Vessel balance

• US 5,038,973 A
• Filed: 03/16/1989
• Issued: 08/13/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Buhler AG (Buhler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Sulzer AG
• Inventors: Gmur, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/325,018
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 222/77, 222/55-58, 222/502, 222/503, 222/185, 222/504, 222/556, 222/559-562, 177/DIG. 9, 177/50, 177/244, 177/60, 177/64, 177/66, 177/25.11, 177/25.12
• US Class Current: 222/56
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/242 in measured doses
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/28 for measuring, controlling or regulating, e.g. viscosity control B29B7/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/60 for feeding, e.g. end guides for the incoming material B29B7/7615 takes precedence; feeding predetermined amounts for mixing in general B01F35/714
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/72 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/003 Details; specially adapted accessories details of weighing apparatus in general G01G21/00; auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus in general G01G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/086 of the loss-in-weight feeding type
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/18 using digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/18 by valves or flaps in the container bottom
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/248 Continuous control of flow of material control of flow G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 177/09 Scale bearings

Abstract

Vessel balance for bulk material having a tubular balance section for feed therethrough of bulk material. The balance is adapted during feed intervals of the bulk material to enable determination of the weight thereof. The section cooperates with a feed flap adjacent one of its ends to govern entry of the material into the section and has a closing member at an opposite end. The section and member are supported by at least two weight measuring elements carried by a fixed platform.

Claims

1. Continuous bulk material weighing device, comprising:

a weighing container open at a top and a bottom thereof;

a bulk material feed line for feeding the material into said weighing container;

a bulk material discharge line for discharging the material from said container;

said weighing container being tubular and having a substantially constant cross-section adapted to a cross-section of said feed line and said discharge line, respectively;

a shut-off member connected to said weighing container for closing and opening said bottom thereof;

at least two weight-measuring elements connected to said container and circumferentially spaced-apart around said container; and

a vertically adjustable platform connected to said weight measuring elements so that said container is suspended on said platform by means of said weight-measuring elements.

3. The weighing device according to claim 1, and further comprising means connecting said weight-measuring elements to said container, said connecting means each including a suspension pendulum carrying a respective weight-measuring element and having a bottom, a rubber damping bush positioned on the bottom of said pendulum and connected to said container, and a ball joint connected to said respective weight-measuring element and provided on a top of said pendulum.

4. The weighing device according to claim 1, and further comprising electrical-electronic measured-value detection elements, a computer unit and control members all connected to said weight-measuring elements.

5. The weighing device according to claim 1, which is constructed as a housingless weigher.

6. The weighing device according to claim 1, and further comprising a control box and pneumatic valves fastened directly on said control box which is fixed to said platform.

7. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the weighing container is substantially equal to the cross-section of the feed line leading to the weighing container and is substantially equal to the cross-section of the discharge line leading away from the weighing container.

8. The weighing device according to claim 1, and further comprising at least three columns supporting said platform, said platform being fastened to said columns at a selectable height.

9. The weighing device according to claim 8, wherein said columns are supported on the ground.

10. The weighing device according to claim 8, wherein said columns are suspended from a ceiling.

11. The weighing device according to claim 1, and further comprising a feed flap positioned at said top of said container for opening and closing said top.

12. The weighing device according to claim 11, and further comprising control means for said shut-off member and said feed flap.

13. The weighing device according to claim 11, wherein a feeding space is formed in said container in the region of the feed flap and a product-discharge space is formed in said container in the region below said shut-off member, said feeding and product-discharge spaces being connected to each other via a pressure-equalizing pipe for equalization of compressed air between the feeding space and the product-discharge space.

14. The weighing device according to claim 11, wherein a flap space is provided at the bottom of said container.

15. The weighing device according to claim 14, wherein the shut-off member is mounted at the flap space and is designed as two double-bottom flaps, each of which is hinged about an axis running approximately through a central axis of said container.

16. The weighing device according to claim 15, wherein each double-bottom flap is provided with an individual control cylinder.

17. The weighing device according to claim 11, wherein a feeding space and a product-discharge space are provided at said container, said container being connected to the feeding space and the product-discharge space by a flexible sleeve in each case, and wherein corresponding transitional cross-sections between the container and each space has an equal area.

18. The weighing device according to claim 17, wherein the feeding space is constructed as a feed-head unit with said feed flap and is supported directly on said platform.

19. The weighing device according to claim 17, wherein the product-discharge space is constructed as a collecting compartment and is fastened to said platform.

20. The weighing device according to claim 17, wherein the product-discharge space is constructed as an intermediate compartment at said container and is fastened to said platform.

2. The weighing device according to claim l, wherein three said weight-measuring elements are provided.