US 5,180,272 AGranted

Device and method for outloading bulk materials

AssigneeCambelt International Corporation

InventorDavid R. Campbell

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Abstract

An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material (11). The apparatus includes a support column (16) mounted at a base into a support floor (25). An auger (17) is attached by an axial mount at the base of the support column for enabling rotational inclination of the auger from (i) a vertical orientation vertical orientation wherein the auger is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of inclination (54), to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation (55) wherein the auger is adjacent to the support floor. The suspension cable (61) is coupled between the support column and auger to enable selective adjustment of auger inclination. A rotational displacement drive (35) is coupled to the support column to rotate the column about its vertical axis, along with the attached auger. A rotational drive motor (51) is mounted at a distal end of the auger. Rotation of the auger, along with revolution of the support column provide for progressive removal of conical layers of surface material with each 360 degree revolution. Continued inclination to the horizontal level enables the total volume of the storage area to be out loaded. A secondary auger (110) removes bulk material from in front of the drive motor (51).

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material, said apparatus comprising:

(1.1) a support column having a top end, a bottom end, and a vertical axis;
(1.2) a base mount configured for attachment between the bottom end of the support column and a support surface within a central section of the storage area;
(1.3) first elongate transfer means for dragging the bulk material along a length of the first transfer means, when buried under the bulk material, toward a dispensing outlet near the bottom end of the support column, said first transfer means having a base end and a distal end;
(1.4) a first support frame having a base end, intermediate support section, and distal end, said distal end being coupled to the distal end of the first transfer means and being adapted with means for supporting the first transfer means during rotational movement;
(1.5) a first drive motor mounted at the distal end of the first transfer means and first support frame, said first drive motor further including means to apply a drive force to the first transfer means when in a buried configuration;
(1.6) an axial mount coupled between the base of the first support frame and bottom end of the support column, said axial mount including means for enabling rotational inclination of the first transfer means and first support frame from (i) a vertical orientation wherein the first transfer means is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of inclination, to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation wherein the first transfer means is adjacent the support floor of the storage area;
(1.7) variable suspension means coupled between the support column and the first support frame for enabling variable selection and adjustment of inclination of the first transfer means by permitting rotational inclination with respect to the axial mount;
(1.8) rotational displacement means coupled to the first support frame for rotating the first transfer means and first support frame about the vertical axis of the support column to thereby provide for progressive removal of conical layers of surface material with each successive rotation;
(1.9) second elongate transfer means having a base end and a distal end, the second transfer means being disposed adjacent and lateral to the first drive motor, for preventing build-up of the bulk material against the first drive motor during rotation of the first support frame by dragging the bulk material along a length of the second transfer means;
(1.10) a second support frame mounted on the first support frame for supporting the second transfer means during rotational movement;
(1.11) a second drive motor operatively connected to the second transfer means for applying a drive force to the second transfer means.

8 more elements

A method for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material, said method comprising the steps of:

(18.1) positioning a support column having a top end, a bottom end, and a vertical axis at a central location of the storage area;
(18.2) securing a base mount between the bottom end of the support column and a support floor contained within the storage area, said base mount providing a fixed vertical orientation to the support column within a central section of the storage area;
(18.3) attaching to a first support frame first elongate transfer means for dragging particulate bulk materials along a length of the first transfer means toward a dispensing outlet near the base of the support column, said first transfer means having a base end and a distal end;
(18.4) attaching the first support frame at a base end thereof to the support column with an axial mount for enabling rotational inclination of the first transfer means and first support frame from (i) a vertical orientation wherein the first transfer means is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of inclinations, to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation wherein the first transfer means is adjacent the support floor of the storage area;
(18.5) coupling a first drive motor at the distal end of the first transfer means and first support frame, said first drive motor further including means to apply a drive force to the first transfer means;
(18.6) attaching to a second support frame second elongate transfer means for dragging particulate bulk materials along a length of the second transfer means, said second transfer means having a base end and a distal end;
(18.7) attaching the second support frame to the first support frame near the distal end of the first support frame adjacent and lateral to the first drive motor;
(18.8) coupling a second drive motor to the second transfer means for driving the second transfer means;
(18.9) positioning the first transfer means in vertical orientation;
(18.10) loading the storage area with bulk material from above the first transfer means to at least partially bury the first transfer means within the bulk material;
(18.11) commencing removal of the bulk material by activating the first drive motor on the first transfer means and the second drive motor on the second transfer means, thereby initiating free fall of stored bulk materials through an outlet port in support flooring of the storage area;
(18.12) rotating the first and second transfer means about the vertical axis of the support column, the first transfer means to remove a conical volume of bulk material and the second transfer means to remove bulk material from in front of the first drive motor;
and
(18.13) sequentially and incrementally lowering the first and second transfer means with each successive revolution to remove successive layers of bulk material.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.