Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE ()F THE I~lVEi~TION: A C(~NVEY()R APPAf~ATU~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus For receiving
conveying and/or impacting of material in ~Ihich are included
fractions of different s;zes, densit;es~ elasticity, moisture-content
etc,, the apparatus ;ncluding at least one shaftless spiral in ~Ihich
each spiral is disposed in a preferably closed casing and, the sp;ral
or spirals, respectively, in conjunction ~Jith that portion oF the
casing where the material is received, ancl there are provided, at
least for one of the combinations of casing - spiral, counterpressure
members which arrest or brake the movement of the material in con-
junction ~Jith that portion of the casing ~Jhich serves as a discharge
portion for the material.
~ACKGROU~D
Material of the type mentioned by way of introduction needs to be
moved in many different contexts, both in industrial operations and
in, for example, municipal refuse disposal and management (refuse
handling, screenin~s from the ~lastewater treatment plants and so on).
Consequently, such material is handled in large quantities daily and
it is a reality that this handling cannot be effected without meeting
a number of problems. These are because the material is, as a rule,
difficult to handle, for example in that it is bulky and need to be
compacted in order to attain an acceptable level of transport
economy. When the material is ~/et, it needs to be compacted in order
to reduce the moisture-content so as thereby to mal<e for greater ease
of handling. For compacting material of the above-indicated type, the
pr;or art calls ~or the employment of separate compactors or scre~
presses.
One disadvantage inherent in h-itherto employed combinations of
conveyors and compactors is that the combinations require d great
deal of space and are costly. In certain applications, hydraulic com-
pactors are used, and in other applications, screw presses. The
hydraulic compactors take up a great deal of space and operate
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intermittently, which occasions problelns in, for example, the
formation of material "bridges" at the infeed section, ~Jhile the
conventional screw presses find d;fficulty in swallowing the bridge
and plug forming materials here under discussion. This is because the
screw presses have a centre shaft or axle about which ensnaring
material such as textiles~ plastic sheeting, str;ps e-tc. become wound
and cause plug formation in the material flow.
SU~RY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates a conveyor apparatus in which
is included means for compaction of the material beiny conveyed and
in which the above-indicated disadvantages are obviated to a remark-
able extent. The invention relates to a combination of a shaftless
spiral and a casing. The combination of spiral and casing creates a
compact unit of equiprnent which makes for reliable conveyance of the
material and is used, according to the invention, to realise a com-
paction of the material at same time as the material is enclosed,
which entails that the surrounding environment is not affected. In
certain embodiments of the present invention, the employment of
compaction reduces the moisture-content in the material, while in
other embodiments, the compaction of the material constitutes the
basis of a batchwise discharying of the material from the apparatus.
The apparatus includes at least one shaftless spiral which is
disposed in a preferably enclosed casing of, For example, U-shaped
and/or circular cross-section. A drive means for the rotation of the
spiral is disposed in conjunction with that portion of the casing
where the material is fed into the combination of casing and spiral,
while in the other section of the casing, i.e. in conjunction with
the discharge portion of the cas-ing, there is provided a zone in
which the casiny is of a cross-section ~Jhich entails that the casing
completely surrounds the spiral with slight play. ~ioreover~ the
casing is provided with an end region in the extension plane of the
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sp;ral, in which the spiral is not enclosed by the casing and/or in
which a counterpressure member is disposed~
In this zone and/or in conjunction with the end section,
compaction of the material takes place. In that portion of the end
section where the spiral is not enclosed by the casing, there is a
braking or arresting effect on the material which leads to its
compaction. In certain embodiments, the compaction is further
amplified in that the spiral is provided with progressively
diminishing pitcha The spiral is completely free, i.e. is not
journalled in that end ~lhich is directed towards the discharge
section of the casing.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the counterpressure
member consists of a spring-loaded counterpressllre plate wltich is
movably journalled in the upper defining surface of the casing and/or
in conjunction with the discharge opening of the casing. In certain
embodiments, the counterpressure plate is disposed in a receptacle
chamber. In other embodiments, the braking effect of the casing on
the material is amplified in that the casing, most proximal the
discharge opening, is provided with reduced inner cross-section.
In yet a further embodiment, the counterpressure member consists
of a receptacle device, for example a container, a hose etc.~ the
member being shiftable in the axial direction of the casing. During
r~tation of the spiral, the material is conveyed into the receptacle
device, the material moving the receptacle device in the axial direc-
tion of the splral.
