Claims
- 1. A storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material, comprising:a storage container having a round perimeter wall, said round perimeter wall having an axis; a material inlet at a top of said storage container; a material outlet at a base of said storage container; a rotary scraper rotatable about said axis, said rotary scraper being capable of vertical motion, said rotary scraper including a plurality of radial arms which extend from an inner annular hub to an outer annular rim; a plurality of vertical adjustable mountings being disposed on an inner side of said round perimeter wall, each said vertical adjustable mounting moving vertically in tandem with each other to raise or lower said rotary scraper; and at least one drive apparatus being used to rotate said rotary scraper, a single said drive apparatus being mounted on at least one of said plurality of vertically adjustable mountings.
- 2. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 1, wherein;said rotary scraper capable of being rotated in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.
- 3. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 1 wherein:said rotary scraper having non-radially oriented blades thereon which engage the upper surface of the bulk material.
- 4. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 1 wherein;said storage container being filled by introducing material at said axis thereof.
- 5. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 1 wherein;said rotary scraper having blades which are reversible for controlling the direction of spreading the bulk material.
- 6. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 1 wherein:said drive apparatus being a friction drive.
- 7. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 6, further comprising:said friction drive including a driving wheel and an opposing reaction wheel, said friction drive supporting said outer ring frame against non driving loads imposed by said driving wheel.
- 8. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 1, further comprising:a central column structure through which the bulk material may be introduced and discharged from said storage container.
- 9. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 8, further comprising:an auger being disposed in said central column structure for ensuring the free flowability of bulk material from said storage container.
- 10. An apparatus for storing or blending bulk materials comprising:a material inlet disposed on a top of the bulk materials; at least one material outlet at a base of the bulk materials; a rotary scraper rotatable about an axis, said rotary scraper being capable of vertical motion, said rotary scraper including a plurality of radial arms which extend from an inner annular hub to an outer annular rim; a plurality of vertical adjustable mountings being disposed on a plurality of support towers, each said vertical adjustable mounting moving vertically in tandem with each other to raise or lower said rotary scraper; at least one drive apparatus being used to rotate said rotary scraper, a single said drive apparatus being mounted on at least one of said plurality of vertically adjustable mountings.
- 11. An apparatus for storing or blending bulk materials of claim 10, further comprising:a central hydraulic ram positioned underneath a counterweight, said central hydraulic ram and said counterweight moving in tandem with said plurality vertical adjustable mountings.
- 12. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 10, wherein;said rotary scraper capable of being rotated in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.
- 13. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 10 wherein:said rotary scraper having non-radially oriented blades thereon which engage the upper surface of the bulk material.
- 14. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 10 wherein;said rotary scraper having blades which are reversible for controlling the direction of spreading the bulk material.
- 15. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 10 wherein:said drive apparatus being a friction drive.
- 16. The storage apparatus suitable for storing bulk material of claim 15, further comprising:said friction drive including a driving wheel and an opposing reaction wheel, said friction drive supporting said outer ring frame against non driving loads imposed by said driving wheel.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation-in-part application taking priority from PCT patent application serial number PCT/AU99/00747 filed on Sep. 9, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/AU99/00747 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/798850 |
|
US |