Abstract
A passive food screen device (1) for flour in a delivery flow comprising: a housing (2) with a housing inlet (3) and a housing outlet (4); a closed screen insert (5) arranged substantially within the housing (2) such that a spatial area (6) is formed between the inner wall (7) of the housing (2) and the outer wall (8) of the screen insert (5) and screen elements (9) of the screen insert (5) are arranged substantially parallel to the main conveying direction (F); and a hose coupling (10) on the housing inlet (3) and/or on the housing outlet (4). The food screen device allows a high delivery capacity, and, by virtue of its narrow design, can be carried on a silo vehicle and used as a control screen when delivering flour. The food screen device (1) is designed such that the flour can be moved in an air delivery stream.
Claims
1. A passive foodstuff screen device for flour in a conveying flow, comprising: a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet; a closed screen insert disposed so as to be substantially within the housing in such a manner that: i. a spatial region is formed between the internal wall of the housing and the external wall of the screen insert; ii. one or more screen elements of the screen insert is/are disposed so as to be substantially parallel with the main conveying direction; a hose coupling on the housing inlet and/or on the housing outlet, wherein the hose coupling is configured as a firefighting coupling; wherein the foodstuff screen device is configured in such a manner that the flour is capable of being driven in a conveying flow of air through the one or more screen elements, whereby solid particulate matter may be removed from the flow of air and flour.
2. The screen device according to in claim 1, wherein the hose coupling is configured as a Storz coupling.
3. The screen device according to in claim 1, wherein said screen device has a weight of below 25 kg.
4. The screen device according to in claim 1, wherein said screen device has a construction length in the range from 5 cm to 1 m.
5. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein the internal wall of the housing has a diameter that is in the range from 11 cm to 35 cm.
6. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein the spatial region is configured so as to be one of substantially cylinder-barrel shaped, cone-shell shaped, or truncated cone-shell shaped.
7. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein external installations for flow direction are disposed in the spatial region.
8. The screen device according to claim 7, wherein external installations for flow direction are helically configured.
9. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein at least one internal installation for flow direction is disposed within the screen insert.
10. The screen device according to claim 9, wherein one internal installation or a plurality of internal installations is/are disposed in a substantially cone-shaped or truncated cone-shaped manner on an axle along the main conveying direction, and shell surface(s) of the internal installation(s) is/are aligned in the main conveying direction in such a manner that said shell surface(s) causes/cause deflection in the direction of the one or more the screen elements.
11. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a lockable cover which enables the housing to be opened in such a manner that the screen insert is retrievable from the housing.
12. The screen device according to claim 11, wherein the lockable cover is arranged in a region of the housing inlet.
13. The screen device according to claim 11, wherein the lockable cover is a removable cover or a flap or a pivot cover.
14. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein the housing inlet is disposed in a tangential manner.
15. The screen device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one viewing window through which the flour flowing through the screen insert is visible.
16. A method of using a foodstuff screen device according to claim 1 as a screen device which is capable of being conjointly carried on a silo vehicle, comprising the step of pneumatically conveying flour through the screen device.
17. The foodstuff screen device according to claim 1, wherein the foodstuff screen device is installed on a silo vehicle.
18. A method for unloading a silo vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: establishing a fluid connection between an outlet of the silo vehicle and an inlet of a silo in such a manner that the fluid connection comprises a foodstuff screen device as claimed in claim 1; and pneumatically conveying a payload from the silo vehicle through the screen device into the silo.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the foodstuff screen device is retrieved from a stowage compartment of the silo vehicle and incorporated into the fluid connection.
Description
(1) The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder by means of exemplary embodiments and figures, without limiting the subject matter of the invention to the embodiments shown. In the figures:
(2) FIG. 1a shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment according to the invention of a screen device in the cross section;
(3) FIG. 1b shows a three-dimensional sectional drawing of the first embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(4) FIG. 1c shows a three-dimensional overall view of the first embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(5) FIG. 1d shows a cross section of the screen insert of the first embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(6) FIG. 2a shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment according to the invention of a screen device in the cross section;
(7) FIG. 2b shows a three-dimensional sectional drawing of the second embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(8) FIG. 2c shows a three-dimensional overall view of the second embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(9) FIG. 2d shows a three-dimensional overall view of the screen insert of the second embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(10) FIG. 3a shows a schematic illustration of a third embodiment according to the invention of a screen device in the cross section;
(11) FIG. 3b shows a three-dimensional sectional drawing of the third embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(12) FIG. 3c shows a three-dimensional overall view of the third embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(13) FIG. 3d shows a cross section of the screen insert of the third embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(14) FIG. 4a shows a schematic illustration of a fourth embodiment according to the invention of a screen device in the cross section;
(15) FIG. 4b shows a three-dimensional sectional drawing of the fourth embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(16) FIG. 4c shows a three-dimensional overall view of the fourth embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(17) FIG. 4d shows a three-dimensional overall view of the screen insert of the fourth embodiment according to the invention of a screen device;
(18) FIG. 5a shows a fifth embodiment according to the invention of a screen device in a perspective view;
(19) FIG. 5b shows the fifth embodiment according to the invention in a side view;
(20) FIG. 5c shows the fifth embodiment according to the invention in a lateral sectional view.