In still a further preferred embodiment of the apparatus~ the
counterpressure nlember consists of a shaFtless spiral dispose~l in a
casing, this casing having an infeed opening connected to the dis-
charge opening of the delivering casing. That casing ~hich discharges
the nnaterial is, in this instance, of an orientation which entails
that its axis is directed towards the centre axis of the spiral and
the receiving combination of casing and spiral. The pitch, speed
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and/or radial extent of the spiral blades are, in the receiv-
ing combination, adapted so as to occasion a brakiny of the
material movement before the material reaches the discharge
opening of the disclosed casing. Hereby, it is possible in
such operation to attain a substantially complete filling of
the space in the receiving casing. The substantially
complete filling constitutes a precondition for being able
to convey the material upwardly in a more or less vertical
direction. Thus,according to the present invention, it is
possible to dispose the receiving combination with its axis
directed, for example, horizontally, vertically, or there-
between.
In certain embodiments, the casing is provided with
drainage openings which, preferably, are located in that
region of the casing where compaction of the material takes
place. In such an instance, an orientation of the casing is
advantageously selected so as to entail that the discharge
section of the casing is placed higher than its infeed
section, whereby, on compaction, the pressed out liquid is
conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction of movement
of the material and is drained out from the casing through
the previously-mentioned drainage openings.
According to a still further broad aspect oE the present
invention there is provided an apparatus for conveying and
compacting material including fractions of different sizes,
densities, e].asticity and moisture content. The apparatus
comprises a first conveyor including a casing, at least one
shaftless spiral disposed in the casing, and supply means
for feeding material into the casing. Drive means is also
provided for rotating the spiral in the casing such that the
spiral advarces the material through the casing. The casing
has an outlet towards which the material is advanced by the
spiral. The casing includes a first section in which the
spiral extends with slight play. The spiral has a terminal
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free end disposed in the first section. The casing includes
an end section extending from the first section beyond the
terminal free end oE the spiral and is connected to a second
means having an inlet means connected to the outlet of the
casing. A shaftless spiral is provided in the second means.
The center axis of the shaftless spiral of the second means
is located and oriented so that material fed out through the
outlet of the casing of the first conveyor is cut off by the
shaftless spiral of the second means while the spiral of the
second means is rotated.
According to a still further broad aspect of the present
invention there is provided a method for conveying and
unloading material from an apparatus and wherein the material
includes fractions of different sizes, densities, elasticity
and moisture content. The method comprises feeding material
which is to be advanced into a casing of a first conveyor.
The material is advanced in the casing towards a discharge
outlet thereof by rotating a shaftless spiral in the casing.
The spiral terminates, at a free end thereof, at -the end of
a precompacting section of the casing in which the spiral
extends with slight play. The material is advanced beyond
the free end of the spiral through a compaction zone of the
casing before being discharged at the outlet. The material
which is discharged at the outlet is cut off from the outle-t
by rotating a shaftless spiral in a second means and the cu-t
ofE material is advanced by the shaftless spiral of the
second means towards an outlet of the second means to leave
the apparatus at the said outlet.
The nature of the present invention and its aspects will
be more readily understood from the following brief descrip-
tion of the accompanying drawings, and discussion relating
thereto.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an axial section through an apparatus accord-
ing to the present invention;
Figs. la-c are sections taken along the lines A-A, B-B,
and C-C in Fig. l;
Fig. 2 shows the material distribution in the longitu-
dinal direction of the apparatus;
Figs. 3, 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 illustrate embodiments o~ the
apparatus according to the present invention provided with
counterpressure members for braking the material on its
movement;
Figs. 6a and b are partially sections through embodi-
ments of the apparatus according to the present invention,
in which the casing of the apparatus is provided with
drainage openings;
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Figs. 7a and b are partial sections through ernbodiments o~ the
apparatus according to the present invention, in which this is
provicled, in conjunction w;th its discharge open;ng with a shiftable
receptacle member;
Figs. 8a and b are partial sections through one embodiment of the
apparatus accord1ng to the present invention, in wh;ch this, in con-
junction with its d;scharge open;ngl cooperates w;th a conveyor
apparatus wh;ch includes a casing surrounding a shaftless sp;ral; and
Figs, 9a c show detail of the free end of the spiral.
D~TAILED DES~RIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the invention
in one embodiment which shows the fundamental construction and func-
t;on of the invention. In these drawing f;gures, there is shown an
apparatus 1 which includes an elongate5 tube-like casing 2 in which
;s placed a shaftless spiral 3. At its one end, the casing is pro-
vided with an infeed opening 14 which connects to an upwardly--
directed drum 1~. A motor 4 drives the spiral 3 by the intermediary
of a gearing and journalling unit 30. The other end of the casing
constitutes the discharge portion 18 of the apparatus, which is
provided with a discharge opening 24. The spiral is solely journalled
in connection with the gearing and journalling unit, wh;le that end
of the sp;ral wh;ch is d;rected towards the discharge portion is
fully free.
