# Patent

## Title
Device and method for discharging dry materials from storage vessels

## Abstract

An apparatus for discharging dry bulk material by aeration having a substantially annular flexible aeration liner supported by a substantially cone-shaped perforated hopper, which is affixed to an air disc assembly, whereby air introduced into the air disc assembly is distributed evenly through the perforated hopper that supports the aeration liner that tends to fluidize dry bulk material, thereby allowing the material to discharge.

## Background
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to improvements for discharging dry, powder-like materials from storage silos.
2. Description of Related Art
As many bakeries and other processors of powder materials (such as flour, starch, talc and the like that can be fluidized for more efficient discharge) improve their operations, the need for an aeration discharge device that is virtually maintenance free, allows a quick change aeration liner method and that can empty the contents of a silo in excess of 99% is required.
One of the more vexing problems in providing a heavy-duty discharge aeration liner device is that the surface under the liner must allow the free flow a air through itself and still be able to maintain loads of as much as 1,200 per square foot. In addition, the aeration liner must be fabricated so that it does not leak and be fabricated in a cone-like shape in excess of 15 degrees. During the past thirty to forty years, as more and more industries require a discharge method, ensuring first-in, first-out discharge, complete clean out and a quick and easy method for replacing a used aeration liner, the need for this invention has grown.
SUMMARY
It is the object of the invention to provide a simple and heavy-duty method of fabrication of the device.
Another object of the invention is to reduce and eliminate infestation of materials, such as flour and other grain products, as they are stored in the bulk system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a quick, safe and easy method of replacing the aeration liner.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a low-cost structural design and less expensive structural components of the discharge device.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sanitary, smooth and virtually seamless interior wall surface to reduce the chance of contamination, infestation and leaking.
It is another object of the invention to provide a simple and reliable device for distributing the air to each of the zones of the fluidized bed.
Another object of the invention is to provide it in a kit form for easy shipping and handling.
It is another object of the invention to provide the invention in a form and design that is quick and easy to erect and assemble.
Yet another object of the invention is to allow the user a quick and easy method for removing and replacing the fluidized bed.
Another object of the invention is to eliminate the use of fasteners for holding the aeration liner in place.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the dished head component of the air disc.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the dished head component of the air disc.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the perforated hopper component of the air disc.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the perforated hopper component of the air disc.
FIG. 5 is side view of the air disc, showing the perforated hopper installed.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the air disc with the perforated hopper installed.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the aeration liner.
FIG. 8 is a detailed, top view of the aeration liner.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the air disc attached to but disengaged from the silo for the liner changing operation.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the aeration liner sections jointed together by a webbing strip.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the aeration liner sections joined together by a webbing strip.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a slip ring mounted on the spout of the air disc flange to connect with the flange of another discharge assembly.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of air disc 19. Fabrication of disc 19 begins by cutting access port openings 31 and 32, air stub opening 24a and outlet opening 25.
Bolt holes (not shown) are made in flange ring 21 and then welded to dished head 20. Air stub nozzle 24 is welded around air stub opening 24a to allow an air passageway inside dished head 20. Access port flanges 23a and 23b are welded to access port openings 31 and 32 respectively. Outlet collar 26 with outlet flange 27 is welded around outlet opening 25. Outlet flange ring 22 will be used to secure aeration liner (not shown) around outlet opening 25. Air disc 19 can be made with multiple openings 25, each opening having its own outlet collar 26 and outlet flange 27.
FIG. 2 is a top view of air disc 19. Flange bolts holes 33a–33x are shown spaced equally apart on flange ring 21. Threaded boltholes 34a–34d are also shown spaced equally apart around the perimeter area of flange ring 21. Outlet boltholes 29a–29k are made to register in holes (not shown) of outlet flange ring 22. Outlet flange 27 is shown under dished head 21 around outlet flange opening 30.
FIG. 3 is a side view of perforated hopper 35. Hole(s) 36c are made around perforated hopper at a large radius, hole(s) 36b are made around perforated hopper at a medium sizes radius and holes(s) 36a make up the airways in perforated hopper 35. The hopper 35 is preferably frustro-conical shaped.
FIG. 4 is a top view of perforated hopper 35 with radius holes 36a, 36b and 36c. Perforated hopper opening 37 is in the center of perforated hopper 35. Perforated hopper 35 may be fabricated with multiple hopper opening(s) 37 depending on the customer's application. Perforated hopper 35 is typically made with a slope of approximately 20 degrees.
FIG. 5 is a side view of air disc 19 with perforated hopper 35 welded inside. Air compartment 57a is created between dished 20 and perforated hopper 35 so air may diffuse equally under the entire surface area of perforated hopper 35.
