CONTAINER

Abstract: A self-filling container (10) for the storage and/or transport of goods, primarily bulk goods or bulk cargo, includes a conveyor (20) which is disposed in the upper region (12) of the container. The conveyor includes a conveyor screw (21) with an infeed opening (22) which is accessible from the surroundings of the container. The conveyor screw is provided with a discharge opening (23) which is in communication with the storage space (13) of the container. The present invention includes a method of filling the container (10) with cargo in that the cargo is supplied to the conveyor (20) via its infeed opening (22) and displaced by the conveyor screw to the storage space (13) of the container by discharging the cargo in a region adjacent the upper bounding definition of the storage space.

Description: CONTAINER The present invention relates to a self-filling container for the storage and/or movement of goods, primarily bulk cargo. Transport of bulk goods or cargo in containers is very common. iNu erous systems for handling containers in combination with transport vehicles are known. Examples of this are systems for raising containers onto vehicles and for emptying containers with the aid of the vehicle. As a rule, containers included in such systems are relatively large, lengths of about 6 m and widths and heights of about 2,5 m being not uncommon. From the economic point of view, attempts are made to ensure that the containers are as completely filled as possible before being moved. It is a well-known problem that, on filling of containers with material which does not naturally "creep", the result is often an insufficient filling level, which entails increased transport costs. According to prior art and applied techniques, the containers are, as a rule, given substantially rectangular shape, a conveyor, for example a conveyor belt or screw conveyor from a level above each respective container, discharging the goods or cargo into the container by means of an unloading device, for example an unloading pipe. The disadvantage in this arrangement is that the apparatus becomes complex, difficult to operate and expensive to run. In addition, it is necessary to dispose the unloading device a distance above the container in order to permit clearance on handling the container, a feature which in turn entails that the container may readily be filled to overflow and/or entails that the desired sealing demarcation of the transport space and storage space from their surroundings is not possible to achieve at reasonable cost. The above-disclosed placement of the conveyor belt or conveyor screw, respectively, also entails that it becomes extremely difficult to provide automatic means assisting in filling all parts of the container in all parts. Prior art applied technology offers no cost-effective solution for a closed handling of the cargo. Such is necessary in, for example, the handling and management of ash and slag from incineration plants in order, as far as is possible, to reduce the fire risk which is intimately associated with such handling. Similarly, in the handling of dusting materials, e.g. flying ash, the handling of hazardous materials, e.g. waste from hospitals, or the handling of noxious materials, e.g waste from sewage treatment plants, apparatuses currently in use for filling the above-considered containers suffer from well-known and seemingly insuperable limitations. The present invention solves the above-outlined problems by making it possible to achieve a high degree of filling even of extremely long and/or low containers. The present invention also implies the possibility of a substantially closed system and, moreover, simple automation for rel able operation without continuous inspection. According to the present invention, the contemplated function is achieved and the above-outlined problems are obviated in accordance with the disclosures as set forth in the characterizing clauses of each respective independent claim. In one preferred embodiment, the conveyor screw is disposed as a helical thread which has no mechanical centre shaft. In yet a further preferred embodiment the conveyor is fixed to the upper region of the container and forms, together therewith, a unit which is separable from the rest of the container. When the separable unit is secured to the rest of the container, the unit generally forms a substantially sealing connection with the remainder of the container and is mechanically fixed to the rest of the container. Further expedient embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the appended subclaims. The present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig.1 is a top plan view of a plant composed of four containers and feeder conveyors for filling the containers; Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 11—11 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 111—III in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line IV—IV in Fig. 1. Fig 1, which illustrates one embodiment of a plant for filling containers according to the invention, shows four containers lOa-lOd, a conveyor 21a-21d being included in each container. Conveyors 21a, 21d (c.f. also Fig. 2) are intimated by broken lines, these conveyors being placed within the storage space of the container, while solid lines show conveyors 21b, 21c which are placed outside the storage spaces of the containers. Each respective conveyor is provided with an infeed opening 22a-22d through which contents are fed to each respective conveyor. In the embodiment shown in the Figure, the infeed openings are located on the periphery of a circle 60. Fig. 1 also shows a first feed conveyor 31 whose discharge opening is formed by a pipe socket 30 which connects to a pipe socket 40 forming an infeed opening for a second feed conveyor 32 whose discharge end is connected to the infeed opening 22a of the conveyor screw 21a of the container 10a. The pipe socket 30 of the first feed conveyor has a cross-sectional area which is less than the cross-sectional area of the pipe socket 42 of the second feed conveyor, whereby the first-mentioned socket may be inserted