WO1994019274A1 - Method for removing a viscous material from a transport drum and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for removing a viscous material and a device therefor are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (a) placing the drum (F) inside a sealable enclosure (4), (b) placing within the drum (F) a material outflow pipe (16) extending from under the surface of the material (M) to outside the enclosure (4), and (c) pressurising the inside of the enclosure (4) so that the material (M) is directly or indirectly forced to flow out of the enclosure (4) through the pipe (16), whereafter it is collected.

Description

 PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING MATERIAL IN A VISCOUS STATE

OF A TRANSPORTATION BARREL. AND DEVICE FOR ENABLING

IN PARTICULAR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROCESS

The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of a viscous material from a standard transport barrel.

Furthermore, this invention relates to a device for implementing this method.

First of all, it will be specified that the term “viscous material” is understood here to mean all liquids which are slightly or highly viscous, such as asphalt or tar, greases, for example lubricating greases, pastes, such as cosmetic creams, or ^" jellies, such as those used to make telecommunication cables watertight. It should be noted here that the materials listed above may be in the viscous state at different temperatures, but be at solid state at room temperature.

In general, the transport of this type of material is carried out in drums, which are formed by a thin casing wound and welded edge to edge, and which generally comprise several semi-toric beads extending radially towards the outside, and arranged on each barrel at different heights.

These barrels are primarily designed to receive a sufficient amount of material and to ensure that it does not escape. The techniques and devices currently used for the extraction of viscous materials contained in these barrels use a piston whose outside diameter is adapted to the inside diameter of the barrel, this piston further comprising a central duct through which the material can s 'escape. This type of barrel and the technique described are represented in FIG. 1. In this figure, it can be seen that the barrel F which was used for the transport of a viscous material M, is placed on the extraction site inside d 'a chassis C, in which the piston referenced P can translate

Oh also sees in this figure that the piston P comprises a conduit c_ disposed centrally, this conduit being intended to be connected to a pipe for transporting the material M, not shown.

The piston P has also had a seal J formed on its outer periphery, not referenced. Thus, as is shown very diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the piston P is immersed in the opening of the barrel F and a pressure Pr is applied axially thereon so that the material M passes, forcibly, to the across the duct ç_.

This device and this technique have many drawbacks. In fact, the pressure applied to the piston P must be high, which generates very high lateral pressures on the shell of the barrel F.

Given the nature of the barrel, it can therefore open and allow the material contained therein to escape. What is more, since the barrel F has several beads, arranged longitudinally at different levels, the seal J can enter inside one of them and allow material to escape along the wall of the barrel . Thus, it is understood that this arrangement and this technique are absolutely not suitable for the evacuation of viscous materials, from a standard transport barrel.

The present invention therefore aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a method and a device capable of ensuring the evacuation of a viscous material from a standard transport barrel, without risk damage to the barrel, or overflow of the material from it.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a process for extracting material in the viscous state from a transport barrel, characterized in that it consists of: a) placing the barrel inside a enclosure intended to be hermetically closed, b) introducing, inside the barrel, a material evacuation duct opening out of the enclosure and plunging directly into the material, and c) applying an overpressure inside the enclosure, so that this overpressure which is applied directly or indirectly on the material, forces this material to circulate inside the duct to be recovered at the outlet of the latter, outside of the enclosure.

According to another characteristic of the invention, this process consists, according to step a): d) freely placing the barrel on a base, e) bringing a bell forming part of the enclosure, on the barrel, to come fully cover it, and f) simultaneously introducing, inside the barrel, into the material, the conduit which is integral with the bell.

According to yet another characteristic, this process consists, according to steps d) to f): g) of making the free edge of the bell cooperate, with means for sealing the base, then, at least before applying the overpressure in the enclosure, h) anchoring the bell fixedly to the base by means of retaining means.

It will also be specified that the method according to the invention consists, according to step c): i) applying an overpressure in the enclosure by introducing into it a pressurized fluid, such as air.

The present invention further relates to a device for the extraction of a viscous material from a transport barrel, this device comprising means for applying an overpressure on the material which is transported to the inside the barrel, these means cooperating with a material discharge pipe, outside the barrel, characterized in that the aforementioned application means are formed by a fluid applied directly or indirectly to the material from the opening of the barrel, while the evacuation duct is formed by a duct which can be immersed in the material, statically, during the extraction.

According to a particular embodiment, this device comprises an enclosure which can be hermetically closed, this enclosure which is intended to receive the barrel supporting the material discharge conduit, as well as means for supplying the fluid under pressure.

It will also be noted that the enclosure is formed by a bell and by a base cooperating with the latter, this base being shaped to receive the barrel disposed in free support thereon. However, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, taken with reference to the appended drawings, representing by way of example the method and the device according to the invention, and in which : - Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the device and the prior art described above; Figures 2 and 3 are views in longitudinal section showing the device respectively according to a first and a second embodiment of the invention, and illustrating the method according to this invention, and Figure 4 is a top view of the device of Figure 3. Referring now to Figure 2, there will be described below a device according to a first embodiment of the invention, allowing the evacuation of a viscous material from a barrel F of standard transport, this device being identified here by the general reference 1.

