A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF SKIPS FOR TREATMENT OF GRANULAR OR POWDER AND LIQUID MATERIALS

Abstract: The device for controlling the movement of skips in machines for granular or powder and liquid treatment machines is of a type where the skip is separable from an overlying treatment chamber, to which it is sealingly couplable and which skip is rotatably supported by a horizontal-axis pivot (2) on a frame (3) mobile on wheels (4). The device comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder (5) provided with a piston (15) comprised between two chambers (25, 35), which cylinder (5) bears a rotating organ (45) coupled in rotation with the pivot (2). The two chambers (25, 35) are interconnected with an interpositioning of at least one regulation valve (6) which on command can regulate the flow of a hydraulic fluid in two directions and can also totally halt the flow.

Description: Description A Device for Controlling Movement of Skips for Treatment of Granular or Powder and Liquid Materials Technical Field The invention relates to a device for controlling movement of skips for treatment of granular or powder and liquid materials. Specifically, though not exclusively, it is usefully applied in the movement of skips, or silos, in powder agglomeration plants arranged at the base of overlying agglomeration chambers, to which they are sealingly couplable and which are singly supported by means of pivots - which enable the skip to be rotated and emptied - on frames, normally mobile on wheels. Background Art Prior-art skips, such as for example those "silos" illustrated in publication EP 0695214, are at present moved, i.e. rotated to tip them up, and are provided with very simple mechanical blocking mechanisms which enable them to be stopped in predetermined positions. These mechanisms usually consist of pegs which, associated to one or the other of the two mobile parts, have to be manually inserted in special holes made in the other mobile part. The above-described movement systems, although very simple, are equally impractical, requiring a considerable physical effort on the part of the operator, who cannot therefore work with the necessary concentration and attention to detail. The main aim of the present invention is to obviate the limitations and drawbacks in the prior art. An advantage of the invention is that it is very simply constructed. A further advantage is that the skip can be gradually rotated as required during the tipping stage. These aims and advantages and others besides are all achieved by the invention, as it is characterised in the appended claims. Disclosure of Invention Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic overview in vertical elevation; figure 2 is an enlarged-scale view in section of a detail of figure 1, showing the hydraulic circuit system. With reference to the above-mentioned figures of the drawings, 1 denotes in its entirety a skip in a machine for treating granular or powder materials, in particular for a powder-agglomeration machine. The machine is of the type which can be detached from an overlying treatment chamber, to which it is sealingly couplable while agglomeration is being carried out. The skip is rotatably supported, by means of a horizontal-axis pivot 2, on a frame 3, which is mobile on wheels 4. A hydraulic jack is fixed to the frame 3. The jack is provided with a rotating organ 45 coupled in rotation with the pivot 2 and is also provided with an inlet and an outlet for fluid, which are reciprocally connected through a closed circuit in which a regulation valve 6 is inserted. The regulation valve 6 can, on command, regulate the flow of the fluid in both directions, or can intercept it totally. In particular, a hydraulic cylinder 5 is fixed on the frame 3, which cylinder 5 is provided with a piston 15 located between two chambers 25 and 35 containing the fluid. The rotating organ 45 of the hydraulic cylinder 5 is coupled in rotation with the pivot 2 and the two chambers 25 and 35 are reciprocally connected through a pipe 7, with the interpositioning of at least one regulation valve 6 which commandably regulates the flow of the fluid in both directions, or can intercept it totally. The rotating organ is solidly and coaxially coupled to the pivot 2. The two chambers 25 and 35, are therefore connected up within a closed circuit in which the regulation valve 6, constituted for example by a simple choke, when closed can block any rotation of the skip 1 and, when open, can control any rotation movement by the skip 1. By controlledly opening the valve 6 the flow of fluid can be varied, for example the flow of fluid exiting from the chamber 35 and entering the chamber 25. In this way the axial displacement speed of the piston 15 can be varied and, consequently, the rotation speed of the skip 1 about the pivot 2 axis. Obviously, when the valve 6 is closed the communication between the two chamber 25 and 35 is blocked, as is the piston 6 and therefore the rotation of the skip 1. The operator is spared the effort needed in prior art applications and can dedicate his or her full attention to the tipping of the skip.

Claims: Claims. 1). A device for controlling movement of skips in machines for treatment of granular or powder and liquid materials, in which the skip is separable from an overlying treatment chamber, to which treatment chamber the skip is sealingly couplable, and which skip is rotatably supported, by means of a horizontal-axis pivot (2), on a frame (3) mobile on wheels (4); wherein the device comprises at least one hydraulic jack provided with a rotatable organ (45) coupled in rotation to the horizontal-axis pivot (2) and provided with an inlet and an outlet for hydraulic fluid, which inlet and outlet are reciprocally comiected in a closed circuit also comprising at least one regulation valve (6), which regulation valve (6) on command can regulate a flow of hydraulic fluid in two directions, and can totally halt the flow. 2). The device of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic jack is constituted by a hydraulic cylinder (5) having a piston (15) which is comprised between two chambers (25, 35), in which hydraulic cylinder (5) a rotating organ (45) is coupled in rotation to the pivot (2) and the two chambers (25, 35) are reciprocally connected with an interpositioning of at least one regulation valve (6) which on command can regulate a flow of hydraulic fluid in two directions, and can totally intercept the flow. 3). The device of claim 2, wherein the rotating organ (45) is solidly and coaxially coupled to the pivot (2).

Inventors: BARANI RUGGERO, NORA ANDREA, BARANI, RUGGERO, NORA, ANDREA
Applicants: BARANI RUGGERO, IOC OLEODINAMICI SPA, NORA ANDREA, BARANI, RUGGERO, ICO OLEODINAMICI S.P.A., NORA, ANDREA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65G65
IPC codes: B65G7, B65G65