US3588182A - Silo unloader apparatus and process - Google Patents

Silo unloader apparatus and process Download PDF

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Publication number
US3588182A
US3588182A US739848A US3588182DA US3588182A US 3588182 A US3588182 A US 3588182A US 739848 A US739848 A US 739848A US 3588182D A US3588182D A US 3588182DA US 3588182 A US3588182 A US 3588182A
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assembly
silo
silage
tube
frame
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US739848A
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James Burl Johnson Jr
Malcolm Perry Hammond
Billy Wayne Starnes
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GIFFORD HILL WESTERN Inc
GIFFORD HILL WESTERN
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GIFFORD HILL WESTERN
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
    • A01F25/00—Storing agricultural or horticultural produce; Hanging-up harvested fruit
    • A01F25/16—Arrangements in forage silos
    • A01F25/20—Unloading arrangements
    • A01F25/2009—Top unloading units for tower silos

Definitions

  • Silo-unloading apparatus comprising a silagegathering means; an operatively connected set of airtight vertical telescoping rigid conduit members, one interior and one exterior of the silo; with an air-moving and a solid-gas-separating means operatively connected to the outlet of the exterior conduit means to provide for a continually smooth and readily restarted discharge of silage therefrom and the process of operation thereof.
  • the Field of this Invention is in the field of material handling, and, more particularly, a discharging apparatus for a vertically elongated bin, such as a silo, wherein the structure of the discharge carrier and the bin are related to each other.
  • the structure of this invention is arranged to provide for an increasing acceleration of a gaseous suspension of solid nonhomogeneous material in the first, ascending, pipe conduit in a combination of operatively connected ascending and descending conduits.
  • This provides increasing velocity of the suspension as it passes through the conduit assembly and avoids the development of slugs of material in such passage; this arrangement avoids development of a teeter column which collapses on and in a fan located at the bottom of the conduit at the level of the silage in the silo at least when it is stopped; thus this apparatus is readily restarted.
  • the preferred embodiment of this invention is also composed of simple elements, readily assembled, which reliably provide for operative connection between parts thereof notwithstanding changes in level of the silage in the silo without attention of the operator.
  • One object of the invention is to provide an improved silo unloader structure. Another object of this invention provides improved combinations of silo and silo unloadercombination. Yet another object of this invention provides an improved process of silo unloading.
  • FIG. 1 is an overall longitudinal sectional view of a silo and its unloader according to one embodiment of this invention in the position ofthe unloader assembly when the silo is relatively full and the unloading operation has recently begun.
  • FIG. 2 is it view tulten as FIG. I in a different position of the unloader assembly, l.e. when the unloading operution is substantially more complete.
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the silage gathering assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gathering assembly shown in zone 4A of FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 5 is an overall longitudinal and partly sectional view of another embodiment of this invention as seen along the section shown as 5A5B5C5D of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 6 is a horizontal transverse cross-sectional view at plane 6A-6A of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is an overall longitudinal sectional view taken along section 7A-7A of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view in the zone shown as 8A in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 9 shows another position of parts ofembodiment 40.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 One embodiment, 20, of silo and unloader apparatus according to this invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; it comprises a hollow cylindrical wall 22, a base 24, a root 26 and an unloading system 28 in operative combination.
  • FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Another embodiment, 40, of silo and silo unloader according to this invention, is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; it comprises wall 22, base 24, roof 26 and silo unloader 150 in operative combination.
  • Base 24 comprises a flat central portion, 31, which is used as the support for the wall-erection mechanism, and the bottom of the silo chamber and an annular ring, 33, continuous with portion 31 which is used to provide support for the wall; the annular ring 33 is ofsufficient width to provide support for the weight of the wall. 22 thereabove.
  • the width of the annular ring 33 is so dimensioned as to provide a maximum ground load of 1,000 pounds per square foot.
  • The'blocks forming the walls of the silo are held firmly together by tightening cables as 74, and standard tighteners as 75, and a sealing material seals the interstices between the blocks it is firmly adherent to the surface of the blocks and penetrates thereinto; the gumlike mass accommodates to any usual movement of the wall and so maintains a firm airtight watertight cylindrical silo wall, which has airtight door assemblies as 60,61 and 62.
  • the roof assembly 26 comprises, in operative combination, a rigid open frame 80, a circular plate 89 and a flexible, airtight watertight roof surface 82.
  • the roof surface 82 is formed of flexible airtight spiral tubing 83 and includes central air pressure relief valve 75 and is supported on Frame 80.
  • Tubing 83 is formed of an airtight, watertight imperforate flexible plastic tubing wound in a spiral, and forming, with central plate 89, a hemispherical dome.
  • the tubing is attached to and supported by members as 861-864 of the frame and extends from plate 89 to plate 881.
  • Surface 82 includes an airtight and watertight sealant between the radially adjacent tubing portions and forms a complete airtight, watertight roof surface.
  • the frame 80 for the roof assembly comprises a plurality of equally spaced rigid arched vertically extending tubings as 861, 862, 863, 864 and 865, each joined to a central upper spider ring 887 and a lower annular saddle plate 881 all firmly joined to each other.
  • This frame is attached to and supports surface 82. Additionally, a sealant at the bottom of saddle plate 881 provides an airtight seal at the surface between the tubing 83 and that plate and the wall 22 and plate 881. Plate 881 is firmly sealed on wall 22. Ring 887 supports a central plate 89.
  • the roof is shock resistant and flexible, but is, nevertheless entirely airtight when the exhaust valve 72 is closed.
  • the roof surface 82, wall 22 and base portion 31 define the silo chamber 30.
  • the rigid frame 80 comprises a central platform 87 on which it lift mechanism 133 and motor 137 are supported for control of vertical movement of a silo gathering assembly below.
  • the plate 89 is circular and firmly located by frame 80 relative to wall 22 and is firmly attached to and supports a portion 101 of the conduit assembly of unloader assembly 28.
  • Platform 87 is firmly attached to and supported on frame 80. Platform 87 supports a mechanism 133 for vertical movement and/or support of silo gathering assembly 105 in embodiment 20 and ofsilo gathering assembly 155 in embodiment 40.
  • plate 89 is firmly attached to and supports a portion, 161, of discharge tube assembly 160 of unloader assembly 150 in that embodiment 40.
  • Plate 89 is imperforate except for openings therein for its unloader assembly, as 150 or 28, and a distributor assembly as 114 portions of which pass through that plate.
  • the operative connection of the air exterior to the silo and the interior of the silo through the tubing 83 prevents air from the exterior of the silo from contact with the tip portion of the silage though the pressure in the interior of the silo may vary to become lower or higher than the pressure on the exterior of the silo, eg as due to hourly, daily or weekly barometric pressure changes exterior of the silo and temperature increases within the silo.
  • the unloader assembly 28 comprises a discharge conduit assembly 100 and, operatively connected at one, inlet, end thereof, a silage gathering assembly, 105, and, at the other, discharge, end of that conduit assembly, a solid-gas-separator assembly 107, and a fan assembly 108.
  • Conduit assembly 100 comprises a fixed discharge tube 101 exterior to wall 22, a movable interior tube 103 and a ballast assembly 104. Each of tubes 101 and 103 has the same internal and external diameter for its entire length.
  • the discharge tube 101 is a firm wire-reinforced rubber interiorly open tubing firmly and positively kept open by the reinforcement in the imperforate walls thereof whereby it is prevented from collapsing. It comprises a first inlet portion 110, which is located interior of the silo wall and extends from below the platform 87 to the transition plate 89; a second portion 111, which is smoothly curved from one end to the other, and the outer surface of which is attached in an airtight fashion to the outside and inside of the plate 89 and is operatively continuous with portion 110; and a third portion, 112, continuous with the portion 111 and which is afiixed to the top of the sidewall of silo 22 and extends downward to the level of the inlet to separator 107.
  • each of tubes 101 and 103 While the walls of the tubes 101 and 103 are imperforate along their length, the lumen or passages in each of tubes 101 and 103 are continuous with each other so that gas and solid material may pass therethrough from one end of assembly 100, to the other.
  • the passage in tube opens into the interior of separator unit 107.
  • Separator 107 has a discharge orifice 113.
  • Discharge orifice 113 is located at the usual height of about 10 feet above the ground for discharge of silage into a receptacle 109, such as a truck; this discharge opening is accordingly located relatively near to the bottom of the silo as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and below described.
  • Portion 111 is attached to plate 89 near to the outer edge thereof on the same side as the portion 112 is located.
  • Portion 110 is attached to platform 87 at a position slightly displaced from the geometric center of silo 20 (which center is the longitudinal axis of the right circular cylinder which forms the interior surfaceof wall 22) toward the side of the silo near to which portion 1 12 is located.
  • Tube 103 is a relatively flexible tube which is, nevertheless, sufficiently rigid to maintain its fully open position; in embodiment 20 it is made of rubber with wall reinforcing.
  • the outer diameter of tube 103 is substantially smaller than the internal diameter of the tube 101.
  • the tube 103 has an external diameter of 7 inches and an internal diameter of 6 inches while the tube 101 has an external diameter of 11 inches and an internal diameter of 10 inches.
