Bin arrangement for the collecting and discharging of smaller ligno-cellulosic material

Abstract

The bin arrangement is for collecting and discharging smaller ligno-cellulosic material. The bin has a transition part from a circular section of the bin and downwardly to a rectangular section with a long and short side of the rectangular section. The transition part could be built with few wall segments, thus needing less welding. Two rotary pocket feeders, each with at least one shaft extending parallel to the long side, are arranged directly under the rectangular section, enabling a uniform feed from the bin. The use of two rotary pocket feeders with this design directly under the bin does not destroy the even feed of material through the bin part, which otherwise is experienced from using conventional feed screws that feed material in a transverse direction from the bin outlet. The bin does not need to have a complex bin design which converges to a small circular inlet to a conventional rotary pocket feeder.

Claims

1. A bin arrangement for collecting and discharging of wood chips, comprising: a cylindrical upper part having a cylindrical upper part inlet defined therein, and a conical lower part having a conical lower part outlet defined therein, the conical lower part comprising a circular upper edge, an essentially rectangular shaped lower edge having two first opposing long sides and two second opposing short sides; the conical lower part having a first and a second triangular shaped segment extending from the circular upper edge to the rectangular lower edge, the first triangular shaped segment being substantially congruent with and disposed opposite to the second triangular shaped segment; a first, second, third and fourth curved segment extending from the circular upper edge to the rectangular lower edge, the first curved segment being substantially congruent with and disposed opposite to the fourth curved segment, the second curved segment being substantially congruent with and disposed opposite to the third curved segment, the first and fourth curved segments being different from the second and third curved segments, the first triangular shaped segment being disposed between the first and second curved segments and the second triangular shaped segment being disposed between the third and fourth curved segments; a third and a fourth isosceles triangular shaped segment each extending from the circular upper edge to the rectangular lower edge, the third triangular shaped segment being substantially congruent with and disposed opposite to the fourth triangular shaped segment, the third triangular shaped segment being disposed between the first curved segment and the third curved segment, the fourth triangular shaped segment being disposed between the second curved segment and the fourth curved segment; the lower edge having an opening formed therein, the opening having a rectangular shape with a ratio of the first long sides to the second short sides being in a range of 1.5-4:1; a rotary pocket feeder being mounted directly below the lower edge, the rotary pocket feeding having an inlet (IN) and an outlet (OT) defined therein, the inlet (IN) having a form congruent to the essentially rectangular shape of the lower edge and the outlet (OT) of the rotary pocket feeder on an opposite side of the rotary pocket feeder also having a form congruent to the essentially rectangular shape of the lower edge; the rotary pocket feeder having two counter rotating feeder means for feeding the chips, the two counter rotating feeder means having vanes arranged to rotate the two counter rotating feeder means so that the chips are fed downwardly into pockets of the two counter rotating feeder means and into a middle of the two counter rotating feeder means, each counter rotating feeder means having a rotating axis arranged between the inlet (IN) and the outlet (OT) of the rotary pocket feeder and driven by a motor, the rotating axis extending in a direction that is parallel to the first long sides, and to radially open pockets separated by at least 6 vanes on the rotating axis, each vane running from one end of the rotating axis to another end of the rotating axis and between the second short sides; and the conical lower part outlet being centrally located relative to the circular upper edge and the cylindrical upper part inlet.

2. The bin arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the vanes of the rotary pocket feeder are straight along the rotating axis of the two counter rotating feeder means.

3. The bin arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the vanes of the rotary pocket feeder are axially turned around the rotating axis of the two counter rotating feeder means.

4. The bin arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the vanes are turned so that a first end of a first vane and a second end of a second vane are disposed along a line parallel to the rotating axis of the two counter rotating feeder means.

