Arrangement on transport containers for flowable bulk material

Abstract

 A transport container for grain and the like has a covering in the form of a pair of roller tarpaulins (7), the "edge laths" of which are constituted by a pair of blowing-in tubes (2) with inlet stubs (3). By means of an actuating mechanism (9), possibly controlled by sensors (not shown) below the blowing-in tubes (2), these tubes may be moved during the filling-in operation in such a manner, that the optimal filling degree is achieved. The roller tarpaulins (7) may be rolled on to rolling-up tubes (8), moveable together with the blowing-in tubes (2) by means of the actuating mechanism (9) in such a manner, that the roller tarpaulin (7) is held in tension between the blowing-in tubes (2) and the rolling-tubes (8). During transport, those hoses or tubes (not shown), which are connected to the inlet stubs (3) during the blowing-in operation, may be placed inside the rolling-up tubes (8), the latter for this purpose being provided with removable covers (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement on transport containers for flowable bulk material, e.g. grain, animal fodder and the like, said arrangement being of the kind set forth in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Transport containers of this kind are usually placed on or built-in as a component of a suitable transport vehicle for transportation by road or rail.

[0003] A known arrangement of this kind comprises solely a single, centrally placed blowing-in or induction tube, used for filling the transport container with e.g. newly harvested grain on a farm. Efter having been used for transporting this grain to a central store, e.g. belonging to a firm dealing in grain and animal fodder, the same transport container is in many cases used for transporting e.g. animal fodder back to the same farm or another one. If so, the transport container is filled from the silo in the central store by means of a filling means, e.g. a filling bellows or a "trunk", that is placed above the transport container, the covering of which - in this known arrangement constituted by a plain tarpaulin - for this purpose is removed or opened to the extent required. The centrally situated blowing-in or induction tube does, however, prevent the filling bellows or the "trunk" from being placed centrally in the transport container all the way down to its bottom, what would be desirable, partly to avoid escape of dust, partly to ensure a symmetrical and hence maximal filling of the transport container. It is therefore necessary to choose between either lowering the filling belows down on one side of the blowing-in tube and thus avoiding dust escaping, but at the same time achieve an assymetrical filling, or to place the filling belows centrally above the blowing-in tube and thus achieve a symmetrical filling, but with a large quantity of dust escaping. A further disadvantage with this known arrangement consists in that the covering as mentioned consists of a plain tarpaulin, that in many cases requires two persons to handle, and which is very difficult to loosen and secure.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of the kind referred to initially, which does not suffer from the inconvenience referred to above, and with which, by employing the blowing-in or induction tubes, it is possible to achieve a higher degree of filling than with the known arrangement, and this object is achieved with an arrangement, additionally exhibiting the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

[0005] With this arrangement, the blowing-in or induction tube or tubes can be moved across the transport container during the blowing-in of the bulk material, making it possible to fill the container over all up to the maximally permissible level. By having the edge on each closure member secured to the blowing-in tube in question, it is at the same time achieved that the actuating mechanism used for moving the blowing-in tubes may also be utilized to move the closure member or members between the open and closed position, so that the closure member or members together with the blowing-in tube or tubes may be operated by one person, who merely has to control the actuating mechanism in a manner known in principle. The problems related to above, arising when filling the transport container by means of a filling bellows or a "trunk", are avoided, because the blowing-in tubes may now be moved in such a manner, that practically the whole of the upper side of the transport container lies freely accessible for filling-in, also when using e.g. a tractor with a loading shovel for this purpose.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the arrangement according to the present invention, the effects of which are explained in the following detailed portion of the present specification, are set forth in claims 2-6.

[0007] In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, to a great extent diagrammatic, showing in perspective an exemplary embodiment of a transport container with an arrangement according to the present invention, whereas

Figure 1 shows the transport container in the open condition, and

Figure 2 shows the transport container in the closed condition.

[0008] The transport container 1 shown in the drawing is intended for use in transporting flowable bulk material (not shown), e.g. grain. The present invention is solely concerned with the equipment making it possible to fill the container and cover its contents. For this reason, the means used for emptying the container are not shown in the drawing, but it will be obvious, that the container in an otherwise known manner may be constructed in the form of a tipping dump body or have trap doors in the bottom, through which it may be emptied of its contents.

[0009] The means for filling the container 1 are constituted by two blowing-in tubes or induction tubes 2. The induction tubes 2 are closed at one end, whilst at the other end they are equipped with an inlet stub 3, that may be connected to induction hoses or tubes (not shown). In the lower side of each induction tube 2 there are a number of outlet openings, which are not visible in the drawing, but indicated by means of their respective centre lines 4. The outlet openings may be shaped with gradually increasing size in the direction away from the inlet stubs 3 in order to ensure an even distribution of the bulk material being blown in.

[0010] The induction tubes 3 are slidingly supported on rails 5, which are placed on top of the end walls 6 of the container 1 or formed as the edges of these walls.

[0011] In the example shown, the means for covering the transport container 1 are constituted by a pair of roller tarpaulins 7, each with one of its edges being secured to the adjacent induction tube 2, whilst from the other edge it is rolled on a tube 8, in the drawing shown as being covered by the rolled-up tarpaulin 7.

[0012] The induction tubes 2 and the rolling-up tubes 8 are connected to a diagrammatically shown actuating mechanism 9, in the example shown constituted by a pair of hydraulic or pneumatic working cylinders co-operating with a number of cords and pulleys in such a manner, that the induction tubes 2 can be moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, at the same time as the roller tarpaulins 7 are being rolled up, each on its own rolling-up tube 8, whilst a movement of the induction tubes 2 in the opposite direction causes a corresponding rolling-off of the tarpaulins 7 from the rolling-up tubes 8.

