Abstract:
A modular plastic extrusion apparatus has several component parts. The design of the integration of those parts into a modular extrusion system is unique. Said design allows for rapid assembly, testing, disassembly and placement into production of extruded plastics. This modular plastic extrusion apparatus has several components with replaceable counterparts that, after one product line of a particular color has been extruded by the apparatus, enable the component parts used to produce the particular color extrusion to be removed from the apparatus and replaced with their clean counterparts to continue producing an extrusion product line of a different color while the removed components are cleaned off line.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is a plastics extrusion apparatus that has a unique modular design that enables the apparatus to be completely assembled and tested prior to shipment, disassembled and placed into standard shipping containers, shipped to production site, reassembled on site and making product in less than 3 weeks after arrival on site. Once in production, this apparatus allows change over from the production of one plastic extrusion stream having a particular attribute, such as color, to another plastic extrusion stream of a different color with a minimum amount of down time of the apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is a modular plastic extrusion apparatus which is easily assembled, tested, disassembled, placed into standard shipping containers, shipped to production site, reassembled and placed into production quickly and easily. The present invention has several components with replacement counterparts that, after one product line of a particular color has been extruded by the apparatus, enable the components used to produce the particular color extrusion to be removed from the apparatus and replaced with their clean counterparts to continue producing an extrusion product line of a different color while the removed components are cleaned off line. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Plastics extrusion is a high volume manufacturing process in which solid plastic material (typically called a resin), in the form of beads or pellets, is continuously fed into a heated tubular chamber or barrel and is moved through the barrel by a drive screw. As the resin is moved through the barrel by the drive screw it is compressed, melted, and forced out of the end of barrel at a steady rate through a die. As the melted resin is pushed through the die, it is formed into a continuous profile having a cross section configuration that matches the die pattern. The melted resin exiting the die is immediately cooled resulting in the re-solidification of the plastic material in the continuous profile. 
         [0003]    Plastic extrusion produces products such as pipe/tubing, weather stripping, fence, deck railing, window frames, vinyl siding, plastic wrap, shrink wrap, and many more. Depending on the end product, the extrusion may be a blown into film, wound, spun, folded, rolled, pelletized, plus a number of other possibilities. 
         [0004]    The typical plastic extrusion machine includes a heated barrel and a drive screw that extends through an interior bore of the barrel. The screw is driven in rotation in the barrel by a gear transmission, which in turn is powered by a motor. A hopper is attached on top of a proximal end of the barrel and an extruder die is attached over the distal end of the barrel. 
         [0005]    In the extrusion process, raw thermoplastic material in the form of small beads or resin is gravity fed into the hopper. Additives such as color additives, film conditioning additives, UV inhibitors can be mixed into the resin prior to the resin arriving at the hopper. 
         [0006]    The thermoplastic beads and any additives drop from the hopper, through an opening near the proximal end of the barrel and into the barrel interior bore where they come into contact with the rotating screw. As the screw rotates, it slowly drags the pellets and additives forward through the barrel. The heat from the friction of the screw rotating inside the barrel, together with the external heating of the barrel melts the plastic as it moves forward in the barrel. Further travel of the resin melt through the barrel by the screw rotation thoroughly mixes the melt. 
         [0007]    The melt is then extruded into the die. The die gives the final product its profile and is designed so that the plastic melt evenly flows from the cylindrical profile of the interior of the barrel, to the product&#39;s profile shape. 
         [0008]    The product extruded from the die solidifies quickly. Depending on the end product, the solidification of the product may be achieved by immersion in cooling water, air cooling, or contact with chill roles. Once solid, the product material can then be wound, spun, cut into defined lengths or pelletized depending upon its intended end use. 
         [0009]    Most plastic extrusion systems are built to be stationary systems. The present invention is a modular design allowing simple assembly for testing prior to shipment; simple disassembly and placement into standard shipping containers; shipped to site and simple reassembly and placement into production in less than 3 weeks after arrival on site. The present invention is unique in this manner and allows plastics producers to then easily move this system to other locations where plastics production is desired. 
         [0010]    Many plastic extrusion processes involve an extruded product having a particular color desired by the end user of the product. Extruding a product of a particular color is accomplished by mixing different colored pellets in certain proportions prior to the pellets being delivered to the hopper of the extrusion machine, or mixing different colors of pellets in certain proportions in addition to pigment additives that are delivered to the hopper to achieve the desired color of the final extruded product. 