FIG. 6 is a top view of air disc 19 with perforated hopper 35 welded inside. Hopper support ring 38 is welded to the under side of perforated hopper 35 to provide extra support when the storage vessel (not shown) is filled. Rows of holes 35a, 35b and 35c should account for approximately 20% to 50% of the area of perforated hopper 35. Any holes 35a, 35b and 35c more and perforated hopper 35 may become weakened and any less and the aeration method may become uneven and cause flow problems. Perforated hopper 35 may be made of multiple sections and then welded into dished head 20. Air disc 19 can also be made with multiple perorated hopper sections 35 (not shown), each one independent of the other for multiple discharge requirements.
FIG. 7 is a side view of aeration liner 39 with outlet opening 41 and roped edge 40a assembly around its perimeter.
FIG. 8 is a top view of aeration liner 39. Top panel 43 and bottom panel 44 are cut so that when joined together they form a hopper-like cone with the same slope angle as the perforated hopper (not shown). Top panel 43 and bottom panel 44 may be cut from the same pattern and are generally made from a 4 ply, polyester woven fabric. All cut edges of aeration liner are heat-cut to melt the polyester so that it will not fray. Stitched seams 54a, 54b, 54c and 54d are used to joint and fasten top panel 43 to bottom panel 44. Scallop cut openings are made in perimeter flange 39f area so that bolts may remain between the silo and air disc. Perimeter holes 56a are cut in the center of aeration liner 39 around outlet opening 41. A sealant may be applied to area 55a and 55b between top panel 43 and bottom panel 44 to help prevent leaking. Sealant and/or gasketing material may be pre-applied to top and bottom areas of perimeter flange area 39f. Extra layers of flexible material such as fabric or rubber, as well as rigid materials such as steel, may be used in the perimeter flange 39f area to make up the difference and even out between a single layer of fabric and the double layer of fabric between seams 44a and 43a. Aireation liner 39 can also be made with multiple openings having separate inflation compartments when used for applications having multiple discharge requirements.
FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of air disc 19 attached to silo hopper 45. To change and/or install a new aeration liner 39, perimeter flange bolts 33xa–33xx (33xr and 33xf shown) are loosened. Bolts 34xa–34xd are placed in threaded flange holes 34a–34d respectively (34xa is shown). Bolts 34xa to 34xd are used to help spread silo flange 47 and flange ring 21, especially is a sealant was used when installing the previous aeration liner. Scallop cut opening 42a–42x enable aeration liner 39 to be removed without having to remove air disc 19 from silo hopper 45. Couplings 49 (and 49a, not shown) may be unfastened and removed from joints between conveyor tube 48a and entry tube 51 of rotary valve assembly 50 and between exit tube 52 and conveyor tube 48b. Roped edge 40a may be used around perimeter flange 39f area for extra support and grip to hold aeration liner in place. Perforated hopper 35 is used to support aeration liner 39. Outlet flange 27 and stack-up flange 53 may be slotted to provide more rotation and position points when aligning conveyor tubes 48a and 48b with entry tube 51 and exit tube 52. Outlet flange ring bolts 22xa–22xk (22xa and 22xb shown) are used to secure outlet flange ring 22 around outlet opening 25 of dished head 20.
FIG. 10 is a side view of left half of aeration liner 39a and right half of aeration liner 39b butted together at joint 39j. Webbing strip 39w, which can be made of polyester or nylon webbing that is approximately 3 inches wide can be sewn to left half of aeration liner 39a with stitching 39s and right half of aeration liner 39b with stitching 39t. By using webbing strip 39w that is relatively thin, approximately 1/32′′ to 1⁄8′′ thick, to join left half of aeration liner 39a to right half of aeration liner 39b, aeration liner 39 will fit snuggly and evenly between the flange ring 21 (not shown) of air disc 20 (not shown) and flange ring 47 (not shown) of silo 45 (not shown).
FIG. 11 is a top view of aireation liner 39 that would be used in a typical 6′ diameter air disc having a slope angle of approximately 15°. Seam edge 39ae of left half of aeration liner 39a is butted against seam edge 39be of right half of aeration liner 39b with webbing strips 39wa and 39wb sewn over seam edges 39wa and 39 to form a single aireation liner 39. Aireation Liner 39 can be made in one piece construction for smaller air discs (4 ply polyester belting can be purchased in 48′′ widths) or in multiple sections for larger air discs and or for air discs having a steeper slope angle, requiring more belting fabric. The preferred method of installing aireation liner 39 to air disc 20 (not shown) is to make the diameter of aireation liner 39 larger than the diameter of the air disc flange 21 (not shown) so that the perimeter 39p extends a few inches outward and can be trimmed off at the time of installing air disc 20 to silo 45. Perimeter holes as shown by hole 42n and spout holes as shown by 56a can actually punched in place by using a hammer and drift pin. The installer simply feels for the holes in the air disc flanges and hammers the drift pin through the belting fabric of the aireation liner. A bead of caulk may be applied to the air disc surfaces under the aireation liner to provide an airtight and leak proof connection.
FIG. 12 is a side view of air disc 20 having discharge spout 27m with bottom flange ring 27. To make the installation process easier to perform when connecting discharge spout 27m to rotary valve assembly 50, slip ring 27sr is located above flange ring 27. Slip ring 27sr is equipped with holes so that slip ring 27sr can be rotated to align with holes of stack-up flange 53 of rotary valve assembly 50. Gasket or caulk material (not shown) may be placed between slip ring 27sr, flange ring 27 and stack-up flange 53 to form tight and leak-proof connection. Bolts 27ba and 27bb can be used to connect and hold slip ring 27sr and stack-up flange 53 together.
While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