(21) FIGS. 1a/b show a first embodiment according to the invention of a screen device 1 in the cross section (FIG. 1a) and in a three-dimensional sectional drawing (FIG. 1b), respectively. The screen device 1 has a housing 2 which is configured so as to be substantially cylindrical. A tangential housing inlet 3 is disposed in the upstream end region of the housing 2; a housing outlet 4 is disposed in the downstream end region of the housing 2. The housing 2 in this first embodiment has end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided, wherein these end pieces are fitted by screw connections. Moreover, the screen device has a screen insert 5 which has screen elements 9. A spatial region 6 for the screen passage is formed between the internal wall 7 of the housing 2 and the external wall 8 of the screen insert 5 (or the screen elements 9, respectively). The screen elements 9 are disposed so as to be substantially parallel with the main conveying direction F. However, in this embodiment screen elements 9 are also provided in the base region of the screen insert so that the screen insert 5 in the concept of the present invention is configured as a closed screen insert 5. However, these screen elements 9 account for only a very minor proportion of the entire screen area. In this embodiment, internal installations 12 which divert the flow to the screen elements are disposed on an axle 13. These internal installations 12 here are configured so as to be cone-shaped, wherein the diameter of the base areas of the internal cone-shaped installations 12 is larger the farther downstream the respective internal installation 12 is located. The screen elements (in this embodiment as well as overall within the scope of the invention) may be configured so as to be retrievable from the screen insert, for example by way of clips or screw connections (not shown). Both the housing inlet 3 as well as the housing outlet 4 are provided with hose couplings 10, for example firefighting couplings, such as Storz couplings. On account thereof, a fluid connection which is simple to handle and reliable is implementable.
(22) FIG. 1c shows the device according to FIGS. 1a/b in a three-dimensional overall view. A flap or pivot cover 14 which, on the one hand, guarantees a reliable mounting of the screen insert 5 in the housing 2 and, on the other hand, also guarantees simple retrievability for cleaning purposes, for example, can be readily seen in this overall view. The design embodiment of the housing inlet 3 and of the housing outlet 4 using hose couplings (here Storz couplings) can be readily seen.
(23) The screen insert 5 is separately illustrated in FIG. 1d. The screen elements 9 are disposed so as to be substantially entirely within the housing 2 (cf. FIG. 1c). A small proportion of the screen area is formed by a screen element 9 in the downstream end region of the screen insert 5.
(24) The screen device 1 according to FIGS. 1a-c, having the screen insert 5 according to FIG. 1d, has a construction length of significantly less than 1 m; the region of the housing between the screw-fitted end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided has a construction length of 50 cm, and an internal diameter of 20 cm. The internal diameter of the screen insert 5 in the region of the screen elements 9 is approx. 10 cm; a spatial region 6 which represents an annular space having an annular width of 5 cm is thus formed in this exemplary embodiment. A cone-shaped guide element which is directed with the cone tip upstream is provided in the downstream region of the housing in the transition to the end piece in which the housing outlet 4 is provided. The base area of the cone is approx. 15 cm wide so that an annular passage gap to the end piece, having an annular width of 2.5 cm, results. The device has a total screen area of approx. 150,000 mm.sup.2.
(25) FIGS. 2a/b show a second embodiment according to the invention of a screen device 1 in the cross section (FIG. 2a) and in a three-dimensional sectional drawing (FIG. 2b), respectively. The screen device 1 has a housing 2 which is configured so as to be substantially cylindrical. An axial housing inlet 3 is disposed in the upstream end region of the housing 2; a housing outlet 4 is disposed in the downstream end region of the housing 2. The housing 2 in this second embodiment has end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided, wherein these end pieces are fitted by screw connections. Moreover, the screen device has a screen insert 5 which has screen elements 9. A spatial region 6 for the screen passage is formed between the internal wall 7 of the housing 2 and the external wall 8 of the screen insert 5 (or the screen elements 9, respectively). The screen elements are disposed so as to be substantially parallel with the main conveying direction F. Screen elements in the base region of the screen insert are not provided in the case of this second embodiment. An internal installation 12 which in the upstream direction is configured so as to be cone-shaped and extends substantially across the entire effective length of the screen insert 5 is disposed along an axle 13 in this embodiment. The cone-shaped internal installation 12 in the downstream end region of the screen insert reaches up to the screen elements. A likewise cone-shaped end region of the screen insert, which is directed with the cone tip downstream, is provided farther downstream. Moreover, external installations 11 which are configured so as to be helical throughout are provided in the spatial region 6 in this second embodiment. Both the housing inlet 3 as well as the housing outlet 4 are provided with hose couplings 10, for example firefighting couplings, such as Storz couplings.