The device 1 comprises a bell 2 inside which is formed an enclosure 4 capable of receiving a standard barrel F intended for the transport of viscous material M. The bell 2 which is of essentially cylindrical shape has a bottom 2a, oriented towards the top as shown in the use position of FIG. 2, and an inlet or mouth 2b delimited by an annular rim 2c.

The bell 2 cooperates with a base 6 intended to support the barrel F which is supported by the latter only in support by its bottom, not referenced.

The base 6 comprises a base 6a which rests directly on the ground, not referenced, and from which extends a raised support or rest 6b of essentially cylindrical shape, on which the barrel F freely rests.

The base 6 includes means 8 allowing the retention of the bell 2 thereon.

The retaining means 8 are formed in this embodiment by hooks 10 which are pivotally mounted on articulations 6c formed on the base 6a of the base 6. The hooks 10 can be engaged, by an operator, in rings 12 formed laterally on the bell 2 and extending radially from the latter, in the vicinity of its base, not referenced. A seal 14 of annular shape is interposed between the base 6 and the bell 2, substantially at the level of the retaining means 8. In the embodiment shown, the seal 14 which is housed in a groove formed radially in the support 6b, enters the position of use inside the bell 2, via its inlet or mouth 2a.

The bell 2 further comprises a central duct 16 intended to allow the evacuation of the material M from the standard transport barrel F. The duct 16 which extends longitudinally essentially inside the bell 2, is shaped to come dive into the entire depth of the barrel F, when it is installed on the base 6 and the bell 2 is mounted on this base. Note that the conduit 16 is made of a preferably rigid material. The conduit 16 can be attached to the bell 2, via conventional screwing and sealing means, not shown, or come in one piece with it.

The conduit 16 therefore has a first end 16a which, in use, plunges into the barrel, and in particular into the material M, and a second end 16b which opens outwards to be connected to a material discharge pipe, not shown.

After the barrel F has been placed by conventional gripping means (not shown here) on the support 6b of the base 6, the bell 2 is lowered, for example using a displacement means forming part of the installation, also not shown here. This movement is carried out in the direction of the barrel F until the bell 2, freely resting axially, via its edge 2c, directly on the base 6a.

The bell 2 further comprises a channel 18 for supplying fluid at high pressure, this channel 18 which in this embodiment extends radially from the bell 2 being formed, in this example, halfway thereon. . This channel 18 is associated with a pressure gauge 20, or manometer, capable of measuring the pressure of the fluid, and in particular of the compressed air, introduced inside the enclosure 4. It is understood that, during the introduction of this fluid under high pressure, inside the enclosure 4, the bell 2, and in particular its edge 2c, could tend to lift slightly from the base 6 and to take off from its contact with the base 6a. This detachment is prevented by the action of the retaining means 8.

Under the application of a determined level of pressure, inside the enclosure 4, the viscous material M which is subjected to this pressure via its exposed surface S is forced to rise inside the evacuation duct 16, via its end 16a immersed in it.

It is therefore understood from what has just been described that a device has been provided which allows the extraction of a material in the viscous state from a standard transport barrel, this device comprising means for applying an overpressure on the material M, formed by a fluid, here pressurized air, applied to the free surface S of the exposed material, that is to say the opening of the barrel, while the discharge duct is formed by the static conduit 16 which is immersed, at least during extraction, stably in the material M.

It is further understood that according to the method according to the invention, the standard transport barrel F, which is here entirely open, that is to say free of closing lid, is first placed inside the 'an enclosure 4 intended to be hermetically closed, then, simultaneously or subsequently, is introduced, inside the barrel F, the discharge conduit 16 which is immersed in the material M. Then, after having fixedly secured the bell 2 forming the enclosure 4 to the base 6 by means of the retaining means 8, it is applied inside the enclosure 4, that is to say both to inside the barrel F than outside of it, a high pressure which can be much higher than atmospheric pressure (that is to say of the order of 1 to 15 bar), to circulate forcibly the viscous material M inside the evacuation duct 16, without however creating stress on the walls of the barrel F. It will be noted here that the pressure created in the enclosure 4 applies equally well to the inside and outside the barrel wall, which forms a balance of forces on this wall.

More particularly, in this process, the evacuation conduit 16 is introduced at the same time as the bell 2 forming the enclosure 4 is placed on the base 6, covering the barrel F from above, the evacuation conduit 16 being fixedly fixed to the bell 2.

The free edge 2c of the bell 2 is therefore brought into abutment by an axial support against the base 6a of the base 6, and the retaining means 8 formed in this embodiment are then put in place by the hooks 10, before creating the overpressure in enclosure 4.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there will be described below a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. In these figures, the elements of this device which correspond to those of the device according to the first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 and 2, have been identified by the same references.

In this embodiment, the bell 2 is formed of a cylindrical body on which the bottom 2a is attached, in particular by welding. On this bottom 2a is welded the conduit 16 which is intended to immerse in the material M. On the bottom 2a are added two guide rings 30 as well as a level indicator 32. The cylindrical body of the bell 2 comprises in addition, anchoring lugs 34 extending radially and respectively comprising radial grooves engaged in pins (not referenced) respectively secured to two nuts 36.