## Claims

1. An apparatus for discharging dry bulk material by aeration comprising
a substantially annular flexible aeration liner; the aeration liner comprising
a semi-circular top panel;
a semi-circular bottom panel; and
a webbing strip for joining the top panel and bottom panel; coaxially disposed upon

a substantially frustro-conical perforated hopper, which is affixed to an air disc assembly;
whereby air introduced into the air disc assembly is distributed evenly through the perforated hopper that supports the aeration liner that tends to fluidize dry bulk material, thereby allowing the material to discharge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said panels are made of four-ply polyester woven fabric and the webbing strip is made of one selected from the group consisting of polyester and nylon.

3. An apparatus for discharging dry bulk material by aeration comprising
a substantially annular flexible aeration liner, the aeration liner comprising a roped edge located at a perimeter flange area; coaxially disposed upon
a substantially frustro-conical perforated hopper, which is affixed to an air disc assembly;

whereby air introduced into the air disc assembly is distributed evenly through the perforated hopper that supports the aeration liner that tends to fluidize dry bulk material, thereby allowing the material to discharge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the aeration liner comprising a plurality of equally spaced scallop cut openings along the perimeter flange area for facilitating removal and replacement of the liner.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, the air disc assembly comprising
a dished head;
an access port opening formed into the dished head;
an air stub for attaching a source of air attached to the dished head; and
an outlet opening at the center of the dished head.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising
an outlet collar attached to the dished head and surrounding the outlet opening; and
an outlet flange attached to the outlet collar.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a rotary valve assembly in communication with the outlet opening for controlling the discharge of dry bulk material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an entry tube and an exit tube, each tube being in communication with the rotary valve assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the air disc assembly is welded to the perforated hopper, thereby forming an air compartment between the air disc dished head and the perforated hopper that diffuses air equally.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a silo hopper adapted to be secured to the air disc assembly by bolts on a bolt ring on the perimeter flange such that the aeration liner roped edge is outside the perimeter flange.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the aeration liner comprising a plurality of equally spaced scallop cut openings along a perimeter flange area matching the bolt locations so that the liner can be removed by loosening the bolts and not removing the bolts.

12. An apparatus for discharging dry bulk material by aeration comprising
a substantially annular flexible aeration liner having a roped edge on a liner perimeter flange and a plurality of scallop cut openings along the perimeter flange; the liner coaxially disposed upon
a substantially frustro-conical perforated hopper, which is welded to an air disc assembly;

whereby air introduced into the air disc assembly is distributed evenly through the perforated hopper that supports the aeration liner that tends to fluidize dry bulk material, thereby allowing the material to discharge.