Loose material container

Abstract

 The invention relates to a loose material container containing an upper part (1) and a hopper shaped as a pyramid or obelisk, fitted with an angular outlet hole (20) for loose material, and containing at least one auxiliary body (3) situated in the container above the outlet hole (20) which latter lies in a plane (RO) described by the equation A_v0 . x + B_v0 . y + C_v0 . z + D_v0 = 0, while the auxiliary body (3) has in plan view the full profile and in the direction of the container circumference divides the inner space of the container into a number of subspaces following each other. The invention consists in that through the centre of the outlet hole (20) of the container pass the axes (x, y) of a coordinate system, the axis (x) being the one which cuts the longest or, in case of identical length of edges of the outlet hole (20), any edge of the outlet hole in its centre, and in that the base of the auxiliary body (3) lies in a plane (PO) whose general equation A_i0 . x + B_i0 . y + C_i0 . z + D_i0 = 0 follows the rule

in which k = C_v0 : C_i0 and w is the length of the shortest one of the line segments defined by the points of intersection of the axes (x, y, z) of the coordinate system with the planes (R1 to R4) of the walls of the hopper (2) while at the same time at least one of the walls (P1 to P4) of the auxiliary body (3) described by the general equation A_tj · x + B_tj · y + C_tj · z + D_tj = 0 is governed by

and

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a loose material container containing a polyhedron-shaped hopper whose walls lie in mutually concurrent planes (for instance in the form of a pyramid or obelisk), fitted with an angular outlet hole for loose material, possibly also comprising an upper part situated over the hopper and containing at least one auxiliary body situated above the outlet hole which latter lies in a plane described by the equation A_v0 . x + B_v0 . y + C_v0 . z + D_v0 = 0, while the auxiliary body has in plan view the full profile and in the direction of the container circumference divides the inner space of the container into a number of subspaces following each other.

Background art

[0002] The loose material container is a three-dimensional structure for storing grain, dust and, as the case may be, also partly cohesive and fibrous materials. As a rule, it consists of an upper part (chamber) whose lower end is followed by a hopper whose oblique walls direct the flow of stored material towards the outlet hole.

[0003] Containers of loose materials are frequently affected by troubles in the flow of the material while being removed by means of a mechanical device from the container in or below the plane of the outlet hole of the hopper. This trouble consists in the impossibility of evacuating a substantial part of the volume of stored material and its consequences are incomplete exploitation of the container loading capacity, unplanned interruptions in the operation of the devices of subsequent steps, depreciation of stored material subject to ageing in not moving sections of the container, increasing safety risks for the attending operator when trying to do away with the trouble, as well as the risk of catching fire in inflammable and damp materials.

[0004] At present, the steps for solving the troubles in the material flow are carried out by manual mechanical support (by means of inserting a bar into the material and moving the bar in it) which is physically exacting and involves safety risks for the operator. Also in use are mechanical vibrations (moving vibrators adapted to be attached, vibration bottoms) which is disadvantageous from the point of view of the acquisition costs of such additional vibration equipment, of its maintenance and operation. Used are also sliding devices on the walls operating on the principle of pressure air (air blowers and jets), which is equally disadvantageous from the point of view of both the addition costs of the device itself and of the costs of their maintenance and operation. Another used method, the fluidization, is efficient but requires considerable amount of energy and can be used only in fine grain (up to 2 mm grain size) and dry materials.

[0005] Specifications such as DE 197 25 535, EP 147 164, SU 1211184 and other have disclosed the application of variously shaped shutters or chutes oriented into the inner space of the loose material container which partly reduce the risk of troubles in the material flow but are disadvantageous in that they impede and thus slow down the general flow of material. They are relatively exacting in design and in their fixation in the container.

[0006] DE 195 36 549 describes a method and a device for filling and emptying a container of loose material in which a funnel-like hopper situated over an outlet hole is fitted with at least one complementary hopper dividing the original space of the funnel-like hopper into smaller separated sections in the form of circular rings (circular ring subspaces), thus separating from each other the loose material layers, reducing the risk of troubles in the loose material flow, and helping to homogenize loose material. The drawback of this solution consists in that this arrangement does not eliminate the direct vertical pressure of material acting on the outlet hole so that the material flow can take place only through the centre of the outlet hole while the material remains practically motionless at the hopper walls.

[0007] FR 91 02 211 discloses the situating of a longitudinal body in the middle section of the container along almost the whole height of the container. While reducing the problems connected with material flow troubles, the longitudinal body takes up a considerable amount of the container capacity which either requires to increase the overall size of the container or to put up with the reduced capacity remaining available. This device is best used with symmetrical containers, while in the asymmetrical ones its effect is restricted.

