WO2001062545A1

WO2001062545A1 - Wagon for transporting sulphuric acid and copper concentrate

Info

Publication number: WO2001062545A1
Application number: PCT/CA2001/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrice Element; Alain Gaumond; Renault CÔTÉ
Original assignee: Noranda Inc.
Priority date: 2000-02-25
Filing date: 2001-02-23
Publication date: 2001-08-30
Also published as: AR032755A1; AU2001240382A1

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with a wagon such as a truck trailer (14) or a railway vehicle designed to transport fluids and dry freight such as sulphuric acid and copper concentrate. The wagon preferably comprises stainless steel tanks (16,17) and a bin(18) therebetween mounted on the wagon in an independent manner. The wagon can therefore transport sulphuric acid and copper concentrate simultaneously or in separate trips.

Description

TITLE

Wagon for transporting sulphuric acid and copper concentrate

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

5 The present invention is concerned with a wagon such as a truck frailer or a railway vehicle designed to transport fluids and dry freight such as sulphuric acid and copper concentrate. The wagon preferably comprises stainless steel tanks and a bin therebetween mounted on the wagon in an independent manner. The wagon can therefore transport sulphuric acid and copper concentrate simultaneously or in separate trips, thereby l o significantly reducing shipping costs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, truck trailers are designed to transport either fluid freight or dry freight. To load and unload the trailer, the latter generally comprises a body with doors in the 15 rear, on the top, on the sides, or combinations thereof, depending on the freight material. However, because of their design and structures, a fluid freight frailer cannot be used for transporting dry freight, and vice-versa. Accordingly, upon delivery of a fluid load to destination, the frailer is forced to being brought back to its point of origin empty, resulting in a costly and inefficient operation of the equipment.

20

Some trailers have been developed for transportation of both dry and fluid freight. The fluid tanks are conventional trailer tanks, but on a smaller scale. The problem is generally the dry-material container that is typically an integrated part of the frailer. As a result, this significantly limits the ways of loading and unloading the container, and consequently, the nature of the dry freight that can be transported.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

5 In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a wagon for transporting dry and fluid freight comprising an elongated body; at least one fluid-containing tank mounted onto the body; at least one dry freight container pivotally mounted onto the body independently from the at least one fluid-containing tank. The wagon preferably comprises an actuating system for pivoting the container from a first loading position to a l o second unloading position, thereby allowing discharge of the dry freight from the wagon.

In a preferred embodiment, the wagon is a truck frailer. In a further preferred embodiment, the container is pivoted or tilted laterally, so that the dry freight is discharged laterally from the wagon.

15

IN THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a truck frailer according to the invention; and

Figure 2 illustrates the dump portion of the frailer in an unloading position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wagon such as a truck frailer or a railway vehicle capable of transporting separately or simultaneously fluid freight, including hazardous fluid freight, and dry freight. The invention is advantageous in that it is capable of transporting dry freight typically difficult to handle, such as sand, rock, earth, mineral concentrates, solid wastes etc. separately or simultaneously with hazardous fluids including various acids such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid etc.

The wagon is particularly useful for copper refining operations such as a smelter. In these operations, copper concenfrate is treated under high temperature to produce copper anodes that will be further purified by electrolysis. Copper smelting produces SO₂ vapours, which is a toxic gas. Environmental regulation therefore limits the SO₂ emissions from smelting operations. The SO₂ is therefore trapped and converted to sulphuric acid, which is concentrated and sold. For operations receiving concentrates from truck trailers, the invention has substantial benefits, since a single trailer will be able to fransport both materials, i.e., the acid and the concentrate, thereby eliminating dead headings.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a truck 10 comprising a tractor 12 and a frailer 14, which comprises a series of wheels 15 positioned in a manner such as to ensure proper support thereof. A pair of tanks 16 and 17 designed to fransport fluids, pressurized or not, are mounted at each end 18 and 21 of trailer 14. Tanks 16 and 17 can be made of any material that is compatible and capable of safely handling the fluid to be transported. Such materials include stainless steel, aluminum, lined metal, fiberglass, thermoplastic materials such as high density polyethylene, etc. Tanks 16 and 17 can be adapted to transport any type of fluid whether liquid or gaseous, under pressure or not.

A container 18 is pivotally mounted onto frailer 14 between tanks 16 and 17 for 5 transporting dry freight. Container 18 may have an opened or closed top 19. If closed, top 19 should be removable so that loading can be performed therethrough (not shown). A side door 20 is mounted onto container 18 with a pair of hinges 22 and 24 located at the opposite upper comers 26 and 28 of container 18. Side door 20 is secured at the bottom to container 18 by any conventional securing device during transportation, to prevent opening thereof. At the l o point of origin, a loader or any other loading means such as a conveyor, dumps the dry freight to be transported into container 18 until it is completely filled. Loading can take place either through side door 20, which is kept open, or through the top 19 of the container. A net (not shown) or other screen layer can then be laid over the dry freight if the top is not closed, to prevent the lost of material during shipment, for example when the frailer hits a bump or a

15 hole in the road.

