GB2038751A - Granular material loading apparatus - Google Patents
Granular material loading apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2038751A GB2038751A GB7940230A GB7940230A GB2038751A GB 2038751 A GB2038751 A GB 2038751A GB 7940230 A GB7940230 A GB 7940230A GB 7940230 A GB7940230 A GB 7940230A GB 2038751 A GB2038751 A GB 2038751A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- plenum chamber
- granular material
- discharge
- duct
- rotor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 41
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000010582 Pisum sativum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000004713 Pisum sativum Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000004323 axial length Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G65/00—Loading or unloading
- B65G65/02—Loading or unloading machines comprising essentially a conveyor for moving the loads associated with a device for picking-up the loads
- B65G65/16—Loading or unloading machines comprising essentially a conveyor for moving the loads associated with a device for picking-up the loads with rotary pick-up conveyors
- B65G65/22—Screws
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
- Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Loading apparatus for granular material comprising a screw conveyor having a rotatable auger 31 within a tube 30, to convey granular material into a plenum chamber 33. A rotor 36 having vanes 37 is rotatably mounted within the chamber 33, and is driven by a hydraulic motor 38, which also drives the auger 31 by means of chain 42. Air under pressure is fed to the chamber 33 through a duct 45, and leaves the chamber through a discharge duct 47. In use, the material is picked up by the auger 31 and carried to the spaces between the vanes 37; from there the grain is introduced into the air stream between ducts 45 and 47 to become entrained in the air leaving the discharge duct 47. A flexible pipe (not shown) can be connected to the duct 47, to lead to the required point of discharge. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Granular material loading apparatus
This invention relates to apparatus for loading granular material and is especially - but not exclusively - concerned with the bulk handling of grain.
It is often necessary to load considerable quantities of granular material - for instance grain - from a storage area into a vehicle for transport elsewhere.
Various systems have been devised for this purpose, but most of these have suffered from diverse shortcomings. For example, a belt conveyor may be used, the conveyor discharging directly into the vehicle and the material being loaded manually on to the lower end of the conveyor. A conveyor of this type must be large enough to reach over the side of the vehicle and thus is not readily portable. The vehicle must be positioned very close to the storage area, and considerable manual effort is involved in feeding the material on to the conveyor. Suction loading equipment has also been designed, which draws air through a pipe opening in the storage area, thereby to entrain the granular material in the air flow passing into the pipe.Because the airflow into the pipe is generated by suction, before the material can be discharged into a vehicle, the material must be separated from the airflow, so that no material passes through a fan system creating the air flow.
This leads to considerable complexity in the equipment and there is a risk both of blockages occurring in the separating device and of damage both to the granular material and the fan system if any granular material passes into the fan system.
It is an aim of this invention to provide loading apparatus for granular material which does not suffer from the problems associated with the known equipment mentioned above, and which lends itself to the handling of various types of granular material such as grain, meals, dry powder, pellets, peas, seeds, cubes and so on.
Accordingly, this invention provides apparatus for loading granular material, which apparatus comprises a power-operated screw conveyor having an inlet for granular material at one end thereof and adapted to discharge conveyed granular material into a plenum chamber, an air supply duct connected to the plenum chamber and adapted to allow the introduction of air under pressure into the plenum chamber, and a discharge duct leading from the plenum chamber whereby air introduced into the plenum chamber may leave through the discharge duct, entraining granular material therewith.
It will be appreciated that in the loading apparatus of this invention, granular material such as grain can be picked up from a storage site by means of the screw conveyor and subsequently is entrained in a super-atmospheric pressure air flow. The loading apparatus of this invention thus does not use a suction technique and the required air supply can be blown into the plenum chamber by a fan system upstream of the chamber. Consequently, there is no risk of damage caused by the granular material passing into the fan system and the possibility of a blockage occurring is greatly reduced. Moreover, there is no need for complex or expensive separators to be provided, to separate the material from the air flow.
