Unloading device, unloading process and unloaded powder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9815638-B2
Application number	US-201214233001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2012
Priority date	Jul 22, 2011
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

Device for unloading a powder from standardized bulk containers equipped with an inner liner, the device comprising a collection unit suitable for being tightly fixed on the container and suitable for being in fluid communication with the interior of the liner; a shearing unit, in fluid communication with the collection unit, comprising shearing means for shearing the powder; and a separate delivering unit, in down stream fluid communication with the shearing unit, the delivering unit comprising an output suitable for connecting pneumatic unloading means.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for unloading a powder from a bulk container equipped with an inner liner having an interior, comprising:
a collection unit;
a shearing unit, in fluid communication with said collection unit, comprising shearing means for shearing a powder, wherein said shearing unit comprises selection means to retain said powder in said shearing unit until said powder is free flowing; and
a separate delivering unit, in down stream fluid communication with said shearing unit, said delivering unit comprising an output for connecting to pneumatic unloading means, and said delivering unit comprising an air lock upstream of said output and downstream of said shearing unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said collection unit comprises an access to said inner liner of said bulk container while said collection unit is tightly fixed on said bulk container.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said shearing unit comprises conveying means to convey said powder from said collection unit to said shearing unit.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein said conveying means comprise a screw conveyor.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein said screw conveyor comprises a left hand part and a right hand part placed on both sides of said shearing means.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein said screw conveyor has flights which comprise notches to impart a preliminary shear and mixing of the powder during its conveying towards said shearing means.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said shearing means comprises at least one rotating breaker bar.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein said shearing unit integrates, in a single element, said at least one rotating breaker bar, a left hand screw conveyor part and a right hand screw conveyor part, all of which are mounted on the same rotating axis.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein said shearing means comprises an assembly of from 2 to 5 rotating breaker bars having a length/diameter ratio of at least 3.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said delivering unit comprises pneumatic unloading means downstream of said output.

11. The device according to claim 1 , being tightly fixed on the bulk container by way of locks.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the locks are twist locks.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said selection means comprises a sieve.

14. A process for unloading a powder from a bulk container equipped with an inner liner, comprising tightly fixing the device according to claim 1 on said bulk container, wherein said powder is collected by said collection unit, then sheared in said shearing unit and delivered in a silo through pneumatic output means connected to the output of said delivering unit.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein said powder is a sodium bicarbonate powder.

16. The process according to claim 14 , wherein said powder has an angle of repose greater than 35°.

17. The process according to claim 14 , wherein said powder is sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, starch, soybean meal, or fish meal.

18. A device for unloading a powder from a bulk container equipped with an inner liner having an interior, comprising:
a collection unit;
a shearing unit, in fluid communication with said collection unit, comprising shearing means for shearing a powder; and
a separate delivering unit, in down stream fluid communication with said shearing unit, said delivering unit comprising an output for connecting to pneumatic unloading means, and said delivering unit comprising an air lock upstream of said output and downstream of said shearing unit, wherein said delivering unit comprises a secondary valve upstream of said air lock, said secondary valve comprising means to recover leakage air exiting from said air lock.

19. A process for unloading a powder from a bulk container equipped with an inner liner, comprising tightly fixing the device according to claim 18 on said bulk container, wherein said powder is collected by said collection unit, then sheared in said shearing unit and delivered in a silo through pneumatic output means connected to the output of said delivering unit.

20. The process according to claim 19 , wherein said powder is sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, starch, soybean meal, or fish meal.

Assignees

• Piret Fabien
• Lejeune Kris
• Andersen Hans
• Solvay

Inventors

• Piret Fabien
• Lejeune Kris
• Andersen Hans

Classifications

• B65G53/48 Primary

  Screws or like rotary conveyors · CPC title

• B60P1/42 Primary

  mounted on the load-transporting element · CPC title

• B65G53/50

  Pneumatic devices (incorporated in nozzles B65G53/42) · CPC title