FLOWABLE MATERIAL DISCHARGE SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flowable material discharge system for controlling the discharge of flowable material such as pellets, viscous materials such as slurries, solids, powder or particles and the like from a store such as a bunker, hopper, reactor, impregnation vessel and the like. Material such as powder or particulate material and the like is often housed in bulk in a store such as a bunker and the like, from which it is to be discharged periodically.

[0002] Known bunkers or hoppers for discharging free flowing materials such as particulate or powdered materials are provided with vertically liftable cones at their outlet.

[0003] Such liftable cones open by vertically lifting the cone against the pressure of the flowable material to be discharged on the cone.

[0004] However, such known arrangements have several disadvantages.

[0005] For example, opening is not always possible in case of large vessels or completely filled vessels.

[0006] Further, such arrangements are suitable for discharging free flowing materials, but are subject to serious problems with respect to discharging cohesive or sintering materials due to bridging, sintering and clogging of the particles. In that case lifting and vibration of the cone can cause further densification and sintering of the solids and so making flow activation even worse.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple bunker discharge system, particularly suitable for discharging cohesive, sintering, bridging or free flowing solid materials with all kinds of particle sizes.

[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a simple bunker discharge system which is suitable for discharge in case of large vessels or completely filled vessels.

[0009] The invention therefore provides a flowable material discharge system for a bunker which is provided at its outlet with an outlet member and a seat located underneath the said member, characterized in that the said seat is movable from a first (closed) position wherein no discharge gap between the seat and the said member exists, to a second (open) position thus making a discharge gap between the seat and the said member without lifting the member, and vice versa; and further comprising means for moving the said seat in the desired direction.

[0010] Advantageously, the outlet member is (vertically) liftable and has e.g. a conical or pyramidal shape.

[0011] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 represents schematically a longitudinal section of an advantageous embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 2 represents schematically a longitudinal section of another advantageous embodiment of the invention;

fig. 3a represents schematically a longitudinal section of still another advantageous embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 3b represents a top view of the embodiment of fig. 3a.

[0012] The term "bunker" should not be understood in a restrictive manner, but also indicates e.g. hoppers, silos, containers, bins or solids process vessels like reactors, impregnation or washing vessels and the like.

[0013] Such bunkers etc. can e.g. have a conical, cylindrical, pyramidal, prismatic or spherical shape.

[0014] Referring to fig. 1 a flowable material discharge system with a(n) (inverted) cone type seat has been represented. The lower part of a bunker wall 1 with a cone type seat is represented. In the bottom of the bunker an outlet member e.g. in the form of a cone or pyramidal shaped body is provided in any suitable manner. In fig. 1 a liftable cone 2 is applied as outlet member.

[0015] The cone 2 can be moved up and down from a first (lower) position 2a to a second (lifted) position 2b and vice versa by any suitable cone actuating means 3 e.g. a pneumatic cylinder with a double piston rod and can be vibrated at any suitable frequency by any suitable cone vibrator 5. The bunker 1 is provided with a movable seat 4 located underneath the cone. The seat can be moved up and down by any suitable seat actuating means 6 from a first (upper) position (4a) to a second (lower) position (4b) and vice versa.

[0016] The shape of the bottom edge of the cone 2 needs to be such, that in its lower position (2a) it matches the shape of the seat 4 in upper position (4a) in such a way that no gap exists. Thus, in the lower position (2a) of the cone and the upper position (4a) of the seat the cone is pressed with its lower edge on the seat. In this situation there is no gap between seat and cone. Reference numeral 7 represents a support frame for supporting the cone actuating means and reference numeral 8 represents the discharge cone of the bunker.

[0017] The seat may be of any suitable shape, e.g. pyramidal, conical, spherical, flat or tore shape. The seat may consist of a single part as well as of more than one individual or collective moving parts e.g. moving flaps as will be described in connection with figs. 3a, 3b below in more detail.

[0018] In practice, there is a mechanism to prevent rotation of the liftable cone 2 and movable seat 4 (not shown for reasons of clarity).