The plenum chamber could be arranged below the discharge port end of the screw conveyor, so that the granular material simply falls under gravity through an appropriate duct connecting the discharge port to the plenum chamber - into the air stream through the plenum chamber. It has however, been found that the efficiency of operation is greatly enhanced, and the risk of blockages much reduced, if there is means positively to introduce granular material into the air stream for entrainment thereby. One possibility for obtaining this is for the plenum chamber to be provided with an internal duct into which the screw conveyor discharges the granular material, the outlet of the internal duct being positioned adjacent and directed into the air discharge duct from the plenum chamber.In this way a venturi effect can be achieved, so that the air flow more strongly tends to entrain grain delivered into the internal duct of the plenum chamber.
For an arrangement as just-described, the discharge duct leading from the plenum chamber is preferably formed as a venturi tube, at least for the portion thereof immediately adjacent the plenum chamber. Thus, the discharge duct advantageously is in the form of a tube the diameter of which tapers away from the plenum chamber and conveniently is provided at the narrowest diameter end with a connector allowing the attachment of a discharge pipe. With such a discharge duct, the internal duct most preferably enters thereinto, at least a small extent, with an annular gap between the two ducts for air flow. In this way the granular material becomes entrained in the air flow within the discharge duct itself, without the granular material being released within the plenum chamber. This leads to a yet further reduction in the risk of blockages when the apparatus is in use.
Another possibility for positive introduction of the granular material into the air stream is to provide the plenum chamber with a power-feed mechanism which carries granular material after discharge from the screw conveyor into the air stream. For instance, the plenum chamber may be of generally circular cross-section with a rotor mounted therein, the rotor having a plurality of radially-extending vanes and being power-driven whereby granular material discharged into the plenum chamber will be carried round by the rotor.Conveniently, such a plenum chamber is mounted below the discharge port of the screw conveyor so that the material falls under gravity into the spaces between the vanes of the rotor on rotation thereof, and the air supply and discharge ducts are both arranged in the lower part of the plenum chamber so that granular material will be carried by the rotor into the air stream therebetween. Advantageously, the air supply and discharge ducts are disposed in a generally aligned manner in the two opposed end walls of the plenum chamber, so that the air stream therebetween is generally parallel to the rotor axis.
The screw conveyor preferably is in the form of a cylindrical tube within which is rotatably mounted an auger extending for substantially the full length of the tube. One end of the tube should be open to serve as the inlet for granular material, the auger being rotatable in the appropriate sense by means of a motor, arranged at the other end of the tube. In the case of venturi-type of entrainment, the motor conveniently can be mounted on the tube, directly to drive the auger. However, for the arrangement employing a power-driven rotor within theplenum chamber, the motor is preferably mounted on the plenum chamber directly to drive the rotor, there being a drive train - for instance, a chain drive - of an appropriate ratio between the rotor and the auger. In either case, the motor is preferably a hydraulic motor, for operation by a hydraulic system producing fluid under pressure.
The air supply duct should be connected to a source of pressurised air appropriate for the granularmaterial being conveyed. For example, forthe loading of grain, it has been found that a source of pressurised air capable of delivering approximately 400 c. ftimin (roughly 1 msimin) at a pressure of 4 to 6 p.s.i.g. (roughly 0.3 to 0.45 bar) is appropriate.
The discharge duct preferably is connectible to a flexible pipe, to allow material easily to be led to the required actual point of discharge - for instance into a vehicle body. Also, by providing a flexible air supply pipe and flexible hydraulic pipes, the loading apparatus conveniently can be moved around a storage site, as required.
Many grain-carrying vehicles are fitted with pneumatic discharging apparatus, to allow rapid and efficient unloading of grain carried by the vehicle.
Such apparatus usually includes a blower which generates a super-atmospheric pressure airflow in which the grain can be entrained, the entrained grain being carried by means of a pipe to the point of discharge. It will be appreciated that the loading apparatus of this invention may employ the blower of such a vehicle, by appropriate inter-connection of the air supply duct and the blower on the vehicle, for instance by means of a flexible hose. Moreover, most such grain-carrying vehicles are also provided with a hydraulic system, for instance for tipping the grain-carrying body, and such a hydraulic system may be employed for supplying the pressurised hydraulic fluid for driving a hydraulic motor powering the screw conveyor of the apparatus of this invention.It will thus be appreciated that the apparatus of this invention is most conveniently employed with a vehicle already fitted with pneumatic unloading apparatus, to allow the vehicle to be loaded in a simple, rapid and effective manner.