[0008] Also known are dosing and closing devices of the outlet hole of the container which contain a conical body reaching into the outlet hole, adapted to move and thus to define the size of the circular ring between the edge of the outlet hole and the closing body, i.e., the degree of the opening of the outlet hole. This device partly reduces the material flow troubles, but its use requires expensive devices, complicated in design, including drives and control systems, which is disadvantageous. Another drawback consists in that the device can be used in principle only in containers with symmetrical outlet hole.

[0009] The invention aims to remove or at least to minimize the drawbacks of the background art and to permit the solution of the material flow trouble problems in containers of various shape and with various position and shape of the outlet hole, as well as its application in the already existing containers.

Principle of the invention

[0010] The goal of the invention has been reached by a loose material container whose principle consists in that through the centre of the outlet hole pass the axes of a coordinate system, the axis x being the one which cuts the longest or, in case of identical length of edges of the outlet hole (20), any edge of the outlet hole in its centre, and in that the base of the auxiliary body lies in a plane whose general equation A_i0 . x + B_i0 . y + C_i0 . z + D_i0 = 0 follows the rule

in which k = C_v0: C_i0 and w is the length of the shortest one of the line segments defined by the points of intersection of the axes of the coordinate system with the planes of the walls of the hopper. At the same time at least one of the walls of the auxiliary body described by the general equation A_tj . x + B_tj · y + C_tj · z + D_tj = 0 is governed by

and

[0011] This permits in substantially any container with a hopper in form of a polyhedron (such as a pyramid or obelisk) with an angular, at will positioned outlet hole to reach optimum position and shape of the auxiliary body so as to efficiently influence the loose material flow, and that at minimum costs of acquisition and maintenance of the auxiliary body. The solution can be without remarkable costs applied to the already existing containers. Such auxiliary body situated in the hopper divides the inner space of the hopper into subspaces distributed in polar way around the centre of the outlet hole and thus counteracts the action of the vertical pressure of the material on the outlet hole and directs the flow of the whole amount of material from the centre to the walls of the hopper and into the outlet hole.

[0012] For full optimation of the shape of the auxiliary body as a whole unit it is advantageous if all the walls of the auxiliary body lie in planes governed by the relation

Description of the drawing

[0013] An example of embodiment of the invention is schematically shown in the drawing in which Fig. 1 shows an outlet hole of a general (non-specific) shape, Fig. 1b an outlet hole of rectangular shape, Fig. 2a the front view of a container with a pyramidal hopper and with an auxiliary body, Fig. 2b a side-view of the container shown in Fig. 2a, Fig. 2c the plan view of the container shown in Fig. 2a, Fig. 3 an axonometric view of the container with the auxiliary body, and Fig. 4 a detail of the auxiliary body from Fig. 3.

Examples of embodiment of the invention

[0014] The loose material container contains a chamber 1 followed at its lower end by a hopper 2 with oblique walls, i.e., a pyramidal or obelisk-shaped hopper 2 fitted at its lower end with an outlet hole 20. Situated in the inner space of the container over the outlet hole 20 is at least one auxiliary body 3 consisting of one or of more than one part of a polyhedron such as a pyramid, a truncated pyramid, a frustum of pyramid or an obelisk. The auxiliary body 3 can consist for instance also of two or more independent bodies, out of which for instance one is directed upwards, the other downwards, etc. All parts of the auxiliary body 3 have a common base. The auxiliary body 3 divides the inner space of the container, i.e., of the hopper 2, into a number of mutually adjoining subspaces 4, and the walls of the auxiliary body 3 direct the loose material flow in a way ensuring that troubles in the loose material flow are substantially restricted or are not generated at all.

[0015] The optimum position and shape of the auxiliary body 3 is determined according to the shape of the container and especially according to the shape, size, and position of the outlet hole 20 and depending on the wall inclination and on the shape of the hopper 2. The optimum position and shape of the auxiliary body are determined by means of the rules of the three-dimensional analytical geometry.

[0016] The auxiliary body 3 can be fixed in the inner space of the container or of the hopper 2 by means of steel or composite beams and/or tie rods either to the inner part of the container structure or to the outer structure of the container (with the beams and/or tie rods passing through the container walls), or the auxiliary body can be suspended on the supporting structure of the container.