5. The bin arrangement according to claim 1 wherein lengths of both the first lona sides and the second short sides of the essentially rectangular lower edge are shorter than a diameter of the upper edge; and the surface comprises: two first opposing segments, each first opposing segment being disposed between the upper edge and one of the first long sides of the lower edge; two second opposing segments, each second opposing segment being disposed between the upper edge and one of the short second sides of the lower edge; and four intermediate segments, each of the intermediate segments being disposed between the upper edge, the lower edge, one of the first opposing segments and one of second opposing segments.

6. The bin arrangement according to claim 5 wherein each of the two first opposing segments is flat and essentially triangular having a base of a triangle towards one of the first long sides of the essentially rectangular lower edge.

7. The bin arrangement according to claim 6 wherein each of the two first opposing segments forms a first angle (α1) of 1-10° relative to an imaginary vertical line extending downwardly in a vertical direction from the circular upper edge of the conical lower part.

8. The bin arrangement according to claim 7 wherein each of the two second opposing segments is flat and essentially triangular having a base of a triangle towards one of the second short sides of the essentially rectangular lower edge.

9. The bin arrangement according to claim 8 wherein each of the two second opposing segments forms a second angle (α2) of 5-20°, relative to an imaginary vertical line extending downwardly in a vertical direction from the circular upper edge of the conical lower part.

10. The bin arrangement according to claims 9 wherein the essentially rectangular lower edge has rounded corners.

11. The bin arrangement according to claim 10 wherein four intermediate segments are curved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bin arrangement according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2a-d are different views of the bin as such, i.e. two side views, a top view and a perspective view of the bin;

(4) FIG. 3a-d are the same as FIG. 2a-d, but with feeder means in the form of a rotary pocket feeder;

(5) FIG. 4a-f are a perspective view, three side views, a cross section view and a top view of a rotary pocket feeder according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 4g-h are different side views of different embodiments of a rotary feeder part with straight and turned vanes, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a bin arrangement 1, according to the invention, for the collecting and discharging of smaller ligno-cellulosic material, preferably in the form of chips. The bin 1 comprises a cylindrical upper part 2 with an inlet 3 and a conical lower part 4 with an outlet 5. The inlet 3 and the outlet 5 should preferably be centred with respect to the bin 1. The bin 1 is provided with a rotary pocket feeder 40 at the outlet 5, which will be discussed below.

(8) The bin 1 may also be provided with e.g. a screw conveyor 60 for further distribution of the material. This kind of screw conveyer is typically “starve-fed”, meaning that the volumetric feed capacity of the screw conveyer is larger than the volumetric in feed of material. During operation this is easily implemented by increasing the speed of the screw conveyer. In this way is comminuted material not prevented from flowing through the rotary pocket feeder. However, the rotary pocket feeder could also feed the material straight downwardly to a chute. Further, the bin 1 may be provided with some kind of support 61.

(9) It has been realised that in order to obtain a uniform mass flow in a bin, the added compressive stresses should be of such a size and distribution that the resulting shearing stress exceeds the strength of the material. The size of the compressive stresses is proportional to the diameter of the bin. The distribution of the compressive stresses depends much on the shape of the conical part. Simplified, in a conical part, which is symmetrical in all directions, compressive stresses will arise in all directions, while in a conical part as in FIG. 1, which is not symmetrical in all directions, compressive stresses will arise from two directions, which also results in a larger shearing stress, which results in that the material flows better through the bin.

(10) The details of the conical lower part 4 are shown more in detail in FIG. 2a-d. In FIG. 3a-d is shown the same conical lower part 4, but with a rotary pocket feeder 40. The conical lower part 4 comprises a circular upper edge 6, an essentially rectangular shaped lower edge 7 and a surface 8 between the upper edge 6 and the lower edge 7. The circular upper edge 6 has the same diameter as the cylindrical upper part 2. The essentially rectangular shaped lower edge 7 has two first opposing long sides 9, 10 and two second opposing short sides 11, 12. “Essentially rectangular” means that the rectangle 7 may have straight or rounded sides 9, 10, 11, 12 and/or corners 13, 14, 15, 16. Preferably, the corners 13, 14, 15, 16 of the rectangle 7 are rounded, in order for the material not to get stuck in the corners 13, 14, 15, 16. Preferably, however, the sides 9, 10, 11, 12 are straight, for reasons explained below.

