Patent Application
20090001107
This invention relates to a system and method for storing, transporting and dispensing bulk particulate solids, and more particularly to such a system and method for dispensing controlled amounts of such material. The invention further contemplates a novel apparatus detachably mountable on a material container for metering controlled amounts of such material.
In many industries utilizing bulk particulate materials, such materials often are stored and transported in large bags having a set of stops on the upper ends thereof for suspending them and elongated spouts on the lower ends thereof through which material may be discharged. Such spouts usually are closed by a rope or other suitable means adjacent the base ends thereof, and folded up against the bottom walls of the bags. Typically, such bags are stored on pallets in storage areas. When it is desirable to use such material, perhaps for a processing operation using a blender, reactor or other vessel, the bags are lifted, transported to the processing site and positioned above the vessel into which the material is to be dispensed, a handler reaches under the bag and unties the rope restricting the flow of material through the spout and the material is allowed to gravity flow through the spout into the vessel. Such practice, however, has not been found to be entirely satisfactory in several respects. Typically, there is very limited working space below a bag suspended over a vessel to permit the handler to easily maneuver and release the rope restraining the flow of material through the spout. Furthermore, the material often will not flow freely out of the bag or will flow uncontrollably, adversely affecting the process operation, particularly when seeking to blend the particulate material with a liquid. In addition, it often is hazardous for the handler to work below a suspended bag to either release the spout for discharging the material or induce flow of poorly flowing or clogged material.
Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method of storing, transporting and discharging bulk particulate material in which the material may be easily transported to its dispensing site and readily discharged, and the material handler at the dispensing site will not be exposed to any hazardous conditions in freeing the spout or inducing the gravity flow of poorly flowing or clogged material.
The present invention consists of a system for transporting bulk particulate materials generally comprising a bag including a discharge spout for holding such material, means for transporting the bag from a first site to a second site, and means detachably mountable on the spout for metering the discharge of material from the bag. Preferably, the bag includes a set of straps provided on the upper end thereof for suspending the bag and an elongated spout at the lower end thereof which may be closed by means of a rope or other suitable means, the transporting means comprises a fork lift truck having a set of blades on which the straps of the bag may be connected to suspend the bag therefrom, the metering means comprises a dispensing apparatus including a hopper detachably mountable on the free end of the bag spout, a valve for metering the flow of material through the device and means for fluidizing the material in the hopper to enhance the flow therethrough, and a support structure is provided which functions to support the bag and dispensing apparatus thereon to facilitate the attachment of the dispensing apparatus onto the bag spout and the detachment of such apparatus therefrom.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a system for storing, transporting and dispensing a bulk particulate material embodying the present invention which generally consists of a bag 10 adapted to hold a bulk particulate material, a fork lift truck 11 on which such bag may be supported, transported and lifted and lowered, a support structure 12 on which such bag may be supported and a dispensing apparatus 13 which may be detachably mounted on such bag and also supported on such support structure to facilitate its attachment and detachment with respect to the bag, Bag 10 is of a conventional construction consisting of a main body portion 14, pairs of straps 15 provided on the upper end thereof and a spout 16 provided on the lower end thereof, formed of a flexible material capable of confining various bulk particulate materials being handled. Discharge spout 16 has a substantially tubular configuration when opened, including an inlet at the upper end thereof communicating with the interior of the main body portion and an outlet at the lower end thereof through which material may be discharged. Typically, when not in use, the spout is closed at the upper end thereof by means of a rope or other suitable device and the rest of the spout is folded against and detachably secured to the underside of the main body portion of the bag. The fork lift truck also is of a conventional construction including a chassis 17 mounted on a set of wheels and having suitable propulsion means, a mast 18 mounted on the front end of the chassis and a fork assembly 19 mounted on the front end of the mast and displaceable vertically thereon. The fork assembly is provided with a pair of transversely spaced blades 20 from which a bag 10 loaded with material may be suspended by means of straps 15. Normally, a bag 10 filled with material is stored in a suitable area on a pallet. Whenever it is desired to transport such bag from a storage area to a processing or other site, such movement may be accomplished by adjusting the blades of the fork assembly at a suitable height, advancing the truck to insert the blades in straps 15, raising the fork assembly to lift the bag off of tire supporting pallet and then driving the truck to the desired processing or other site.
Dispensing apparatus 13 is adapted to be detachably mounted on the free end of spout 16 in its unfolded, depending condition for controlling the gravity flow of material from the main body portion of the bag therethrough. As best seen in
The juncture of the upper and lower hopper sections is provided with an annular support ledge 29 on which the lower edge of clamping member 24 may be supported when not in a clamping position on the upper hopper section as shown in
Support structure 12 consists generally of a stand upon which a bag 10 filled with a material and a dispensing apparatus 13 may be mounted to attach such dispensing apparatus to such bag. Generally, it includes a set of leg members 40 supporting an upper set of cross beam members 41 and a lower set of cross beam members 42. As best seen in
When not in use, dispensing apparatus 13 may be positioned on the resting pads of the support structure as shown in
With the bag filled with material to be dispensed and the dispensing apparatus both mounted on the support structure as shown in
With the bag still mounted on the support structure and the dispensing apparatus thus firmly, detachably secured to the spout thereof, the fork lift truck may be operated to lift the bag with the dispensing apparatus off of the support structure and transport it to the location where the material in the bag is to be dispensed. When the bag arrives at the dispensing site, the lift truck is operated to position the dispensing apparatus above and adjacent the receptacle in which the material is to be dispensed and an operator connects and manipulates the handle of valve 23 to allow material to flow through the dispensing apparatus into the receptacle. To enhance the flow of material through the dispensing apparatus, line 26 is connected to a source of air under pressure to supply air through permeable member 24 to fluidize material flowing through the lower hopper section. The material being dispensed may be accurately metered simply by turning handle 27 of the valve. The elongated stem portion of the handle permits the operator to stand clear of the elevated bag and thus avoid any injury in the event the lift mechanism of the fork lift truck falters or the bag may otherwise fall free from the fork lift assembly.
Once the material in the bag has been dispensed and it is desired to remove the dispensing apparatus, the bag with the dispensing apparatus attached thereto may be returned to the support stand and the dispensing apparatus may be positioned on support pads 44 with the bag supported on the upper set of cross beam members. The dispensing apparatus may then be detached simply by backing off set screws 32, lowering clamping member 24 to free the spout from between the clamping member and the upper hopper section and then lifting the lower end of the spout from between the clamping member and the upper hopper section. The dispensing apparatus may be left on the support structure for mounting on another bag and the fork lift truck may be operated to remove the empty bag and transport it to a desired location. In circumstances where the material in the bag may not be entirely dispensed, the bag with dispensing apparatus connected thereto may similarly be transported by the fork lift truck and positioned on the support structure for subsequent positioning and material dispensing.
It will be appreciated that by the use of the dispensing apparatus as described, bags filled with material may be readily dispensed in a controllable manner without risk of injury to the handlers of such bags.
From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof, limited solely by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10951803 | Sep 2004 | US |
| Child | 12203025 | US | |
| Parent | 10373727 | Feb 2003 | US |
| Child | 10951803 | US |
