Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
w~ 9~ 80~ 3n/nQnl ~
~ ~ ? ~ ) ~
A TANK CONSTRUCTION IN A BUIK C~RGO TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CONSISTING OF A LORRY AND TRAILER
The object of the invention is `a tank construction in a bulk
5 cargo transportation system consisting of a lorry and trailer,
in which revolving cylindrical tanks equipped with parallel
interior spirals are supported longitudinally on the chassis of
the lorry and trailer, the tanks includin~ oppocite cones with
opanings, the f irst cone being longer having a greater
_ lO reduction when compared to the other, and in which system the
tanks are arranged to b~ placed one after the other by pushing
the long cone of the first tank into the larger opening of the
second tank in ~hich case by rotating the tanks the mass of
the cargo moves from the f irst tank to the second one.
For simplicity and clarity a bul~ cargo of concrete and its
handling is referred to in this application, but the tank
construction and method in accordance with the invention can
equally well be applied to the transportation, mixing,
20 preparation and storage of other kinds o~ bul~ cargoes. other
bulk cargoes of this kind can be, for example, liquid bulk
cargoes, grain, fertilizer, feedstuffs, sand, crushed rock,
salt, and cement. Here the cone and end of the cone forming
part of the tan~ refers more prerisely to truncated cones, in
25 which the point of truncation generally forms the opening of
the tank. The forms of the e~ds of the cones may also deviate
from an exactly geometrical conical surface.
Nowadays concrete is mainly made in separate concrete sta-
30 ~ions, ~rom which it is tran~ported ready-made by road to tha
point of use. At the point o~ use the concrete is either
transferred directly to the casting place or else to a
suitable storage silo, from which it is used gradually.
35 One problem with the present system is that only relatively
s~all amounts of concrete can be brought by road, lorries
cannot be used for the longer term storage of ready-mixed or
dry concrete, because on account of their cost they must be
~0,0/0~,0~ n./n~n~ ! '
continuously in use and when using the present storage
facilities at working sites the more varied handling and
preparation of bulk concrete is not possible.
5 ~ank car systems applicable to railway use., in which rotatable
tanks are connected to one another longitudinally, are ~own
from patent publications US 3,567,190, CH 497,961, and EP
240594. In these each tank has a pointed funnel at one end,
which is pushed into the next tan~ through a larger opening.
10 When each tank is rotated, the bulk cargo is pushed into the
next tank by an internal spiral, provided the direction of
rotation is correct. Tn road vehicle use, particularly in
concrete distribution, systems of this kind are of very little
use. In particular the tank on the lorry cannot be filled and
15 emptied by means of the through-flow system, because there is
no empty space in front of the tank for the opening. Tanks
must be able to be filled by other principles than the
a~orementioned through-flow principle. In general, in road
vehicle use considerably more varied use is demanded than is
20 possible with the tank systems presented in the a~orementioned
publications.
The intention of the invention is to remove the aforementioned
problems and to show a new tank construction that permits
25 varied methods of handling the bulk cargo, it is easily
emptied and filled and in this way is very well suited to the
temporary storage and preparation of bulk concr~te.
The characteristic features of the invention are referred to
30 in the Patent Claims,
The tank construction to be situated on the lorry or trailer
includes a cylindrical rotatable tank with a horizontal axis.
One end of the tank has a conical ~orm on the end o~ which is
35 a ~illing/emptying opening, ~he tank being essentially
additionally equipped with an internal spiral that extends
~rom end to ~nd o~ the tank to mix the mass within and to
empty and ~ill the tank. In accordance with ~he invention, the
WO90/08021 DCT!F'n0~00~14
., ~
filling/emptying openi~g in the conical snd includes a pipe~
like interchangeable point, advantageously made as a conical
cover, the broader end of which is dimensioned such that it
fits the conical end the narrower end of the interchangeable
5 point being essentially smaller than the filling/emptying
opening.
Advantageously the trailer tank is arrangled as a through-flow
tank in such a way that there are co~ical ends at both ends of
l0 it, which act as filling and emptying open:ings always depending
on the direction of rotation, because as the tank rotates the
spiral running round the inside mixes the mass in the tank and
directs the mass to one or other end of the tanX, depending on
the direction of rotation of the tank.
Advantageously an interchangeable point in accordance with the
invention includes suitable locking elements and the conical
end includes counter-elements, in which case the
interchangeable poin~ can be lockQd to the conical end in
20 order to rotate with the tank structure. Suitable bolts,
hinges, hooks, or other locking devices may be used as
locking elements and counter elements. What is essential is
that the interchangeable point is made to remain in place as
an extension of the ~illing/emptying opening when the tank
25 revolves and the mass flows through the interohangeable
points. Inside the interchangeable points a spiral
cDn~truc~ion is arranged to corr~spond to ~nat in the tank,
in which case when the tank is being emptied liquid can also
flow efficiently out o~ the opening of the interchangeable
30 points.
In one adaptation o~ the invention, a ~ointed ~unnel component
is arranged at at least one end of the tank structure for
: ~illing the tank when the interchangeable point is not in
35 place. On the other hand, the funnel component acts ~s a shut-
o~ element, ag inst which the concrete mass for example, can
be mixed.
w o sn/nsn2l P ~ /Flsn/oon
4 .~ _ ~ a~q
A suitable cover, by means of which the filling/emptying
opening of the conical end ~a~ be absolutely tightly olosed,
can also be used as a shut-off element.