  • Tube 103 extends from swivel joint 69 atop of assembly 105 into the lumen or conduit channel of the tube 101.
  • the tube 103 has a freely slidable fit within the lumen or channel of tube 101.
  • the discharge end 116 of the tube 103 is relatively close to the lower end of tube 101.
  • the discharge end 116 of the tube 103 is relatively close to the top of the tube portion 112.
  • Tube 103 is maintained relatively parallel to tube 101 by the ballast assembly 104; one end of tube 103 is operatively attached to assembly 104.
  • the discharge end and orifice 116 of the tube 103 extends downward only to slightly above the lower end of the straight portion tube 101 exterior of the silo 22.
  • the tube 103 thus extends from the top of the silage gathering means into the lumen or conduit portion of the exterior or discharge tube 101 and effectively and operatively extends thereinto regardless of the position of the assembly 105.
  • the assembly and the various parts thereof are, accordingly, supported on and cooperate with parts of the silo wall 22 and roof 26 assemblies.
  • Subassembly comprises, in operative combination, an auger 121, a motor 123, a counterbalance weight 125, a wheeled frame 127, and a lifting mechanism 133, all attached to frame 127.
  • Frame 127 is a rigid elongated open rectangular frame which extends horizontally across an interior diameter of the silo chamber 30. lt rests, by the wheels as 131 and 132 on the silage mass 21 in the silo 20.
  • the auger is supported on the sides of the frame 127 and operatively contacts the silage 21 therebelow.
  • the auger is connected to and driven by the sealed electric or a hydraulic motor 123.
  • the motor 123 operates the auger to drive the silage from the top of the mass 21 into the inlet 102 of the conduit 103.
  • a motor 126 (on 127) is operatively connected to and drives the wheels as 131 and 132 of frame 127.
  • the wheels 131 and 132 are operatively connected to frame 127 and rest on the top of mass 21 and move the assembly 105 in a rotary path about the central vertical axis of the silo 22 and provide for uniform discharge of the silage from the silo.
  • a lifting assembly 133 is attached to the frame 127 and to the roof support platform 87. Rollers as 130 and 130' on frame 127 contact the inner surface of wall 22.
  • Assembly 133 includes a lifting mechanism generally as shown in U.S. Pat. No.
  • the assembly 133 may include a pair of balancing weight boxes as 106.1 and a cable 1071 as in U.S. Pat. No. l,233,306 to expedite and facilitate the vertical adjustment of assembly 105.
  • the weight boxes as 106.1 are located on diametrically opposite sides of the silo wall 22 for balancing effect.
  • a pressure-sensitive switch 139 contacts the silage mass 21 below the assembly 105 and, maintains the lower edge of auger 121 in contact with the mass 21 by lowering the frame 127 when the thereby sensed pressure falls; it thereby maintains the auger in effect contact with the silage.
  • the pressuresensitive switch serves to activate a lifting mechanism as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,056.
  • the weight of the silagegathering assembly 105 is borne on the silage mass 21 in the silo chamber 30 and its discharge end is operatively connected to the inlet of the interior of tube 103.
  • the ballast assembly 104 comprises a weight 117, a flexible cable 118, an upper pulley 119, and a lower pulley 120, all in operative combination and supported on the silo wall 22.
  • the flexible cable 118 is attached to the bottom portion of the tubing 103.
  • Pulley 120 is firmly yet rotatably supported below the bottom of straight portion 112 of tube 101 on one end of an adjustable arm 114.1 on a frame 114.
  • the fixed end of the frame 114 is firmly attached to the wall 22 as by the hoops (as 74) on the wall 22.
  • a frame also is attached to the lower end of portion 112 of tube 101 and serves to position the lower end of portion 112 relative to the inlet of separator 107.
  • the support for and the pulley locate one end of cable 118 within the lumen of portion 112 of the tube 101. Thereby cable 118 is freely movable in portion 112 of tube 101.
  • Pulley 119 is firmly yet rotatably located near the top of wall 22. It is preferably attached to a portion of wall 22 or to hoops thereof as 73 and 74.
  • One end of cable 118 is attached to the lower end of tube 103 near its exterior orifice 116: the cable 118 extends therefrom to the pulley 120, travels around the pulley 120 and extends to and over the upper pulley 119 and thence to the weight 117.
  • the weight 117 is vertically movable and constrained to a vertical rectilinear path by guides therefor as 117.1 on wall 22. The weight of the weight 117 is as great as the entire weight of the tube 103; thereby the weight 117 serves to urge end 116 downwards of tube 112 and maintain tube 103 parallel to tube 101 when the assembly 105 is in its uppermost position.
  • the weight and cable 118 provide a force continually urging and keeping the lower orifice of the tube 103 in its lowermost position, and keeps tube 103 extended within tube 101, the inner pipe 103 slides smoothly in the outer tube 101. Accordingly, regardless of the height of the assembly 105 the tubing 103 is always kept parallel to tube 101 and conveniently and efficiently provides for adjustment of tube 103 relative to tube 101 and expedites discharge of the silage from the mass 21 through the auger assembly 105, thence upwards through tubing 103 and tube 101 and outward and downward via tube 101 to separator 107 and to the receptacle therefor, 109.
  • the unloader assembly 150 comprises a discharge conduit assembly 152 and, operatively connected thereto at one, inlet, end thereof a silage-gathering assembly 155 and the other, discharge end of that conduit assembly a solid-gas-separator assembly 157 and a fan assembly 158.
  • the conduit assembly 152 comprises a rigid fixed discharge tube assembly 160 exterior to wall 22 and a telescopically movable interior intake tube assembly 170.
  • This assembly 150 does not require a ballast assembly as 104 in assembly 28; except for slowly rotating frame 157 and auger 121 there are no moving parts in this embodiment.
  • the discharge tube 160 assembly is composed of rigid smooth tubing firmly and positively kept open by the stiffness of the wall structure and composition thereof. It comprises, in series, a first, rigid straight inlet portion 161 that is located in part interior of the silo roof and extends along the central longitudinal axis of wall 22 from below and upwards through the transition plate 89 and is fixed thereto; a rigid smoothly curved acute bend portion 163; a rigid straight downwardly and outwardly sloped portion 164; a rigid smoothly curved lateral obtuse bend portion 165 and a straight vertical portion 166, a lower right-angle bend portion 167, and a straight transition portion 168.
  • the portions 161168 are attached in an airtight serial fashion to each other and are, through element 161, operatively continuous with the portion 170.
  • Separator 157 is identical in structure to the separator 107 and has a discharge orifice 113' located as is orifice 113 about feet above the ground for discharge into a receptacle 109 such as a truck, this discharge opening is, accordingly, located relatively near to the bottom of the silo as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • Portions 161-166 may be regarded as a rigid U-shaped member, one vertical rigid arm, 161, of which is firmly attached to plate 89 in the center, the other vertical arm 166 located exterior of the wall 22 and is firmly attached thereto.
  • Tube assembly 170 is an airtight yet telescoping unit made of a series of rigid tubular elements 171-179; its lower most element, 171, is movable upward into element 172; 171 having an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of 172; the outer diameter of element 172 is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of element 173; the outer diameter of element 173 is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of 174.
  • each lower element 177 at its top edge has a rigid shoulder 181 that is firmly attached to and projects laterally from its outer wall surface 192 to loosely contact the inner surface 193 of tubing 178 with a freely slidable or loose fit.
  • Each upper element as 178 bottom part has a rigid annular collar that is firmly attached to and projects inwardly from its inner wall surface 193 to loosely contact the outer surface 192 of tubing element 177 with a freely slidable fit.
  • the bottom surface 195 of collar 181 is flat and smooth and hard; the top surface 196 of collar 183 is flat and hard and smooth. These surfaces 195 and 196 overlap at bearing sur face 197 and are perpendicular to the central vertical longitudinal axis of unit which axis is the central longitudinal axis ofall elements (171-179) ofunit 170.
  • the size of the collar and shoulder as 183 and 181 of each pair of elements 177 and 178 in unit 170 is such that surface 197 forms a complete seal between the outside of the lower tube as 177 and the interior of the upper tube as 178.
  • a resilient airtight long hollow cylindrical or annular seal as 185 having a smooth soft interior surface 191 is firmly fixed to the inner surface of lower end of each upper and outer tubular element as 178; the interior surface of each such seal as 185 engages the outer surface of the lower inner tubular element as 177 extending therebelow in the extended position of telescoping unit 170 with a freely slidable fit as shown in FIG. 8.
  • This seal 185 is formed of belting and, on operation of the fan 108 as below described, an effectively airtight seal between each of the pairs of ends of the unit 170 is formed; each such pair is formed of the upper end as 187 of a lower element as 177 and the lower end as 188 of an upper element as 178.