         [0011]    A downside of producing an extruded product of a particular color is that once the production line of the particular color product is complete, many of the component parts of the extrusion machine must be thoroughly cleaned before beginning another production line of a different color product in order to prevent the color contamination of the subsequent product line. Extrusion machines that typically produce extruded products of different colors are disadvantaged in that, due to the need to thoroughly clean the component parts of the machines between production lines of different extruded products, there is a significant down time of the machines and an associated decrease in the production yield of the machines. 
         [0012]    Additionally, because it typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes to thoroughly clean the component parts of an extrusion machine, any short cuts taken to reduce the amount of time in cleaning the machine could result in color contamination of the extruded products from one production line to the next. 
         [0013]    What is needed to overcome these disadvantages associated with the typical plastic extrusion machine is a plastic extrusion apparatus that can be quickly changed over from producing an extruded product of one color to an extruded product of another color while reducing or eliminating the possibility of color contamination from the one product to the other product. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    The plastic extrusion apparatus of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with prior art extrusion machines. The unique modular design allows for easy assembly for testing, disassembly and placement into standard shipping containers, reassembly at production site for rapid placement into production of extruded product. The unique construction of the apparatus of the invention enables it to produce an extruded product of one color, and then to be quickly changed over to produce an extruded product of a different color without the significant down time associated with prior art extrusion machines, while also reducing or eliminating the possibility of color contamination from one extrusion production line to the next extrusion production line. 
         [0015]    The plastic extrusion apparatus of the invention is comprised of many of the basic component parts found in prior art extrusion machines. However, the integration of those component parts into a modular extrusion system with the aforementioned assembly, disassembly, shipping and reassembly attributes is unique. Also, in the apparatus of the invention many of the component parts have been modified to enable the apparatus of the invention to be quickly changed over from one color production line to another color production line. 
         [0016]    For example, the apparatus of the invention includes a heated barrel, a drive screw extending through the barrel, a motive source rotating the drive screw, a die head at a distal end of the barrel, and a feed throat hopper at the proximal end of the barrel. However, in the apparatus of the invention the feed throat hopper is one of at least two separate and substantially identical feed throat hoppers that are interchangeably and removably attachable to the barrel. Thus, rather than having to thoroughly clean one feed throat hopper used in an extrusion production run of a particular color before beginning a further production run of a different color, the first feed throat hopper can be removed from the barrel and quickly replaced with the second feed throat hopper to quickly begin the next production run while the first feed throat hopper is cleaned off line. 
         [0017]    In addition, the apparatus of the invention is provided with at least two separate and substantially identical gravimetric feeders that each feed a blend of thermoplastic pellets and other additives to the feed throat hopper. Each of the gravimetric feeders is interchangeably and removably connectable to a lift mechanism that is adjacent the feed throat hopper. Thus, rather than having to thoroughly clean one gravimetric feeder used in a production run of one extrusion product of a particular color before beginning a further production run of a different color, the first gravimetric feeder can be removed from its connection to the lift mechanism adjacent the feed throat hopper and replaced with the second gravimetric feeder to quickly commence a second production run of an extruded product of a different color while the first gravimetric feeder is cleaned off line. 
         [0018]    Still further, the apparatus of the invention is provided with at least two separate and substantially identical bowl containers that each deliver a mix of thermoplastic pellets to the gravimetric feeder being used with the feed throat hopper. Each of the bowl containers is interchangeably and removably received in a docking station having a discharge tube that communicates with the gravimetric feeder. When a production run of one extrusion product of a particular color is completed, the first bowl container providing the thermoplastic pellets for that production run can be quickly removed from the docking station and replaced with the second bowl container having the thermoplastic pellets for the second production run. The removed first bowl container can then be cleaned off line. 
         [0019]    Additionally, the apparatus of the invention is constructed in a manner where several component parts of the apparatus are assembled as discreet modules that can be broken down and fit into a standard shipping container for shipping of the apparatus. The modules can then be shipped to a particular location where they can be unloaded from the shipping containers and quickly assembled to produced the plastic extrusion apparatus of the invention. 
