US2701666A - Closure for hopper dump opening - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1955 w. G. HICKS CLOSURE FOR HOPPER DUMP OPENING I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1954 fllllllnlall' 11|... l *III I r||| ril IL ,TssL rll:

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Feb. 8, 1955 w. G. HICKS CLOSURE FOR HOPPER DUMP OPENING Filed July l5, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1955 w. cs. HICKS cLosuRE Foa HoPPER num OPENING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15. 1954 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Oiiice zfis Patented Feb. 8, 1955 The present invention relates generally to closures for hopper-type dump openings. The invention relates more particularly to closures for hopper-type'dump truck bodies especially adapted for carrying hy ic cements, cementitious mixtures, and other materials which are dicult to seal in and protect against moisture, etc. during transit and to such a closure embodying a novel closure actuating device which will facilitate temporary attachment of discharge socks, boots or pi es for conducting and protecting the hopper material uring discharge, and to prevent dus Ime past, buttertly-type closures have been employed on stationary hopper discharge openings, because this type of valve may be made to fit any large-size discharge open ing and is substantially balanced under load. This type of valve or closure device, however, does not close tightly enough to prevent loss of material-during transit, when such are installed on trucks, trailers, or other mobile forms of hoppers, conveying equipment, ctc,

It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel type of hopper closure embodying a butterfly-type of valve member and a valve closing mechanism which will tightly and effectively close such openings during transit and which also will permit the temporary attachment and tight sealing of discharge socks, boots or tubes around the hopper discharge opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closure particularly adapted for use on hopper-type trucks and other forms of mobile hopper equipment.

Still another object is to provide a hopper closure embodying an actuating device which is quickly and easily operated and which will also function as an attaching device for discharge socks and the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention -will be apparent or will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with tlie accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the closure device of this invention, the view being taken as a section horizontally through a lower hopper section along the line l-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the closure of this invention, the section being taken vertically along the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a side view of the hopper closure of this invention, with portions broken away for greater clarity; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of one comer of the closure actuating device, the portion enlarged being indicated as broken away in Fig. 3, and showing in addition a discharge sock and its frame inserted and the valve member in a closed position.

The objects of this invention are achieved by providing a hopper closure embodying a butterfly-type valve member and a sealing cover which is urged into tight sealing contact therewith by means of an actuating device cornprising a series of eccentric cams mounted on shafts located outside the periphery of the valve gate or discharge opening; The eccentric cams in this arrangement raise and lower a rigid lifting frame for raising and lowering a removable cover into and out of sealing engagement with a lower sealing lip or ring on the butterfly valve and with an outer seal member outside the'discharge opening. The butterfly valve incorporates features which temporarily hold it in place while said eccentric-operated sealing frame is lowered for removal of the cover element and insertion of a discharge sock, boot or tube. After insertion of the discharge boot, etc. the cams are operated to seal the boot around the opening and the butterfly valve is rotated to open it for discharge through the boot. When discharge of the ho per is complete, the valve is closed, .the sock remove the cover replaced, and the eccentric cam arrangement operated to raise the cover and force the cover tightly against the butterfly valve member and the outer sealer element. The hopper is then sealed for its next load of material. In this arrangement, the combination of eccentric cams and the cover assure a uniform application of sealing pressure between the sealing frame and the valve member and outer sealer element; it permits the etllcient sealing of openings of any practical size; it permits easy and smooth operation of the closure device; it facilitates the use of discharge boots, etc. and it provides a simple, positive acting closure device requiring little maintenance and repair over long periods of use. It also protects the edges of the discharge opening from water that may splash up from the road.`