  • the rubber belting does not scratch the thin outer wall of the lower tubular elements (as might lead to later collapse) as it telescopes into the upper element, and, because there is space between the inner surface 191 of seal 185 and the outer surface 192 of the lower element 177, there is no jamming action between any of the tubular elements (as 177 and 178) of unit 170 as assembly 155 is moved upward in chamber 30; there is no twisting of the elements of unit 170, because of the rotation permitted on bearing surface as 197 between shoulders as 181 and collars as 183, between each of adjacent tubular elements (as 171-179) of unit 170 as assembly 155 moves in its circular path in chamber 30 as well as because of the rotation permitted the entire unit 170 relative to assembly 155 by swivel joint 169 therebetween and by the swivel joint 168 between unit 170 and the frame 80, and there is no hindrance, by the assembly 170 acting as a tension member, to the smooth downward movement of assembly 155 as it removes the silage 21 from
  • the very dusty atmosphere within a silo provides that, when fan 108 starts operating the fine dust within the silo as well as that stirred up by the action of the auger of assembly 155 gathers in the spaces as between the surfaces 191 and 192.
  • a rigid annular band 194 is firmly attached to and encircles the bottom end 188 of each upper outer tube element as 178 to reinforce it.
  • cable 118 extends vertically through a vertically extending chevron seal 97 provided with an adjustment nut 98 and a substantially airtight seal is formed, even when the assembly 105 moves downward in chamber 30, between that seal and the cable 118 during operation of the fan 108; when the fan is shut off as when the assembly 105 is moved upwards vertically by lifting assembly 133, the adjustment for the seals is relieved and cable 118 is freely movable in that seal, especially due to the weight 117.
  • Swivel joint 69 of assembly 20 (shown in FIG. 3) comprises an upper removable ring 53, a lower ring 54 and a series of vertical spacing bars 55 therebetween and firmly attached thereto forming a circular cage 56.
  • a flexible airtight crenated rubber sleeve 57 shaped like a cylindrical bellows is compressed between bottom of ring 53 and 54 within bars 55 and is joined at its bottom to top of ring 54.
  • Ring 54 is attached to hood 129 and is coaxial with 170.
  • a cylindrical tongue 52 ex tends almost to ring 54 from a ring 51 at lower end 102 of element 171; ring 51 extends laterally under ring 53 and slides thereon, the interior of sleeve 57 is a moss-type rubber with a slippery surface whereby the sleeve 57 fonns an airtight yet rotatable fit with tongue 52 when fan 108 operates.
  • joint 169 in assembly 150 (shown in 1 105.41 and 7) and joint 16% on assembly 150 have the same structure as does joint 69 of assembly 100.
  • Joint 169 thus permits rotation of assembly 170 relative to assembly 155 while maintaining an airtight seal of that joint and joint 1611 permits rotation of assembly 170 relative to assembly 160 while maintaining an airtight seal at that joint.
  • Sleeve 59 is coaxial with ring 54 and attached thereto.
  • topmost unit, 179, of assembly 170 is movably supported in frame 30 along a pair of rails forming platform 37.
  • Joint 163 is rotatably and removably attached at its upper end to element 161.
  • Element 161 is firmly attached to plate 09.
  • a rotating distributor element 159 is also located movably on platform 87. According to this invention the joint 163 may be released from tube element 161 and moved as shown in F169 to one side on platform 87; the distributor 159 may be then moved in place under the bottom opening of element 161 as shown in FIG. 9.
  • the lifting mechanism 133 (acmated by control assembly 3441) may then raise the assembly 155 upwards in chamber 30; above the height of ring 331 assemblies 155 and 170 are out of the path 1419 of material passing from the tube 161 and distributor 159 to lower portions of the silo chamber 30.
  • Assembly 155 comprises, in operative combination, an auger 321, an auger drive motor 323, a wheel drive motor 326, a wheeled frame 327 and a lifting mechanism 133, all attached to frame 327.
  • Frame 327 comprises a rigid hood 229, an outrigger frame 337, a lateral elongated frame 333 firmly attached to the lateral end of hood 229 and a central diametral frame 334! attached to the central portion of hood 229.
  • Wheels 332' and 332" are rotatably attached to frame 333 and are supported thereon to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the length of auger 321.
  • Hood 329 is a rigid elongated shell, C-shaped in transverse cross section, and open downwardly to the silage 21 and firmly attached to frames 333,331 and 337.
  • Roller 330' contacts the inner surface of wall 22 and is rotatably yet firmly attached to the lateral end of hood 229 for rotation about a vertical axis.
  • Assembly 150 rests, by wheels 331', 331", 332', 332" and 341 on the silage mass 21.
  • the auger 327 is supported at its ends on the sides of the frame and operatively contacts the silage therebelow, the auger is connected to and driven by a sealed electric (or hydraulic) motor 323.
  • the motor operates the auger to drive the silage from the top and lateral portion of the mass 21 into the inlet of the conduit 170 (in the same manner as auger 121 drives the silage therebelow centrally).
  • the motor 326 is operatively connected to and drives wheel 331".
  • the outrigger frame 336 comprises, in operative connection, a heavy rigid compression rod 339, and a light yet rigid tension rod 333, a roller 340 and a wheel 341; rod 338 is centrally firmly attached to the right side of hood 329 near the center of the hood and is laterally firmly attached to lateral end of rod 339.
  • Wheel 3410 is a soft roller rotatably supported at the lateral end of rods 339 and 339 and rotatably contacts the interior of wall 22 at a point about 90 away from that point at which roller 330' contacts wall 22.
  • Wheel 3411 is rotatablyattached to the lateral junction of rods 333 and 339 and contacts the top of silage mass 21 and rollably supports the lateral portion of outrigger frame 334 thereabove.
  • a pressure sensitive switch 139' as 139 in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,007 is firmly attached to hood 229 and in a preferred embodiment is operatively attached to a lifting mechanism 133 such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,407,007is attached to frame 80 and hood 229.
  • Pressure control switch 139' of the assembly 155 contacts the silage as 21 below the assembly 1155 and actuates the lifting mechanism 133 to lower or raise unit 155 as above described for unit 105 and serves to keep the assembly 155 in effective, silage-removing contact with the top of the silage mass 21 in the silo chamber 30.
  • the discharge end 323 of the hood 329 assembly 155 (as is also the case with the discharge assembly of the unit 105 above described) is located in the vertical center, i.e. the longitudinal axis, of the cylindrical chamber 30. Accordingly, the location of the telescoping assembly 170 is maintained along that longitudinal axis notwithstanding the circular motion of the assembly 157.
  • Assembly 133 includes a lifting mechanism generally as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,445,056; a motor as 137 on platform 97 serves to raise or lower cable as 1 311 and 133 attached to the frame 229 and so adjust the height of the assembly 155 depending on the control of such motor by a pressure-sensitive switch as 139'.
  • the assembly 133 may include a pair of balancing weight boxes as 106.1 and a cable 107.1 of embodiment 20 and as in US. Pat. No. 1,233,308 to expedite and facilitate the vertical adjustment of assembly 155.
  • motor 326 drives peripheral wheel 331" to travel in a counterclockwise direction (as seen from above) on the top of the silage 21; concurrently, the motor 323 drives auger 321; auger 321 contacts the upper surface of silage 21 and moves the silage centrally toward portion 328 of hood 329; the reaction of the silage on the auger urges the outer end of the frame 327 and wheel 330' thereon radially (i.e. laterally) toward the wall 22, (as the reaction on auger 121 illustrated in HO. 3 for assembly also occurs on auger 321 of assembly shown in FIG. 7).
  • the resistance of the silage to the central movement of the auger 321 urges the central end of the frame 327 in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the peripheral wheels; the rigid arm 339 attached to frame 334 and tension arm 333 attached to arm 339 and hood 327 resists such motion when the wheel 330', at the peripheral end of the assembly 150, contacts the interior of wall 22 as it does during usual operation of assembly 1155.
  • Assembly 155 has a length from outer end of wheel 330 and from outer end of wheel 340 to the center of its attachment to the lower end of conduit assembly which is one half of the diameter of the chamber 30: these geometric relations and the above-mentioned radial reaction or thrust on the auger during central motion of the silage effected by that auger and the action of arms 339 and 333 continuously, automatically and smoothly locate the bottom end of conduit assembly 170 vertically below the center of roof frame 30 and plate 89, which centers lie on the central longitudinal axis of the vertical cylindrical wall 22 of the silo.
  • the assembly 151) when the assembly 151) is located in the silo chamber 30 it automatically moves to a position in which the discharge end thereof, 329, open to tube assembly 170 is on the center axis of the cylindrical silo chamber and the length of auger 321 extends along a radius of such cylindrical chamber.
  • This provides a minimum variation of path of silage upward through conduit assembly 170 and also avoids any sudden changes of position and stress on that conduit and the portions thereof.
  • a control station 3 16 is operatively connected to a standard electrical power source 3416 matched to motors 133, 323 and 326 and by line 335 to motors 323 and 326 and by line 3415 to motor 156 for fan 159 and by line 3413 to motor 137 so as to readily start and stop and control the operation of apparatus 40.
  • the fan 158 can continue to act for a short time while motors 323 and 326 are halted preparatory to stopping the operation of the apparatus 410 or starting it after a period of no operation. This procedure avoids any dropping" of silage on a fan with consequent motor overload and burnout.
  • a control station 344' in embodiment 20 is operatively connected by line 135 to assembly 105, by line 137' to unit 137, by line 158 to fan motor 156; and to its power source 3416.
  • the door assemblies 60, 61 and 62 in wall 22 correspond exactly in structure to the airtight door assemblies (160, 161, 162) of the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,407,007.
