Air assisted gravity sweep conveyor
OwnerJohn D. Wilhaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for removing residual deposits from storage vessels by moving the deposits radially inwardly to a central outlet in the floor of the vessel. The device includes a sweep arm pivotably connected about the central outlet at its inner end and extending outwardly generally parallel with the floor. The sweep arm includes a ramp which plows the deposits up onto a perforated platform which is sloped inwardly towards the outlet. Air pressure is provided into a plenum chamber under the platform so as to create a bearing for the deposits to transverse from the platform to the outlet. A motive drive force is provided so as to pivot the sweep arm about the central outlet thereby plowing the deposits from the floor to the platform and conveying them into the outlet.
Claims44
A device for moving residual deposits radially inward to a central outlet in a storage vessel, said vessel having a wall forming a cylindrical chamber and a floor, said device comprising:
- a hub located centrally on the floor;
- a sweep arm attached at one end to said hub and extending radially outwardly over the floor to the wall;
- said hub being rotatable whereby said sweep arm sweeps substantially the entire surface of said floor;
- said sweep arm having a ramp up surface along its leading edge for transporting the deposits from the floor to an air conveyor positioned generally atop said sweep arm;
- means for pressurizing said conveyor to direct said deposits from said arm to said hub;
- and
- means for driving said arm about said hub.
A portable device for moving residual deposits radially inward to a central outlet in the floor of a storage vessel, comprising:
- a sweep arm detachably and rotatably mounted at its inner end to said outlet for rotation thereby, said arm extending outwardly and being operative to rotate about its inner connection, said arm having a perforated deck positioned generally on its top;
- a ramping member positioned on a leading edge of said arm;
- a means for supplying air through said perforated deck;
- and
- a means for rotating said sweep arm about said outlet whereby said residual deposits are ramped onto said deck and conveyed to said outlet.
An apparatus for transporting the residual material, left in a storage vessel after emptying said material through a central outlet in the floor, from the floor to the central outlet, comprising:
- a sweep arm having a top, a bottom, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first end, and a second end, said sweep arm pivotably mounted at its first end about said outlet for rotation thereby and being operative to pivot about said outlet;
- a perforated deck on said top of said sweep arm having a plenum chamber positioned underneath, said deck generally transversing a length of said sweep arm from said first to said second end;
- a ramping member on said leading edge, said ramping member generally transversing said length;
- a means for supplying air pressure into said chamber for release through said perforated deck;
- and
- a means for rotating said arm about said outlet whereby said material is ramped onto said deck and conveyed to said outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.