[0019] Control mechanisms to position the cone 2 at positions between upper (2b) and lower (2a) position are useful (not shown for reasons of clarity).

[0020] Control mechanisms to position the seat 4 at positions between upper (4a) and lower (4b) position are useful (not shown for reasons of clarity).

[0021] Further, there can be a suitable mechanism to lock the seat 4 in its closed position to prevent opening due to gravity when the energy for lifting the seat might be broken down (not shown for reasons of clarity).

[0022] Further, a level sensor e.g. a capacitive level sensor underneath the seat to prevent overfilling of the space underneath the seat is useful (not shown for reasons of clarity).

[0023] In fig. 2 a flowable material discharge system with a tore seat 4', having a first (upper) position (4'a) and a second (lower) position (4'b), has been shown. The same reference numbers as in fig. 1 have been used for representing the same members of the system.

[0024] In fig. 3a a flowable material discharge system with a flap type seat 4'' is shown, wherein also the same reference numerals as in figs. 1 and 2 are used for representing the same members of the system. In this advantageous embodiment the seat is multi-sided and in particular 4-sided and comprises collective moving parts.

[0025] Further, the seat flaps 4'' are connected in any suitable manner to a hinge line 9. A bar mechanism with over centering provided with a drive shaft 10 has been shown and the said mechanism and flap are represented in open and closed position respectively (4''b, 4''a). It will be appreciated that any suitable mechanism for moving the seat flaps can be applied

[0026] In fig. 3b a top view of the flap type seat of fig. 3a is shown.

[0027] Hinge lines 9 and drive shafts 10 have been shown.

[0028] Reference numeral 6a represents a seat flaps actuating means and reference numeral 11 represents any suitable coupling mechanism such as e.g. (angular) gear boxes coupling the drive shafts 10.

[0029] Each of the sides hangs on a hinge line and is moved by bar mechanisms with over centering locking.

[0030] Advantageously, there is one common drive with a pneumatic actuator. More advantageously, the opening of the seat is adjusted with an adjustable stop in the actuator.

[0031] The operation of the system of the invention is as follows:

[0032] Upon request of flowable material the movable seat will be opened and solids can flow downwards via the gap between the outlet member and lowered seat. When required, the outlet member can be vibrated to activate and smoothen the flow. When due to bridging or sintering no flow takes place, the outlet member can be lifted and/or be vibrated to break the bridge. Vibration can be carried out at high frequencies or at a low frequency by repeatedly up and down movement of the outlet member. A very constant material flow during discharge can be achieved by vibration at high frequencies.

[0033] The flow will then be very much independent on the particle size and the internal friction. Material flow at very low throughput can be achieved by intermittently vibration of the outlet member. By selecting short successive pause vibration periods, a rather continuous flow can be achieved. During vibration periods relatively high flows outside the unstable flow - no flow region can be adjusted. In this way lifting forces do not need to be very high and flow of de-agglomerated solids is always possible.

[0034] As soon as the flowable material is activated the outlet member may be lowered again and normal discharge can take place.

[0035] When the level sensor underneath the seat is activated the seat may be closed or lifted in order to stop or reduce the flow to prevent overfilling below the seat.

[0036] Various modifications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flowable material discharge system for a bunker which is provided at its discharge opening (8) with a separate outlet member (2) and a seat (4, 4', 4'') located underneath the said member (2), said outlet member (2) and seat (4, 4', 4'') being mounted internally of the said discharge opening (8), characterized in that the said seat (4, 4', 4'') is movable from a first closed position (4a, 4'a, 4''a) wherein no discharge gap between the seat (4, 4', 4'') and the said member (2) exists, to a second open position (4b, 4'b, 4''b) thus making a discharge gap between the seat (4, 4', 4'') and the said member (2) without lifting the member (2), and vice versa; and further comprising means (6, 6a) for moving the said seat (4, 4', 4'') in the desired direction.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized by means (5) for vibrating the outlet member (2).

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet member (2) is vertically liftable.

4. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the seat (4, 4') consists of a single movable part.

5. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the seat (4'') consists of more than one movable part.

6. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the seat (4, 4', 4'') has a pyramidal or conical or spherical or flat or tore shape.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the seat (4'') is multi-sided and in particular 4-sided.

8. The system as claimed in any one of claims 3-7, characterized by means for preventing rotation of the liftable member (2) and seat (4).

9. The system as claimed in any one of claims 3-8, characterized by means (3) for moving the liftable member (2) in the desired direction.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, characterized by control means to position the liftable member (2) at positions between a first, upper (2b) and second, lower (2a) position.

11. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, characterized by control means to position the seat (4, 4', 4'') at positions between the first closed (4a, 4'a, 4''a) and the second open position (4b, 4'b, 4''b).

12. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-11, characterized by means for locking the seat (4, 4', 4'') in its closed position.

13. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-12, characterized by a level sensor underneath the seat (4, 4', 4'').

14. The system as claimed in claim 5 or 7, characterized in that each of the movable parts (4'') hangs on a hinge line (9).

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that each of the movable parts (4'') is moved by a bar mechanism with over centering locking.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the bars are driven by drive shafts (10).

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the drive shafts (10) are coupled with each other via gear boxes (11).

18. The system as claimed in any one of claims 14-17, characterized by one common drive with a pneumatic actuator.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the opening of the seat (4, 4', 4'') is adjusted with an adjustable stop in the actuator (6).

20. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-19, characterized in that the outlet member (2) has a conical or pyramidal shape.

Ansprüche

1. Entladesystem für fließfähiges Gut für einen Bunker, der an seiner Entladeöffnung (8) mit einem separaten Auslaßelement (2) und einem unterhalb des Elements (2) angeordneten Sitz (4, 4', 4'') ausgestattet ist, wobei das Auslaßelement (2) und der Sitz (4, 4', 4'') innerhalb der Entladeöffnung (8) montiert sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Sitz (4, 4', 4'') aus einer ersten, geschlossenen Position (4a, 4'a, 4''a), in der zwischen dem Sitz (4, 4', 4'') und dem Element (2) kein Entladespalt besteht, in eine zweite, offene Position (4b, 4'b, 4''b) bewegbar ist, wodurch zwischen dem Sitz (4, 4', 4'') und dem Element (2) ohne Anheben des Elements (2) ein Entladespalt entsteht, und umgekehrt; und weiterhin Mittel (6, 6a) zum Bewegen des Sitzes (4, 4', 4'') in der gewünschten Richtung umfaßt.

2. System nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch ein Mittel (5), mit dem das Auslaßelement (2) in Vibrationen versetzt werden kann.

3. System nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Auslaßelement (2) vertikal anhebbar ist.

4. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Sitz (4, 4') aus einem einzelnen bewegbaren Teil besteht.

5. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Sitz (4'') aus mehr als einem bewegbaren Teil besteht.

6. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Sitz (4, 4', 4'') eine pyramidale oder kegelige oder kugelige oder flache oder torische Form aufweist.

7. System nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Sitz (4'') mehrere Seiten und insbesondere 4 Seiten besitzt.

8. System nach einem der Ansprüche 3 - 7, gekennzeichnet durch Mittel zur Verhinderung einer Drehbewegung des anhebbaren Elements (2) und des Sitzes (4).

9. System nach einem der Ansprüche 3 - 8, gekennzeichnet durch ein Mittel (3) zum Bewegen des anhebbaren Elements (2) in der gewünschten Richtung.

10. System nach Anspruch 9, gekennzeichnet durch Steuermittel zur Positionierung des anhebbaren Elements (2) in Positionen zwischen einer ersten, oberen (2b) und einer zweiten, unteren (2a) Position.

11. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 10, gekennzeichnet durch Steuermittel zur Positionierung des Sitzes (4, 4', 4'') in Positionen zwischen der ersten, geschlossenen (4a, 4'a, 4''a) und der zweiten, offenen Position (4b, 4'b, 4''b).

12. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 11, gekennzeichnet durch Mittel zur Verriegelung des Sitzes (4, 4', 4'') in seiner geschlossenen Position.

13. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 12, gekennzeichnet durch einen Niveausensor unterhalb des Sitzes (4, 4', 4'').

