MODULAR BLENDING SYSTEM

• US 3,741,440 A
• Filed: 11/05/1971
• Issued: 06/26/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William I. Sanders Jr
• Original Assignee: William I. Sanders Jr
• Inventors: Sanders, William I. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shannon, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/195,957
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 222/143,181,185,1,132 52/236,650,185,637 259/165
• US Class Current: 222/132
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/84 Falling-particle mixers comprising superimposed receptacles, the material flowing from one to the other, e.g. of the sandglass type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8051 with several silos arranged in a row or around a central delivery point, e.g. provided with proportioning means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/80514 the silos being arranged in a circular configuration, i.e. in a circle around a central delivery point

Abstract

Easily assembled and disassembled modular blending plants are provided having demountable operative units organized to permit ready modification of capability and capacity of the blending plant. The modules are organized into a rectangular superstructure. The operating units are arranged in a predetermined vertical relationship, being supported by platform cross beams of a predesigned organization.

Claims

1. A superstructure for a modular blending plant which comprises:

a plurality of elevated horizontal platforms in overlying relationship comprising;

a first bottom platform having a frame with a block U configuration for mounting a blender over the inside of said block U and discharging downwardly, said block U configured frame having four peripheral right angled corners;

second and third upper platforms in ascending order having rectangular frames with right angled peripheral corners, the corresponding peripheral corners of all of said frames being in substantial alignment;

four outer load bearing pillars supporting said peripheral corners of said block U configured frame;

load bearing vertical columns in alignment with said pillars positioned between corresponding corners of said frames;

said second platform having inner cross beams and connecting rods suspended from said inner cross beams for mounting at least one measuring and feeding means in a position intermediate said first and second platforms; and

said third platform having a plurality of inner cross beams forming a plurality of housings in circular arrangement for housing a plurality of hoppers.

2. A superstructure according to claim 1 having in addition, first, second and third balconies cantilevered respectively from said frames of said first, second and third platforms and a plurality of stairways:

a first stairway extending from the ground to said balcony of said first platform, a second stairway connecting the balcony of said first platform to said balcony of said second platform and a third stairway connecting the balcony of said second platform to said balcony of said third platform.

3. A superstructure according to claim 1 having a platform intermediate said first and second platforms, and having inner cross beams defining an opening through which conduit means can pass from said measuring and feeding means to said blender.

4. A method for building a modular blending plant at a plant site comprising the steps of:

forming at least one rectangular frame and a block U shaped frame member having the same peripheral dimensions as said rectangular frame member;

disposing cross beams in a first said rectangular frame member to provide support for at least one metering and dispensing means;

installing at least four pillars at a plant site to provide load support at the outer corners of said block U shaped frame;

removably affixing said block U shaped frame to said pillars, at said outer corners of said block U shaped frame;

removably affixing at said outer corners of said block U shaped frame, upright load supporting members;

removably affixing on said upright load supporting members said first rectangular frame at the corners of said first rectangular frame;

at a time subsequent to the affixing of said frames, installing blending and dispensing means on said block U shaped frame and metering and dispensing means on said first rectangular frame; and

detachably connecting said metering and dispensing means by flexible conduit to said mixing and blending means.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein balconies are cantilevered from said block U shaped frame and said first rectangular frame and stairways installed from the ground to said block U shaped frame and from the block U shaped frame to said first rectangular frame.

6. A portable fluid processing unit comprising upper, intermediate and lower platforms, first hopper means mounted on said upper platform, second hopper means and a weighing and receiving hopper mounted on said intermediate platform, blender means mounted on said lower platform, leg means mounted on said lower platform to suspend said lower platform above a primary surface, first removable spacer means removably mounted to the top portion of said lower platform and the bottom portion of said intermediate platform having sufficient height to space said intermediate platform above said blender, second removable spacer means removably mounted on the top portion of said intermediate platform and to the bottom of said upper platform to mount said upper platform above said intermediate platform in spaced relation above said second hopper means and said weighing and receiving hopper means, and first conduit removably interconnecting said first hopper means and said weighing and receiving hopper means, second conduit removably interconnecting said weighing and receiving hopper means and said blender means, and third conduit removably interconnecting said second hopper means and said blender means.

7. A modular blending plant allowing for rapid assembly, disassembly and modification which comprises:

at least two elevated horizontally overlying platform members demountably mounted on upright load Supporting beams, wherein each of said platform members has four corners at right angles, and each of said platform members is supported in its elevated position at said corners by said upright load supporting beams;

the first and lowermost platform member supporting ingredient blending and dispensing means;

a second and higher platform member supporting at least one metering and dispensing means for metering and dispensing blending components to said blending and dispensing means;

vertically disposed flexible connecting means operably connecting each said metering and dispensing means to said blending means; and

cantilevered from said platforms, platform extensions, and stairs.