Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
1 1$6'198
--1--
IMPROVED HOPPER AND BAG FILLING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVE~TION
The present invention relates to an improved
hopper and bag filling device for finely-divided solid
materials.
Concern for the environment in recent years has
become an important factor in the development and modi-
fication of industrial processes. Finely-divided par-
ticulate materials have alway~ presented problems in
collecting, handling and disposal because of dusting.
Heretofore, many industrial dusts and grinding wastes
have been wetted, usually with water, during collec-
tion to ~educe dusting and are recovered in the form of
a sludge. The added weight of the water mùst be con-
sidered in the transportation cost of the sludge to the
ultimate disposal site, and the ~ludge or muck requires
additiohal labor to load and unload from the transporta-
tion vehicle. Subsequent drying of the sludge frees
the particles, and the problem of dusting reoccurs, but
at locations other than the collection point.
Many of the modifications of industrial processes
in recent times have been to improve the environment by
the removal and collection, commonly by electrolytlc
115~198
means, of finely-divided particulate materials from
smoke, fumes or dusts which previously have been allowed
to escape into the atmosphere. Thus, the demand for an
efficient method of handling and disposing of finely-
divided solid materials, such as fly ash, finely-divided
carbon, industrial dusts and grinding wastes, is
increasing as more and more of such materials are being
collected at the point at which they were formerly
released.
The present invention i9 particularly adapted to
the collection, storing, transporting and disposal of
finely-divided particulate materials which are easily
distributed or dispersed in a gaseous medium, such as
air. The ratio of surface area to volume of the par-
ticles is generally large. Generally! the particles
range in ~ize from about 0.2 to about 50 microns. Mate-
rials composed of finely-divided particles have charac-
teristics of a fluid, which complicates the problem of
handling, as a small flow of the material results in
dusting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present hopper is designed to be placed at
or near a source of finely-divided particulate material
1 156198
and utilized as a primary collector or receiver. After
filling and sealing, the present hopper is readily trans-
portable to a suitable disposal site. At the disposal
site, a bag, suitably of heavy polyvinylchloride, is
detachably secured to the discharge or chute end of the
hopper. The hopper i9 then tipped to allow the hopper
contents to flow into the bag in a controlled manner.
Subsequently, the bag is detached from the hopper,
sealed and preferably buried or covered over with earth.
The present hopper is comprised of an enclosed
module having a top, a bottom, sides and at least one
discharge end. The module top has an opening therein to
receive a supply of finely-divided solid material. The
,P
discharge end is comprised of a substantially planar
bottom wall portion which extends outward from the
bottom of the module to a height of at least 30 percent
of that of the module and, more preferably, to a height
between about 40 to about 60 percent of the module. The
top portion of the discharge end is comprised of a sub-
stant`ially planar cover member which is pivotably
attached to the module top and extends to meet the
sides of the module and the top of the bottom wall por-
tion of the discharge end.
.
115619~
The module has a portion around the periphery of
the top, sides and bottom contiguous to the discharge
end to receive and provide a sealing surface for a bag
mouth. Preferably, the surface is substantially planar
to facilitate receiving the bag mouth and allow the bag
to completely enclose the discharge end and be exter-
nally attached to the body of the module, suitably by
tightening a strap means around the bag mouth.
The top portion of the module may have a filter
thereon adapted to allow air to pass through, but to
prevent the passage of finely-divided solid materials.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the present
hopper showing the enclosed module in position to be
filled or transported.
Figure 2 is a front elevation in the position of
Figure 1, showing the discharge end.
Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the hopper
at the disposal site in position to discharge the con-
tents into a receptical, such as a bag.
Looking now at Figure~ 1 and 2, the hopper is an
enclosed module having a substantially flat planar top
portion 11 and bottom portion 13. The front or discharge
1156198
end of the hopper, generally shown as 15 consists of a
substantially planar bottom wall portion 17 extending
outward from bottom 13 at an angle of about 44. Pre-
ferably, this angle ranges from about 30 to about 70
and, more preferably, between about 35 and about 60
and, most preferably, between about 40 and about 50.
The top portion of discharge end 15 consists of cover
19 pivotably or hingeably attached to top 11 and exten-
ding to meet the top of bottom wall 17 and the module
sides.
As shown, the rear 21, which is the end of the
module opposite the discharge end lS, also ha~ a sub-
stantially planar tapered-wall portion 23, similar to
wall portion 17 of the discharge end. This configura-
tion is preferred, in that it facilitates a controlled
flow of the module contents through the discharge end
when the rear of the module i3 raised. However, to per-
form the primary function, that of receiving, storing
and discharging finely-divided materials, the top and
rear end of the present module may be fabricated of
other cGnfigurations, e.g., top portion 11 may be bowed
or curved upward and rear end 21 may be square or
rounded, provided the top and rear ends are substan-
tially air tight and, most preferably, rigid~
.. . ... _ ,
1 1516198
Top portion 11 has at least one intake port 25,
preferably closeable, adapted to be attached in a 3ub-
stantially air-tight manner to a pipe or conduit (not
shown) to receive the finely-divided particulate mate-
rial. Top portion 11 may be equipped with a filter
port 27 housing a filter 29, preferably of a disposable
type, which will allow the air to pass through and
which will not pa~s the finely-divided particles~
After filling, the module is disconnected from
the source of finely-divided particulate material, the
intake port 25 closed or sealed and the unit trans-
ported to the disposal site.
Figure 3 shows the`hopper at the disposal site.
Container 39, suitably a thicX polyvinylchloride bag, is
detachably secured around the periphery of the module
contiguous to the discharge end of the module by strap
33. Preferably, the container 39 has been previously
positioned in a hole or ditch so that, after filling,
it may be buried without further handling or movement.
Rear end 21 of the module is raised, suitably by a lift
truck or crane, allowing discharge cover 19 to open by
force of gravity and the contents of the module to flow
along the inner face of outward extending wall 17 which,
with the ~ide walls 3~ and 37, forms a chute directing
It56198
-7-
the material i.n a controlled manner into bag 39. As
can be seen from F~gure 3, cover 19 acts as a damper on
the material flowing from the module. When the module
is full and the end opposite the discharge end is ele-
vated, cover 19 tends to stay in place by gravity until
the module is tilted to a point where coVer 19 opens by
gravity, allowing a flow of material into bag 39. As
the module is gradually tilted, cover 19 by gravity
gradually opens further, allowing additional flow of
material into bag 39. Thus, in the initial portion of
the.discharge operation, the discharge opening is rela-
tively small, when the head of material in the module
is large, and, as the head decreases, the discharge
opening becomes larger. The result is that discharge
into bag 39 is relatively uniform and substantially
continuous, safeguarding against surges which may cause
bag rupture.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the end
of module 11 opposite the discharge end has a tapered
bottom wall portion 23, as shown in Fi~ures 1 and 2, to
facilitate a smooth, uniform flow of material from the
module.
While the module may be constructed of a number
of materials, for example, sheet metals, fiber glass or
1 156~98
plastic, depending upon the type and under what condi-
tions the finel~-divided feed materials are to be
collected, sheet steel or iron are the most economical
an~ versatile and are the preferred materials of con-
struction.
After bag 39 has received the contents of the
module, the mouth of bag 39 i8 detached from the module
and the bag sealed. The fil7ed bag may be then buried
in situ without further handling and the module
redelivered to the source of finely-divided material
to receive another load.
The foregoing description and embodiments are
intended to illustrate the invention without limiting
it thereby. It will be understood that various modifi-
cations can be made in the invention without departing
from the spirit or scope thereof.
