening, a wall section adjacent said bottom outlet opening, means for resiliently supporting said wall section, a gate for said bottom outlet opening, means for limiting the movement of said gate in opening direction, said means being connected to said wall sections, and coacting means movable with said gate and disposed to engage said gate movement limiting means whereby movement will be imparted to said wall section when said gate movement limiting means and said co-acting means are caused forceably to engage.

MERRILL COX.