[0017] To find the optimum shape and position of the auxiliary body 3 in the container, a coordinate system x, y, z is chosen in the plan view of the outlet hole 20. In order to explain the procedure, the coordinate system has been so set that the axes x, y pass through the centre of the outlet hole 20 and that the axis x cuts the longest edge of the outlet hole 20 in its centre. If all edges of the outlet hole 20 are of equal length, as is the case for instance with square outlet holes or with those shaped as equilateral triangle, the coordinate system is so oriented that the axis x cuts any of the edges in its centre. With due modifications, lying within the scope of knowledge of those skilled in the art, the invention can be generally applied also with a coordinate system chosen in a different way. The plane RO of the outlet hole 20 is then in the chosen coordinate system described by the general equation A_v0 . x + B_v0 . y + C_v0 . z + D_v0 = 0 [1 ] where A, B, C, D are (as also in the whole text) the coefficients of the equation of the plane. The index _v_indicates (as also in the whole text) that it refers to the coefficients of the plane of the hopper 2 while the index ₀ indicates that it refers to the coefficients of the equation of the plane RO of the outlet hole 20 of the hopper 2.

[0018] If the outlet hole 20 is situated in one of the oblique walls of the hopper 2, the plane RO described by the equation [1] is intended to mean the horizontal plane passing through the highest point of the outlet hole 20, and the edges of the outlet hole 20 are intended to mean the line segments made by the lines of intersection of this horizontal plane with the walls of the hopper 2.

[0019] The base of the auxiliary body 3 in the container shall then lie in the plane PO A_t0 . x + B_t0 . y + C_t0 . z + D_t0 = 0 [2] where the index _t indicates (as also in the whole text) that it refers to the coefficients of the general equation of the plane of the auxiliary body 3 while the index _{o_} indicates that it refers to the coefficients of the equation of the plane PO of the base of the auxiliary body 3. Here applies

where k=

and w is the shortest of the line segments defined by the intersection points of the axes x, y and the planes R1 to R4 in which the oblique walls of the hopper 2 lie.

[0020] The general equations of the planes R1 to R4 in which the oblique walls of the hopper 2 lie, are A_vi . x + B_vi . y + C_vi . z + D_vi=0 [4] for i = (1, ... n) where usually n = 4, and the indexes _i_indicate (as also in the whole text) that they refer to the coefficients of the equation of the i-th plane of the walls of the hopper 2, i.e. of the plane R1 to R4 (and generally up to Ri) of the walls of the hopper 2, i being the serial number of the wall in question of the hopper 2 and n the total number of the walls of the hopper 2.

[0021] The position of the auxiliary body in relation to the outlet hole 20 is such that at least for one of the planes P1 to P4 of the walls of the auxiliary body 3 described in the chosen coordinate system by general equations of the planes A_tj . x + B_tj . y + C_tj z + D_tj = 0 [5] for j = (1, ... m), and usually m = 4 applies

and at the same time

The index _j indicates (as also in the whole text) that it refers to the coefficients of the equation of the j-th plane of the walls of the auxiliary body 3,ie. of the plane P1 to P4 (and generally up to P_j) of the walls of the auxiliary body 3 and that m is the total number of the walls of the auxiliary body 3.

[0022] At the same time the planes P1 to P4 of the walls of the auxiliary body 3 agree with the equation

[0023] A specific example of determining the shape and position of the auxiliary body 3 in the container with the hopper 2 shaped as a four-side truncated pyramid and with square-shaped outlet hole 20 in the horizontal plane in the lowest part of the hopper 2 is shown in Figs. 2a, 2b, 2c, 3 and 4. The procedure of determining the shape and position of the auxiliary body 3 in the container is as follows. The container is symmetrical, with plan view dimensions of 5000 x 5000 mm, height of the chamber 5000 mm, and height of the hopper 2 up to the passage edge 200 into the chamber 1 3000 mm. The size of the outlet hole 20, situated symmetrically relative to the container, is 500 x 500 mm. None of the passage edges 200 of the hopper 2 is situated higher than the other passage edges 200 of the hopper 2.

[0024] First are determined the coordinates of the chief points of the edges of the container.