In Figs. 1 to 3, the closure device of this invention is shown attached to an oval tapered bottom hopper section 10 which in this case is actually located on the bottom of a hopper type truck body of the type used for highway transit of bulk Portland cement. In this use, the cement is so ne it is diliicult to prevent seepage through the closure devices now in use. At the same time, the cement and the discharge opening must be protected against moisture in the air. The closure device of this invention eiciently performs both of these functions. When unloading such hopper type trucks, they are simply dumped throu a bottom opening. When this is done, a considera le amount of dust is generated. A discharge sock or boot of cloth, etc. or a rigid conveying tube sometimes is attached around the hopper opening to reduce the dust and direct the ow of material. The closure of this invention makes the temporary insertion of discharge boots or socks a simple matter and permits ready sealing around the point of attachment.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, a convex-shaped buttery type valve element l1 is disposed in the opening, the valve having a ridge-like lower lip l2 on its lower edge to act as a scaling element. The lip l2 pro'ects slightly below the edge of the oval opening dened by the vertical portion 14 of hopper bottom Il) so as to be contacted by acompressible sealing ring on the cover. At its longitudinal center, the valve member 1l is attached to a pair of shafts l5, 15a which lit into sockets 16 therein and are rigidly fastened thereto by a pin or other fastening device 17. The shafts l5, 15a are extended outwardly through the hopper wall 10 and journalled in fixed bushings 18. The outer end of arm 15 is curved upwardly to form a handle 19. The latter is rotated to either side to open the valve member 1l. In order to secure the valve member 11 in the normally-closed position, the handle 19 is provided with a sliding lock pin 20 and clevis 21, the pin 20 being inserted through aligned holes in clevis 21 and in a bracket 22 welded to the hopper housing 10. The pin 20 is easily removed for operation of the handle 19.

Around the bottom outer edges of the oval discharge opening, there is welded or bolted an angle-shaped band or bracket 30. Around the lower edge of the latter is a resilient triangular shaped outer sealer element 31 (see Fig. 4) of a thickness to compress slightly when under compression and be ush with the lower edge of the linear hopper surface 14 when so compressed. To the bracket 30, one at each corner of the hopper, there are attached outwardly-projecting plates 32 which serve as a support for two pairs of cam shaft bearings in each pair of which is journalled one of a pair of camshafts 33. On each shaft 33 there is located two eccentric clamping devices, each comprising an outer housing 35, an inner eccentric cam 36 attached to shaft 33, and a vertical lift arm indicated generally in Fig. 3 by the numeral 37. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2,l each of arms 37 eom prises a long nut 38 welded to the underside of outer eccentric housing 35 and a bolt 39 having its shank portion extending through a sleeve 40 which is welded to a channel-shaped side lift rail 42 and supports it in its up-and-down movement. The head 4l of each bolt proiects below the channel 42 to provide wrench access so that the length of the arm 37 can be adjusted. Each of the rails 42 is held against outward swinging movement gna pair of outer guide brackets 43 attached to the As shown in Figs. l and 3, the camshafts 33 have their right-hand ends bent upwardly to form handles 44. When the latter are rotated outwardly, the shafts 33 and eccentric cams 36 rotate inside eccentric housings 35 causing the arms 37 to lower the rails 42 in response to the rotary motion. When the handles 44 are rotated to the upright position, the arms 37 are raised again. Attached to the top surface of each of the cam shafts 33 on their right-hand ends (as viewed in Fig. l) is a rod-like stop bracket 45 which travels around during rotation to make contact with suitable circular depressions 46 cut away in the upper and lower positions in the tapered upper faces of plate-like brackets 32. Thus, the stop brackets 45 limit the throw of the handles 44. In the closed position, the cam shafts are in an over-center, self-locking position.

The clamping mechanism thus described comprises the side rails 42 and the eccentric operated lifting arms 37 are designed to support and clamp a closure cover to the hopper opening. The cover, as shown, comprises a sheet 50 of metal or other strong rigid material. The metal sheet or plate 50 is attached to a tpair of angle iron slide members l which slide on top o the side rails 42 when the latter are in the lower position. The cover carries a resilient sealing ring 48 of rubber or other suitable material which is shaped to seat against the bottom edge of the hopper opening, the sealing r1ng3l and also the peripheral rib 12 of the valve 1l. Scaling ring 48 is held in position by an adhesive and also a plate 49 which is spot welded to sheet 50. When the side rails 42 are raised, they cause the sealer ring 48 to effect a double seal, one on the inside against lthe valve lip 12 and on the outside against the sealer element 3l. This not only prevents leakage but also prevents entry of material into the space between the valve and the cover.