  • the upper discharge conduit 106 of separator 157 is connectcd to the intake of fan 158; fan 158 is operatively connected to and driven by motor 156.
  • a vertical sleeve 58 of the same interior diameter as element 170 in embodiment 40 and the same interior diameter as 103 in embodiment 20 is fixed at its bottom to the top of plate 54; sleeve 58 extends to slightly below inner edge of ring 51.
  • the inner edge of ring 51 is circular and coaxial with and attached to the lower end of element 171 in embodiment 40 and is coaxial with and attached to the lower end of element 103 in embodiment 20.
  • Tongue 52 is cylindrical and attached to the bottom of the outer circular edge of ring 51, an coaxial with ring 52.
  • ring 54 is attached to hood 329 above end 328 thereof and directly above orifice 349 in hood 329.
  • the motors 326 and 32 1 of the silage-gathering means 155 and 156 for fan 158 are actuated by an operator at control center 344.
  • the assembly 155 then rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 6 and moves radially until wheels 330' and 340 contact the interior wall 22. This movement of assembly 155 serves to locate the central portion 328 of assembly 155 vertically below the center or roof 26 and the downwardly projecting portion of element 161 and swivel assembly 168.
  • the bottom edge 348 of discharge end portion 328 of assembly 155 extends to a height above the height of the bottom edge of auger 321 and forms a gas-entry orifice 349.
  • gas flows through orifice 349 upward through hood 329 past the auger 321 and upward to and through assembly 170.
  • the cross-sectional area of orifice 349 is, when auger 321 engages mass 21 at the height controlled therefor by switch 139', 10 percent greater than, and is usually 5 percent to 20 percent greater than. the horizontal transverse cross-sectional area of the bottom element 171 of assembly 170. This relationship provides anincreased acceleration and velocity of the gas passing upward from surface of mass 21 to assembly 170.
  • the location of the inlet of the fan 158 at the discharge end of assembly 160 provides a lower gas pressure interiorly of hood 329 and within assemblies 170 and 160 than exteriorly of hood 329 and within the chamber 30.
  • the gas moving from chamber 30 through orifice 349 mixes with the silage gathered and moved centrally by auger 321 and forms a gas-silage mixture.
  • the gas moving upward from orifice 349 to assembly 160 moves the mixture vertically upward into assembly 160 and, as fan 158 is located at the discharge end of assembly 160, the gas-silage mixture is moved upward along assembly 170 in a straight vertical line of travel into assembly 160, therethrough, and therefrom into separator unit 157.
  • the line of travel along unit 170 is stable because the unit locates, as above described, and keeps the bottom end of the unit along the central vertical longitudinal axis of the silo chamber 30.
  • unit 157 the silage is separated from the gas in the conventional manner of solid-gas separation in a cyclone separator, such as separator 157.
  • the solid comminuted silage is discharged from orifice 113 and collected and the gas is drawn into the inlet of fan 108; gas is discharged from the outlet of fan 108.
  • the gas pressure in the mixture decreases smoothly, is. in a nondiscontinuous manner, because of the continuous straight path of travel through the straight unit 170 and the location of lowest gas pressure at the discharge end of unit 160. Because of the srnall (5/8 inch) increase in diameter for each unit length of element l 1 feet) in rise along series of elements forming unit 170, there is no development of a teeter column of silage and gas within column 170. The contrary, the power input fan 158 provides for an increased velocity of the gas-silage mixture from its rest location at the top of silage 21 to the passage thereof into assembly and therethrough to unit 157. Because of the increasing suction or vacuum or, otherwise expressed, because of the decrease in absolute pressure, along conduits and 160 towards unit 157 there is an increasing velocity of the gas mixture during the passage thereof from hood 328 to separator 157.
  • the gas pressure relations along units of assembly 100 and velocity relations of the mixture of gas and silage through units 100 and 107 provided by fan 108 in the operation of embodiment 20 for the silage gathered by auger 121 and passed to units 103 and 101 are the same respectively, as above discussed for the gaspressure relations along units of assembly 150 and velocity relations of the mixture of gas and silage through units 150 and 157 provided by fan 158 in the operation of embodiment 40 for the silage gathered by auger 321 and passed to units 170 and 160.
  • a silo-unloading'means for a silo comprising a wall and a roof, comprising: silage-gathering means, air pump means for impelling silage through said silage-gathering means and a solid-gas separator, frame means, frame support means and a closed discharge conduit assembly, all operatively connected, said discharge conduit assembly being opcratively connected to the pump,
  • said discharge conduit assembly comprising a first, ascending, movable tube attached to said silage-gathering means, and a second, descending, tube, one end of said first, ascending tube being operatively connected to the second, descending tube; and the other end of said first tube being rotatably attached to said silage-gathering means.
  • said second, descending, tube comprising a first portion fixedly supported in part to said silo and extending downwardly toward and adjacent to the side of the silo and a second portion. said second portion extending from the top of the silo to a position displaced from the side of the silo near the bottom second descending tube and wherein said first tube comprises a vertical series of vertical telescoping tubular elements. the lower of each of said series of elements having a smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of the adjacent element upward thereof.
  • a silo-unloading means for a silo comprising a wall and a roof, comprising;silagegathering means, air pump means for impelling silage through said silage-gathering means and a solid-gas separator, frame means, frame support means and a closed discharge conduit assembly, all operatively connected, said discharge conduit assembly being operatively connected to the pump,
  • said discharge conduit assembly comprising a first, ascending, movable tube attached to said silage-gathering means, and a second, descending, tube, one end of said first, ascending tube being operatively connected to the second, descending tube; and the other end of said first tube being rotatably attached to said silage-gathering means,
  • said second, descending, tube comprising a first portion fixedly supported in part to said silo and extending downwardly toward and adjacent to the side of the silo and the second portion, said second portion extending from the top of the silo to a position displaced from the side of the silo near to the bottom thereof and operatively connected to said solid-gas separator, said solid-gas 3.
  • silage-gathering means comprises, in operative combination:
  • an auger an auger drive motor, a wheel drive motor, a
  • said wheel frame comprises a rigid hood, an outrigger frame, a lateral elongated frame firmly attached to the lateral end of the hood and a central diametral frame attached to the central portion of said hood, wheels are rotatably attached to the lateral frame and are supported thereon to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the length of said auger, said hood is a rigid elongated shell, C-shaped in transverse cross section and open downwardly and firmly attached to said outrigger, lateral and central frames, a roller to contact the inner surface of a silo wall is rotatably yet firmly attached to the lateral end of said hood and supported thereon for rotation about a vertical axis,
  • said outrigger frame comprising, in operative connection, a
  • said tension rod is centrally firmly attached to one side of said hood and is laterally firmly attached to lateral end of said compression rod, said soft roller is rotatably supported at the lateral end of said rods to rotatably contact an interior silo wall said outrigger frame extending from said central portion of said wheeled frame substantially at right angles thereto.

Abstract

SILO-UNLOADING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SILAGE-GATHERING MEANS, AN OPERATIVELY CONNECTED SET OF AIRTIGHT VERTICAL TELESCOPING RIGID CONDUIT MEMBERS, ONE INTERIOR AND ONE EXTERIOR OF THE SILO, WITH AN AIR-MOVING AND A SOLID-GAS-SEPARATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF THE EXTERIOR CONDUIT MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR A CONTINUALLY SMOOTH AND READILY RESTARTED DISCHARGE OF SILAGE THEREFROM AND THE PROCESS OF OPERATION THEREOF.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors James Burl Johnson, Jr.
Lubbock; Malcolm Perry Hammond, Plainvlew; Billy Wayne Starnes, Lubbock, Tex. [21 Appl. No. 739,848 [22] Filed June 25, 1968 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73 Assignee Gifford-Hlll-Western, Inc.
Lubbock, Tex.
[S4] SlLO UNLOADER APPARATUS AND PROCESS 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.
(52] US. Cl 302/56, 302/1 1 [51] Int. Cl 865g 53/24 302/56,
[50] FieldolSearch 56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,500,043 3/1950 Radke 302/56 2,663,594 12/1953 Dennick 302/56 3,065,996 11/1962 Patz et a1. 302/56 3,239,279 3/1966 Skromme et al.... 302/56 3,407,007 10/1968 Frassauer 302/56 Primary Examiner-Andres H. Nielsen Attorney-Arnold, White & Durkee ABSTRACT: Silo-unloading apparatus comprising a silagegathering means; an operatively connected set of airtight vertical telescoping rigid conduit members, one interior and one exterior of the silo; with an air-moving and a solid-gas-separating means operatively connected to the outlet of the exterior conduit means to provide for a continually smooth and readily restarted discharge of silage therefrom and the process of operation thereof.
PATENTED JUH28 IHYI SHEET 1 OF 5 fulm,
ATTORNEY PATENTEUJUN28 l97| SHEET 2 0F 5 J. B. JOHNSON JR M. P HAM/W 0ND 8. w STARNES INVEN IORS ATTORNEY PATENTED M28 I97l SHEET 0F 5 J. B. JOHNSON JR.
