Device for loading pellets into reactor tubes
AssigneeTubemaster, Inc.
InventorsClifford L. Johns, Dennis Patrick McAndrews, Paul Gossen, Christopher G. Johns
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A loading device for loading pellets into reactor tubes has a modular design, which can be taken apart, moved through a manway, and then reassembled simply by stacking one part on top of another. A reciprocating slide plate and a vibrator work together to meter pellets through the loading device and into the reactor tubes.
Claims12
A portable pellet loading device for loading pellets into the tubes of a chemical reactor having a top tube sheet located at a first elevation and a plurality of reactor tubes extending downwardly from the top tube sheet and extending below the first elevation, the portable pellet loading device comprising:
- with the portable pellet loading device positioned above a top tube sheet:
- a bottom plate configured to be disposed proximate and opposite the top tube sheet at a second elevation above and spaced from the first elevation, said bottom plate defining a plurality of bottom plate openings arranged to lie above the top tube sheet and the plurality of reactor tubes;
- a top plate configured to be disposed above said bottom plate at a third elevation above said second elevation, wherein said top plate defines a plurality of top plate openings corresponding to said bottom plate openings;
- a plurality of tubes, each of said tubes extending from one of said top plate openings to a corresponding one of said bottom plate openings;
- a reciprocating plate mounted on top of said top plate, said reciprocating plate defining a plurality of reciprocating plate openings corresponding to said top plate openings;
- a reciprocating actuator connected to said reciprocating plate for moving said reciprocating plate back and forth across said top plate;
- and
- a charging cassette resting atop said reciprocating plate for movement with said reciprocating plate, said charging cassette defining a plurality of compartments.
A portable pellet loading device for loading pellets into the tubes of a chemical reactor having a top tube sheet and a plurality of reactor tubes extending downwardly from the top tube sheet, the portable pellet loading device comprising:
- with the portable pellet loading device positioned above a top tube sheet:
- a bottom plate disposed above and proximate the top tube sheet, said bottom plate defining a plurality of bottom plate openings arranged to lie above the top tube sheet and the plurality of reactor tubes;
- a top plate disposed above said bottom plate, wherein said top plate defines a plurality of top plate openings corresponding to said bottom plate openings;
- a plurality of tubes, each of said tubes extending from one of said top plate openings to a corresponding one of said bottom plate openings;
- a reciprocating plate mounted on top of said top plate, said reciprocating plate defining a plurality of reciprocating plate openings corresponding to said top plate openings;
- a reciprocating actuator connected to said reciprocating plate for moving said reciprocating plate back and forth across said top plate;
- and
- a charging cassette resting atop said reciprocating plate for movement with said reciprocating plate, wherein said reciprocating plate moves openings back and forth under the charging cassette to mete out pellets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.