Edge 1 of the container (line measures are in mm)
Point/point coordinate	x	y	z
11	-250	-250	0
12	-2500	-2500	3000
13	-2500	-2500	8000

Edge 2 of the container (line measures are in mm)
Point/point coordinate	x	y	z
21	250	-250	0
22	2500	-2500	3000
23	2500	-2500	8000

Edge 3 of the container (line measures are in mm)
Point/point coordinate	x	y	z
31	250	250	0
32	2500	2500	3000
33	2500	2500	8000

Edge 4 of the container (line measures are in mm)
Point/point coordinate	x	y	z
41	-250	250	0
42	-2500	2500	3000
43	-2500	2500	8000

[0025] The planes RO to R4 of the walls of the hopper 2, including the plane RO of the outlet hole 20, are described by their above given general equations [1, 4]. The equations [1, 4] are calculated according to the usual procedure applied in the analytical geometry for setting the general equation of a plane on the basis of the coordinates of three points lying in said plane. By this method the coefficients of the equations [1, 4] of the planes RO to R4 of the walls of the hopper 2 are found.

Plane/coefficients of the equation of the planes	Av	Bv	Cv	Dv
RO	0	0	250 000	0
R1	0	-25 000 000	0	-62 500 000 000
R2	-25 000 000	0	0	-62 500 000 000
R3	0	25 000 000	0	-62 500 000 000
R4	25 000 000	0	0	-62 500 000 000

[0026] The plane PO in which the plane of the auxiliary body 3 lies comprises the following points A1 to A4:

Point/point oordinate	x	y	z
A1	-700	0	1500
A2	0	-700	1500
A3	700	0	1500
A4	0	700	1500

[0027] The walls of the auxiliary body 3 rising above the base comprise the points B1

Point/point oordinate	x	y	z
B1	0	0	3347

[0028] The planes PO to P4 of the auxiliary body 3 are described by general equations [2, 5] and for their calculation has been applied the usual procedure used in the analytical geometry for setting the general equation of a plane on the basis of the coordinates of three points lying in said plane.

plane/coefficient	At	Bt	Ct	Dt
P0	0	0	980 000	-1 640 030 000
P1	-1 292 900	1 292 900	490 000	-1 640 030 000
P2	1 292 900	1 292 900	490 000	170 030 000
P3	1 292 900	-1 292 900	490 000	-1 640 030 000
P4	-1 292 900	-1 292 900	490 000	170 030 000

[0029] For said auxiliary body 3 the prescribed conditions are fulfilled when the introduction into the equation [3] gives the value 1500 which agrees with the set condition because it is three times the length of the shortest line segment defined by the passage through the axis x with the edges of the outlet hole 20 The condition determined by the conjunction of the relations [6a] and [6b] is fulfilled for each of the planes P1 to P4 of the walls constituting the form of the auxiliary body 3,

Plane/relation	6a	6b	Conjunction 6a and 6b
P1	-3,2E+11	3,23225E+11	right
P2	3,23E+11	3,23225E+11	right
P3	3,23E11	-3,23225E+11	right
P4	-3,2E+11 1	-323225E+11 1	right

because in each of the pairs both relations [6a] and [6b] described by the determinants are different from zero.

[0030] The introduction of the found coefficients into the relation [7] gives for the planes P1 to P4 values

plane	value
P1	0,258854
P2	0,258854
P3	0,258854
P4	0,258854

which lie within the determined interval.

[0031] In this way, all values required for constructing the auxiliary body 3 and for its correct positioning in the container have been obtained.

Industrial applicability

[0032] The invention is applicable in loose material containers such as used for instance in the production and processing industries.

Claims

1. 1. A loose material container containing a polyhedron-shaped hopper whose walls lie in mutually concurrent planes (for instance in the form of a pyramid or obelisk), fitted with an angular outlet hole for loose material, possibly also comprising an upper part situated over the hopper and containing at least one auxiliary body situated above the outlet hole which latter lies in a plane described by the equation A_v0 . x + B_v0 . y + C_v0 . z + D_v0 = 0, while the auxiliary body has in plan view the full profile and in the direction of the container circumference divides the inner space of the container into a number of subspaces following each other, characterized by that through the centre of the outlet hole (20) pass the axes (x, y) of a coordinate system, the axis (x) being the one which cuts the longest or, in case of identical length of edges of the outlet hole (20), any edge of the outlet hole in its centre, and in that the base of the auxiliary body (3) lies in a plane (PO) whose general equation A_i0. x + B_i0 . y + C_i0 . z + D_i0 = 0 follows the rule

in which k = C_v0 : C_i0 and w is the length of the shortest one of the line segments defined by the points of intersection of the axes (x, y, z) of the coordinate system with the planes (R1 to R4) of the walls of the hopper (2) while at the same time at least one of the walls (P1 to P4) of the auxiliary body (3) described by the general equation A_tj · x + B_tj · y + C_tj · z + D_tj = 0 is governed by

and

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by that all sides of the auxiliary body (3) lie in planes which agree with the condition

Drawing