MP. HAMMOND BW. STARNES INVENTORS ,M/ZW/ 5/ ATTORNEY PATENIED JUN28 l97l SHEET S [If 5 FIGS R MD m mm SONW NMDHN Wm HS BP MB SILO UNLOADER APPARATUS AND PROCESS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is an improvement of copending application Ser. No. 575,33 l filed Aug. 26, I966, and now Pat. No. 3,407,007 and owned by the assignee of this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Field of this Invention is in the field of material handling, and, more particularly, a discharging apparatus for a vertically elongated bin, such as a silo, wherein the structure of the discharge carrier and the bin are related to each other.
Description of the Prior Art Unloaders are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,306; details of the walls are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,383,166; the general approach for supporting the unloader from the roof-and driving the material toward the center as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,500,043. The most recent development in this field is the smooth silage unloaders as in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 570,331.
Problem of the Prior Art Silage discharge from a silo after storage develops frequent and large (4-inch) diameter balls due to its moisture, stringy and fibrous portions and variations therein, with concomitant variations in the density of difi'erent small portions of such silage portions. Serious surging problems result in such apparatus which have an air moving means which provides a maximum force and acceleration at the bottom of a vertically extending closed conduit. As the height of a column thereof increases a teeter column develops and provides blockage on increasing load in such a column; this limits the amount of height of such vertical assembly and thus either limits the height of the silo or requires reconnection of the discharge unit after a limited amount of vertical movement of the level of silage remaining in the silo. Fans require maintenance to avoid clogging and/or to clear after clogging as in starting such apparatus after having operated to unload only a part of the silo.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure of this invention is arranged to provide for an increasing acceleration of a gaseous suspension of solid nonhomogeneous material in the first, ascending, pipe conduit in a combination of operatively connected ascending and descending conduits. This provides increasing velocity of the suspension as it passes through the conduit assembly and avoids the development of slugs of material in such passage; this arrangement avoids development of a teeter column which collapses on and in a fan located at the bottom of the conduit at the level of the silage in the silo at least when it is stopped; thus this apparatus is readily restarted.
The preferred embodiment of this invention is also composed of simple elements, readily assembled, which reliably provide for operative connection between parts thereof notwithstanding changes in level of the silage in the silo without attention of the operator.
One object of the invention is to provide an improved silo unloader structure. Another object of this invention provides improved combinations of silo and silo unloadercombination. Yet another object of this invention provides an improved process of silo unloading.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall longitudinal sectional view of a silo and its unloader according to one embodiment of this invention in the position ofthe unloader assembly when the silo is relatively full and the unloading operation has recently begun.
FIG. 2 is it view tulten as FIG. I in a different position of the unloader assembly, l.e. when the unloading operution is substantially more complete.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the silage gathering assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gathering assembly shown in zone 4A of FIG. 7.
FIG. 5 is an overall longitudinal and partly sectional view of another embodiment of this invention as seen along the section shown as 5A5B5C5D of FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 is a horizontal transverse cross-sectional view at plane 6A-6A of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an overall longitudinal sectional view taken along section 7A-7A of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view in the zone shown as 8A in FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 shows another position of parts ofembodiment 40.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One embodiment, 20, of silo and unloader apparatus according to this invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; it comprises a hollow cylindrical wall 22, a base 24, a root 26 and an unloading system 28 in operative combination.
Another embodiment, 40, of silo and silo unloader according to this invention, is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; it comprises wall 22, base 24, roof 26 and silo unloader 150 in operative combination.
Base 24 comprises a flat central portion, 31, which is used as the support for the wall-erection mechanism, and the bottom of the silo chamber and an annular ring, 33, continuous with portion 31 which is used to provide support for the wall; the annular ring 33 is ofsufficient width to provide support for the weight of the wall. 22 thereabove. In the preferred embodiment the width of the annular ring 33 is so dimensioned as to provide a maximum ground load of 1,000 pounds per square foot.
The'blocks forming the walls of the silo are held firmly together by tightening cables as 74, and standard tighteners as 75, and a sealing material seals the interstices between the blocks it is firmly adherent to the surface of the blocks and penetrates thereinto; the gumlike mass accommodates to any usual movement of the wall and so maintains a firm airtight watertight cylindrical silo wall, which has airtight door assemblies as 60,61 and 62.
The roof assembly 26 comprises, in operative combination, a rigid open frame 80, a circular plate 89 and a flexible, airtight watertight roof surface 82. The roof surface 82 is formed of flexible airtight spiral tubing 83 and includes central air pressure relief valve 75 and is supported on Frame 80. Tubing 83 is formed of an airtight, watertight imperforate flexible plastic tubing wound in a spiral, and forming, with central plate 89, a hemispherical dome. The tubing is attached to and supported by members as 861-864 of the frame and extends from plate 89 to plate 881. Surface 82 includes an airtight and watertight sealant between the radially adjacent tubing portions and forms a complete airtight, watertight roof surface.
The frame 80 for the roof assembly comprises a plurality of equally spaced rigid arched vertically extending tubings as 861, 862, 863, 864 and 865, each joined to a central upper spider ring 887 and a lower annular saddle plate 881 all firmly joined to each other. This frame is attached to and supports surface 82. Additionally, a sealant at the bottom of saddle plate 881 provides an airtight seal at the surface between the tubing 83 and that plate and the wall 22 and plate 881. Plate 881 is firmly sealed on wall 22. Ring 887 supports a central plate 89.
The roof is shock resistant and flexible, but is, nevertheless entirely airtight when the exhaust valve 72 is closed. The roof surface 82, wall 22 and base portion 31 define the silo chamber 30.
The rigid frame 80 comprises a central platform 87 on which it lift mechanism 133 and motor 137 are supported for control of vertical movement of a silo gathering assembly below. The plate 89 is circular and firmly located by frame 80 relative to wall 22 and is firmly attached to and supports a portion 101 of the conduit assembly of unloader assembly 28.
Platform 87 is firmly attached to and supported on frame 80. Platform 87 supports a mechanism 133 for vertical movement and/or support of silo gathering assembly 105 in embodiment 20 and ofsilo gathering assembly 155 in embodiment 40.
In embodiment 40 of this invention plate 89 is firmly attached to and supports a portion, 161, of discharge tube assembly 160 of unloader assembly 150 in that embodiment 40. Plate 89 is imperforate except for openings therein for its unloader assembly, as 150 or 28, and a distributor assembly as 114 portions of which pass through that plate.
Details of structure of the wall 22 and roof 112 and lift mechanism 133 are described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,007.
The operative connection of the air exterior to the silo and the interior of the silo through the tubing 83 prevents air from the exterior of the silo from contact with the tip portion of the silage though the pressure in the interior of the silo may vary to become lower or higher than the pressure on the exterior of the silo, eg as due to hourly, daily or weekly barometric pressure changes exterior of the silo and temperature increases within the silo.
The unloader assembly 28 comprises a discharge conduit assembly 100 and, operatively connected at one, inlet, end thereof, a silage gathering assembly, 105, and, at the other, discharge, end of that conduit assembly, a solid-gas-separator assembly 107, and a fan assembly 108. Conduit assembly 100 comprises a fixed discharge tube 101 exterior to wall 22, a movable interior tube 103 and a ballast assembly 104. Each of tubes 101 and 103 has the same internal and external diameter for its entire length.
The discharge tube 101 is a firm wire-reinforced rubber interiorly open tubing firmly and positively kept open by the reinforcement in the imperforate walls thereof whereby it is prevented from collapsing. It comprises a first inlet portion 110, which is located interior of the silo wall and extends from below the platform 87 to the transition plate 89; a second portion 111, which is smoothly curved from one end to the other, and the outer surface of which is attached in an airtight fashion to the outside and inside of the plate 89 and is operatively continuous with portion 110; and a third portion, 112, continuous with the portion 111 and which is afiixed to the top of the sidewall of silo 22 and extends downward to the level of the inlet to separator 107.
While the walls of the tubes 101 and 103 are imperforate along their length, the lumen or passages in each of tubes 101 and 103 are continuous with each other so that gas and solid material may pass therethrough from one end of assembly 100, to the other. The passage in tube opens into the interior of separator unit 107.
Separator 107 has a discharge orifice 113. Discharge orifice 113 is located at the usual height of about 10 feet above the ground for discharge of silage into a receptacle 109, such as a truck; this discharge opening is accordingly located relatively near to the bottom of the silo as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and below described.
Portion 111 is attached to plate 89 near to the outer edge thereof on the same side as the portion 112 is located. Portion 110 is attached to platform 87 at a position slightly displaced from the geometric center of silo 20 (which center is the longitudinal axis of the right circular cylinder which forms the interior surfaceof wall 22) toward the side of the silo near to which portion 1 12 is located.