(11) The surface 8 of the conical lower part 4 comprises two first opposing segments 17, 18, two second opposing segments 19, 20 and four intermediate segments 21, 22, 23, 24. Each first opposing segment 17, 18 is arranged between the upper edge 6 and one of the first long sides 9, 10 of the lower edge 7. Preferably, each of the two first opposing segments 17, 18 is flat and essentially triangular with a base 29 of the triangle towards one of the first long sides 9, 10 of the essentially rectangular lower edge 7. “Essentially triangular” means that the corners 25, 26, 27 and/or the sides 28, 29, 30 of the triangle 17, 18 may be straight or rounded, but, preferably, the sides 28, 29, 30 and the corners 25, 26, 27 of the triangle 17, 18 are straight, since that will give cheaper manufacture. Flat opposing segments 17, 18 will also cause a better flow, since there will be only one direction of stress in the flow.

(12) In a corresponding way, each second opposing segment 19, 20 is arranged between the upper edge 6 and one of the second short sides 11, 12 of the lower edge 7. Preferably, each of the two second opposing segments 19, 20 is flat and essentially triangular with a base 31 of the triangle 19, 20 towards one of the second short sides 11, 12 of the essentially rectangular lower edge 7.

(13) Each of the intermediate segments 21, 22, 23, 24 is arranged between the upper edge 6, the lower edge 7, one of the first opposing segments 17, 18 and one of second opposing segments 19, 20. Preferably, the intermediate segments 21, 23, 24 are curved so that a smooth surface 8 is created between the circular upper edge 6 and the essentially rectangular lower edge 7.

(14) The length of both the first long sides 9, 10 and the second short sides 11, 12 of the essentially rectangular lower edge 7 should be shorter than the diameter of the circular upper edge 6.

(15) An arrangement of this kind will give smooth borderlines between the different segments, which also will improve the mass flow through the bin.

(16) Preferably, each of the two first opposing segments 17, 18 has a first angle α1 of 1-10°, 4-7°, to a thought vertical line 32, while each of the two second opposing segments 29, 20 has a second angle α2 of 5-20°, preferably 10-14° to the thought vertical line 32. This gives an essentially rectangular shape of the lower edge 7 with a ratio of the first side 9, 10 to the second side 11, 12 of about 1.5-4:1, preferably 3:1.

(17) In order to give a uniform flow with the least risk of arching or ratholing, small first angles α1 and second angles α2 towards a thought vertical line 32 are better than large angles α1, α2. Also, having a lower edge 7 with a large cross section area is better than a lower edge 7 with a small cross section area. But, on the other hand, it is wished to have a uniform flow through the whole cross section of the lower edge 7, which is more difficult to obtain the larger the lower edge 7 is. Further, long cross sections in the conical lower part 4 are better than e.g. circular or square cross sections. But a long lower edge also requires a more expense feeder means. Thus, these are conditions that need weighing up towards each other.

(18) Preferably, the first opposing segments 17, 18 and the second opposing segments 19, 20 do not meet on the lower edge 7, but the intermediate segment 21, 22, 23, 24 is intermediate also on the lower edge 7, thus shaping round corners 13, 14, 15, 16 of the lower edge 7.

(19) For an optimal flow, the friction of the inner wall 33 in the conical part 4 should preferably be as low as possible. E.g. stainless steel will work. The friction of the inner wall in the cylindrical part 2 is less critical and may be higher.

(20) Not only the shape of the bin 1, but also the rotary pocket feeder 40 for discharging the material affects the result. In order to have a uniform flow of the material, the rotary pocket feeder 40 should preferably feed the material uniformly from the whole cross section of the lower edge 7 or there is a risk that stagnant zones will occur. In the simplest form of the invention could the rotary pocket feeder include only one rotating feeder means. In the preferred embodiment disclosed in drawings the rotary pocket feeder 40 comprises two rotating means 41, 42, see FIG. 4a-h. It is an advantage to have two rotating means 41, 42 that are counter rotating, because the symmetry will increase the probability for a uniform feeding of the material from the whole cross section of the lower edge 7.