         [0020]    Further features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the apparatus and in the drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the plastics extrusion apparatus of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the front or right side of the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the left side of the apparatus as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the rear of the apparatus and the right side of the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one of the two feed throat hoppers of the apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the hopper of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the two gravimetric feeders of the apparatus. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of two gravimetric feeders that are each interchangeably and removably attached to one of the feed throat hoppers. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of one of the feeder lift mechanisms of the apparatus. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the hopper, gravimetric feeder, feeder lift mechanism, docking station and bowl container of the apparatus. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the component parts of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 , with the parts disengaged from each other. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 13 and 14  are perspective views of disassembled modules of the apparatus shown inside a schematic representation of a standard shipping container. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 15 and 16  are perspective views of disassembled modules of the apparatus shown inside a schematic representation of a standard shipping container. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 17 and 18  are perspective views of disassembled modules of the apparatus shown inside a schematic representation of a standard shipping container. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of disassembled modules of the apparatus shown inside a schematic representation of a standard shipping container. 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a disassembled module of the apparatus shown inside a schematic representation of a standard shipping container. 
           [0038]      FIG. 21  is a plan view of a first upper level of the apparatus. 
           [0039]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a module of the apparatus removed from the upper level of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a module of the apparatus removed from the upper level of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a module of the apparatus removed from the upper level of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 25  is a plan view of a second upper level of the apparatus. 
           [0043]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a module of the apparatus removed from the second upper level of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 25 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the plastics extrusion apparatus of the invention. From  FIG. 1  it can be seen that the apparatus of the invention makes use of several conventional component parts found in many extrusion apparatus. For example, the apparatus of the invention includes an extrusion barrel proximal end containing a drive screw, a motive source  14  that is operatively connected with the barrel  12  and rotates the drive screw in the barrel in response to the operation of the motive source, a die head  16  connected to the barrel distal end, as well as many other component parts such as a water bath  18 , a vacuum pump system  22 , bulk bag unloaders  24 , a fiberglass side feeder  26  and additional pellet feeders  28 . 
         [0045]    Although the extrusion apparatus of the invention employs several component parts that can be found in conventional plastics extrusion apparatus, the apparatus of the invention is unique in that many of the component parts of the apparatus have been modified to enable the apparatus to be quickly changed over from one color production line to another color production line. 
         [0046]    For example, the apparatus of the invention includes a feed throat hopper or hopper  32  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7  that is one of at least two separate and substantially identical feed throat hoppers  32 ,  32 ′ as shown in  FIG. 16 . Each of the hoppers  32 ,  32 ′ is interchangeably and removably attachable to the proximal end of the barrel  12 . Each hopper  32 ,  32 ′ has an interior volume that communicates with an interior bore of the barrel  12  when each hopper is attached to the barrel. Each hopper  32 ,  32 ′ has a top opening to the interior volume and a cover plate  34  that is removably attached over the top opening by a plurality of manually operable clamps  36 . The clamps  36 , used instead of conventional fasteners such as nut and bolt fasteners, enable the cover plate  34  to be easily and quickly removed from the hopper  32 ,  32 ′. Additional manually operable clamps  36  are used to removably attach the hopper  32 ,  32 ′ to the barrel  12  and enable the hopper  32 ,  32 ′ to be quickly and easily removed from the barrel  12  when it is desired to change one hopper for the other. Thus, rather than having to thoroughly clean one hopper used in an extrusion production run of a particular color plastic before beginning a further production run of a different color plastic, the first hopper  32  can be quickly and easily removed from the barrel  12  by manually disengaging the clamps  36  and quickly replaced with the second hopper  32 ′ by attaching it to the barrel  12  with the clamps  36  to quickly begin the next production run while the first hopper  32  is cleaned offline. 