Seen ;n the axial d;rection of the cas;ng, the combinant of
sp;ral and cas;ng ;s div;ded into an infeed zone 20, a transport zone
21, a precompaction zone 22 ancl a compaction zone 23. The cross-sec-
t;ons through each respective zone ;n the ;llustrated embodiment are
apparent From Figs. la-c. It w;ll he appreciatecl from these F;gures
that the cross-section of the casing in the precompaction zone is
substantially circular and surrounds the spiral with slight play.
Fig. 1 also shows by solid l;ne a relatively abrupt transition
between the transport zone 21 and the precompaction zone 22. However,
;n certain physical appl;cat;ons, the embodiment shown by broken
lines is selected, with a relatively continuous transition between
the cross-sections of the transport zone and the precompaction zone.
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Fig, 2 shows in particular how the material flow ~0 encompasses a
relatively small portion of the cross-sectlon of the casing as long
as the material is in the transport zone 21, and how the material, on
its passage through the precompaction zone, takes up a stead;ly
increasing part of the cross-section in order, in the compaction zone
proper, substantially to fill out the entire cross-section.
Figs. 3 ancl 4a, 4b and 4c show how the combination of spiral and
casing is provided with a counterpressure member 25, 8, for arresting
or braking the movement of the material in th compaction zone 23 of
the casing. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the counter-
pressure member 25 is formed in that the movement of the rnaterial is
braked during movement in the longitudinal direction of the casing,
because of friction against the inner surface of the casing. In
certain physic~l applications, the braking effect is amplified in
that the casing is, in the region of the compaction zone 23, provided
with reduced inner cross-section.
Fig. 4a shows, first, one embodiment in ~hich the counterpressure
member consists of a counterpressure plate 8a disposed in association
with the discharge opening 24 and pivotally journalled in conjunction
with the upper region of the d;scharge opening, and moYable in the
direction of the double-headed arrow A; and secondly, an embodiment
in which the counterpressure member consists of a counterpressure
plate 8b which is pivotal and preferably return spriny~biased in the
upper defining surface 27 of the casing 2. Fig. 4b shows a partial
longitudinal section and Fig. 4c a view taken along the line D-U in
Fig. 4b of one ernhodiment in which the counterpressure member
consists of a split cone 34. For example, the cone comprises two
halves 34a and 34b and is openable under the counteraction oF springs
35 whose spring force is adapted to provide that counterpressure
which is requsite to attain the intended compaction of the material.
Fig. 5 shows one embodiment in which the counterpressure plate
~a, in conjunction with the discharge opening 24, is disposed in a
receptacle chamber 7. In the embodiment illustrated in this Figure,
the counterpressure plate is journalled in the upper defining surface
of the chamber, but the journalling may, for example, correspond to
that of those embodiments as shown in Fig. 41
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Figs. 6a and b show embodiments in which the casing 2, in
conjunction with the precompaction zone 22 and the compaction zone
23, is provided with drainage openings 33.
Figs. 7a and b show embodiments of the present invention in which
the counterpressure member consists of a receptacle device 26,28,
shiftable in the axial direction of the casing and, in Fig. 7a,
comprising a container 26, ~Ihile in Fig. 7b, a hose 28. In this
instance, the hose 2~ is drawn out from a magazine 29. In certain
embodiments, braking means 36 are provided for restricting the
withdrawal of the hose from the magazine. In the Figures, an arrow F
intimates a Force which is counter-directed to the movement of the
container, The arrow represents a device, for example a hydraulic
cylinder. In Fig. 7a, it is shown that, in certain embodiments, the
hose 28 cooperates with the container 26 (broken lines) and is
brought into abutment with the inner surfaces of the container
according as the hose is filled with material from the casing. Thus,
Figs. 7a and b show embodiments of the invention in which the mate-
rial surrounded by the container and/or the hose is compacted.