5 Because the chassis of the lorry and trail~r have suspension,
it is advantageous if there are locating elements ~etween them
to keep the opposiny oonical ends at the same height.
An advantage of the invention when compared with known tech-
10 niques is that it makes it possible to handle the bulk cargoin various ways. By means of the tank construction large
amounts of bulk cargo can be transported, it is easy to use,
to ~ill, and to empty, it can be used as a temporary store for
various kinds of bulX cargo and it is easy to use in
15 restricted spaces such as building sites, mines, and similar
places.
In what follows the invention is explained in d~tail by
. referring to the accompanying illustrations, in which one
20 tank structuxe in accordancs with the invention is shown.
.
Figure 1 shows a tank trailer and the rear end o~ the lorry
Figure 2 shows a tra ler and the use of its tank when
trans~erring a hulk cargo Figure 3 shows a trailer tank seen
25 ~rom in front
The Iirst tanK s~ructure is formed by a cylindrical tank 3
which is supported by bearings and is able to rotate on top
of the chassis 2 of a trailer 1, both ends 4, 5 of which tank
30 have conical ends 6, 7 and a flange 8 that surrounds the
filling/emptying openings at their points. Spiral 9 runs ~rom
end to end inside ~he tank.
An interchangeable point lO consisting of a conical cover is
35 attached by means of a locking ~lement ll to the flange 8 of
the conical end 6 of the other end 4 of the tank. A spiral 18
is arranged inside the in~erchangeable point 10 as a
corrosponding continuation of spiral 9. Interchangeable point
WO ~0/~8~ n!
5 ~
lO can also be alternatively attached to flange 8 of the
conical end 7 of the other end 5 of the tank strueture~ This
is, however, an unusual method of use. It is much more usual
to have to attach the i~terchangeable point 10 to the
5 correspo~ding conical end 15 of the lorry, which is explained
later in greater detail.
In the case shown in the drawing the rear end 3 of the tan~ is
closed with the filling funnel 12, which i,~ supported by an arm
10 resting on the articulated chassis 2 and is operated by means
o~ a hydraulic cylinder 13. The illing funnel 12 includes a
rubber gasket that presses against flange 8, and permits their
mutual rotation.
15 When end 5 is closed by the filling ~unnel 12 tank 3 can be
rotated in such a way that the mass inside it presses against
the filling ~unnel 12 and thus the mass can be mixed, thus
possibly preventing it from hardening too soon. When it is
wished to remove the mass from the tank the direction of
20 rotation is revsrsed, when the mass discharges through the
interchangeable point 10 or by raising the ~illing ~unnel 12,
when the mass is made.to discharge into the lower ~unnel 14,
to which a channel can be attached to direc~ the mass.
25 The conical end 15 of the tank 19 of lorry 16 also has
available a lower ~unnel 14 and ~illing funnel 12 as well as
its operating cylind~r 13, the manner o~ use of which is the
same as in trailer lo
30 The ~ront of the cha6sis of trailex 1 includes a pin 23, which
~orms, together with ~he guide collar 24 situated at the rear
o~ the chassis o~ ~he lorry 16, locating elements to keep the
conical ends 6 and 15 on the same llne. The penetrating
interchangeable point lO o~ the conical end 15 then rotates
35 c~ntrally. This situation is 6hown in Figure 2. Here the
filling . funnel 12 is first rai3ed, after which the lorry 16
can reserve to connect with the trailer 1. In thi~ way the
O!n80. 1 ~fr~ /n~
~ ~ r
w 'v ~
lorry 16 can fetch concrete from the trailer 1, whi h cannot
be driven right up to the building site.
Interchangeable point 10 includes a rubher flange gasket 22,
5 which during the transfer operation is pressed against flange
17 o~ the conical end 15. This prevents completely any leak of
the concrete mass. Usually the mass does not try to leak, if
both tanks are rota~ed.
10 It is extremely important that the interior spirals 9 of the
_ tanks 3 and 9 extend up to the flanges 8, even though they are
reduced in height at the ends, and that the interchangeable
point 10 also includes a spiral 18. By means of this, liquids,
especially tank washing water are emptied completely.
It is often advantageous at work sites i~ trailer 1 can be
left at the building site as a temporary store. The inter-
changeable point 10 must then be turned and attached to the
tank 19 of the lorry 16, by means of which tank 3 of trailer 1
20 can be ~illed. By using existlng e~uipment tank 19 of the
lorry 16 can be emptied into tank 3 in only 6 minutes, which
allows great efficiency in the trips of the lorry 1.
The ~ront o~ the chassis o~ the trailer 2 includes an in-
25 terchangeable point lifting and lo~ating device 21, which isshown in greater detai} in Figure 3. Lifting arm 26 is sup-
ported by vertical beam 25 around which it runs and up which
it is raised. Turning support 27, by means of which the
interchangeable point 10 can be supported while turning is
30 further jointed to this around the vertical axis.
Above ~ha invention is described in detail by referring to one
advantageous structural solution. The various adaptations of
the invention can, however, be varied in accordance with the
35 inventive idea delimited by ~he accompanying Patent Claims.
.. . . .. . . .