(26) FIG. 2c shows the device according to FIGS. 2a/b in a three-dimensional overall view. The flap or pivot cover 14 which, on the one hand, guarantees a reliable mounting of the screen insert 5 in the housing 2 and, on the other hand, also guarantees simple retrievability for cleaning purposes, for example, can be readily seen in this overall view. The design embodiment of the housing inlet 3 and of the housing outlet 4 using hose couplings (here Storz couplings) can be readily seen.
(27) The screen insert 5 is separately illustrated in FIG. 2d. The screen elements 9 are disposed so as to be substantially on the entire effective external area of the screen insert within the housing 2 (cf. FIG. 2c). A cone which is directed downstream is present as a base region which does not have any screen elements 9 only in a downstream end region of the screen insert 5.
(28) The screen device 1 according to FIGS. 2a-c, having the screen insert 5 according to FIG. 2d, has a construction length of significantly less than 1 m; the region of the housing between the screw-fitted end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided has a construction length of 50 cm, and an internal diameter of 20 cm. The internal diameter of the screen insert 5 in the region of the screen elements 9 is approx. 10 cm; a spatial region 6 which represents an annular space having an annular width of 5 cm is thus formed in this exemplary embodiment. A cone-shaped guide element which is directed with the cone tip downstream is provided on the screen insert 5 in the downstream region of the housing in the transition to the end piece in which the housing outlet 4 is provided. The device has a total screen area of approx. 150,000 mm.sup.2. The helical external installations 11 have a pitch height of 160 mm and extend across the entire annular width of 5 cm.
(29) FIGS. 3a/b show a third embodiment according to the invention of a screen device 1 in the cross section (FIG. 3a) and in a three-dimensional sectional drawing (FIG. 3b), respectively. The screen device 1 has a housing 2 which is configured so as to be substantially cylindrical. An axial housing inlet 3 is disposed in the upstream end region of the housing 2; a housing outlet 4 is disposed in the downstream end region of the housing 2. The housing 2 in this third embodiment has end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided, wherein these end pieces are fitted by screw connections. Moreover, the screen device has a screen insert 5 which has screen elements 9. A spatial region 6 for the screen passage is formed between the internal wall 7 of the housing 2 and the external wall 8 of the screen insert 5 (or the screen elements 9, respectively). The screen elements are disposed so as to be substantially parallel with the main conveying direction F. Screen elements in the base region of the screen insert are not provided in the case of this third embodiment. An internal installation 12 which is configured so as to be helical throughout is disposed along an axle 13 in this embodiment. In the downstream end region of the screen insert, a further internal installation, which is configured so as to be cone-shaped and directed with the cone tip upstream, in the region of the base area thereof reaches up to the screen elements. No external installations are provided in the spatial region 6 in this third embodiment. Both the housing inlet 3 as well as the housing outlet 4 are provided with hose couplings 10, for example firefighting couplings, such as Storz couplings.
(30) FIG. 3c shows the device according to FIGS. 3a/b in a three-dimensional overall view. The flap or pivot cover 14 which, on the one hand, guarantees a reliable mounting of the screen insert 5 in the housing 2 and, on the other hand, also guarantees simple retrievability for cleaning purposes, for example, can be readily seen in this overall view. The design embodiment of the housing inlet 3 and of the housing outlet 4 using hose couplings (here Storz couplings) can be readily seen.
(31) The screen insert 5 is separately illustrated in FIG. 3d. The screen elements 9 are disposed so as to be substantially on the entire effective external area of the screen insert within the housing 2 (cf. FIG. 3c). No screen elements are disposed in the base area, since in the downstream end region a cone-shaped internal installation by way of the base area thereof reaches up to the screen elements 9.
(32) The screen device 1 according to FIGS. 3a-c, having the screen insert 5 according to FIG. 3d, has a construction length of significantly less than 1 m; the region of the housing between the screw-fitted end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided has a construction length of 50 cm, and an internal diameter of 15 cm. The internal diameter of the screen insert 5 in the region of the screen elements 9 is approx. 10 cm; a spatial region 6 which represents an annular space having an annular width of 2.5 cm is thus formed in this exemplary embodiment. The device has a total screen area of approx. 157,000 mm.sup.2. The helical internal installations 12 have a pitch height of 178.5 mm and extend along the axle 13 across substantially the entire internal width of the screen insert 5.
