SEPARATION AND STORAGE OF PARTICULATE SOLIDS

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for separating particulate solids from a transport gas, the apparatus comprising outlet and inlet ducting extending respectively away from one towards a storage housing within which separation of solids from the transport gas occurs. The storage housing is provided with an openable outlet for the particulate material, the outlet being positioned above the level of an open topped receptacle for receiving the particulate material when the storage housing is suitably mounted on its mounting.

Description: Separation and Storage of Particulate Solids This invention relates to apparatus for the separation of particulate solids from a trar sport gas, and subsequent storage thereof . Vacuum separation units which are. used within the vacuum loading industry are typically mounted, on heavy goods vehicles within the range of 20 to 32 tons, and are fitted with their own material containers or tanks of around 10 to 15 cubic metre capacity. Such vacuum units, which are mainly utilised for the extraction of both wet and dry materials from confined areas, must be disconnected from the extraction hose and the material transport the material to the tipping oi- holding area, which could be miles away from the extraction poinl . This transportation time, particularly for large quantities, can greatly extend the time to complete the work. We have now devised apparatus which obviates some of the above mentioned difficulties. According to the present invei ' tion therefore, there is provided apparatus for separating part culate solids from a transport gas, which apparatus comprises: a) storage means, for depos-tion and storage therein of said particulate solids, said storage means having outlet means selectively openable and closable such that said SUBSTITUTE SHEET particulate solids can be selectively discharged therefrom or retained therein; b) inlet ducting means communicating between said storage means and a repository for saic particulate solids remote from said storage means; c) outlet ducting means comrr unicating between said storage means and a location remcte therefrom; d) means for inhibiting flov of said particulate solids into said outlet ducting means ; e) means for inducing a flov of said transport gas from said repository through said inlet ducting means, storage means, and outlet ducting means; and f) mounting means for mounting thereon of said storage means such that the level of s∑.id outlet means is above the level of an open-topped receptcicle to be filled with said particulate solids. It is preferred that the stor.ige means is in the form of a container such as a hopper or the like. Advantageously the container has a pivotably openable door, constituting the outlet means, preferably located in 1 he region of the lowermost extent of the container. It is further preferred that the door is pivoted with a peripheral sea! such that when in the closed position, a substantially airtight seal is effected between the door and the container. The container is preferably provided with a sloping base portion SUBSTITUTESHEET such that when the outlet mear s is in the open position the particulate solids stored within the container may slide under gravity out of the container. It is preferred that the inlet ducting means is in the form of a single inlet duct communicatir with the storage means. Advantageously the outlet ducting means comprises a pair of outlet ducts arranged one either side the inlet duct. This ensures that the flow of the ransport gas is "split" in two within the storage means whicl aids the deposition of the particulate solids within the storage means. Advantageously, the means for inhibiting the flow of the particulate solids into the oitlet ducting means will be in the form of a filtration unit, typically of muslin or gauze, provided for each outlet duct. The filtration units are typically located within the storage means (or container). The means for inducting the f3 ow of transport gas is preferably a pneumatic pump or compressor such as a vacuum pump or the like. It is preferred that the pneumatic pump is located downstream of the outlet ducting means. Advantageously, the outer ducting means includes valving means selectively operable to alter the flow of gas within the apparatus, such that flow of _ ransport gas along said inlet ducting means can be caused to substantially cease. Preferably this is achieved by providing a valve in the outlet ducting means SUBSTITUTE SHEET through which, when opened, atmospheric air can be drawn directly through the pneumatic pump. The mounting means may be a frame such as a scaffolding frame or the like. The invention will now be fur her described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, with reference to te accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 , Figure 3a is a schematic rear view of a part of the apparatus of Figures 1 ar d 2, Figure 3b is a schematic side view of the part of figure 3a; and Figure 3c is a schematic plan view of the part of Figures 3a and 3b. Referring to the drawings, th apparatus generally designated 1 consists of a hopper or contafner 2 having a generally downwardly sloping base portion 3 which :s mounted on a frame 4 such that the lowermost extent of the s. ' oping base 3 is at a position above the lip 5 of an open-topped sl:ip 6. A hinged trap door 7 is located in the front wall 8 oi the hopper 2 which selectively closes or opens the lower parϊ. of the hopper 2. A seal (not SUBSTITUTE SHEET shown) runs around the periphery of the inner surface of the door 7 such that when in the closec position, the lower portion of the hopper is air sealed. A transport gas/particulate mεterial inlet manifold 9 communicates with the interior of the hopper 2. and is connected to an inlet pipe 10 which exte-nds from a store for particulate material (not shown) . Outlet pipes 11 ,12 are connected via filtration units 13,14 to the hopper so as to communicate with the interior thereof. The pipes 11 and 12 extend downwardly to a confluence region 15 before connecting with a main suction manifold 16 which is closed at one end 17 and connected at its distal end to a vacuum pump unit ( not shown) . A short pipe 18 extends outwai d1;' from the main suction manifold and is closed with a removable pressure relief plate 19. With the sealed door 7 and rej ief plate 19 in their respective closed positions (Figures 2 ai.d 3a, 3b) . a flow path is defined from the particulate material store along the inlet pipe 10, into the interior of the hopper 2 i ia the inlet manifold 9. out of the hopper 2 via the filtration ui.ita 13.14 and along the main suction manifold 16 to the vac uum pump. When the vacuum pump is operaied, a mixture of air, the transport gas and the particulate mater al in the store is sucked along the inlet pipe 10 entering the inierJor of the hopper 2 via the inlet SUBSTITUTE SHEET manifold 9. In the hopper 2, the air flow is divided, half passing into outlet pipe 11 and half into outlet pipe 12. The division of air flow causes a large proportion of the particulate material transported thereby to be deposited in the base of the hopper. The filter units. whi:h are typically gauze or muslin filters, prevent any of the pεrticulate material being sucked down the outlet pipes 11 and 12, ensuring that essentially all of the particulate material entering is deposited in the hopper 2. The filtered air then flows via outlet pipes 11 and 12 and the main suction manifold 16 out through the vacuum pump. (It should be noted here that the filtered air may. having passed through the vacuum pump, be recirculated back to the particulate material store to act as the transport gas once more). When the hopper 2 is full wit? the particulate matter, the relief plate 19 is removed from pipe 18 causing the air flow path within the apparatus to alter with air now only being sucked into the pipe 18 along the main suction manifold 16 and out through the vacuum pump (see Fig. 3c). As a result no further air/particulate matter mixture- is sucked into the hopper 2. At this point, the hinged trap door 7 s opened allowing the particulate material 20 to slide under gravity along the sloping base 3 and out of the hopper 2 in to the waiting open-topped skip 6 positioned below. Once the hopper 2 has been emptied the door 7 is sealed shut once more, and the plate 19 replaced to resume suction of the particulate matter from the store along the inlet SUBSTITUTE SHEET pipe 10 to the hopper 2. The apparatus enables a skip to be filled easily and efficiently with a minimum of "down time" since material may be deposited in the sealed hopper 2 whilst a full skip is replaced or removed. Furthermore, the apparatus is particularly suitable for use with flexible one cubic meter bags (known as IBC's) where the hopper can be dismensioned to contair one bag full of particulate material as a maximum. Since the hopper 2 is demount..ble from the frame 4, the apparatus is easily transportable to whene er needed, and frames 4 of various height may be used where skips or other containers of various heights are being use . SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. Apparatus for separating particulate solids from a transport gas, which apparatus comprises: (a) storage means, for deposition and storage therein of said particulate solids, said storage means having outlet means selectively openable and closable such that said particulate solids can be selectively discharged therefrom or retained therein; (b) inlet ducting means communicating between said storage means and a repository for said particulate solids remote from said storage means; (c) outlet ducting means communicating between said storage means and a location remote therefrom; (d) means for inhibiting flow of said particulate solids into said outlet ducting means; (e) means for inducing a flow of said transport gas from said repository through said inlet ducting means, storage means, and outlet ducting means; and (f) mounting means for mounting thereon of said storage means such that the level of said outlet means is above the level of an open topped receptacle to be filled with said particulate solids. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a hopper. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outlet means comprises a pivotally openable door provided in the region of the lowermost extent of the storage means. 4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage means has a sloping base portion, such that when the outlet means is in the open position the particulate solids stored within the storage means may slide under gravity out of the storage means. 5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet ducting means comprises a pair of outlet ducts arranged one either side the inlet duct. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for inhibiting the flow of the particulate solids into the outlet ducts is a respective filtration unit, one for each outlet duct. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet ducting means includes valving means selectively operable to alter the flow of gas within the apparatus, such that flow of transport gas along said inlet ducting means can be caused to substantially cease. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a valve is provided in the outlet ducting means through which atmospheric air may be drawn. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for inducing the flow of transport gas is positioned downstream of the outlet ducting means. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: SHEEHAN PATRICK GERRARD, SHEEHAN, PATRICK, GERRARD
Applicants: TECHNIVAC LTD, TECHNIVAC LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65G53
IPC codes: B01D46