By way of example only, two specific embodiments of loading apparatus of this invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure lisa partially cut-away view of the first embodiment of loading apparatus of this invention;
Figure 2 shows how the apparatus of Figure 1 is used in conjunction with a grain-carrying vehicle, for loading grain into that vehicle;
Figure 3 is a partially cut-away side view of the second embodiment of loading apparatus of this invention; and
Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line IV-IV drawn on Figure 3.
Referring initially to Figure 1, it can be seen that the first embodiment of apparatus of this invention comprises a screw conveyor having a cylindrical tube 10 within which is rotatably mounted a screw auger 11. The auger 11 extends for substantially the full length of the tube 10 and the flight 12 of the auger fits closely within the tube 10 whereby the tube itself serves as a bearing for the auger 11. End 13 of the tube loins open, to serve as an inlet for grain into the tube, so as to be conveyed to the other end of the tube, when the auger 11 is rotated in the correct sense.
At the other end 14 of the tube 10, there is a hydraulic motor 15 mounted co-axially with the tube 10 and drivingly coupled to the auger 11. A hydraulic connector 16 is suitably arranged for connection of pressurised fluid and return fluid lines.
Mounted on the other end 14 of the tube 10 is a plenum chamber 17 in the form of a closed air-box.
The tube 10 has an opening 18 adjacent the chamber 17 and an internal duct 19 is connected to the tube so as to surround the opening 18. The internal duct 19 is curved away from end 13 of the tube 10, leading through the plenum chamber 17. An air supply duct 20 opens into the plenum chamber 17, so as to allow air under pressure to be introduced into that chamber. The air supply duct 20 has at its free end a connector 21 for a hose through which air under pressure may be supplied.
Leading away from the plenum chamber 17 is a discharge duct 22, which duct is in the form of a venturi pipe tapering away from the plenum chamber. The duct is thus generally of a frusto-conical shape. The free end of the duct 22 is provided with a connector 23 for a flexible pipe which may be led- to the actual required point of discharge of the grain.
The arrangement of the internal duct 19 and discharge duct 22 is such that the end portion 24 of the internal duct 19 is substantially co-axial with the discharge duct 22 and enters to a relatively small extent that duct to leave an annular gap between the end portion 24 and theinterior of the discharge duct 22. Typically, the discharge duct 22 may surround the end portion 24 for an axial length of approximately 11/2 inches (37.5 mm).
To use the loading apparatus described above, flexible pipes 25 and 26 (Figure 2) are connected to the connectors 21 and 23 of the air supply duct 20 and discharge duct 22 respectively. The other end of pipe 25 is connected to a blower capable of delivering approximately 400 cu. ftmin (about 11 m3/min) at a pressure of 4 to 6 p.s.i.g. (about 0.3 to 0.45 bar), such as the lower (not shown) of a grain-carrying lorry 27. The pipe 26 is led to the actual required site of discharge of grain, such as the interior of a covered body 28 of the lorry 27. Hydraulic fluid supply and return lines 30 are connected to the hydraulic connector 16 associated with the motor 15 and at their other ends are connected to the hydraulic system of the lorry 27.
To effect loading of grain, the hydraulic motor 15 is actuated by supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto from the lorry hydraulic system and the lorry blower is operated to supply air under pressure to the air supply duct 20 into the plenum chamber 17, and from there into the discharge duct 22 leading to the pipe 26 and the lorry body interior. When the inlet end 13 of the tube 10 is pushed into a mass of the granular material, the grain will be picked up by the auger 11, discharged under gravity into the internal duct 19 and then entrained in the airflow passing along the discharge duct 22. The gran from there is blown along pipe 26 to the interior of the lorry body. Under gravity, the grain will fall into the lorry body, whilst the excess air will leak generally around the cover over the body, or through some suitable exhaust system.
With this first embodiment, in order to prevent blockages occurring it is important that the end portion 24 of the internal duct 19 extends co-axially within the discharge duct 22 for some distance - and typically 11/2 inches (about 40 mm). This ensures that grain is entrained in the air flow within the venturilike duct, and also prevents the air flowing back down the internal duct into the tube 10, thereby inhibiting loading.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown the second embodiment of grain loading apparatus of this invention. This apparatus comprises a tube 30 along which extends an auger 31, in a manner generally similar to that described above in connection with the first embodiment. The inlet end 32 of the tube 30 is cut away, as shown, and is covered with a protective mesh to prevent the ingress of large pieces of non-granular material.