Tube 103 is a relatively flexible tube which is, nevertheless, sufficiently rigid to maintain its fully open position; in embodiment 20 it is made of rubber with wall reinforcing. The outer diameter of tube 103 is substantially smaller than the internal diameter of the tube 101. In the exemplary embodiment the tube 103 has an external diameter of 7 inches and an internal diameter of 6 inches while the tube 101 has an external diameter of 11 inches and an internal diameter of 10 inches. Tube 103 extends from swivel joint 69 atop of assembly 105 into the lumen or conduit channel of the tube 101. The tube 103 has a freely slidable fit within the lumen or channel of tube 101. In
the upper position of assembly 105, as shown in FIG. 1, the discharge end 116 of the tube 103 is relatively close to the lower end of tube 101. At the lower position of the apparatus 105, as shown in H0. 2, the discharge end 116 of the tube 103 is relatively close to the top of the tube portion 112. Tube 103 is maintained relatively parallel to tube 101 by the ballast assembly 104; one end of tube 103 is operatively attached to assembly 104.
The discharge end and orifice 116 of the tube 103, at the uppermost position of the assembly 105, extends downward only to slightly above the lower end of the straight portion tube 101 exterior of the silo 22. The tube 103 thus extends from the top of the silage gathering means into the lumen or conduit portion of the exterior or discharge tube 101 and effectively and operatively extends thereinto regardless of the position of the assembly 105. The assembly and the various parts thereof are, accordingly, supported on and cooperate with parts of the silo wall 22 and roof 26 assemblies.
Subassembly comprises, in operative combination, an auger 121, a motor 123, a counterbalance weight 125, a wheeled frame 127, and a lifting mechanism 133, all attached to frame 127. Frame 127 is a rigid elongated open rectangular frame which extends horizontally across an interior diameter of the silo chamber 30. lt rests, by the wheels as 131 and 132 on the silage mass 21 in the silo 20. The auger is supported on the sides of the frame 127 and operatively contacts the silage 21 therebelow. The auger is connected to and driven by the sealed electric or a hydraulic motor 123. The motor 123 operates the auger to drive the silage from the top of the mass 21 into the inlet 102 of the conduit 103. A motor 126 (on 127) is operatively connected to and drives the wheels as 131 and 132 of frame 127. The wheels 131 and 132 are operatively connected to frame 127 and rest on the top of mass 21 and move the assembly 105 in a rotary path about the central vertical axis of the silo 22 and provide for uniform discharge of the silage from the silo. A lifting assembly 133 is attached to the frame 127 and to the roof support platform 87. Rollers as 130 and 130' on frame 127 contact the inner surface of wall 22. Assembly 133 includes a lifting mechanism generally as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,056; a motor as 137 on platform 87 serves to raise or lower cables as 138' and 138 attached to the frame 127 and so adjust the height of the assembly 105 depended on the control of such motor by a pressure-sensitive switch as 139. The assembly 133 may include a pair of balancing weight boxes as 106.1 and a cable 1071 as in U.S. Pat. No. l,233,306 to expedite and facilitate the vertical adjustment of assembly 105. The weight boxes as 106.1 are located on diametrically opposite sides of the silo wall 22 for balancing effect.
A pressure-sensitive switch 139 contacts the silage mass 21 below the assembly 105 and, maintains the lower edge of auger 121 in contact with the mass 21 by lowering the frame 127 when the thereby sensed pressure falls; it thereby maintains the auger in effect contact with the silage. The pressuresensitive switch serves to activate a lifting mechanism as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,056. The weight of the silagegathering assembly 105 is borne on the silage mass 21 in the silo chamber 30 and its discharge end is operatively connected to the inlet of the interior of tube 103.
The ballast assembly 104 comprises a weight 117, a flexible cable 118, an upper pulley 119, and a lower pulley 120, all in operative combination and supported on the silo wall 22. The flexible cable 118 is attached to the bottom portion of the tubing 103. Pulley 120 is firmly yet rotatably supported below the bottom of straight portion 112 of tube 101 on one end of an adjustable arm 114.1 on a frame 114. The fixed end of the frame 114 is firmly attached to the wall 22 as by the hoops (as 74) on the wall 22. A frame also is attached to the lower end of portion 112 of tube 101 and serves to position the lower end of portion 112 relative to the inlet of separator 107. The support for and the pulley locate one end of cable 118 within the lumen of portion 112 of the tube 101. Thereby cable 118 is freely movable in portion 112 of tube 101. Pulley 119 is firmly yet rotatably located near the top of wall 22. It is preferably attached to a portion of wall 22 or to hoops thereof as 73 and 74.
One end of cable 118 is attached to the lower end of tube 103 near its exterior orifice 116: the cable 118 extends therefrom to the pulley 120, travels around the pulley 120 and extends to and over the upper pulley 119 and thence to the weight 117. The weight 117 is vertically movable and constrained to a vertical rectilinear path by guides therefor as 117.1 on wall 22. The weight of the weight 117 is as great as the entire weight of the tube 103; thereby the weight 117 serves to urge end 116 downwards of tube 112 and maintain tube 103 parallel to tube 101 when the assembly 105 is in its uppermost position. Because the weight and cable 118 provide a force continually urging and keeping the lower orifice of the tube 103 in its lowermost position, and keeps tube 103 extended within tube 101, the inner pipe 103 slides smoothly in the outer tube 101. Accordingly, regardless of the height of the assembly 105 the tubing 103 is always kept parallel to tube 101 and conveniently and efficiently provides for adjustment of tube 103 relative to tube 101 and expedites discharge of the silage from the mass 21 through the auger assembly 105, thence upwards through tubing 103 and tube 101 and outward and downward via tube 101 to separator 107 and to the receptacle therefor, 109.
The unloader assembly 150 comprises a discharge conduit assembly 152 and, operatively connected thereto at one, inlet, end thereof a silage-gathering assembly 155 and the other, discharge end of that conduit assembly a solid-gas-separator assembly 157 and a fan assembly 158.
The conduit assembly 152 comprises a rigid fixed discharge tube assembly 160 exterior to wall 22 and a telescopically movable interior intake tube assembly 170. This assembly 150 does not require a ballast assembly as 104 in assembly 28; except for slowly rotating frame 157 and auger 121 there are no moving parts in this embodiment.
The discharge tube 160 assembly is composed of rigid smooth tubing firmly and positively kept open by the stiffness of the wall structure and composition thereof. It comprises, in series, a first, rigid straight inlet portion 161 that is located in part interior of the silo roof and extends along the central longitudinal axis of wall 22 from below and upwards through the transition plate 89 and is fixed thereto; a rigid smoothly curved acute bend portion 163; a rigid straight downwardly and outwardly sloped portion 164; a rigid smoothly curved lateral obtuse bend portion 165 and a straight vertical portion 166, a lower right-angle bend portion 167, and a straight transition portion 168. The portions 161168 are attached in an airtight serial fashion to each other and are, through element 161, operatively continuous with the portion 170.
Separator 157 is identical in structure to the separator 107 and has a discharge orifice 113' located as is orifice 113 about feet above the ground for discharge into a receptacle 109 such as a truck, this discharge opening is, accordingly, located relatively near to the bottom of the silo as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Portions 161-166 may be regarded as a rigid U-shaped member, one vertical rigid arm, 161, of which is firmly attached to plate 89 in the center, the other vertical arm 166 located exterior of the wall 22 and is firmly attached thereto.
Tube assembly 170 is an airtight yet telescoping unit made of a series of rigid tubular elements 171-179; its lower most element, 171, is movable upward into element 172; 171 having an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of 172; the outer diameter of element 172 is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of element 173; the outer diameter of element 173 is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of 174. As shown in FIG. 8 each lower element 177 at its top edge has a rigid shoulder 181 that is firmly attached to and projects laterally from its outer wall surface 192 to loosely contact the inner surface 193 of tubing 178 with a freely slidable or loose fit. Each upper element as 178 bottom part has a rigid annular collar that is firmly attached to and projects inwardly from its inner wall surface 193 to loosely contact the outer surface 192 of tubing element 177 with a freely slidable fit.
The bottom surface 195 of collar 181 is flat and smooth and hard; the top surface 196 of collar 183 is flat and hard and smooth. These surfaces 195 and 196 overlap at bearing sur face 197 and are perpendicular to the central vertical longitudinal axis of unit which axis is the central longitudinal axis ofall elements (171-179) ofunit 170.
The size of the collar and shoulder as 183 and 181 of each pair of elements 177 and 178 in unit 170 is such that surface 197 forms a complete seal between the outside of the lower tube as 177 and the interior of the upper tube as 178.
The outer surface of a resilient airtight long hollow cylindrical or annular seal as 185 having a smooth soft interior surface 191 is firmly fixed to the inner surface of lower end of each upper and outer tubular element as 178; the interior surface of each such seal as 185 engages the outer surface of the lower inner tubular element as 177 extending therebelow in the extended position of telescoping unit 170 with a freely slidable fit as shown in FIG. 8. This seal 185 is formed of belting and, on operation of the fan 108 as below described, an effectively airtight seal between each of the pairs of ends of the unit 170 is formed; each such pair is formed of the upper end as 187 of a lower element as 177 and the lower end as 188 of an upper element as 178. The rubber belting does not scratch the thin outer wall of the lower tubular elements (as might lead to later collapse) as it telescopes into the upper element, and, because there is space between the inner surface 191 of seal 185 and the outer surface 192 of the lower element 177, there is no jamming action between any of the tubular elements (as 177 and 178) of unit 170 as assembly 155 is moved upward in chamber 30; there is no twisting of the elements of unit 170, because of the rotation permitted on bearing surface as 197 between shoulders as 181 and collars as 183, between each of adjacent tubular elements (as 171-179) of unit 170 as assembly 155 moves in its circular path in chamber 30 as well as because of the rotation permitted the entire unit 170 relative to assembly 155 by swivel joint 169 therebetween and by the swivel joint 168 between unit 170 and the frame 80, and there is no hindrance, by the assembly 170 acting as a tension member, to the smooth downward movement of assembly 155 as it removes the silage 21 from the chamber 30.