         [0047]    The apparatus of the invention is also provided with at least two separate and substantially identical gravimetric pellet blend feeders  42 ,  42 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . A first of the gravimetric feeders  42  is represented in  FIG. 1  and is shown in  FIGS. 3-5  and  9  removably attached to the first hopper  32 . The first  42  and second  42 ′ of the at least two gravimetric feeders are shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . In operation, the gravimetric feeders  42 ,  42 ′ each feed a blend of thermoplastic pellets and other additives to the hopper  32  attached to the barrel  12 . Each gravimetric feeder  42  has a housing  44  with an interior volume, a removeable lid  46 , an inlet opening  48  through the lid to the housing interior volume, and an outlet tube  52  projecting from the housing  44 . Each outlet rube  52  of the feeders  42 ,  42 ′ is interchangeably and removably attachable to the hopper  32  connected to the barrel  12 . The outlet tube  52  contains an auger that, on operation of a motive source (not shown) of the feeder, feeds a blend of thermoplastic pellets and other additives from the feeder to the hopper. Each of the gravimetric feeders  42 ,  42 ′ is interchangeably and removably attachable to either of the hoppers  32 ,  32 ′. Thus, rather than having to thoroughly clean one gravimetric feeder used in a production run of one extrusion product of a particular color before beginning a further production run of a different color, the first gravimetric feeder  42  can be removed from its attachment to the hopper  32  and replaced with the second gravimetric feeder  42 ′ to quickly commence a second production run of an extruded product of a different color while the first gravimetric feeder  42  is cleaned offline. 
         [0048]    Each of the gravimetric feeder housings  44  is mounted on and supported by a cart  54  by a pivot connection between the housing and the cart. The pivot connection allows the housing  44  to be manually pivoted about a substantially vertical axis relative to the cart  54 . Each cart  54  has a plurality of wheels  56  that enable the cart and the supported housing to be manually portable relative to the hopper  32 . 
         [0049]    The apparatus includes a feeder lift mechanism  62  positioned adjacent the hopper  32  that is connected to the proximal end of the barrel  12 . The feeder lift mechanism  62  is constructed to interchangeably engage with one of the two gravimetric pellet blend feeders  42 ,  42 ′ that has been manually moved on the feeder cart wheels  56  to a position adjacent the lift mechanism  62 . For example, the feeder lift mechanism  62  is provided with a pair of parallel forks that are positioned to engage in channels of the gravimetric feeder cart  54  to engage the feeder lift mechanism  62  with the cart  54  in substantially the same manner as the forks of a forklift engage with a pallet. The feeder lift mechanism  62  is a pneumatic type lift mechanism and is operable to raise the engaged gravimetric feeder  42  to a raised position of the gravimetric feeder relative to the hopper  32  attached to the proximal end of the barrel  12 , and to lower the raised gravimetric feeder to a lowered position of the gravimetric feeder relative to the hopper where the lowered gravimetric feeder can be manually moved off of the feeder lift mechanism forks by rolling the gravimetric feeder on its cart&#39;s wheels  56 , thereby disengaging the gravimetric feeder  42  from the feeder lift mechanism  62 . When the gravimetric feeder  42  is raised to its raised position by the feeder lift mechanism  62 , the gravimetric feeder housing can be pivoted about its pivot axis to position the outlet tube  52  of the gravimetric feeder over the hopper  32  where the outlet tube  52  can be removably attached to the hopper to communicate the interior volume of the gravimetric feeder housing  44  with the interior volume of the hopper  32  and the interior bore of the barrel  12 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the apparatus also includes at least a pair of gravimetric powder feeders  64  that each can be interchangeably and removably attached to the hopper  32  in the same manner as the just described gravimetric pellet blend feeders  42 ,  42 ′. As represented in  FIG. 1 , an additional lift mechanism  66  is provided for the at least two gravimetric powder feeders  64 . The lift mechanism  66  of the powder feeders operates in substantially the same manner as the just described lift mechanism  62  of the pellet blend feeders  42 ,  42 ′. 
         [0051]    The described barrel  12 , the hopper  32  removably attached to the barrel, the lift mechanisms  62 ,  66  and the feeders  42 ,  64  supported on their respective lift mechanisms are all supported on a lower support surface  68  of the apparatus. The lower support surface could be a concrete pad poured specifically for the apparatus. Alternatively, the support surface could be a floor surface in the building of a manufacturing facility, or some other similar type of support surface. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , it is shown that the apparatus includes a second or upper support surface  72 . The upper support surface  72  is supported above the lower support surface  68  and the barrel  12 , hopper  32 , lift mechanisms  62 ,  64  and their respective feeders  42 ,  66  by a structural framework  74 . The structural framework  74  is constructed from different lengths and sizes of conventional structural members such as I-beams. 
