US3357575A

US3357575A - Silo unloading means

Info

Publication number: US3357575A
Application number: US478257A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zuber Otto; Semadeni Silvio; Moller Per
Original assignee: Buehler AG
Current assignee: Buehler AG
Priority date: 1964-08-11
Filing date: 1965-08-09
Publication date: 1967-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-12
Also published as: CH418978A; GB1069334A; BE668143A; ES316317A1

Description

Dec. 12, 1967 Q, ZLJEBER ETAL SILO UNLOADXNG MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 INVENTORS. OTTO ZUBER s/! we SEMADENI PER MLLER FIQZ ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1967 o. ZUBER ETAL SILO UNLOADING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug.

111A fi m) a I m MR. TRD HEA VBML w xd, 0 mm ca v ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,357,575 SILO UNLOADING MEANS Otto Zuber and Silvio Semadeni, Uzwil, and Per Mller, Saint Gall, Switzerland, assignors to Gebruder Buhlcr, Uzwil, Switzerland Filed Aug. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 478,257 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 11, 1964, 10,459/ 64 4 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) This invention relates in general to silo construction, and in particular to a new and useful silo for loose bulk products having a substantially round upper portion and a rectangularly formed lower discharge portion.

In the known embodiments of silos having a round upper section the discharge openings for the discharge section, which may be rectangular in sectional configuration, are generally located in the corners of the discharge section. Such a construction, however, has the disadvantage that the level of the product does not sink uniformly when the discharge is effected- In addition, the load of the material in the round upper section is directly vertically transferred to the rectangle discharge section only at the four tangential points.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a silo construction which includes a round, for example cylindrical portion and a lower rectangular shaped discharge section which is constructed, when scrapers are used for facilitating discharge, with a straight discharge side of a rectangular discharge section which is olfset in an inward direction relative to the round upper section and with a nose being formed above the discharge opening for the purposes of compensation. The inward offsetting of the lower rectangular discharge section relative to the round upper section makes it possible to discharge the product along the entire length. The use of scrapers for the discharge guarantees a uniform sinking of the level of the' product and thefloor of the compartment may thus only be inclined slightly to provide for a saving of space. In addition, it is possible to use scrapers of equal size or dimension and have equal propulsion effects on the materialthereof. Without detrimentally affecting the flow condition of the outfiowing product, the load of the round upper section is at least taken up at six points directly vertically by the rectangulardischarge section. In a preferred arrangement, the projecting noses formed between vthe rectangular discharge section and the upper round sto'ragesection areprovidedwith an inward overhang relative to I relief for the dlscharge openings.

the discharge side and provide acontinuous Accordingly, it'is an object of'the invention to provide a silo construction with a rounded upper storage portion and a lower substantially rectangular discharge sect-ion with at least one straight discharge side wall of the discharge section being offset inwardly relative to the round upper section-and with a projecting nose being provided above the straight discharge section for compensation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a silo having a round upper portion and a lower substantially rectangular dischargesection with scraper means being provided for scrapingthe materials off an inclined bottom and wherein the discharge section is oflset inwardly from the upper rounded section and is provided with an extending overhang or nose between the sections to relieve the discharge openings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a silo having a rounded upper portion and a lower substantially rectangular sectioned discharge portion with rib structures being formed on the rectangular portion for supporting the upper rounded portion lying preferably on two sides between which the discharge openings are located.

A further object of the invention is to provide a silo 3,357,575 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical sectional view of a silo constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the silo indicated in FIG. 1; and I FIG. 3 is a double half-sectional view with one portion being taken along the line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 1 and the other portion being taken along the line IIIB-IIIB of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a silo which includes a rounded high upper section tube and a substantially rectangular discharge section, substantially straight

vertical walls

3, 3 at each of at least two sides which form straight discharge sides, with supporting

walls

4, 4 being located at each end.