14. System nach Anspruch 5 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes der bewegbaren Teile (4'') an einer Scharnierreihe (9) hängt.

15. System nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes der bewegbaren Teile (4'') durch einen Stangenmechanismus mit Endlagenverriegelung bewegt wird.

16. System nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Stangen durch Antriebswellen (10) angetrieben werden.

17. System nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Antriebswellen (10) über Getriebe (11) miteinander verbunden sind.

18. System nach einem der Ansprüche 14 - 17, gekennzeichnet durch einen gemeinsamen Antrieb mit einem Pneumatikbetätigungsorgan.

19. System nach Anspruch 18, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Öffnung des Sitzes (4, 4', 4'') mit einem einstellbaren Anschlag in dem Betätigungsorgan (6) eingestellt wird.

20. System nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 19, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Anslaßelement (2) eine kegelige oder pyramidale Form aufweist.

Revendications

1. Système de décharge de matière coulante pour un réservoir qui est pourvu, à son orifice de décharge (8), d'un organe de sortie (2) séparé et d'un siège (4, 4', 4'') situé sous ledit organe (2), lesdits organe de sortie (2) et siège (4, 4', 4'') étant montés à l'intérieur dudit orifice de décharge (8), caractérisé en ce que ledit siège (4, 4', 4'') est déplaçable à partir d'une première position fermée (4a, 4'a, 4''a) dans laquelle il n'existe aucun espace de déchargement entre le siège (4, 4', 4'') et ledit organe (2), vers une seconde position ouverte (4b, 4'b, 4''b) formant ainsi un espace de déchargement entre le siège (4, 4', 4'') et ledit organe (2) sans soulever l'organe (2), et vice-versa; et comprenant en outre un moyen (6, 6a) pour déplacer ledit siège (4, 4', 4'') dans le sens souhaité.

2. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par un moyen (5) pour faire vibrer l'organe de sortie (2).

3. Système selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que l'organe de sortie (2) peut être soulevé verticalement.

4. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le siège (4, 4') comprend une pièce mobile unique.

5. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le siège (4'') comprend plus d'un élément mobile.

6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le siège (4, 4', 4'') est de forme pyramidale ou conique ou sphérique ou plate ou torique.

7. Système selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le siège (4'') est à côtés multiples et, en particulier, à 4 côtés.

8. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 7, caractérisé par un moyen pour empêcher la rotation de l'organe (2) pouvant être soulevé et du siège (4).

9. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 8, caractérisé par un moyen (3) pour déplacer l'organe (2) pouvant être soulevé dans le sens souhaité.

10. Système selon la revendication 9, caractérisé par un moyen de commande pour placer l'organe (2) pouvant être soulevé dans des positions entre une première position supérieure (2b) et une seconde position inférieure (2a).

11. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, caractérisé par un moyen de commande pour placer le siège (4, 4', 4'') dans des positions entre la première position fermée (4a, 4'a, 4''a) et la seconde position ouverte (4b, 4'b, 4''b).

12. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, caractérisé par un moyen pour verrouiller le siège (4, 4', 4'') dans sa position fermée.

13. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12, caractérisé par un détecteur de niveau sous le siège (4, 4', 4'').

14. Système selon la revendication 5 ou 7, caractérisé en ce que chacune des pièces mobiles (4'') s'appuie sur une ligne d'articulation (9).

15. Système selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que chacune des pièces mobiles (4'') est mue par un mécanisme à barres à verrouillage à détente brusque.

16. Système selon la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que les barres sont entraînées par des arbres menants (10).

17. Système selon la revendication 16, caractérisé en ce que les arbres menants (10) sont couplés les uns aux autres par des trains d'engrenages (11).

18. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 17, caractérisé par un mécanisme d'entraînement commun avec un actionneur pneumatique.

19. Système selon la revendication 18, caractérisé en ce que l'ouverture du siège (4, 4', 4'') est réglée avec un dispositif d'arrêt réglable dans l'actionneur (6).

20. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 19, caractérisé en ce que l'organe de sortie (2) est de forme conique ou pyramidale.

Drawing