Below the upper, discharge end of the tube 30 is mounted a plenum chamber 33 of generally circular cross-sectional shape, the tube 30 having a discharge port 34 which communicates directly with an inlet port 35 into the chamber 33, the rotor 36 is rotatably mounted within the chamber 33, the rotor having five radial vanes 37 which fit closely within the chamber. A hydraulic motor 38 is mounted on one end wall 39 of the plenum chamber 33 directly to drive the rotor 36 through a coupling 40. At the other end of the rotor, there is carried a chain wheel 41 which drives the auger 31 via a chain 42 and further chain wheel 43 on the auger shaft. The chain drive mechanism is enclosed in a housing 44.
The one end wall 39 of the plenum chamber has an air supply duct 45 mounted thereon, to open into a lower part of the chamber Generally aligned with the air supply duct 45- but mounted on the other wall 46 of the chamber 33 is a discharge duct 47, provided at its free end with a quick-release connector 48. Also mounted on the plenum chamber 33 are a pair of struts 49 at the lower ends of which are provided wheels 50.
The loading apparatus described above is used in a similar manner to that of the first embodiment: flexible hydraulic hoses are connected to the hydraulic motor and flexible pipes to both the air supply duct and the discharge duct. Then, on operation of the motor 38, by the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto, the auger 31 will be rotated to pick up grain from a mass thereof into which the inlet end 32 of the tube 30 is pushed. The grain is carried up the tube 30 and falls through ports 34 and 35 into the spaces between the vanes 37 of the rotating rotor 36.
The rotor thus positively carries the grain round to the air stream passing parallel to the rotor axis from the air supply duct 45 to the discharge duct 47, whereby gran picked up by the auger 31 becomes entrained in the air strea, to be carried out of the discharge duct 47 and loaded for instance into the body of a lorry, out of the free end of the flexible pipe attached to the discharge duct. The vanes of the rotor additionally serve to prevent air blowing from the plenum chamber back down the auger tu be 30.
It will be appreciated that both embodiments of the apparatus, as described above, of this invention are relatively small and thus easily portable. They may be handled by a single person and driven by a vehicle hydraulic and air supply systems. They are thus convenient to use and no extra, complex equipment is required over and above that found on various gran handling vehicles, to allow the loading of such vehicles.
Claims (16)
1. Apparatus for loading granular material, which apparatus comprises a power-operated screw conveyor having an inlet for granular material at one end thereof and adapted to discharge conveyed granular material into a plenum chamber, an air supply duct connected to the plenum chamber and adapted to allow the introduction of air under pressure into the plenum chamber, and a discharge duct leading from the plenum chamber whereby air introduced into the plenum chamber may leave through the discharge duct, entraining granular material therewith.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is means positively to introduce granular material into the air stream for entrainment thereby.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plenum chamber is provided with an internal duct into which the screw conveyor discharges the granular material, the outlet of the internal duct being positioned adjacent and directed into the discharge duct from the plenum chamber.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the discharge duct leading from the plenum chamber is formed as a venturi tube, at least for the portion thereof immediately adjacent the plenum chamber.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the discharge duct is in the form of a tube the diameter of which tapers away from the plenum chamber, the tube being provided at the narrowest diameter end thereof with a connector allowing the attachment of a discharge pipe.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the internal duct enters the discharge duct with an annular gap between the two ducts for air flow.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the granular material is positively introduced into the air stream within the plenum chamber by means of a power-feed mechanism located within the plenum chamber and which carries the granular material into the air stream after discharge from the screw conveyor.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plenum chamber is of generally circular crosssection with a rotor mounted therein, the rotor having a plurality of radially-extending vanes and being power-driven whereby granular material discharged into the plenum chamber will be carried round by the rotor.