US2339741A - Apparatus for pumping and heating viscous material - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18, 1944. 2,339,741

APPARATUS FOR PUMPING AND HEATING VISCOUS MATERIAL H. A. CARTWRIGHT 'Filed Aug. 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR I f/omcf [brfwr/yfif ATTORNEY Jah. 18, 1944. H. A. CA RTWIIQIGHT APPARATUS FOR PUMPING AND HEATING VISCOUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 1, l94l 2 Sheets-SheetZ Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES OFFICE APPARATUS FORPUIHPING AND HEATING VISCOUS MATERIAL Horace A. Cartwright, Independence, Kans. Application August 1, 1941, Serial No. 405,082

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for'pumping and heating viscous material and more particularly to apparatus forpumping and heating asphalt and similar materials wherein the as- 'phalt may be'so treated as to facilitate its trans- "fer from storage receptacles, such as tank cars,

to distributors, such as truck tanks, through an apparatus constructed in accordance with the resent invention.

The principal objects of the present invention -are'to provide a convenientyrelatively economiflow pressures on the material; to provide a com- .pact pumping apparatus in a portable, substantially universally operable unit; to protect the material being worked upon from excessively high temperatures; to provide for application of material meltingheatnt points of greatest utility relative to flow of the material; andto provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in an apparatus of the character and for-the purpose noted.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improveddetails .of structure, the preferred form 'of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings herein:

Fig. l is. anend elevational viewof a pumping I and heating apparatus embodying the present invention, the same being shown in applied position relative to material in the tank car, the tank car being shown in vertical transverse cross-section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of'my improved apparatus in compactedtraveling condition.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view of the universal mounting for the pump, partsof the joints thereof being shown in cross-section .to better illustrate their construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the pump arranged as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical cross-sectionthrough the pump drive substantiallyon -the line '5-5,

in turn,,.supported on trucks 6, the wheels 1 of which ride on rails 8 that are suitably mounted on a road bed 9. The tank car is provided'with a suitable fill opening I!) and an outlet connection H, which is provided with a valve l2 that may be manipulated from a point adjacent the fill opening by a suitable handling device.

A tank car, such as that described, is ordinarily spotted at a point as near as possible to the scene of operations, such as a road building tract on which the asphalt in the tank is to be used. It has heretofore been the practiceto apply a'hose to the outlet ll fromthe tank and withdraw the asphalt from the tank by suction applied from a relatively distant point. This arrangement-ordinarily requires pre-heating the material to a flowing temperature and results in inconveniences-in time and expense for performing that preliminary operation.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a swingable frame l3 upon-which a pump M is mounted, the pump having a union flange l5 engageable with a mating union element It, which element it is engageable, as at IT, with the tank outlet H. The pump It has a driving connection it with a suitable power transmission apparatus l9 connected with and driven by a suitable engine 29, the transmission and engine also preferably being mounted on the swingable frame l3.

The swingable frame has upstanding'supporting flanges Zl and 22 on opposite sides thereof,

the upper ends of which have bearings 23 journaled on trunnions 23' in flanges 24 that are mounted on the ends of supporting arms 25. The ends of the arms 25, opposite the flanges 24, are provided with bosses '26 in which trunions of a shaft 21 are mounted, as particularly shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 2'! is preferably horizontally arranged, whereby the arms 25 and frame l3 may be moved vertically to adjust the same as to height. The shaft 21 is journaled in a collar 28 that has an upstanding shaft 29 rotatably mounted in a vertically arranged collar 30 and held in such relation by a fastening connection 3|. The collar 30 forms a part of a standard 32, which preferably is provided with .a post 33 and a bracing arm 34 that are mounted on the bed '35 of a portable booster conveyance, such as the pipes I! and I02.

from a position as shown in Fig. 2 to a position adjacent the tank car outlet connection II, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to accurately adjust the pump I4, and particularly the union thereof relative to the tank car outlet, a jack is provided, as particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which jack preferably consists of a U-shaped strap 35 depending from the trunnions 36 on the arms and in pivotal relation thereto. A jack base element 3'! is mounted on the strap and a jack element 38 projects upwardly into engagement with the lower face of the web 39 of a bracket 40 that is fixed to the collar 28 approximately in the horizontal plane of the collar 28. It will be apparent that manipulation of the jack 37-38 forces the inner end4 I, Fig. 1, of the arms 25 downwardly to pivot the shaft 21 in the collar 28 and raise the frame I3 and consequently the pump I4.

The swingable frame and pump being constructed and arranged as shown in Fig. 1 and the engine having been started, relatively great suction is applied to the material in the tank car to draw the same out of the car and into a pipe that forms an outlet from the pump. The pipe 45 has a preferably QO-degree swing joint 45 therein, from which joint the pipe extends, as at 47, to a pair of QO-degree swing joints 48 and 49. The joints 48 and 49 are provided with a connection 53 that leads to the inlet 5!, Fig. 6, of a heater 52, thatis mounted on the bed 35 of the trailer 36.

The trailer chassis may be of suitable design and provided with a suitable substructure 53, adjustable standards 54 and 55 being mounted at one end of the trailer to support the same if and when it is desired to remove the tractor, not shown, from the trailer. The heater 52 is suitably secured to the bed 35 of the trailer and rests on bolsters 58.

The heater preferably includes an outer shell 60, which is preferably of elliptical cross-section, as shown in Fig. 1. One end. of the shell is provided with an exhaust gas stack 52, on the top of the shell 30.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that material is pumped from the tank car to the inlet 5! of the heater. From the heater 52. the asphalt is forced through the outlet to a connection 88, Fig. 1, that leads into a 3-way valve 89. From the 3-way valve 89, a pipe section 90, having a pair of 90- degree swing joints 9|, communicates with a pipe 82, leading to a distributor tank, or other suitable point of disposal.

From another outlet of the valve 89, a pair of QO-degree swing joints 33 lead into a section 94 that is provided with preferably QO-degree swing joints 95 communicating with a pipe 96 that extends to a point adjacent the fill opening H! of the tank 3. Swing joints 97 on the pipe 96 communicate with a pipe section 98 that preferably extends through the asphalt in the tank, the lower end 99 of the section 98 being arranged adjacent the outlet connection II from the tank.

The relatively high viscosity of asphalt and similar road treating materials would ordinarily make it diflicult for the pump I4, alone, to circulate the asphalt through the system above described. In order for circulation of the asphalt to be of benefit in treating the asphalt in a tank to make it flow more freely, and make it, further, suitable for application to a road, for example, heat is applied to the heater 52. This is preferably accomplished by providing a burner I09, which is suitably provided with fuel through the The burner may be of any suitable type and is mounted on the shell as at I03. A nozzle I05 leads from the burner into an inlet stack I06 that may be insulated. The stack I06 directs the hot gases and products of combustion of the burner I00 into the heater to heat the asphalt therein.

As shown in Fig. 2', a blower fan or the like may be used for aiding in the heating of the asphalt and may be driven by a suitable prime mover, such as an engine I28 that is mounted on a standard I29 adjacent the rear end of the bed 35 of the trailer unit.

The operation of an apparatus constructed as described is as follows:

Fig. 2, is drawn by a suitable tractor to a point adjacent a storage receptacle, such as the tank car, whereupon it may be unhooked from the tractor and supported by the trailer wheels and standards 54 and 55. The frame I3 is then pivoted outwardly relative to the heater on the hearing 30 and swing joint 49, whereupon the frame 13 may be pivoted downwardly on the collar 23 and swing joint 48 approximately to the position shown in Fig. 1. The jack 3'I-3B may then be manipulated to accurately adjust the union iii of the pump I4, relative to the tank car outlet connection II, the outlet and pump then being united to form a fluid tight joint.

The engine 20 is then energized to actuate the pump I4 which, because of its relatively close proximity to the material acted upon, efficiently withdraws material regardless of its relatively high viscosity and forces it through the pipes 41 and 50 into the inlet 5|, Fig. 6, of the heater.

The burner I00 is then ignited to supply hot air or other gases to the heater, after which they are dissipated or exhausted to atmosphere through the stack 62.

Relative viscosity of the asphalt is reduced in the heater and, from the heater, the asphalt is forced through the outlet 87, first through the 3-way valve 89 into and through the pipes 94, 36 and 98, back to a point adjacent the outlet connection I I of the tak car where it acts on the asphalt to melt the same and make it flow freely through the pump, thus reducing the work required of the pump and speeding up operations.

The asphalt in the tank car is thus quickly and efficiently rendered easily flowable and the 3- way valve 89 may then be manipulated to direct the heated asphalt through the pipes and 92 to a suitable point of disposal.

It will be apparent that the heater itself carries a considerable amount of asphalt and if desired, loads of asphalt may be carried in the heater to suitable points of disposal.

An advantage of the present arrangement is that'the apparatus can be left full of material when it is desired to heat another tank car of the same material. This has been possible with other apparatus when they were going to hook right onto another car, but heavy material could not be allowed to cool in the apparatus as it would be injured in reheating. Even if the burners were turned low, there would be danger of coking unless the material were circulated as it was heated. The present advantage is that with this recirculation principle, with the burner turned low and the blower at high speed, the

temperature of the gases entering the flues can be cut as low as steam which will not harm the fmaterial with no circulation of the material.

The arrangement provided for emptying the apparatus is as follows. When the tank car is empty the pump is reversed and the material is pumped from the booster back into the tank car. A hose is then hooked onto the drain connection at the bottom of the booster and the material is pumped directly from the tank car through the hose. This could be changed but it is the preferable and, it is believed, the simplest way.

When a suitable amount of asphalt has been treated and disposed of, the engine may be shut down; the union disconnected between the tank car outlet and pump; and the frame l3 and pipes 94, 96 and 98 returned to their relative positions shown in Fig, 2, whereupon the trailer may be transported to other desired places such as additional sources of supply of asphalt to be treated.

;It is apparent, therefore, that the present apparatus provides a convenient, relatively economical and highly efiicient manner of treating and transferring materials, such as asphalt, from a. source of supply to a point of use.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described,

a reservoir for congealed viscous material to be heated having an outlet connection below the surface of said material, a pump including a housing having an inlet connection directly connectable with said reservoir outlet connection whereby substantially all of the suction of the pump is applied directly to the material in the reservoir, a heater, a conduit leading from the pump to the heater, and means for actuating the pump for efiecting removal of said material from the reservoir and delivery of said material to the heater.

2. In an apparatus for removing congealed viscous material from a tank having an outlet connection in a lower portion thereof, a portable support, a pump including a housing having an inlet connection, means hingedly mounting the pump on the support whereby said pump may be moved into alignment with the tank outlet connection for connection therewith, and means actuating the pump for effecting removal of the 1 material from the tank.

3. In an apparatus for removing congealed viscous material from a storage tank provided with an outlet extending downwardly from the lower portion of said tank, a support, a pump having a housing provided with an inlet, means hingedly mounting the pump on the support for movement of the pump inlet into alignment with the tank outlet for direct connection therewith, a

heating means, a conduit leading from the pump to the heating means, and means for actuating the pump to efiect removal of the viscous material from the tank and delivery thereof to the heating means.

4. In an apparatus for heating and removing congealed viscous material from a tank having an outlet in the lower portion thereof, a portable heating means, a pump having an inlet connection, means hingedly mounting the pump on the heating means for support thereon in traveling position, means for swinging the pump mounting means to position the pump under the tank outlet, means for securing the pump inlet to the tank outlet, a conduit leadin from the pump to the heating means, and means supported by the pump mounting means for actuating the pump for eifecting removal of said viscous material from the tank and delivery of said material to the heating means.

5. In an apparatus for removing congealed viscous material from a tank having an outlet connection in the lower portion thereof, a portable support, a pump including a housing having an inlet connection, an arm having one end hingedly mounted on the support, means pivotally mounting the pump on the other end of said arm whereby said arm may be moved to position the pump under the tank outlet and the pump pivoted to align the inlet connection thereon with the outlet connection of the tank for connection therewith regardless of difference in elevation of the support and tank outlet, and means for actuating the pump for eifecting removal of the material from the tank.

6. In an apparatus for removing congealed viscous material from a tank having an outlet connection in the lower portion thereof, a'portable heater, a pump including a housing having an inlet connection, means for actuating the pump, a frame carrying the pump and actuating means, an arm, means pivotally mounting the frame on one end of the arm, means hingedly mounting the other end of the arm on the heater whereby the arm may be moved to position the pump under the tank outlet connection and the frame pivoted to align the pump inlet connection with the tank outlet connection for attachment thereto for ellecting removal of the material from said tank, and a conduit connecting the pump with the heater for effecting delivery of the material thereto,

HORACE A. CARTWRIGHT.

Images