in the latter pipe socket. Both of these previously-mentioned sockets form a connection 33 through which the goods may pass from the first feed conveyor to the second feed conveyor. In one preferred embodiment, the pipe sockets are provided with a circular cross-section so as to make it possible to cause both of the infeed conveyors to be rotated in relation to one another about a centre axis through the connection. The second feed conveyor 32 is rotatably journaled in a bearing 36 in the transition to the first feed conveyor 31, the centre shaft of the bearing passing through the centre of the circle 60. The discharge opening 37 of the second feed conveyor is located a distance from the bearing 36 corresponding to the radius of the circle 60, which implies that the discharge opening is displaced to locations corresponding to the positions of the infeed openings 22a-22d of the conveyors 21a-21b when the second feed conveyor is rotated in the bearing 36. Figs. 2-4 illustrate embodiments of the present invention in which the conveyor 20 is designed as a conveyor screw 21. The left-hand portion of Fig. 2 shows one embodiment in which the conveyor screw 21b is disposed on the upper side of the upper bounding definition 19b of the container 10b, and the right-hand portion of the Figure shows an embodiment in which the conveyor screw 21a is disposed within the storage space of the container 10a, i.e. on the underside of the upper bounding definition 19a of the container. In that embodiment in which the conveyor is disposed on the upper side of the container, the conveyor screw is surrounded by a casing which ensures that the inner region of the conveyor is sealingly separated from its surroundings. In the embodiment in which the conveyor is disposed within the container, the bounding definitions of the container proper (bottom, walls and roof) ensure that the conveyor is sealingly defined from the surroundings of the container and thereby also that the inner region of the conveyor does not come into contact with the surroundings of the container other than via the infeed opening of the conveyor. As a rule, the conveyor screw is designed as a helical thread which has no mechanical shaft. However, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, in certain practical applications of the present invention, use is made of conveyor screws fitted with a mechanical centre shaft. Each respective conveyor is provided with at least one infeed opening 22 and at least one discharge opening 23. In such instance, each respective infeed opening is provided with a pipe socket 29a and 29b, respectively, whose dimensions are larger than the dimensions of a pipe socket 39 at the discharge opening 37 of the second feed conveyor 32. As a rule, the conveyor (the screw conveyor) is provided with a plurality of mutually subsequent and spaced apart discharge openings 23 in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. In certain practical versions in which the conveyor is disposed within the container 10, the conveyor screw has no defining casing which, in the case of the shaftless spiral, is replaced by at least three longitudinal beams which keep the conveyor screw in place on its rotation, or in the event of a conveyor screw with mechanical shaft, the conveyor screw is journalled only in connection with its two outer ends. The forward end region of the conveyor is indicated by reference numeral 25, its distal end region by reference numeral 26 and the transport space of the conveyor by reference numeral 24. The container is provided with means allowing goods accumulated in the container to be removed therefrom. In Figs. 3 and 4, such means are illustrated as a hatch 28 which may be moved to the side in order to afford access to the storage space of each respective container. The Figures also show a frame 16 which forms a substrate for the base plate 15 of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame also includes two longitudinal beams 18 and a number of crossbeams 17. In certain embodiments, the container has an upper portion 12 which is separable from the rest of the container. The borderline between the upper portion and the remainder of the container is marked by a line 22 in Figs. 2-4. The conveyor 20 is included in the upper portion 12. Prior to movement of the filled container, the upper portion is, on certain occasions, replaced by a simple lid which has no conveyor. The storage space of the container is indicated by reference numeral 13. In addition, the Figures show a substrate 40, as a rule a concrete slab. Positioning beams 41 are fixed to the substrate. The distance between these is adapted to the distance between the longitudinal beams 18 of the container so that these may, with generally slight clearance, be placed between the positional beams 41 and thereby ensure that each respective container is placed correctly. By disposing at least the one pair of beams at a generally slight angle in relation to one another, it will also be ensured that the containers are correctly placed in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the beams. The Figures also show a frame 34 which has a support portion 35 which carries the second feed conveyor 32. The bearing 36 is shown in the Figure as located in the transition between the frame 34 and the support portion 35. The arrow A marks how bulk goods are displaced into the first feed conveyor 31. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the goods are fed to the first feed conveyor by means of any optional prior art and applied technology, e.g. via a funnel. It will also be obvious to a person skilled in the art that drive means for rotation of the spiral are included in each respective container. As a rule, an electric motor is selected, the motor moreover generally being included in the separable unit 14 in those embodiments in which the container is designed with the separable unit. When the present invention is reduced into practice, cargo is supplied to each respective container by means of the first feed conveyor 31, the second feed conveyor 32, the discharge opening 39 of the second feed conveyor, and the conveyor 20. Cargo which has reached the conveyor 20 is displaced, on rotation of the conveyor screw, towards the discharge end of the conveyor screw and, in such instance, passes a first discharge opening 23 through which the cargo falls down into the storage space 13 of the container. In due course, the cargo will reach such a height that cargo accumulated in the storage space prevent further cargo from falling down through the above-mentioned opening, whereby subsequent cargo is displaced to the next opening in order to fall down therein. When a sufficient quantity of cargo has accumulated in the storage space via this opening, the accumulated cargo prevents additional cargo from passing through the opening, whereby the cargo continues to the next opening. Hereby, cargo will progressively be accumulated in the storage space 13 so that the container is completely filled. In certain embodiments, a detector device 38 normally disposed in association with the generally distal end region 26 of the conveyor is caused to emit a signal to stop the inflow of cargo to the container when this is completely filled, e.g. in that the signal from the detector device is employed to stop the rotation movements of the conveyor screws of the feed conveyors. Thereafter, the second feed conveyor is moved to a position in which its discharge end connects to the infeed end of the conveyor of an as yet unfilled container. As a rule, the signal from the detector device is also employed to initiate the above-mentioned movement of the second feed conveyor. When interconnection has been completed, a cycle corresponding to the above described is once again started, in which event cargo are moved to the now connected container. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the above-described embodiment of container makes it possible to acheive the sealing-screening - desired in certain practical examples - of the cargo fed to the container. The only parts of the apparatus in which any appreciable leakage may occur are the transitions provided with the pipe sockets. In practical versions in which extremely efficient sealing is desirable, the transitions are provided with socks and/or gaskets which ensure the desired sealing screening of the goods from the surroundings of the apparatus. The above detailed description has referred to but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, but it will readily be perceived by a person skilled in the art that the present invention accommodates a large number of embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of filling a container (10) with cargo c h a a c ¬ t e r z e d i n t h a t a conveyor (20) included in the container (10) and located in the upper region of the container, and constituting a part of the container moves, from one or more infeed openings (22), the cargo to the storage space (13) of the container and that the conveyor discharges the cargo in a region adjacent the upper definition (15) of the storage space. 2. A self-filling container (10) for the storage and/or movement of goods, preferably bulk goods or bulk cargo, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d i n t h a t the container (10) includes a conveyor (20); that the conveyor is disposed in the upper region (12) of the container; that the conveyor includes a conveyor screw (21); that the conveyor screw has at least one infeed opening (22) which is accessible from the surroundings of the container; and that the conveyor screw is provided with at least one discharge opening (23) in communication with the storage space (13) of the container. 3. The self-filling container (10) as claimed in Claim 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d n t h a t the discharge opening (23) of the conveyor screw (21) has an extent which substantially corresponds to the extent of the conveyor screw to that part which it connects to the storage space (13) of the conveyor. 4. The self-filling container as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, c h a ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the conveyor screw (21) is disposed as a helical thread lacking a mechanical centre shaft. 5. The self-filling container as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, c h a r ¬ a c t e r z e d i n t h a t the conveyor screw (21) is provided as a helical thread surrounding and fixed to a mechanical centre shaft. 6. The self-filling container as claimed in any one of Claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e i z e d i n t h a t the container (10) includes drive means for rotation of the conveyor screw. 7. The self-filling container as claimed in any one of Claims 2-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the conveyor (20) is fixed to the upper portion (12) of the container (10) and together therewith forms a unit (14) separable from the container; and that said unit is disposed to be, in the composite state, mechanically fixed to the remaining part of the container. 8. The self-filling container as claimed in Claim 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n t h a t said drive means are included in said unit (14). 9. The self-filling container as claimed in any one of Claims 2-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the transport space (24) of the conveyor (20) and the storage space (13) of the container (10) together form a space which is connected to the surroundings of the container substantially solely through the infeed opening or infeed openings (22), respectively of the conveyor, but otherwise is substantially sealingly separated from the surroundings. 10. The self-filling container as claimed in any one of Claims 2-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the container, in association with at least one of the end regions of the conveyor screw, is provided with a sensor (38) which, at a certain level of the contents of the container, emits a signal for discontinuation of supply of cargo to the storage space of the container.

Inventors: BRUKE RICHARD, BRUKE, RICHARD
Applicants: SPIRAC ENGINEERING AB
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65G65
IPC codes: B65G65