In accordance with the invention, the

discharge walls

3, 3 are offset inwardly from the upper rounded portion 2 and a projection or nose 6 is provided above each of the discharge walls or at the transition zone between the two sections. In the embodiment illustrated, the nose 6 has an overhang extending inwardly directly above the

discharge side walls

3, 3. It is also preferable to have the end walls 4 inwardly offset relative to the round upper section 2 in which instance the

noses

7, 7 are provided at each end. The discharge section is provided with a roof-shaped compartment floor 8 and includes ribs 11 which bend vertically upwardly at spaced locations. Discharge openings"9 are defined between pairs of ribs and they may be arranged outside the rectangular discharge section. A discharge housing 12 is arranged around the discharge opening 9.

For the discharge of the product, scrapers 13 are employed which are generally of wedge-shaped configuration and which are affixed to a rod 14. The rod 14 is moved by a hydraulic propulsion system or fluid pressure cylinder 16 in an axial direction to cause the Wedgeshaped members 13 to be moved along the roof 8 for the movement of the material therealong to the discharge opening 9. A closure lid 17 is connected to the outer end of the rod 14 vfor closing the opening 9. The material is transferred from the opening downwardly onto a laterally moving trough chain conveyor 18 which is advantageously arranged on each of the discharge sides.

The silo compartment operates in the following manner: When a product is discharged, the hydraulic propulsion unit 16 pulls the rod 14 with the wedge-shaped scrapers in the direction of the discharge opening 9. The discharge opening is thus opened, since the closure lid 17 is also moved with the rod. The product now flows through the discharge opening 9 into the trough chain conveyor 18 from where it is further transported. By means of a control (not shown), the hydraulic propulsion unit 16 and the rod 14 with the scrapers 13 and the closure lid .17 move in the opposite direction. Due to their wedge-shaped cross section, the scrapers 13 move below the material or outwardly of the flowing product. The hydraulic propulsion is again reversed and the whole process is continuously repeated. The stroke of the scrapers is usually adjusted in such a manner that the closure lid 17 will not completely close the opening 9 during the discharge movement so that a uniform and an uninterrupted outflow of the product is possible.

The advantages of the inventive silo compartment are the following: due to the straight discharge sides bein'g offset relative to the round upper section 2, it is possible to discharge along the entire length of the discharge walls or sides. This is so because the distance between the discharge opening and the opening defined by the

noses

6 and 7 in the round upper section 2 is substantially equal. The use of scrapers 13 guarantees a uniform sinking level of the product and also insures that there will be no separation of mixed products.

Furthermore, compartment floor 8 need be inclined only slightly in order to provide the necessary outfiowing action and this provides a saving in space requirement. All scrapers may be of the same size and the type of propulsion 16 may be uniform. If the nose 6 is arranged with an inward overhang relative to the discharge side wall 3, this has the advantage that the discharge openings 9 are relieved and the obstruction of the product is prevented.

It is also possible to arrange ribs on each discharge side at least partly outside the rectangular discharge section. This is advantageous in that the load of the upper section 2 is assumed directly vertically at all points and the flow conditions of the outflowing product are not affected in any way.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A silo comprising a substantially cylindrical upper section and a substantially rectangular lower discharge section spaced inwardly from said upper section, said lower section including substantially straight vertical end walls and side walls having a plurality of discharge openings therein, said side walls including vertical rib formations extending outwardly thereform and extending upwardly to support said upper section, a silo floor having a central peak and an oblique wall on each side of said peak sloping downwardly to the openings in said side walls, a scraper associated with each of said openings including a rod member overlying each oblique wall which is reciprocable in an axial direction and a wedge member secured to said rod member being movable along the associated oblique wall of said floor upon reciprocation of said rod member, means to reciprocate said rod member, said rod member including a closure lid thereon adapted to move toward and away from the opening in the associated side wall, and a projecting nose formed as an inward continuation of said upper section downwardly and inwardly to said side walls having said discharge openings.

