Auger airlock assembly and end dump housing

Abstract

An auger airlock assembly and end dump housing having a spring loaded bottom for use in a bulk loader which utilizes a source of negative pressure to create a suction air stream that draws particulate materials into the loader for transfer, via the auger assembly, to a location remote of the loader. Materials exiting the auger assembly accumulate within the housing to a point wherein, once the accumulated material has acquired a certain weight, the bottom of the housing is forced open to permit discharge of the material, and, once the material is removed, and is not present in enough quantity to maintain the bottom of the housing to remain open, the spring loaded connection biases the bottom back into a position sealably closing the housing. The bottom of the housing may also be opened by the auger feeding more material into an already full housing, whereby the material is compressed so as to force the door open. Side portions of the housing limit the opportunity for outside air to enter the airlock assembly during the discharge of materials, maintaining the vacuum suction created by the negative pressure in the auger assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a partial perspective “see through” view of a conventional bulk loader shown utilizing an embodiment of the auger airlock assembly and end dump housing of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a close-up partial perspective “see through” view of the end of the auger airlock assembly and end dump housing of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective “see through” view of an embodiment of the end dump housing of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective “see through” view of the embodiment of the end dump housing shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective “see through” view of another embodiment of the end dump housing of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective “see through” view of a conventional bulk loader shown utilizing an embodiment of the auger airlock assembly and end dump housing of the present invention.

Claims

1. A material-conveying end dump housing adapted to cover a discharge end of an auger assembly, the housing comprising:

2. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded connection of the bottom wall to the housing is to a bottom surface of the front wall.

3. A material-conveying end dump housing for use with an auger assembly for a bulk loader which utilizes a negative pressure system to generate a suction air stream for vacuuming and propelling granular material to the auger assembly, the housing comprising:

4. The end dump housing of claim 3, wherein, once the spring loaded connection biases the bottom wall back into the position to close the housing, the closed housing excludes a substantial entry of outside air into the housing.

5. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the front wall further comprises a plurality of securing holes defined therein for receiving securing bolts for attachment of an end of the auger assembly to the front wall, the end of the auger assembly being contained substantially within the housing.

6. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side portions of the covering wall is formed of a transparent material for allowing observation of the discharging material.

7. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the side portions of the covering wall are formed of a transparent material for allowing observation of the discharging material.

8. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the covering wall is a one piece construction which, when attached substantially along the top and the side edges of the front and side walls, provides a roof and side walls for the housing.

9. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the housing is an arcuate surface.

10. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the rear wall further comprises

11. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall further comprises friction strips, the strips being connected to a bottom surface of the bottom wall, and extend along a length of side edges of the bottom wall.

12. The end dump housing of claim 11, wherein the friction strips are wear strips.

13. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a resilient flap is connected to a bottom surface of the rear wall, the flap extending laterally to encompass a complete distance between each of the side portions of the covering wall wherein, when the spring loaded connection biases the bottom wall back into position, the flap contacts an upper surface of the bottom wall to to sealably close the housing.

14. The end dump housing of claim 3, wherein the length by which the side portions of the covering wall exceeds the length of the front wall and the rear wall is substantially equivalent to a length of the bottom wall.

15. An auger airlock assembly for use with a bulk loader which utilizes a negative pressure system to generate a suction air stream for vacuuming and propelling granular material to the auger assembly for transferral to a remote location, the assembly comprising:

16. The auger airlock assembly of claim 15, wherein the auger is elongated, and oriented generally along the longitudinal axis of the tube.

17. The auger airlock assembly of claim 16, wherein the tube is upwardly and outwardly inclined.

18. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein at least one of the side portions of the covering wall is formed of a transparent material for allowing observation of the granular material.

19. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein the side portions of the covering wall are formed of a transparent material for allowing observation of the granular material.

20. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein the covering wall is a one piece construction which, when attached substantially along the top and the side edges of the front and side walls, provides a roof and side walls for the housing.

21. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein the length by which the side portions of the covering wall substantially exceeds the length of the front wall and the rear wall is substantially equivalent to a length of the bottom wall.

22. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein the housing further comprises a resilient flap is connected to a bottom surface of the rear wall, the flap extending laterally to encompass a complete distance between each of the side portions of the covering wall wherein, when the spring loaded connection biases the bottom wall back into position, the flap contacts an upper surface of the bottom wall to sealably close the housing.

23. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein the rear wall further comprises a lipped portion which encircles the outlet port, a size of the outlet port corresponding to a size of the discharge end of the auger assembly, and wherein the covering wall is attached to the front wall and the rear wall substantially along substantially along top and side edges of the front wall, and along upper edges of the lipped portion of the rear wall.

24. The auger airlock assembly of claim 17, wherein bar means are connected to and extend laterally between lower portions of each of the side portions, so as to restrict the opening of the bottom wall when gravitational discharge of the accumulated discharging granular material from the housing occurs.

25. The end dump housing of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded connection of the bottom wall to the housing is to a bottom surface of the rear wall.