(21) The opening formed in the lower edge of the bin forms a rectangular shape with a ratio of the first long sides 9, 10 to the second short sides 11, 12 in the range of 1.5-4:1, preferably 3:1, and directly below the lower edge is a rotary pocket feeder 40 mounted with an inlet IN of the rotary pocket feeder having a form congruent to the rectangular shape of the lower edge 7 and an outlet OT of the rotary pocket feeder on the opposite side of the rotary pocket feeder also having a form congruent to the rectangular shape of the lower edge.

(22) In FIG. 4a-h is shown a better solution which will be less sensitive for different conditions. There is shown a rotary pocket feeder 40 having two rotating means 41, 42 in the form of rotary feeder parts 41, 42 with horizontal and parallel axes 43. The rotary pocket feeder 40 is also provided with a motor 48.

(23) Preferably, the rotary pocket feeder 40 has counter rotating rotary feeder parts 41, 42 and is arranged to feed the material downwards through the vanes 44, 45. The best result is given if the counter rotating feeder parts 41, 42 rotates so that the material is fed downwards in the middle of the rotary pocket feeder 40, between the feeder parts 41, 42. It would, however, also work, but not as well, to instead feed the material downwards at the peripheries of the rotary pocket feeder 40. The rotary feeder parts 41, 42 should preferably be synchronized, so that they rotate with the same speed, but in opposite directions. This may e.g. be achieved with two motors that are e.g. electronically synchronized, or, as in FIG. 4a-h, having gears 51, 52.

(24) There are preferably 6-12 vanes 44, 45, 49, 50 in each rotary feeder part 41, 42. The vanes form radially open pockets separated by the vanes on the rotary feeder part, each vane running from one end of the axis to the other end of the axis and between the second short sides 11,12.

(25) In order to feed the material uniformly from the whole cross section of the lower edge 7, the vanes 44, 45 are preferably axially turned around the axis 43 as in FIG. 4h, but the vanes 49, 50 may also be straight as in FIG. 4g. Best result seems to be given by having a first end 46 of a first vane 44 and a second end 47 of a second vane 45 being along a line parallel to the axis of the rotating means 41, 42. Preferably, the first vane 44 and second vane 45 are subsequent vanes 44, 45. This may also be explained as each vane 44, 45 is turned around the axis 1/N of a turn, where N is the number of vanes 44, 45.

(26) A rotary pocket feeder also treats the material more gently than a screw conveyor. Since the flow through a rotary pocket feeder is more well defined than the flow through a screw, it is also possible to use the rotary pocket feeder for another function, namely for measuring the flow of the material. This obviates the need for a separate means for measuring the flow of the material.

(27) Having also second opposing segments 19, 20 enables to have a lower bin 1, which is cheaper. It also enables a better control of the flow through the bin 1. It further means that the rotary pocket feeder means 40 need not be so long, which is economical. It also enables to have a standardised size of the lower edge 7, so that the same rotary pocket feeder 40 may be used for a number of bins 1 having different diameters of the upper edge 6, which also is economical. In total, the costs both for manufacture and installation will be considerably lower than in prior art.

(28) Further, since this arrangement will make the mass flow through the bin much more uniform, the retention time of the material in the bin and also in different part of the bin will be much better defined. If there is a wish for treatment in the bin, this invention also enables to have a better defined treatment time in a part of the bin, since all the material will spend the same time in said part of the bin. This means that the bin may have e.g. alkali treatment in only a limited part of the bin and thus operate with a cold top of the bin, which is very economical. The invention shall not be considered limited to the embodiments illustrated, but can be modified and altered in many ways by one skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

(29) While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.