The very dusty atmosphere within a silo provides that, when fan 108 starts operating the fine dust within the silo as well as that stirred up by the action of the auger of assembly 155 gathers in the spaces as between the surfaces 191 and 192.
A rigid annular band 194 is firmly attached to and encircles the bottom end 188 of each upper outer tube element as 178 to reinforce it.
In embodiment 20, cable 118 extends vertically through a vertically extending chevron seal 97 provided with an adjustment nut 98 and a substantially airtight seal is formed, even when the assembly 105 moves downward in chamber 30, between that seal and the cable 118 during operation of the fan 108; when the fan is shut off as when the assembly 105 is moved upwards vertically by lifting assembly 133, the adjustment for the seals is relieved and cable 118 is freely movable in that seal, especially due to the weight 117.
Swivel joint 69 of assembly 20 (shown in FIG. 3) comprises an upper removable ring 53, a lower ring 54 and a series of vertical spacing bars 55 therebetween and firmly attached thereto forming a circular cage 56. A flexible airtight crenated rubber sleeve 57 shaped like a cylindrical bellows is compressed between bottom of ring 53 and 54 within bars 55 and is joined at its bottom to top of ring 54. Ring 54 is attached to hood 129 and is coaxial with 170. A cylindrical tongue 52 ex tends almost to ring 54 from a ring 51 at lower end 102 of element 171; ring 51 extends laterally under ring 53 and slides thereon, the interior of sleeve 57 is a moss-type rubber with a slippery surface whereby the sleeve 57 fonns an airtight yet rotatable fit with tongue 52 when fan 108 operates.
The joint 169 in assembly 150 (shown in 1 105.41 and 7) and joint 16% on assembly 150 have the same structure as does joint 69 of assembly 100. Joint 169 thus permits rotation of assembly 170 relative to assembly 155 while maintaining an airtight seal of that joint and joint 1611 permits rotation of assembly 170 relative to assembly 160 while maintaining an airtight seal at that joint. Sleeve 59 is coaxial with ring 54 and attached thereto.
Additionally the topmost unit, 179, of assembly 170 is movably supported in frame 30 along a pair of rails forming platform 37. Joint 163 is rotatably and removably attached at its upper end to element 161. Element 161 is firmly attached to plate 09. A rotating distributor element 159 is also located movably on platform 87. According to this invention the joint 163 may be released from tube element 161 and moved as shown in F169 to one side on platform 87; the distributor 159 may be then moved in place under the bottom opening of element 161 as shown in FIG. 9. The lifting mechanism 133 (acmated by control assembly 3441) may then raise the assembly 155 upwards in chamber 30; above the height of ring 331 assemblies 155 and 170 are out of the path 1419 of material passing from the tube 161 and distributor 159 to lower portions of the silo chamber 30.
Assembly 155 comprises, in operative combination, an auger 321, an auger drive motor 323, a wheel drive motor 326, a wheeled frame 327 and a lifting mechanism 133, all attached to frame 327. Frame 327 comprises a rigid hood 229, an outrigger frame 337, a lateral elongated frame 333 firmly attached to the lateral end of hood 229 and a central diametral frame 334! attached to the central portion of hood 229. Wheels 332' and 332" are rotatably attached to frame 333 and are supported thereon to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the length of auger 321. Hood 329 is a rigid elongated shell, C-shaped in transverse cross section, and open downwardly to the silage 21 and firmly attached to frames 333,331 and 337. Roller 330' contacts the inner surface of wall 22 and is rotatably yet firmly attached to the lateral end of hood 229 for rotation about a vertical axis. Assembly 150 rests, by wheels 331', 331", 332', 332" and 341 on the silage mass 21. The auger 327 is supported at its ends on the sides of the frame and operatively contacts the silage therebelow, the auger is connected to and driven by a sealed electric (or hydraulic) motor 323. The motor operates the auger to drive the silage from the top and lateral portion of the mass 21 into the inlet of the conduit 170 (in the same manner as auger 121 drives the silage therebelow centrally). The motor 326 is operatively connected to and drives wheel 331".
The outrigger frame 336 comprises, in operative connection, a heavy rigid compression rod 339, and a light yet rigid tension rod 333, a roller 340 and a wheel 341; rod 338 is centrally firmly attached to the right side of hood 329 near the center of the hood and is laterally firmly attached to lateral end of rod 339. Wheel 3410 is a soft roller rotatably supported at the lateral end of rods 339 and 339 and rotatably contacts the interior of wall 22 at a point about 90 away from that point at which roller 330' contacts wall 22. Wheel 3411 is rotatablyattached to the lateral junction of rods 333 and 339 and contacts the top of silage mass 21 and rollably supports the lateral portion of outrigger frame 334 thereabove. A pressure sensitive switch 139' as 139 in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,007 is firmly attached to hood 229 and in a preferred embodiment is operatively attached to a lifting mechanism 133 such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,407,007is attached to frame 80 and hood 229. Pressure control switch 139' of the assembly 155 contacts the silage as 21 below the assembly 1155 and actuates the lifting mechanism 133 to lower or raise unit 155 as above described for unit 105 and serves to keep the assembly 155 in effective, silage-removing contact with the top of the silage mass 21 in the silo chamber 30. The discharge end 323 of the hood 329 assembly 155 (as is also the case with the discharge assembly of the unit 105 above described) is located in the vertical center, i.e. the longitudinal axis, of the cylindrical chamber 30. Accordingly, the location of the telescoping assembly 170 is maintained along that longitudinal axis notwithstanding the circular motion of the assembly 157. The rapid flow of air through the closed conduit assembly 152 provides for movement of the silage through the assembly 160 and 170 to the separator subassembly 197. Assembly 133 includes a lifting mechanism generally as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,445,056; a motor as 137 on platform 97 serves to raise or lower cable as 1 311 and 133 attached to the frame 229 and so adjust the height of the assembly 155 depending on the control of such motor by a pressure-sensitive switch as 139'. The assembly 133 may include a pair of balancing weight boxes as 106.1 and a cable 107.1 of embodiment 20 and as in US. Pat. No. 1,233,308 to expedite and facilitate the vertical adjustment of assembly 155.
In operation of unit 155, motor 326 drives peripheral wheel 331" to travel in a counterclockwise direction (as seen from above) on the top of the silage 21; concurrently, the motor 323 drives auger 321; auger 321 contacts the upper surface of silage 21 and moves the silage centrally toward portion 328 of hood 329; the reaction of the silage on the auger urges the outer end of the frame 327 and wheel 330' thereon radially (i.e. laterally) toward the wall 22, (as the reaction on auger 121 illustrated in HO. 3 for assembly also occurs on auger 321 of assembly shown in FIG. 7).
The resistance of the silage to the central movement of the auger 321 urges the central end of the frame 327 in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the peripheral wheels; the rigid arm 339 attached to frame 334 and tension arm 333 attached to arm 339 and hood 327 resists such motion when the wheel 330', at the peripheral end of the assembly 150, contacts the interior of wall 22 as it does during usual operation of assembly 1155. Assembly 155 has a length from outer end of wheel 330 and from outer end of wheel 340 to the center of its attachment to the lower end of conduit assembly which is one half of the diameter of the chamber 30: these geometric relations and the above-mentioned radial reaction or thrust on the auger during central motion of the silage effected by that auger and the action of arms 339 and 333 continuously, automatically and smoothly locate the bottom end of conduit assembly 170 vertically below the center of roof frame 30 and plate 89, which centers lie on the central longitudinal axis of the vertical cylindrical wall 22 of the silo. Accordingly, when the assembly 151) is located in the silo chamber 30 it automatically moves to a position in which the discharge end thereof, 329, open to tube assembly 170 is on the center axis of the cylindrical silo chamber and the length of auger 321 extends along a radius of such cylindrical chamber. This provides a minimum variation of path of silage upward through conduit assembly 170 and also avoids any sudden changes of position and stress on that conduit and the portions thereof.
Dimensions of a particular embodiment of apparatus 40 are given in Table 1.
Dimensions of an embodiment of apparatus as in apparatus 20 are given in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,407,007; the units 169,157,158 for apparatus 20 hereinabove described are as in embodiment 10.
in embodiment 10 a control station 3 16 is operatively connected to a standard electrical power source 3416 matched to motors 133, 323 and 326 and by line 335 to motors 323 and 326 and by line 3415 to motor 156 for fan 159 and by line 3413 to motor 137 so as to readily start and stop and control the operation of apparatus 40. Thereby the fan 158 can continue to act for a short time while motors 323 and 326 are halted preparatory to stopping the operation of the apparatus 410 or starting it after a period of no operation. This procedure avoids any dropping" of silage on a fan with consequent motor overload and burnout. Similarly a control station 344' in embodiment 20 is operatively connected by line 135 to assembly 105, by line 137' to unit 137, by line 158 to fan motor 156; and to its power source 3416.
