Melting device, melting method, and double pipe

A melting device for discharging a melt of a substance into a tank to melt the substance stored in the tank, the device comprising

• a suction pipe attached to the wall of the tank;
• a discharge pipe attached to the wall of the tank;
• a circulation flow path disposed on the outside of the tank, the circulation flow path having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a plurality of hoppers in which the melt of the substance is to be stored and that is connected to the circulation flow path via a plurality of on-off valves;
• wherein
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of the first end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the suction pipe;
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of the second end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the discharge pipe;
• a pump is disposed at a midway position of the circulation flow path;
• by driving the pump, the melt of the substance that is present in the tank is suctioned into the suction pipe, circulated through the circulation flow path, and discharged from inside the discharge pipe into the tank;
• the entire inside of the discharge pipe is used as a flow path for the melt;
• and at least a portion of the melt of the substance is discharged into the inside of the tank through an end opening of the discharge pipe;
• the plurality of hoppers comprises a primary-side hopper and a secondary-side hopper;
• the primary-side hopper is connected to the primary side of the pump in the circulation flow path via a primary-side on-off valve of the plurality of on-off valves;
• the secondary-side hopper is connected to the secondary side of the pump in the circulation flow path via a secondary-side on-off valve of the plurality of on-off valves;
• and
• the pump is capable of pumping a fluid in a reverse direction;
• wherein the discharge pipe passes inside the suction pipe.

A melting device for discharging a melt of a substance into a tank to melt the substance stored in the tank,

• the device comprising
• a suction pipe attached to the wall of the tank;
• a discharge pipe attached to the wall of the tank;
• and
• a circulation flow path disposed outside the tank, the circulation flow path having a first end and a second end;
• wherein
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of the first end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the suction pipe;
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of the second end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the discharge pipe;
• a pump is disposed at a midway position of the circulation flow path;
• by driving the pump, the melt of the substance that is present in the tank is suctioned into the suction pipe, circulated through the circulation flow path, and discharged from inside the discharge pipe into the tank;
• the entire inside of the discharge pipe is used as a flow path for the melt;
• and at least a portion of the melt of the substance is discharged into the inside of the tank through an end opening of the discharge pipe;
• the discharge pipe comprising a mixing ejector comprising a nozzle and a diffuser;
• the nozzle ejecting the melt sent through the circulation flow path into the diffuser,
• the diffuser suctioning the melt present in the tank through the section pipe by a pressure decrease due to ejection of the melt from the nozzle;
• wherein the discharge pipe passes inside the suction pipe.

A double pipe for discharging a melt of a substance into a tank to melt the substance stored in the tank,

• the double pipe comprising
• an outer pipe;
• an inner pipe that passes inside the outer pipe;
• and
• a coupling;
• wherein
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of a first end of the circulation flow path through a space outside of the inner pipe in the outer pipe;
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of a second end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the inner pipe;
• a pump disposed at a midway position of the circulation flow path is driven, whereby the melt of the substance that is present in the tank can be suctioned into a space outside of the inner pipe in the outer pipe, circulated through the circulation flow path, and discharged from the inside of the inner pipe into the tank;
• the entire inside of the inner pipe is used as a flow path for the melt;
• and at least a portion of the melt of the substance is discharged into the inside of the tank through an end opening of the inner pipe;
• the coupling comprises a cylindrical coupling body and a lever that is tiltably attached to the coupling body;
• a base end side of the coupling body is covered with a tip side of the outer pipe;
• by tilting the lever, the degree of projection of the lever to the inside of the coupling body can be reduced;
• and by tilting the lever in the opposite direction, the degree of projection of the lever to the inside the coupling body can be increased;
• the inner pipe passes through the inside of the outer pipe and the inside of the coupling body;
• a base end side of the inner pipe extends from a base end side position of the outer pipe;
• at a base end side of the outer pipe, a gap between the outer pipe and the inner pipe is blocked by an annular member;
• and
• a tip side of the inner pipe extends from a tip of the coupling body.

A double pipe for discharging a melt of a substance into a tank to melt the substance stored in the tank,

• the double pipe comprising
• an outer pipe and
• an inner pipe that passes through the outer pipe;
• wherein
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of a first end of a circulation flow path through a space outside of the inner pipe in the outer pipe;
• and the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of a second end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the inner pipe;
• by driving a pump disposed at a midway position of the circulation flow path, the melt of the substance that is present in the tank can be suctioned into a space outside of the inner pipe in the outer pipe, circulated through the circulation flow path, and discharged from the inside of the inner pipe to the inside of the tank;
• the entire inside of the inner pipe is used as a flow path for the melt;
• and at least a portion of the melt of the substance is discharged into the inside of the tank through an end opening of the inner pipe;
• the substance is a wax or fat/oil;
• the tank is made of vinyl or a metal;
• and
• the tank does not have a means for cooling the substance stored inside.

A method for melting a substance stored in a tank by using a melting device,

• the melting device being configured to discharge a melt of a substance into the tank to melt the substance stored in the tank,
• the device comprising:
• a suction pipe attached to the wall of the tank;
• a discharge pipe attached to the wall of the tank;
• a circulation flow path disposed outside the tank, the circulation flow path having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a hopper in which the melt of the substance is to be stored and that is connected to the circulation flow path via an on-off valve;
• wherein
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of the first end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the suction pipe;
• the inside of the tank communicates with the inside of the second end of the circulation flow path through the inside of the discharge pipe;
• a pump is disposed at a midway position of the circulation flow path;
• by driving the pump, the melt of the substance that is present in the tank can be suctioned into the suction pipe, circulated through the circulation flow path, and discharged from inside the discharge pipe into the tank;
• and the entire inside of the discharge pipe is used as a flow path for the melt;
• and
• the method comprising the steps of
• taking out a part of the substance solidified in the tank;
• storing in the hopper a melt obtained by melting the substance taken out from the tank;
• driving the pump with the on-off valve being open to supply the melt stored in the hopper into the discharge pipe through the circulation flow path and discharging the melt from an opening at the tip of the discharge pipe into the tank, whereby the substance present in the vicinity of the discharge pipe among the substance present in the tank is melted to form a melt;
• and
• driving the pump with the on-off valve being closed to suction the melt present in the tank into the suction pipe and supply the melt into the discharge pipe through the circulation flow path, and discharge the melt from the opening at the tip of the discharge pipe into the tank to thereby melt the substance present in an unmelted state in the tank;
• wherein the discharge pipe passes inside the suction pipe.