Figs. 8a and b show one embodiment of the invention in which the
apparatus 1 includes at least one supplementary conveyor apparatus 50
comprising a casing 52 and a shaftless spiral 53 placed therein. The
spiral is driven by a motor 54 by the intermediary of a gearing and
journalling unit 51 and its speed is, thus, for example by modifica-
tion of the gear ratio, adjustable to any desired level. The direc-
tion of the first spiral 3 and/or a central shaft of the discharge
end 1~ of the casing is towards the central axis of the spiral 53 of
the conveyor apparatus. The openiny surface area of the discharge
opening 24 of the casing 2 substantially agrees with the cross-
sectional area of the receiving casing 52, both of the casings being
substantially sealingly interconnected. The conveyor apparatus 50,
is, in certain embodiments, disposed to move the material essentially
hori~ontally, while in other embodiments, movement is effected during
alteration of the level of the material. There are also embodiments
of the present invention in which the casing 52 of the conveyor
apparatus 50 with the spiral placed therein, has a substantially
vertical direction. In this instance~ the free end of the spiral is
directed upwardly.
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Figs. 9a c show embodiments of the free end 31-32 of the spiral
3. In Fig, 9a, the end 31 of the spiral terminates in such a manner
that its blade height continuously diminishes from the inner and
outwardly, i.e. the centre hole of the spiral increases proy-
ressively. Figs. 9b and c show embodiments in which the end 32 of the
spiral is disposed for a gradual reduction of its blade height.
Material which is supplied to the apparatus 1 through the infeed
opening 14 in the casing 2 is moved in a direction towards the dis~
charge opening 24 by rotation of the spiral 3, As will be apparent
from Fig. 2, a gathering of material takes place in the precompaction
zone 22 partly in that the spiral 3, in certain embodiments, has a
smaller pitch than in the transport zone 21, and partly in that the
movement of the material is braked in the compaction zone 23 and/or
by the counterpressure members 8, 25, 26, 28, and 50. As a result,
the material, in the compaction zone, as a rule substantially fills
out the entire cross-section of the casing.
In Figs. 3, 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 braking is eFfected of the movement
of the material in the compaction zone 23 by friction against the
inner wall of the casing in the compaction zone (Fig. 3), by the
action of the counterpressure plates 8a, 8b (Figs. 4 and 5), or by a
combination of friction and pressure which is obtained in that the
cross section (Fig. 3) of the casing diminishes, or alternatively in
that the casing terminates in the cone 3~, (Fig. 4b).
In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 6a and 6bl a reduction is
e~fected of the liquid-content of the material, during passaye
through the precompaction zone 2Z and the compaction zone 23. In many
examples of physical application, the casing 2 is, in such instances,
disposed such that the material is moved sliyhtly upwardly when it
passes in a direction towards the discharye opening 24. Hereby,
drainage of the material will be facilitated, since a portion of the
liquid will pass in a direction opposite tot he direction of movenent
of the material and substantially in the centre of the shaftless
spiral, before the liguid runs out through the drainage openings 330
As a resu1t, it wi11 be possible for the liquid to reach the drainage
openings of the casing in a region where the material has not yet had
time to be compacted to any appreciable degree.
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On movement of material into the container 26 or into the hose 2
cf~ Figs. 7a and b), the container, the hose - or alternatively the
hose in combination with the container - is proyressively forced out
frorn the casing 2 by the action of forces from the material, at the
same time as the material is compacted and then attains, as a rule, a
degree of compaction which is in addition to the previously-attained
compaction.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fi~s. ~a and b, the conveyor
apparatus 50 constitutes a counterpressure member in that the dimen-
sions~ pitch and speed of the spiral 53 have been selected such that
the material is braked in its movement on passage out from the dis-
charge opening 24 of the casing 2. There will hereby be obtained the
desired compaction of the material when this is located in the casing
52 of the receiving combination, and thereby requisite filling of the
casing of the receiving combination.
The above-described counterpressure members are, in certain
embodiments, combined so that, for example, there will be included in
one and the same apparatus, a counterpressure plate 8a, b and a termi-
nating conical portion of the casing; a counterpressure plate 8a, b,
and a shiftable receptacle member 26, 28: a cone 34 and the receiving
casing 52 with spiral 53; and so on.
In certain physical applications of the invention, a braking of
the material takes place in the precompaction zone to such a great
extent that at least that section of the casing located most proximal
the compaction zone will be as good as completely filled with
material. The thus compacted material is thereaFter caused to leave
casing through its discharye opening 2~ in batches whose size is
determined by the rotation of the spiral (the angular alteration
which the spiral undergoes), in COnJUnCtion with each discharge
occasion. Hence, the present invention offers a simple and reliable
technique for the batchwise discharge, with a relatively deyree of
accuracy, of material from an apparatus according to the present
invention.
The above detailed description refers only to a limited number of
embodiments of the present invention., but the skilled reader of this
specification will readily perceive that many modifications and
embodiments of the present invention are conceivable without depart-
ing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