The door assemblies 60, 61 and 62 in wall 22 correspond exactly in structure to the airtight door assemblies (160, 161, 162) of the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,407,007.
The upper discharge conduit 106 of separator 157 is connectcd to the intake of fan 158; fan 158 is operatively connected to and driven by motor 156.
TABLE I thickness 26 gauge, perimeter 110, thickness perimeter 26 gauge,
thipkness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeter 172, Length 10'0",
171, Length 100',
Vs 185, Height 8", thickness .150 (3 ply belting) 181, Length 1%", thickness 3 1 183, Length 1%", thickness 72,," 194, Length 1%", thickness 9 thickness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeter A vertical sleeve 58 of the same interior diameter as element 170 in embodiment 40 and the same interior diameter as 103 in embodiment 20 is fixed at its bottom to the top of plate 54; sleeve 58 extends to slightly below inner edge of ring 51. The inner edge of ring 51 is circular and coaxial with and attached to the lower end of element 171 in embodiment 40 and is coaxial with and attached to the lower end of element 103 in embodiment 20. Tongue 52 is cylindrical and attached to the bottom of the outer circular edge of ring 51, an coaxial with ring 52. In embodiment 40, ring 54 is attached to hood 329 above end 328 thereof and directly above orifice 349 in hood 329.
in operation of the apparatus 40 arranged as shown in FIG. 7, with a mass of conventionally comminuted silage, 21, in chamber 30, the motors 326 and 32 1 of the silage-gathering means 155 and 156 for fan 158 are actuated by an operator at control center 344. The assembly 155 then rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 6 and moves radially until wheels 330' and 340 contact the interior wall 22. This movement of assembly 155 serves to locate the central portion 328 of assembly 155 vertically below the center or roof 26 and the downwardly projecting portion of element 161 and swivel assembly 168.
The bottom edge 348 of discharge end portion 328 of assembly 155 extends to a height above the height of the bottom edge of auger 321 and forms a gas-entry orifice 349. When fan 158 is actuated gas flows through orifice 349 upward through hood 329 past the auger 321 and upward to and through assembly 170. The cross-sectional area of orifice 349 is, when auger 321 engages mass 21 at the height controlled therefor by switch 139', 10 percent greater than, and is usually 5 percent to 20 percent greater than. the horizontal transverse cross-sectional area of the bottom element 171 of assembly 170. This relationship provides anincreased acceleration and velocity of the gas passing upward from surface of mass 21 to assembly 170. The location of the inlet of the fan 158 at the discharge end of assembly 160 provides a lower gas pressure interiorly of hood 329 and within assemblies 170 and 160 than exteriorly of hood 329 and within the chamber 30. The gas moving from chamber 30 through orifice 349, (because of the differential in pressure) mixes with the silage gathered and moved centrally by auger 321 and forms a gas-silage mixture. The gas moving upward from orifice 349 to assembly 160 moves the mixture vertically upward into assembly 160 and, as fan 158 is located at the discharge end of assembly 160, the gas-silage mixture is moved upward along assembly 170 in a straight vertical line of travel into assembly 160, therethrough, and therefrom into separator unit 157. The line of travel along unit 170 is stable because the unit locates, as above described, and keeps the bottom end of the unit along the central vertical longitudinal axis of the silo chamber 30. In unit 157 the silage is separated from the gas in the conventional manner of solid-gas separation in a cyclone separator, such as separator 157. The solid comminuted silage is discharged from orifice 113 and collected and the gas is drawn into the inlet of fan 108; gas is discharged from the outlet of fan 108. The straight path of line of travel of gas and silage mixture along unit 170 is continuously maintained notwithstanding the motion of unit 155 and the passage of the series of portions of silage from mass 21 passed via unit 155 to unit 170 because of the dimension of and automatic self-centering action of the unit 155 which keeps unit 169 located in the center of chamber 30.
During the passage of the gas-silage mixture upward of assembly 170 the gas pressure in the mixture decreases smoothly, is. in a nondiscontinuous manner, because of the continuous straight path of travel through the straight unit 170 and the location of lowest gas pressure at the discharge end of unit 160. Because of the srnall (5/8 inch) increase in diameter for each unit length of element l 1 feet) in rise along series of elements forming unit 170, there is no development of a teeter column of silage and gas within column 170. The contrary, the power input fan 158 provides for an increased velocity of the gas-silage mixture from its rest location at the top of silage 21 to the passage thereof into assembly and therethrough to unit 157. Because of the increasing suction or vacuum or, otherwise expressed, because of the decrease in absolute pressure, along conduits and 160 towards unit 157 there is an increasing velocity of the gas mixture during the passage thereof from hood 328 to separator 157.
When a portion of the contents of silage 21 in chamber 30 has been discharged, power to motors 325 and 326 may be discontinued and power to motor 156 for fan 158 continued until no further discharge from orifice 113' is observed. This procedure leaves the interior of unit 150 empty and permits restarting unit 155 as above described without any accumulation of silage at the bottom of unit 170 that would prevent ready restarting of the discharge from unit 155.
The gas pressure relations along units of assembly 100 and velocity relations of the mixture of gas and silage through units 100 and 107 provided by fan 108 in the operation of embodiment 20 for the silage gathered by auger 121 and passed to units 103 and 101 are the same respectively, as above discussed for the gaspressure relations along units of assembly 150 and velocity relations of the mixture of gas and silage through units 150 and 157 provided by fan 158 in the operation of embodiment 40 for the silage gathered by auger 321 and passed to units 170 and 160.
We claim:
1. A silo-unloading'means for a silo comprising a wall and a roof, comprising: silage-gathering means, air pump means for impelling silage through said silage-gathering means and a solid-gas separator, frame means, frame support means and a closed discharge conduit assembly, all operatively connected, said discharge conduit assembly being opcratively connected to the pump,
said discharge conduit assembly comprising a first, ascending, movable tube attached to said silage-gathering means, and a second, descending, tube, one end of said first, ascending tube being operatively connected to the second, descending tube; and the other end of said first tube being rotatably attached to said silage-gathering means.
said second, descending, tube comprising a first portion fixedly supported in part to said silo and extending downwardly toward and adjacent to the side of the silo and a second portion. said second portion extending from the top of the silo to a position displaced from the side of the silo near the bottom second descending tube and wherein said first tube comprises a vertical series of vertical telescoping tubular elements. the lower of each of said series of elements having a smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of the adjacent element upward thereof.
2. A silo-unloading means for a silo comprising a wall and a roof, comprising;silagegathering means, air pump means for impelling silage through said silage-gathering means and a solid-gas separator, frame means, frame support means and a closed discharge conduit assembly, all operatively connected, said discharge conduit assembly being operatively connected to the pump,
said discharge conduit assembly comprising a first, ascending, movable tube attached to said silage-gathering means, and a second, descending, tube, one end of said first, ascending tube being operatively connected to the second, descending tube; and the other end of said first tube being rotatably attached to said silage-gathering means,
said second, descending, tube comprising a first portion fixedly supported in part to said silo and extending downwardly toward and adjacent to the side of the silo and the second portion, said second portion extending from the top of the silo to a position displaced from the side of the silo near to the bottom thereof and operatively connected to said solid-gas separator, said solid-gas 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the first ascending tube is movably supported on said frame means and is rotatably and removably connected to said second tube.
4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said silage-gathering means comprises, in operative combination:
an auger, an auger drive motor, a wheel drive motor, a
wheeled frame, said wheel frame comprises a rigid hood, an outrigger frame, a lateral elongated frame firmly attached to the lateral end of the hood and a central diametral frame attached to the central portion of said hood, wheels are rotatably attached to the lateral frame and are supported thereon to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the length of said auger, said hood is a rigid elongated shell, C-shaped in transverse cross section and open downwardly and firmly attached to said outrigger, lateral and central frames, a roller to contact the inner surface of a silo wall is rotatably yet firmly attached to the lateral end of said hood and supported thereon for rotation about a vertical axis,
said outrigger frame comprising, in operative connection, a
compression rod, and a tension rod, a soft roller and a wheel; said tension rod is centrally firmly attached to one side of said hood and is laterally firmly attached to lateral end of said compression rod, said soft roller is rotatably supported at the lateral end of said rods to rotatably contact an interior silo wall said outrigger frame extending from said central portion of said wheeled frame substantially at right angles thereto.
US739848A 1968-06-25 1968-06-25 Silo unloader apparatus and process Expired - Lifetime US3588182A (en)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7800482A (en) * 1977-01-17 1978-07-19 Haahjem Mekaniske As DEVICE FOR DISPOSAL OF DEPOSIT.
US4264241A (en) * 1978-08-30 1981-04-28 Temafa Textilmaschinenfabrik Gmbh Charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7800482A (en) * 1977-01-17 1978-07-19 Haahjem Mekaniske As DEVICE FOR DISPOSAL OF DEPOSIT.
US4264241A (en) * 1978-08-30 1981-04-28 Temafa Textilmaschinenfabrik Gmbh Charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber

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