The closure thus described is removed by rotating tbe cam shaft handles 44 outwardly and downwardly to drop the side rails 42. When this is done, the metal late 50 and its sealer element 48 may be withdrawn in the manner of a sliding drawer.

The clamping mechanism just described is then employed to hold and clamp a different type of cover means, in this case a discharge boot or sock, in place around the discharge opening. The latter situation is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein a fabric sock 60 is attached to a frame comprising a anged body section 61 to which a pair of sliding rails 62, 62 are welded. The bottom edge 63 of body section 61 is crimped to serve as a seat for a wire band 64 which is clamped around the top of the crimped edge 63 and under a rolled top edge 65 of the sock 60. The body section 61 is of the same form in plan view as the discharge opening defined by wall 14. The tlanged top edge 66 of the sock body 61 makes contact with the outer sealer element 31 to prevent dusting during discharge. In the same manner as with the cover 50, 5,1, etc., the sock body 61 is slid into position on the lifting rails 42 and the handles 44 rotated outwardly and upwardly to raise the former and force anges 66 into sealing contact with sealer element 31. After this is done, the butterfly valve 11 is rotated to said discharge the hopper contents throu the sock or boot 60. When discharge is com lete, e side rails 42, 42 are lowered, the sock frame 1 removed, the cover plate S0 slid into position and the rails 42, 42 raised and locked into sealing position, as before.

What is claimed is:

l. A hopper having a dump opening within which is positioned a buttery valve', a closuring mechanism for said opening comprising a pair of parallel rails, means supporting said rails on either side of and below said opening, a cover means for said opening adapted to be supported on said rails and slid into position below said opening on said rails, and means for raising said rails and holding them in raised position clamping the cover against the opening.

2. ln a hopper having a dump opening within which is positioned a butterfly valve, a closuring mechanism for said opening comprising a air of parallel rails, means supporting said rails on ei er side of and below said opening, a cover for said opening having a discharge guiding device attachedtherebelow, said cover adapted to be supported on said rails and slid into position below opening on said rails, and means for raising said rails and holding them in raised position clamping the said cover against the opening.

3. In a hopper having a dump opening within which is positioned a buttcry valve, a closuring mechanism for said opening comprising a pair of parallel rails, means supporting said rails on either side of and below said opening, a cover for said opening adapted to be supported' on said rails and slid into position thereon below said opening, said cover having a resilient sealing meinber on an upper surface thereof and shaped to correspond to said opening, and eccentrically-operated means for raising said rails and holding them in raised position clamping the said cover, with its resilient sealing niember in contact with said opening.

4. ln a hopper having means defining a duin ing and a butterfly valve in said opening; an a ditional closure for said opening, supporting and clamping mechanism sitioned at opposite sides of said opening for supporting said closure in position beneath said opening, said mechanism being operable to elevate said closure and clamp the same against said means defining said dump opening, and cooperating means on the closure valve, and on the means defining said dump opening to seal the closure against the periphery of the butterfly valve and against the means defining said dump opening, said cooperating means including resilient material.

5. In a ho per having means dening a dump having a peripheral edge and within which is ositioned a butterliy valve, an additional closure for sai opening, said closure comprising a member on which is supported a resilient sealing material shaped to engage and seal against both the periphery of said opening and the periphery of said butterfly valve when the valve is closed, and supporting and clamping mechanism for supporting said member beneath said opening, said mechanism including rotary cam elements and means for rotating said elements to elevate the member and thereby clamp the sealing ring against said peripheral edge of the opening and the periphery of said buttery valve.

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No references cited.

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