         [0053]    The apparatus includes a docking station  76  supported on the upper support surface  72 . The docking station is positioned above the gravimetric feeder  42  when the gravimetric feeder  42  is connected with and raised by a feeder lift mechanism  62  and the output tube  52  of the feeder is connected with the hopper  32 . The docking station  76  has a discharge tube  78  that extends downwardly from the docking station. The discharge tube  78  is removably attachable to the inlet opening  48  of the gravimetric feeder  42  that is held in its raised position by the feeder lift mechanism  62  beneath the docking station  76 . The docking station  76  includes at least two separate and substantially identical tubular sleeves  82 . Each of the sleeves  82  is interchangeably and removably manually insertable into the discharge tube  78  to line the interior of the discharge tube. Thus, rather than having to thoroughly clean the inside of the docking station discharge tube  78  used in an extrusion production run of a particular color of plastic before beginning a further production run of a different color plastic, the sleeve  82  used in a first production run can be manually removed from the discharge tube  78  and quickly replaced with a second sleeve to quickly begin the next production run while the first sleeve is cleaned off line. The docking station  76  also includes a valve actuator  84 . The valve actuator  84  is positioned on the docking station  76  to operatively engage with a valve and selectively open and close the valve. 
         [0054]    The apparatus is also provided with at least two separate and substantially identical pallet mixer bowl containers  92 ,  92 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 , and  11 - 14 . Each of the mixer bowl containers  92  has a top opening  94  and an opposite bottom opening with a valve  96  at the bottom opening that is selectively controlled to be opened and closed. Each of the mixer bowl containers  92  has the general configuration of a funnel having an interior that is communicated through the bottom opening when the valve  96  is moved to its open position. Each of the bowl containers  92  is supported on a cart  98 . The cart  98  has a plurality of wheels  102  what enable the cart and the supported bowl container to be manually portable relative to the apparatus. Each bowl container  92  and its associated cart  98  are dimensioned to be interchangeably and removably received in the docking station  76 . The bowl containers  92  are manually moveable on their cart wheels  102  into the docking station  76  to a position where the valve  96  at the bowl container bottom opening is operatively connected with the docking station valve actuator  84  and the bowl container bottom opening communicates with the docking station discharge tube  78 . With one of the bowl containers  92  positioned in the docking station  76 , the valve actuator  84  of the docking station can be selectively operated to open the bowl container valve  96 . The funnel configuration of the bowl container  92  channels the mix of thermoplastic pellets contained in the bowl container  92  downwardly through the bowl container bottom opening and into the discharge tube  78  of the docking station  76 . The discharge tube  78  then delivers the mix of pellets to the gravimetric feeder  42  currently positioned below the docking station. When the bowl container  92  is empty or when the production run of one extrusion product of a particular color is completed, the first bowl container  92  can be quickly removed from the docking station  76  by rolling the container on its cart wheels  102  to a location away from the docking station  76 , and a second bowl container  92 ′ can be manually rolled into the docking station  76  and connected with the docking station discharge tube  78  and valve actuator  84  to continue with the first production run or to begin a second production run of a different colored product. The first bowl container  92  can then be cleaned off line. Providing the valve  96  as part of the bowl container  92  also enables the valve  96  to be cleaned off line. 