The two nuts 30 and the guide rings 36 are engaged two by two on trapezoidal screws 38 rotatably mounted on a frame 40 secured to the base 6. The screws 38 which extend along the bell 2 and parallel to its axis displacement are rotatably mounted between so-called lower 42 and upper ball bearings 44 (one of the upper bearings and one of the lower bearings being only shown) mounted respectively in the base 6 and in the upper part of the chassis 40. In the mode of shown embodiment, and as seen in top view in Figure 4, the device according to the invention comprises two screws 38 which are mounted on either side of the bell 2 and which respectively comprise two toothed pulleys 39 fixedly linked to said screws. The two screws 38 are linked together by a drive belt 46 engaged with the pulleys 39 and guided by idler gears 48 freely rotatably mounted on the chassis 40.

The two screws 38 are driven by a motor, not shown, either directly, or by another pulley, likewise not shown or by one of the pinions 48. The level indicator 32 cooperates meanwhile with a plate 50 of leveling of the material M in the barrel F during the step of extracting the material. This plate 50 surrounds the discharge duct 16 and is shaped to adapt to the internal diameter of the barrel F. It will be noted that the duct 16 has at its free end a collar 53 which makes it possible to lift the plate 50 when the bell 2 is mounted in high position, position which is shown in broken lines in Figure 3. Also, under the action of the screws 38 actuated by the motor, not shown, via the belt 46, the bell 2 is moved upwards and embarks all the elements that they are integral with it, as well as the leveling plate 50, for the introduction of another F-barrel.

In this second embodiment, the evacuation conduit 16 further comprises a suction pump 52 forming a relay, controlled by a motor 54 to assist in the evacuation of the viscous material M coming from the conduit 16 towards a site of use, via a flow conduit 56 shown here partially.

It will further be specified that the bell 2 enters the base 6 in the base 6 which has a housing 6d provided for this purpose, a seal 58 being mounted in this housing to cooperate with the outer surface of the bell 2, and ensure its tightness. The conduit 18 for admission of pressurized air is produced this time directly in the base 6 by a set of channels, not referenced. As can be seen in FIG. 3, this device also comprises means for heating the material M, these means which are referenced 60 being constituted by a set of electrical resistors arranged in the rest 6b on which the barrel F is arranged in axial support.

In addition, it is therefore understood here that the means for retaining the bell 2 are constituted by the screw-nut assemblies which are referenced 36, 38 and which are driven by the belt 46 under the action of the motor, not shown.

Claims

1. Method for extracting material, in particular a paste, a fat or a gel from a transport barrel, characterized in that it consists: a) placing the barrel (F) inside an enclosure (4) intended to be hermetically closed, b) to introduce, inside the barrel (F), a conduit (16) for discharging the material opening out of the enclosure (4) and plunging directly into the material (M), and - c) applying an overpressure inside the enclosure (4), so that this overpressure which is applied directly or indirectly to the material (M), forces this material to circulate inside the duct (16 ) to be retrieved at the exit thereof, outside the enclosure (4). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, according to step a): - d) placing the barrel (F) freely on a base (6), e) to bring a bell (2) forming part of the enclosure (4), onto the barrel (F), to come to cover it completely, and f) to simultaneously introduce, inside the barrel (F), in the material (M), the conduit (16) which is integral with the bell (2). 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it consists, according to steps d) to f): g) to come to cooperate the free edge (2c) of the bell (2) with sealing means of the base (6), then, at least before applying the overpressure in the enclosure (4), - h) anchoring the bell (2) fixedly to the base (6) by means of retaining means (8). 4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, according to step c): i) applying an overpressure in the enclosure (4) by introducing therein a pressurized fluid, such as air. 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it applies to the extraction of pastes, fats or gels intended to fill cables. 6. Device for the extraction of a material, in particular a paste, a fat or a gel from a transport barrel, this device comprising means for applying an overpressure on the material (M) which is transported to the inside the barrel (F), these means cooperating with a material discharge duct, outside the barrel, characterized in that the aforementioned application means are formed by a fluid applied directly or indirectly to the material from the opening of the barrel, while the discharge conduit is formed by a conduit (16) which can be immersed in the material (M), statically, during extraction. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an enclosure (4) which can be hermetically closed, this enclosure (4) which is intended to receive the barrel (F), supporting the discharge conduit (16) of the material (M), as well as possibly means (18) of supplying the pressurized fluid. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said enclosure (4) is formed by a bell (2) which cooperates with a base (6) shaped to receive free support the barrel (F). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the conduit (16) for evacuating the material (M) is fixedly fixed to the bell (2) and extends longitudinally relative to the latter. 10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises means (8) for retaining the bell (2) on the base (6). 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said retaining means (8) are formed by screw-nut assemblies (36, 38) shaped to move the bell (2) relative to the barrel (F). 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it applies to the extraction of pastes, fats or gels intended for filling cables.