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plenum chamber is mounted below the discharge port of the screw conveyor so that the material falls under gravity into the spaces between the vanes of the rotor on rotation thereof, and the air supply and discharge ducts are both arranged in the lower part of the plenum chamber so that granular material will be carried by the rotor into the air stream therebetween.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the air supply and discharge ducts are disposed in a generally aligned manner in the two opposed end walls of the plenum chamber, so that the air stream therebetween is generally parallel to the rotor axis.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the screw conveyor is in the form of a cylindrical tube within which is rotatably mounted an auger extending for substantially the full length of the tube.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11,when appendant to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein a motor is mounted on the tube, directly to drive the auger.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, when appendant to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein a motor is mounted on the plenum chamber directly to drive the rotor, there being a drive train between the rotor and the auger.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor, for operation by a hydraulic system producing fluid under pressure.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
16. A vehicle loading system comprising apparatus as described in any of the preceding claims in combination with a vehicle having a container for granular material, a hydralic system for supplying pressurised fluid to the apparatus to effect operation of the screw conveyor and a blower arrangement for supplying air to the plenum chamber.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7940230A GB2038751B (en) | 1978-11-21 | 1979-11-21 | Granular material loading apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7845478 | 1978-11-21 | ||
| GB7940230A GB2038751B (en) | 1978-11-21 | 1979-11-21 | Granular material loading apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2038751A true GB2038751A (en) | 1980-07-30 |
| GB2038751B GB2038751B (en) | 1982-11-17 |
Family
ID=26269681
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7940230A Expired GB2038751B (en) | 1978-11-21 | 1979-11-21 | Granular material loading apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2038751B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5181804A (en) * | 1991-11-27 | 1993-01-26 | Finn Corporation | Apparatus for conveying and discharging bulk materials |
| US5299888A (en) * | 1991-11-27 | 1994-04-05 | Finn Corporation | Apparatus for conveying and discharging bulk materials |
| WO1996011864A1 (en) * | 1994-10-12 | 1996-04-25 | Bmh Marine Ab | Transferring bulk goods between conveyors |
-
1979
- 1979-11-21 GB GB7940230A patent/GB2038751B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5181804A (en) * | 1991-11-27 | 1993-01-26 | Finn Corporation | Apparatus for conveying and discharging bulk materials |
| US5299888A (en) * | 1991-11-27 | 1994-04-05 | Finn Corporation | Apparatus for conveying and discharging bulk materials |
| WO1996011864A1 (en) * | 1994-10-12 | 1996-04-25 | Bmh Marine Ab | Transferring bulk goods between conveyors |
| US6010280A (en) * | 1994-10-12 | 2000-01-04 | Bmh Marine Ab | Transferring bulk goods between conveyors |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2038751B (en) | 1982-11-17 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US2865521A (en) | Bulk material truck | |
| US20210331871A1 (en) | Auger conveyor for removing unwanted contaminants from a granular material | |
| US7547162B2 (en) | High capacity particulate loader and transfer apparatus | |
| US3219394A (en) | Pneumatic grain conveyor | |
| US4846608A (en) | Pneumatic grain conveyor and related method | |
| JPS62100321A (en) | Transport system of granular material | |
| US5324143A (en) | Pneumatic grain conveyor and related method | |
| US4344723A (en) | Vacuum grain moving apparatus | |
| US4662800A (en) | Grain and fertilizer collector | |
| US2839208A (en) | Material unloading vehicle | |
| GB2038751A (en) | Granular material loading apparatus | |
| US20160096687A1 (en) | Apparatus for handling fine bulk material | |
| CA2126406A1 (en) | Method for feeding fish | |
| US4486126A (en) | Pneumatic conveyor for silage and haylage | |
| US9115557B1 (en) | Dust collection system | |
| US20060002774A1 (en) | Apparatus for dispensing particulate material into a pneumatic conveying line | |
| US2798628A (en) | Self-loading and unloading truck for loose bulk material | |
| US20080038071A1 (en) | Pneumatic conveyor for light weight particles | |
| CN2486519Y (en) | Movable pneumatic conveyer | |
| JP2000226124A (en) | Air-blow transportation device for powder and grain | |
| US2179408A (en) | Pneumatic unloader | |
| JPS62205919A (en) | Injector for feeding air to powdery and granular particle | |
| US2542910A (en) | Loading device | |
| JP4339985B2 (en) | Wood chip throwing device | |
| US3429619A (en) | Silo unloader |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |