# US 2009/0260539 A1 · Modular vibratory floor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260539 A1 - Document ID: US20090260539A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/300,547 - Filed: 2006-05-12 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-12 - Inventors: Jean-Claude Poncet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260539A1 ## CPC - B65G 65/44: using reciprocating conveyors, e.g. jigging conveyors - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract The invention relates to a vibratory floor consisting of independent vibratory modules that can be pre-fabricated and are strictly controlled before being put into place in structures for storage or transport of bulk products. Each vibratory module consists of a frame (14) in which a support material (12) is arranged, on which a metal sheet (9) is mounted, said metal sheet being attached to a vibratory element (10) and a stiffener (19) and held in place only by a peripheral sealing membrane (11), optionally supported by compression springs (13). The filling material can comprise ribs (30) for deforming the metal sheet in the form of transversal waves (31) under the effect of the weight of the stored product. The vibratory modules constructed in this way are dust-tight, do no transmit vibrations to the surrounding structure, and effectively drain any lumpy or powdery product from silos, ships, railroad cars, or other containers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular vibratory floor for a walled storage structure (1) supported on tilted faces (33), comprising: one or more vibratory modules (4), wherein each module (4) forms a preassembled independent unit on a frame (14), fitted out with a supporting material (12) on which a metal sheet (9) attached to a vibratory member (10) and to a transverse stiffener (19) rests, the stiffener (19) being housed inside an empty space (20) made in the supporting material (12). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the supporting material (12) is a metal or plastic siding sheet with transverse, round, omega-shaped or prismatic waves (32). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the supporting material (12) is a heat insulator consisting of material lightened by inclusion of air or gas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the supporting material (12) is a plastic material compound with a cellular structure of the honeycomb type. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the supporting material (12) is an assembly of plastic profiles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the supporting material (12) is a ligneous fiber composite. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the supporting material (12) includes in an upper portion transverse ribs (30) with a predefined gap, on which transverse waves (31) are formed in the metal sheet (9) by deformation of the metal sheet under the weight of the stored product during the first loading operations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein compression springs (13) are interposed between the metal sheet (9) and the supporting material (12) and attached in the supporting material (12). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the metal sheet (9) is held in place on the frame (14) only by a connection with a flexible peripheral sealing membrane (11) attached on the perimeter of the frame, and only by bearing upon compression springs (13), the metal sheets of different modules further not having any connection between them. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 9, wherein the profile of the sealing membrane (11) has at one end, a grooved shape (23) fitted and adhered onto the perimeter of the metal sheet (9) and at the other end, a bulge (24) held by rabbets (27) and the corner irons (21) of the frame (14). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the outer walls (1) are those of a ship, the tilted faces (33) being the ballast floor (37) of the ship. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 11, wherein the tilted faces (33) form a double bottom (41) added to the structure of the ship. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein longitudinal modules (39) allow the number of discharge apertures (40) to be reduced. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The modular vibratory floor according to claim 1, wherein the outer walls (1) are those of a railroad car, the tilted faces (33) joining together at their top (34) in the longitudinal axis of the car.