Lock apparatus for introducing dry granular materials into a pneumatic conveying conduit and spray gun for such materials

• US 4,893,966 A
• Filed: 06/29/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernst Meier
• Original Assignee: Roehl Franz
• Inventors: Roehl, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KANNOFSKY, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/212,883
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 406/50, 406/85, 406/93, 406/109, 406/118, 406/96, 406/123-128, 406/130, 406/92, 406/144, 406/151, 406/194-196, 406/119, 406/120, 406/191, 137/624.18, 137/624.14, 137/613, 137/614.19, 137/812, 137/872, 251/5, 251/7, 222/425, 222/436, 222/439, 222/476, 138/37, 138/39, 366/337, 366/101, 366/107, 366/106, 414/221
• US Class Current: 406/127
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/32 Conveying concrete, e.g. for distributing same at building sites mixing concrete on or by conveyors B28C5/34
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/4675 with flexible wall parts, e.g. peristaltic devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/12 acting by gas pressure, e.g. steam pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/04 Devices for both conveying and distributing concrete pumps F04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86413 Self-cycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations

Abstract

A lock apparatus for introducing granular dry material into a pneumatic conveying conduit (32), for example of a concrete gun, consisting of a material feeding hopper (4) having a shut-off valve (6) actuable by a pneumatic working cylinder (8). Beneath the shut-off valve (6) two hose portions (16 and 22) are arranged in series and on each of said portions a hose squeezing means (34 and 38) engages between which the hose portions (16 and 22) form a lock chamber (44) which is additionally provided with a blowing air connection (62). By the shut-off valve (6) and the upper hose squeezing means (34) an antechamber (42) is formed. When the upper hose squeezing means (34) is closed and the shut-off valve (6) opened the antechamber (42) is filled from the feeding hopper (4) by free fall. At the same time the lock chamber (44) can be discharged into the blow conduit (32) by opening the hose squeezing means (38). The uppermost (6) and lowermost (38) shut-off members then close again and by opening the upper hose squeezing means (34) the contents of the antechamber (42) are discharged into the lock chamber (44). The hose squeezing means (34 and 38) operate against an empty hose. The sole material-contacted shut-off member is the shut-off valve (6). The apparatus otherwise comprises no wearing sealing parts.

Claims

1. Lock apparatus for introducing substantially dry granular bulk materials, in particular for substantially dry concrete mixtures and similar building materials, from a material supply means into a pneumatic spray conveying conduit wherein said lock apparatus comprises a lock chamber, a tubular connecting piece communicating with the pneumatic spray conveying conduit, first conduit means interposed between and in communicating relationship with the material supply means and the lock chamber, and second conduit means interposed between and in communicating relationship with the lock chamber and the tubular connecting piece, the said materials passing from the material supply means through the first conduit means, the lock chamber, the second conduit means, the tubular connecting piece and thence into the pneumatic spray conveying conduit, characterized in that:

(a) the lock chamber (44) is positioned below the material supply means (2) and above the tubular connecting piece (30),

(b) an upper hose (16) defines said first conduit means,

(c) a lower hose (22) defines said second conduit means,

(d) inlet shut-off means (34) are provided between said lock chamber (44) and said material supply means (2), said inlet shut-off means (34) being adapted to engage the exterior of upper hose (16) to close or selectively to open said upper hose (16),

(e) first operating means (36) operatively connected to said inlet shut-off means (34) are provided and are adapted to actuate said inlet shut-off means (34) to close or selectively to open said upper hose (16),

(f) outlet shut-off means (38) are provided between said lock chamber (44) and said tubular connecting piece (30), said outlet shut-off means (38) being adapted to engage the exterior of lower hose (22) to close or selectively to open said lower hose (22),

(g) second operating means (40) operatively connected to said outlet shut-off means (38) are provided and are adapted to actuate said outlet shut-off means (38) to close or selectively to open said lower hose (22),

(h) said tubular connecting piece (30) communicates with said spray conveying conduit (32) at a location between ends of said spray conveying conduit (32),

(i) a partition (100) is provided transversely within said spray conveying conduit (32) to define therein a first passageway for said materials leading to one end of said spray conveying conduit (32) and a second passageway leading to a chamber (92) adjacent the opposite end of said spray conveying conduit (32),

(j) a blowing air connection (96) is provided in communication with said chamber (92).

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

(k) said partition (100) extends upwardly through said tubular connecting piece (30) and into said lower hose (22) to a point below said outlet shut-off means (38).

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

(1) the partition (100) is formed in two portions which are secured to each other at a point (102) substantially in the plane in which the upper end of said tubular connecting piece (30) and the lower end of said lower hose (22) are connected to each other.

4. Spraying apparatus for substantially dry concrete mixtures or similar building materials, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of lock apparatuses, each lock apparatus being adapted to deliver such materials from a material supply means into a pneumatic spray conveying conduit, each lock apparatus comprising a lock chamber, a tubular connecting piece communicating with the pneumatic spray conveying conduit, first conduit means interposed between and in communicating relationship with the material supply means and the lock chamber, and second conduit means interposed between and in communicating relationship with the lock chamber and the tubular connecting piece, the said materials passing from the material supply means through the first conduit means, the lock chamber, the second conduit means, the tubular connecting piece into the pneumatic spray conveying conduit, each lock apparatus being characterized by:

(a) the lock chamber (44) is positioned below the material supply means (2) and above the tubular connecting piece (30),

(b) an upper hose (16) defines said first conduit means,

(c) a lower hose (22) defines said second conduit means,

(d) inlet shut-off means (34) are provided between said lock chamber (44) and said material supply means (2), said inlet shut-off means (34) being adapted to engage the exterior of upper hose (16) to close or selectively to open said upper hose (16),

(e) first operating means (36) operatively connected to said inlet shut-off means (34) are provided and are adapted to actuate said inlet shut-off means (34) to close or selectively to open said upper hose (16),

(f) outlet shut-off means (38) are provided between said lock chamber (44) and said tubular connecting piece (30), said outlet shut-off means (38) being adapted to engage the exterior of lower hose (22) to close or selectively to open said lower hose (22).

(h) said tubular connecting piece (30) communicates with said spray conveying conduit (32) at a position between ends of said spray conveying conduit (32),

(i) a partition (100) is provided transversely within said spray conveying conduit (32) to define therein a first passageway for said materials leading to one end of said spray conveying conduit (32) and a second passageway leading to a chamber (92) adjacent the opposite end of said spray conveying conduit (32),

(j) a blowing air connection (96) is provided in communication with said chamber (92),

said spraying apparatus being characterized in that;

(k) said plurality of lock apparatuses are actuable in phase-displaced timing,

(l) an air overflow conduit (90) connects those portions of upper hose (16) above the inlet shut-off means (34) of all of said plurality of lock apparatuses.