(33) FIGS. 4a/b show a fourth embodiment according to the invention of a screen device 1 in the cross section (FIG. 4a) and in a three-dimensional sectional drawing (FIG. 4b), respectively. The screen device 1 has a housing 2 which is configured so as to substantially conically taper off in the downstream direction. An axial housing inlet 3 is disposed in the upstream end region of the housing 2; a housing outlet 4 is disposed in the downstream end region of the housing 2. The housing 2 in this fourth embodiment has end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided, wherein these end pieces are fitted by screw connections. Moreover, the screen device has a screen insert 5 which has screen elements 9. A spatial region 6 for the screen passage is formed between the internal wall 7 of the housing 2 and the external wall 8 of the screen insert 5 (or the screen elements 9, respectively). The screen elements (or the external wall 8 of the screen insert, respectively) are disposed so as to be inclined toward the main conveying direction F at an angle of approx. 11 (but in the concept of the invention still so as to be substantially parallel with the main conveying direction F). Screen elements in the base region of the screen insert are also not provided in the case of this fourth embodiment. An internal member which substantially represents a truncated cone having a cover area which is aligned in the downstream direction is disposed along an imaginary longitudinal axis in this embodiment. A cone is configured so as to be directly contiguous to this truncated cone in the upstream end region, wherein the base areas of the truncated cone-shaped internal installation and of the cone have identical diameters. In the downstream end region of the screen insert, a further internal member, which again is configured so as to be truncated cone-shaped and by way of the cover area is directed upstream, in the region of the base area thereof reaches up to the screen elements; the cover area of this truncated cone is directly contiguous to the cover area of the truncated cone-shaped internal member. No external installations in the spatial region 6 are provided in this fourth embodiment. However, an internal installation 12 which helically encircles that truncated cone-shaped internal member that by way of the cover area thereof is directed downstream is provided. Both the housing inlet 3 as well as the housing outlet 4 are provided with hose couplings 10, for example firefighting couplings, such as Storz couplings.
(34) FIG. 4c shows the device according to FIG. 4a/b in a three-dimensional overall view. The flap or pivot device 14 which, on the one hand, guarantees a reliable mounting of the screen insert 5 in the housing 2 and, on the other hand, also guarantees simple retrievability for cleaning purposes, for example, can be readily seen in this overall view. The design embodiment of the housing inlet 3 and of the housing outlet 4 using hose couplings (here Storz couplings) can be readily seen.
(35) The screen insert 5 is separately illustrated in FIG. 4d. The screen elements 9 are disposed so as to be substantially on the entire effective external area of the screen insert within the housing 2 (cf. FIG. 3c). No screen elements are disposed in the base area, since in the downstream end region of the screen insert a truncated cone-shaped internal member by way of the base area thereof reaches up to the screen elements 9.
(36) The screen device 1 according to FIGS. 4a-c, having the screen insert 5 according to FIG. 4d, has a construction length of significantly less than 1 m; the region of the housing between the screw-fitted end pieces in which housing inlet 3 and housing outlet 4 are provided has a construction length of 50 cm, and an internal diameter of between 23 cm in the upstream end region and 15 cm in the downstream end region. The internal diameter of the screen insert 5 in the region of the screen elements 9 is between approx. 20 cm in the upstream end region, and 10 cm in the downstream end region; a spatial region 6 which represents a substantially truncated cone-shaped annular space having an annular width of between 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm is thus formed in this exemplary embodiment. The device has a total screen area of approx. 215,000 mm.sup.2.
(37) The fifth screen device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5c, has a cylindrical housing 2. Both an axial housing inlet 3 as well as a removable cover 14 are disposed in the upstream end region of the housing 2; a housing outlet 4 is disposed in the downstream end region of the housing 2. Moreover, the screen device 1 has a screen insert 5. A spatial region 6 for the screen passage is formed between the internal wall 7 of the housing 2 and an external wall 8 of the screen insert 5. Both the housing inlet 3 as well as the housing outlet 4 are provided with hose couplings 10 (not illustrated in detail here), for example firefighting couplings, such as Storz couplings. The housing 2 has four viewing windows 20 which are distributed on the circumference and through which the flour flowing through the screen insert 5 is visible. The screen device 1 according to FIGS. 5a to 5c has an internal housing wall diameter of 18.4 cm, and a construction length of 40 cm to 50 cm.
(38) All exemplary embodiments described above are configured as passive screen devices. Said embodiments thus do not contain any actively driven components so that the former are of particularly low maintenance. Moreover, in all exemplary embodiments described above the flour is driven in a conveying flow of compressed air. The flour thus does not drop only by virtue of the force of gravity thereof, on account of which the throughput may be significantly increased.