Upon arrival to destination, container 18 is unloaded in the following manner. Initially, side door 20 is unlocked, so that it can pivot freely around hinges 22 and 24. Subsequently, container 18 is then tipped laterally by an actuating system 30 comprising a 20 hydraulic piston cylinder 32 having one end 33 pivotally mounted onto a frame 34 that is itself rigidly mounted onto trailer 14, and the other end 36 of cylinder 32 also pivotally mounted onto container 18. Container 18 is further pivotally mounted onto frame 34 around another set of hinges 35 so that it can be tilted laterally. As the container is titled, as indicated by arrow 40, the position of side door 20 remains substantially the same because of the gravity and rotation of the door around hinges 22 and 24. When container 18 is empty, it is returned to its original position for re-loading. Cylinder 32 can be actuated by various means, whether manually or preferably automatically. Such means are well known to anyone of ordinary skill in the art. Cylinder 32 may also be replaced with any other mechanical equivalent means that can be used to tilt the container. In another embodiment (not shown), the frailer is deprived from any actuating system, and the container is therefore tilted or pivoted by means external to the trailer that could be available at the discharging site.

The structure of the frailer may be reinforced under the tanks and the containers to ensure that the load is sufficiently supported. Further, if more than one fluid tank is provided on the frailer, the size and capacity of the tanks should preferably be substantially the same, although this is not mandatory. In any event, govermental regulations are in force to control the weight that can be applied on the axles of the frailer, and may vary from one country to the other. Accordingly, any configuration of tanks and containers can be envisaged, as long as these regulations are complied with. For example, rather than comprising 2 fluid tanks and 1 dry freight tank, as illustrated in the drawings, one may also consider other configurations, such as 2 dry freight container separated by a fluid tank in the middle. In such a configuration, 2 different kinds of dry freight could then be transported. A configuration comprising a single fluid tank and a single dry freight container is also possible.

Although not specifically illustrated in the drawings, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the truck trailer illustrated herein could easily be converted into a railway vehicle simply by changing the wheels underneath and adapting the dimensions of the vehicle to the standards of the railway industry. While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present description as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as follows in the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A wagon for transporting dry and fluid freight comprising an elongated body; at least one fluid-containing tank mounted onto the body; at least one dry freight container pivotally mounted onto the body independently from the at least one fluid-containing tank.

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2. A wagon according to claim 1 wherein the wagon is a truck trailer.

3. A wagon according to claim 1 comprising an actuating system for pivoting the container from a first loading position to a second unloading position, thereby allowing l o discharge of the dry freight from the wagon.

4. A wagon according to claim 1 wherein the container pivots laterally, so that the dry freight is discharged laterally from the wagon.

15 5. A wagon according to claim 3, wherein the actuating system comprises a frame rigidally mounted onto the body, the container being pivotally mounted onto the frame; at least one hydraulic piston cylinder having one end pivotally mounted onto the frame and the other end pivotally mounted onto the container.

20 6. A wagon according to claim 5, wherein the container is pivotally mounted onto the frame at two opposite lower corners on a first side of the wagon, and the at least one cylinder is pivotally mounted at two opposite upper corners on a second side of the wagon.

7. A wagon according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a side door pivotally mounted thereto.

8. A wagon according to claim 1 , wherein the top of the container is open or closed.

9. A wagon according to claim 1 comprising 2 fluid-containing tanks, one adjacent to the front end of the body, and one adjacent to the rear end of the body, with the container disposed therebetween.

10. A wagon according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is sulphuric acid and the dry freight is copper concentrate.

11. A truck frailer for transporting dry and fluid freight comprising an elongated body; at least one fluid-containing tank mounted onto the body; at least one dry freight container pivotally mounted onto the body independently from the at least one fluid-containing tank; the trailer comprising an actuating system for pivoting the container laterally from a first loading position to a second unloading position, thereby allowing discharge of the dry freight laterally from the trailer.

12. A frailer according to claim 11, wherein the actuating system comprises a frame rigidally mounted onto the trailer, the container being pivotally mounted onto the frame; at least one hydraulic piston cylinder having one end pivotally mounted onto the frame and the other end pivotally mounted onto the container.

13. A trailer according to claim 12, wherein the container is pivotally mounted onto the frame at two opposite lower comers on a first side of the trailer, and the at least one cylinder is pivotally mounted at two opposite upper comers on a second side of the frailer.

14. A trailer according to claim 11, wherein the fluid is sulphuric acid and the dry freight is copper concenfrate.