         [0055]    The apparatus also includes a container lift mechanism  112  that is operable to selectively raise and lower each of the mixer bowl containers  92 ,  92 ′ relative to the apparatus, and to selectively move the mixer bowl containers horizontally relative to the apparatus. The container lift mechanism  112  includes a selectively operable electric hoist  114  that is mounted on a horizontal rail  116  of the apparatus structural frame work  74 . The hoist  114  is moveable along the rail  116  from a position of the hoist  114  outside of the structural frame work  74  as shown in  FIG. 2 , to a position of the hoist directly above the docking station  76 . A length of chain  118  extends downwardly from the hoist  114  to a T-shaped hooking assembly  122  that is removably attachable to each of the mixer bowl containers  92 ,  92 ′ to interchangeably and removably attach each of the containers to the container lifting mechanism  112 . The container lifting mechanism  112  is operable to vertically raise the bowl container  92  removably attached to the hooking assembly  112  to a raised position of the bowl container relative to the docking station  76 , and to horizontally move the bowl container  92  into the docking station  76  to a position where the bowl container bottom opening is communicated with the docking station discharge tube  78  and the bowl container valve  96  is operatively connected to the valve actuator  84  of the docking station  76 . When the bowl container  92  is empty, the container lifting mechanism  112  is operable to move the emptied bowl container  92  horizontally to the end of the rail  116  and then to vertically lower the emptied container  92  to the lower support surface  68  of the apparatus. The second mixer bowl container  92 ′ can then be attached to the hooking assembly  122  and raised by the lift mechanism  112  to a position adjacent the docking station  76 , and then moved horizontally by the lift mechanism into the docking station  76 . Thus, rather than having to thoroughly clean one mixer bowl container  92  and its valve  96  used in a production run of one extrusion product of a particular color before beginning a further production run of a different color, the first bowl container  92  can be removed from the docking station  76  by the container lift mechanism  112  and replaced with the second bowl container  92 ′ to quickly begin a second production run of a extruded product of a different color while the first bowl container  92  and its valve  96  are cleaned off line. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 13-20 , it is shown that several of the component parts of the apparatus are assembled as discrete modules that can be disassembled from the apparatus and packaged in standard sized shipping containers  124  represented by the dashed lines in  FIGS. 13-20 . The modules of the apparatus can then be shipped to a particular location where they can be unloaded from the shipping containers  124  and quickly assembled to produce the plastic extrusion apparatus of the invention. Some of the modules shown in  FIGS. 13-20  include the barrel  12  with the preassembled motive source  14  and die head  16 , the assembled water bath  18 , the bulk bag unloaders  24 , the fiberglass side feeder  26 , the at least two hoppers  32 ,  32 ′, the at least two gravimetric feeders  32 ,  32 ′, the feeder lift mechanism  62 , preassembled portions of the structural framework  74 , the docking station  76  and the pellet mixer roll containers  92 ,  92 ′. Each of these separate modules of the apparatus can be disassembled from the apparatus as separate modules and packed in the standard shipping containers  24  for shipment to an end user&#39;s location, and then quickly removed from the shipping containers and reassembled into the apparatus. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 21 , the apparatus includes a first upper level platform that is basically comprised of three platform sections or modules  132 ,  134 ,  136 . The three modules  132 ,  134 ,  136  can also be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Each of these modules  132 ,  134 ,  136  has component parts of the apparatus secured to its platform section. Each platform section with its associated component parts can be separated from a previously assembled apparatus and stored in a shipping container for shipment to another site where the apparatus can be quickly reassembled. For example, the first of the three modules  132  in  FIG. 21  can be separated from the other two modules and the previously assembled apparatus and stored in a shipping container as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . A second  134  of the three modules can be separated from the previously assembled apparatus and stored in a shipping container as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . A third of the modules  136  can be disassembled from a previously assembled apparatus and stored in a shipping container as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . A perspective view of the first module  132  of the three modules removed from the apparatus is shown in  FIG. 22 . A perspective view of the second module  134  removed from the apparatus is shown in  FIG. 23 . A perspective view of the third module  136  removed from the apparatus is shown in  FIG. 24 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 25  is a plan view of a second upper level of the apparatus. This second upper level also defines a separate module  138  of the apparatus. The second upper level module  138  can also be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . This second upper level module  138  can also be removed from a previously assembled apparatus and stored in a shipping container as shown in  FIG. 20 . A perspective view of the second upper level module  138  removed from the apparatus is shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0059]    As explained above, the assembled apparatus comprising its multiple modules can be disassembled separating the modules from the previously assembled apparatus. The disassembled modules can then be stored in standard size shipping containers for shipment of the apparatus to another location. When the shipping containers arrive at the other location, the modules of the apparatus can be removed from the shipping containers and reassembled into the completely assembled apparatus. Because the modules are each comprised of several component parts of the apparatus pre-assembled into the module, the assembly of the modules together to produce the assembled apparatus can be done time efficiently and cost efficiently. The construction of the apparatus of separate modules also enables the apparatus to be pre-assembled and tested prior to shipping. When shipped to its end location the modules enable the apparatus to be quickly reassembled and started up in less than three weeks after receipt at the location. 
         [0060]    As various modifications could be made to the apparatus herein described and illustrated without parting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all of the matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.