Method of removing agglomerations of polyethylene from reactor
AssigneeKeibler-Thompson Corp.
InventorMatthew A. Mancuso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of removing a solidified body of polyethylene from a Unipol reactor using a robotic apparatus extended through a porthole on top of the reactor.
Claims17
A method of removing a solidified body of polyethylene from a reactor used for making polyethylene from ethylene gas and a catalyst, the solidified body resulting from overheating of the reactor, melting or agglomerating polyethylene particles into said solidified body, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a reactor having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, said lower chamber having portholes therein and said upper chamber having a top porthole, said solidified body of polyethylene having a surface and contained in said lower chamber;
- (b) extending a robotic apparatus through said top porthole, said apparatus adapted to extend to said surface of the solidified body of polyethylene, said apparatus comprising:
- (i) a shaft extending through said top porthole into said reactor said shaft movable upwardly and downwardly through said porthole;
- (ii) legs attached to a lower portion to said shaft inside said reactor said legs adapted to extend to an inside wall of said reactor for purposes of limiting lateral movement of said shaft;
- (iii) a bearing provided on a lower end of said shaft, said bearing supporting an arm system having a first end attached thereto and having a second end pivotally attached to a clamshell bucket comprised of two jaws;
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- (iv) hydraulic means pivotally attached to said arm system and to said jaws adapted for opening and closing said jaws;
- (c) manipulating said robotic apparatus to cut a portion of said solidified body of polyethylene using said jaws;
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- (d) removing said portion of said polyethylene body from said reactor through the portholes in said lower chamber, thereby removing said solidified body of polyethylene from the reactor.
A method of removing a solidified body of polyethylene from a reactor used for making polyethylene from ethylene gas and a catalyst, the solidified body resulting from overheating of the reactor, melting or agglomerating polyethylene particles into said solidified body, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a reactor having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, said lower chamber having portholes therein and said upper chamber having a top porthole, said solidified body of polyethylene having a surface and contained in said lower chamber;
- (b) extending a robotic apparatus through said top porthole, said apparatus adapted to extend to said surface of the solidified body of polyethylene, said apparatus comprising:
- (i) a shaft extending through said top porthole into said reactor, said shaft movable upwardly and downwardly through said porthole using vertical drive;
- (ii) legs attached to a lower portion of said shaft inside said reactor, said legs adapted to extend to an inside wall of said reactor for purposes of limiting lateral movement of said shaft;
- (iii) a bearing provided on a lower end of said shaft, said bearing supporting an arm member having a first end attached thereto;
- (iv) a first support member attached at a first end to said arm member;
- (v) a second support member rotatably attached to a second end of said first support member;
- (vi) a third support member having one end thereof rotatably attached to said second support member and a second end rotatably attached to a clamshell bucket apparatus comprised of two jaws;
- (vii) hydraulic means rotatably attached to said third support and to said jaws adapted for opening and closing said jaws;
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- (viii) spray means for cooling polyethylene during cutting;
- (c) manipulating said robotic apparatus to cut a portion of said solidified body of polyethylene using said jaws;
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- (d) removing said portion of said polyethylene body from said reactor through the portholes in said lower chamber, thereby removing said solidified body of polyethylene from the reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.