WO1985003666A1

WO1985003666A1 - Storage method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1985003666A1
Application number: PCT/GB1985/000055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Robert Beaver
Original assignee: Beaver Paul R
Priority date: 1984-02-14
Filing date: 1985-02-13
Publication date: 1985-08-29
Also published as: AU3934785A; GB2154199A; EP0205434A1; GB8403794D0

Abstract

Cement storage apparatus comprises a tank (14) having an internal discharge auger (24) and an agitator (36). Manual rotation of the auger by means of a handle (100) discharges cement into a bucket (102) through a butterfly valve (90). The tank is filled through an opening (30) which is sealable. Dry cement powder within the tank is protected against the ingress of moisture and can be readily dispensed in small quantities by simple manual means whereby wastage of the cement powder is greatly reduced.

Description

STORAGE METHOD AND APPARATUS

This invention relates to a storage method and storage apparatus . The invention is particularly , but not exclusively , applicable to the storage of dry cement powder as used for manufacturing cement or concrete for use in the construction of buildings and other structures. The invention is also applicable to the storage of other particulate materials of any particle size , whether these are powders or granules or otherwise.

In the case of dry cement powder , there are considerable problems at present with regard to its storage. These problems arise principally from the fact that for small and medium scale building operations , cement powder is usually delivered to the building site in paper sacks weighing about 50 kilograms. This method of use of cement is subject to the following disadvantages, amongst others. Firstly , the sacks are difficult to handle, Secondly , the life of the sacks on site is relatively short due to the action of moisture in the atmosphere. Thirdly , the sacks tend to become torn , whereby cement powder is wasted . Fourthly , it is necessary to provide covered storage for the cement sacks . Fifthly , there are security problems since such sacks are readily stolen.

There is thus a considerable need for improvements in the method of use of cement in such building operations. Despite the fact that the above problems have existed for many years , no satisfactory solution has emerged for small and medium scale building operations.

For larger scale building operations , the problems are much less acute , or do not arise at all. In such operations , cement powder can be delivered to site in 20 tonne lorries having tipping gear and pneumatic discharge mechanisms whereby the powder is delivered to static central silos from which the cement can be dispensed in large quantities for batch mixing in large scale mixers from which the liquid cement is dispensed ready for use.

However , such large scale preparation of liquid cement is not justified for many smaller scale building operations. Moreover , in any case the transportation within the building site of liquid cement from a central batch mixer is inconvenient and the result is that the use of cement bags persists everywhere to this day.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for storing cement and other particulate materials offering improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above , or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a method and apparatus forstoring particulate materials , particularly cement powder , as defined in the accompanying claims.

The invention also provides a method and apparatus for storing particulate materials comprising any novel feature or step , or novel combination of features or steps, disclosed herein.

In an embodiment described.below , a method and apparatus for storing cement powder or other particulate materials comprises providing storage apparatus including a closable storage tank or container . The container is adapted to be portable. For example , it can be mounted on a chassis to form a trailer , or may be mounted in a frame for handling by a forklift truck. The container provides a sealed storage-vessel for cement powder . Located within the container is a drivable discharge member such as an auger or paddle member . The latter can be' actuated manually by means of a handle , or could be power driven by an electric motor or the like . The discharge member moves cement powder within the container towards an outlet opening. At the outlet opening , closure means in the form of a butterfly valve is provided to seal the outlet opening. It also allows control of the discharge rate.

An inlet opening , sealable by means of a suitable closure is provided for filling purposes. The whole assembly is substantially airtight so as to protect the cement against the ingress of moisture.

In use , the apparatus is caused to discharge cement powder in the required small quantities into buckets or the like for manual discharge into a cement mixer. The apparatus can then be transported to a refill zone to be recharged and then returned to the site and re-positioned close to the building operation for convenient use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of storage apparatus according to the invention ; Fig. 2 shows , in association with Fig. 1 , a trailer chassis for use with the apparatus of Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation view of a series of sets of storage apparatus according to the invention adapted for handling by a forklift truck .

As shown in the drawings , storage apparatus 10 is adapted to be mounted on a road transport chassis 12 . Storage apparatus 10 comprises a container or tank 14 having a generally cylindrical portion 16 with flat end walls 18 and 20 and formed also with an integral channel portion 22 at the bottom of the cylindrical portion and in which is located an auger 24 constituting a discharge member and having a helical flight 26 mounted on an axial shaft 28.

At the top of cylindrical portion 16 of container 14 there is provided a filler opening 30 . An outlet opening 32 is provided at the rear end of channel portion 22. Within container 14 there is provided a generally roof-shaped anti-packing member 34 and above this is an agitator assembly 36. Further details of these main structural items will now be described.

Container or tank 14 is a mild steel fabrication and may be of capacity such as to hold from i to 5 tonnes cement powder according to requirements. The container is provided with four legs 38 which are detachably bolted to the frame 40 of chassis 12 whereby the entire storage apparatus 10 can be removed from the chassis.

Filler opening 30 comprises a flanged collar 42 welded • to an opening in container 14 and having retainers 44 , 46 welded to the tank on opposite sides of it to co-operate with a strap 48 whereby a closure member 50 in the form of a cover or disc can be screwed-down onto the flanged collar by means of a screw-threaded rod 52 actuated by a hand wheel 54 . A rubber seal 56 is provided at the under side of disc 50 for sealing purposes. The ends of strap 48 lodge under turned-over end portions of retainers 44 , 46 to resist upthrust.

The diameter of collar 42 is large enough to permit access to the tank for repair or inspection or servicing purposes.

Agitator assembly 36 comprises a shaft 58 slidable axially in guides 60 , 62 carried by the tank end walls 18 , 20. A handle 64 is provided for manual actuation of the agitator by endwise sliding movement . Agitator members 66 , 68 and 70 are fixed to shaft 58 and are thus moved lengthwise of the tank to effect agitation. They are generally A-shaped to complement the top of anti-packing member 34.

The anti-packing member 34 is generally roof-shaped and comprises mild steel sheet welded at its ends 7-2 , 74 to end walls 18 , 20 and arranged so that the side edges 76 , 78 of the anti-packing member have clearance of approximately 15" from the adjacent inner wall of the cylindrical portion 16 of the tank 14 , whereby cement powder can freely flow downwards on each side of the anti-packing member into channel portion 22 , and hence to auger 24.

Auger 24 itself is supported in channel portion 22 on end bearings 80 and 82 so that the clearance between flight 26 of the auger and the inner surface of channel portion 22 lies in the range of 1 to 3 millimetres.

An opening ( not shown ) is formed at the rear end of the channel portion adjacent the rear end 84 of flight 26 , and a cylindrical collar 86 forms an extension of channel portion 22 and supports a discharge tube 88 having a butterfly valve 90 actuatable by a handle 92.

Shaft 28 projects through the end wall 96 of collar 86 and has a squared end 98 to receive a handle 100 for manual actuation. Butterfly valve 90 is of conventional construction comprising a valve disc ( not shown ) turnable through 90 degrees by means of handle 92 and which seals against an annular rubber seal ( also not shown ) . Cement discharged through outlet 32 drops through butterfly valve 90 and discharge tube 88 into a bucket 102 .

Chassis 12 is of generally conventional construction, comprising frame 40 mounted on ground wheels106 and having a clevis 108 for attachment to a towing vehicle.

Parking stands 110 and 112 are provided at front and rear of the chassis for adjustable engagement with the ground to adjust the attitude of the apparatus in the parked position.

In use , the apparatus is filled through filler opening 30 from , for example , a static cement silo . The closure assembly is then, replaced and closure member 50 is screwed down into airtight sealing engagement with flanged collar 42 . Dry cement powder is then dispensed from the apparatus into bucket 102 by merely turning handle 64 and opening butterfly valve 90 by means of handle 92 - the latter enabling precise control of the rate of discharge . During dispensing , agitator assembly 36 can be manually operated to ensure a smooth feed of cement powder to auger 24.

In this embodiment , the entire apparatus is pulled by a suitable draft vehicle to the filling silo. It is then returned to the building site and can be readily moved around the site after raising the parking stands. In this way , the apparatus can be moved from point to point in the building site so that cement can be obtained quickly and easily wherever and whenever required.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 , the storage apparatus 120 is substantially identical in structure to the storage apparatus 10 described above but is mounted in a rectangular frame 122 by means of legs 124 and struts 126 .

Fig. 3 shows six sets of apparatus 120 stacked together in a block , one on top of the other , for convenient storage. The apparatus can be removed and taken to its place of use by means of a forklift truck or other load handling apparatus.

In this embodiment , the apparatus may be rendered manually displaceable by mounting the frame for each apparatus on a set of castors or other similar means whereby the apparatus can be readily manually rolled.

It will^" be understood that in this embodiment the apparatus may be supported on any suitable ^"means so that the height of the discharge opening is suitable for dispensing cement into a bucket or other desired receiving vessel.

Among the advantages of the embodiment described above are the following :

1. Substantial reduction of cement wastage . Whereas current practice is to allow for about 25% cement wastage , it is felt that this can be reduced to 5% or even less.

2. Significant reductions in the labour requirement for materials handling in relation to cement bags.

3. Bulk purchase of dry concrete powder enables economies to be effected.

4. Due to the airtight storage conditions, the dry cement powder can be stored almost indefinitely without deterioratio .

5. Theft of cement powder can be readily avoided by simply locking up the relevant working parts of the apparatus , such as the auger , so that they cannot be used.

6. While many of the above advantages apply more particularly to the use of the invention in relation to storage and dispensing of dry cement powder , they do apply also to its use in relation to other particulate materials including food stuffs such as sugar and flour , and indeed to industrial manufacturing materials such as ingredients in the manufacture of plastics and rubber materials.

Amongst modifications which could be made in the above embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention are the following :

1. Changes in the size and shape of the container or tank. While the size range of J to 5 tonnes applies to the principal application of the invention to cement powder dispensing , the apparatus may be made larger , particularly for static use , and may be of merit in smaller sizes for particular applications.

2. The structure of the discharge member may be modified . For example , paddles could be provided instead of the auger. Alternatively , a scraper conveyor device could be provided or other mechanical discharge means.

3. With regard to sealing the container , other sealing arrangements may be provided including alternative resilient sealing materials and indeed for certain applications metal to metal seals may provide a sufficient barrier to the ingress of moisture. The degree of sealing required depends on the conditions of use , the material to be stored , the period of storage and related factors.

4. Motor drive means may be provided for the auger or corresponding device.

5. Many modifications may be made to the filler opening and the discharge opening and their associated sealing arrangements. Likewise , an alternative agitator may be provided in any suitable form.

6. The height of the end of the discharge pipe above the ground may lie in the range of 30 to 75 centi- metres for the uses in relation to cement on building sites, or may be significantly greater for larger scale use.

7. Although in the embodiment , the intention is principally that dispensed cement will be manually transferred

^• to a cement mixer by use of a bucket as a measuring device. alternative arrangements may be made , such as the provision of an auger feed to the mixer.

8. Other uses of the apparatus have already been mentioned . It will be understood that the apparatus may be used with many particulate materials which require to be stored and which should conveniently be available close to their area of use.

9. The auger or equivalent discharge device may be provided in its own discharge duct or channel which may optionally be separable from the remainder of the container , the latter feeding material to it through suitable openings.

10. Agitator means may be provided at the outlet opening in the tank . Likewise , an inspection plate may _be provided in that zone.

1 . In place of the butterfly valve , any other suitable type of outlet control means may be provided , such as a device of the shutter type, with or without rubber or other resilient sealing means.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Storage apparatus for particulate material comprising a closable storage container , a filler opening formed in the container through which the container can be filled with said particulate material , and a outlet opening formed in the container through which said particulate material can be discharged , characterised in that both said filler opening and' said outlet opening are provided with closure means to seal the tank against ingress of moisture , and that a drivable discharge member is provided within the container whereby a controlled quantity of said particulate material can be discharged through said outlet opening , whereby particulate material can be stored in the container without substantial ingress of moisture and can then be discharged in controlled quantities through the outlet opening.

2. Storage apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that said drivable discharge member comprises rotary screw or paddle means mounted for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise of the container.

3. Storage apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that in the normal operating attitude of said apparatus the longitudinal axis of said container extends generally horizontally and said rotary screw or paddle means is located in a trough or the like at the bottom of said container.

4. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said closure means for the outlet opening comprises a manually operable butterfly valve.

5. A method of storing a particulate material comprising loading said material into a container and subsequently discharging the material from the container for use , characterised in that said container is closable against the ingress of moisture , the method comprising the step of opening closure means for an outlet of said container and driving a discharge member within the container to discharge a controlled quantity of the material through the outlet opening .

6. A method according to claim 5 characterised in that said container is adapted to be portable and the method comprises the step of periodically transporting the container to refilling means whereby the container is refilled through an inlet opening of the container.

7. A method .according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterised in that said container is adapted to be portable , the method comprising the step of periodically transporting the container to a new working location for discharge of said particulate material.

8. A method of processing a particulate material comprising storing said material by a method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , the method further comprising the step of transferring a measured quantity of the particulate material dispensed from the container , to material processing means.

9. A method according to claim 8 characterised in that said particulate material comprises dry cement and the method forms a method of making cement or concrete. the method comprising the step of transferring dry cement discharged from the outlet of the container, to cement mixing means.

10. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 characterised by the step of manually operating said discharge member to discharge said material through the outlet opening.