2. A silo comprising a substantially cylindrical upper section and a substantially rectangular lower discharge section spaced inwardly from said upper section, said lower section including substantially straight vertical end walls and side walls having a plurality of discharge openings therein, said side walls including vertical rib formations extending outwardly thereform and extending upwardly to support said upper section, a silo floor having a central peak and an oblique wall on each side of said peak sloping downwardly to the openings in said side walls, a scraper associated with each of said openings including a rod member overlying each oblique wall which is reciprocable in an axial direction and a wedge member secured to said rod member being movable along the associated oblique wall of said floor upon reciprocation of said rod member, means to reciprocate said rod member, said rod member including a closure lid thereon adapted to move toward and away from the opening in the associated side wall, said end walls being located inwardly from said rounded upper section, and a projecting nose element formed above said end walls between said upper and lower sections.

3. A silo compartment for loose bulk goods with scrapers for facilitating discharge, comprising wall means defining a generally round upper section and a lower generally rectangular discharge section below the upper section, said lower rectangular section having at least one substantially straight side discharge wall on each side of said lower section with a discharge opening therein for the discharge of bulk material on each respective side, said side discharge wall being offset inwardly relative to said round upper section, a bottom wall in said lower section of said silo for supporting bulk goods adjacent said side discharge walls, scraper means associated with said bottom wall being movable adjacent said bottom wall for moving materials therealong toward the respective openings in said side walls, and a projecting nose projecting inwardly from the lower end of said upper section and sloping inwardly and downwardly toward each of said straight side walls from each side of said upper section and providing a load compensation above the openings of said side walls.

4. A silo compartment for loose bulk goods with scrapers for facilitating discharge, comprising wall means defining a generally round upper section and a lower generally rectangular discharge section below the upper section, said lower rectangular section having at least one substantially straight side discharge wall on each side of said lower section with a discharge opening therein for the discharge of bulk material on each respective side, said side discharge wall being offset inwardly relative to said round upper section, a bottom wall in said lower section of said silo for supporting bulk goods adjacent said discharge walls, scraper means movable adjacent said bottom wall for moving materials therealong toward the respective openings in said side walls, and a projecting nose projecting inwardly from the lower end of said upper section and sloping inwardly and downwardly toward each of said straight side walls from each side of said upper section and providing a load compensation above said openings of said side walls, and a plurality of ribs extending vertically upwardly in said rectangular section and assuming the load of said upper section, said ribs being at least partly arranged outside said lower discharge section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,728,470 12/1955 Peterson 21417 3,128,017 4/1964 Bacoka 214-17 3,138,296 6/1964 Neidhardt 222564 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, GERALD M. FORLENZA,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A SILO COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL UPPER SECTION AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR LOWER DISCHARGE SECTION SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER SECTION, SAID LOWER SECTION INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT VERTICAL END WALLS AND SIDE WALLS HAVING A PLURALITY OF DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, SAID SIDE WALLS INCLUDING VERTICAL RIB FORMATIONS EXTENDING, OUTWARDLY THEREFORM AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY TO SUPPORT SAID UPPER SECTION, A SILO FLOOR HAVING A CENTRAL PEAK AND AN OBLIQUE WALL ON EACH SIDE OF SAID PEAK SLOPING DOWNWARDLY TO THE OPENINGS IN SAID SIDE WALLS, A SCRAPER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID WALL INCLUDING A ROD MEMBER OVERLYING EACH OBLIQUE WALL WHICH IS RECIPROCABLE IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION AND A WEDGE NUMBER SECURED TO SAID ROD MEMBER BEING MOVABLE ALONG THE ASSOCIATED OBLIQUE WALL OF SAID FLOOR UPON RECIPROCATION OF SAID ROD MEMBER, MEANS TO RECIPROCATE SAID ROD MEMBER, SAID ROD MEMBER INCLUDING A CLOSURE LID THEREON ADAPTED TO MOVE, TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE OPENING IN THE ASSOCIATED SIDE WALL, AND A PROJECTING NOSE FORMED AS AN INWARD CONTINUATION OF SAID UPPER SECTION DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY TO SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING SAID DISCHARGE OPENINGS.