[0013] To the lower side of each induction tube 2 there may be secured one or a number of sensors adapted to output a signal, when the bulk material being introduced reaches a predetermined level. These sensors may be connected to a control unit (likewise not shown), which when receiving such a signal from the sensors controls the actuating mechanism 9 to move the induction tubes 2 through a distance.

[0014] When the container is to be filled using the induction tubes 2, these are first connected using the inlet stubs 3 to the previously mentioned hoses or tubes, through which the bulk material in an otherwise known manner are blown in from e.g. a combine harvester, a silo, or a heap lying on the ground. In order to avoid unnecessary production of dust and contamination of the bulk material during the filling-in operation, this operation may be initiated with the induction tubes 2 in the position shown in Figure 2. With the tubes 2 in this position, the bulk material will gradually collect forming a roof-shaped heap, the "ridge" of which approached the lower side of the induction tubes 2 and hence the sensors (not shown) mentioned, the latter at a suitable point in time signalling to the control unit to order the actuating mechanism 9 to move the induction tubes 2 in the outward direction. By suitable adjustment of the sensors, the control unit and the actuating mechanism 9, it will in this case be possible to achieve that the materiale filled in will fill the container practically all the way up to the two roller tarpaulins 7, without the dust being produced escaping in quantity of any significance.

[0015] It is, of course, also possible to let the induction tubes 2 move from the outside and inwards toward the middle during the filling-in operation; this will, of course, make it easier to see what is happening, especially when the actuating mechanism 9 is being controlled manually, but will on the other hand result in a greater production of dust.

[0016] The rolling-up tubes 8 may at one or both ends be equipped with removable covers 10 giving access to the internal space in the tubes, so that this space can serve as storage space for those hoses and/or tubes, that are connected to the inlet stubs 3 during the induction operation.

[0017] The exemplary embodiment shown comprises two induction tubes, each with its own roller tarpaulin 7, but it lies within the scope of the present invention to equip the transport container 1 with only one induction tube with associated roller tarpaulin. The arrangement shown with two tubes and two roller tarpaulins, preferably symmetrical about the vertical longitudinal center plane of the container, is, however, preferred, since this makes it easier to achieve a symmetrical distribution of the bulk material in the container, this, as its well known, being of importance for the "roadability" of the vehicle, on which the transport container 1 is placed or of which it constitutes a part.

[0018] When the transport container 1 is to be filled without employing the induction tubes 2, e.g. by means of a filling bellows from a grain silo, the induction tubes 2 are moved apart by means of the actuating mechanism 9 to exactly such an extent that the filling bellows may be moved down between them, the filling bellows being moved in a suitable manner in the longitudinal direction of the container during the filling-in operation proper in order to achieve a good distribution of the bulk material. If necessary, the final filling-in may occur with the induction tubes in the fully open position shown in Figure 1, in which it is also possible to fill bulk material in maximum height all the way out to the container's side walls 11.

[0019] When filling the container in other ways, e.g. employing a tractor with a loading shovel, it will be advantageous to place the induction tubes 2 in the fully open position shown in Figure 1, in order to in this manner to reduce the risk of the shovel damaging the tubes.

Claims

1. An arrangement on transport containers 1 for flowable bulk material and of the kind, in which the transport container 1 is equipped with
a) a covering (7) that can be opened and closed, and
b) at least one blowing-in or induction tube (2) for bulk material, said tube having at least one down­wardly directed blowing-in or induction opening and being situated at a distance from and above the floor of the transport container (1),
characterized in
c) that the covering (7) is of the kind comprising at least one closure member (7), which from an opened position (Figure 1), in which an edge on the closure member is situated adjacent to one side wall (11) of the transport container (1), can be moved in translation and/or rotation to a closed
position (Figure 2), in which the closure member substantially covers the upper side of the trans­port container (1) or a part thereof, and
d) that the said edge on at least one closure member is connected to or secured to a blowing-in or induction tube (2), that is adapted to follow the movements of said edge, when the closure member in question is moved between the open and the closed position.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in

a) that each closure member (7) is constituted by a roller tarpaulin, a roller-slat curtain or the like, adapted to be rolled onto and off from a rolling-up drum (8) placed at the side wall (11) in question of the transport container (1), and at the edge facing away from the drum has a reinforcing or stiffening beam or rod, which during the movement of the closure member between the open and the closed position are moved by suitably adapted actuating means (9), and

b) that the reinforcing or stiffening rod or beam is secured to or constituted by the blowing-in or induction tube (2) belonging to the closure member in question.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized by two closure members (7) with associated blowing-in or induction tubes (2), each adapted to cover its own half of the transport container (1).

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, chac­terized in that the closure members (7) are interconnected in such a manner, that they at any time are substantially symmetrical about that center plane in the transport container, away from and towards which they move during the movements between the open and the closed position.

5. An arrangement according to any one or any of the claims 2-4, chacterized in that at least one rolling-up drum (8) is hollow and closed at both ends, at least one of which ends being closed by a removable cover (10).

6. An arrangement according to anyone or any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the actuating means (9) are adapted to be controlled by sensing means during their movement from the open to the closed position or oppositely, said sensing means sensing the surface of the bulk material situated below the blowing-in or induction tube or tubes (2), said control occurring in such a manner, that the actuating means are activated, when the sensing means react to the presence of said surface in the desired distance above the floor of the transport container or below the blowing-in or induction tube in question.

Drawing