Emptying System for Emptying Paste-Like Material from Barrel-Type Containers

Abstract

An emptying system for emptying paste-like material from barrel-type containers having a container follower platewhich preferably can be lowered like a plunger into the interior of the containerand which includes a removal opening having a pump in operative connection with the removal opening for extracting material enclosed in the collection chamber between the container bottom and the container follower plate, wherein in the collection chamber at least one agitator is provided, which imposes on the material contained in the collection chamber a motion in relation to the container follower plate.

Claims

1. An emptying system for emptying paste-like material from barrel-type containers having a container follower platewhich preferably can be lowered like a plunger into the interior of the containerand which comprises a removal opening having a pump that is in operative connection with the removal opening, for extracting the material enclosed in the collection chamber between the container base and the container follower plate, wherein in the collection chamber at least one agitator is provided, which imposes a motion in relation to the container follower plate upon the material enclosed in the collection chamber.

2. The emptying system according to claim 1, wherein the agitator is at least one shearing strip, which is attached to the surface of the container follower plate facing the collection chamber and extends out from there into the collection chamber.

3. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein the container follower plate is held from rotating and the emptying system includes a rotatably powerable container carrier.

4. The emptying system according to claim 1, wherein the agitator is at least one shearing strip, which is held on an operative extension of the pump rotor, which extends through the container follower plate into the collection chamber, wherein the container to be emptied preferably is prevented from rotating.

5. The emptying system according to claim 4, wherein the aforementioned operational extension is connected with the pump rotor by a reduction gear unit, so that it rotates at a speed that varies with respect to the pump rotor.

6. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one shearing strip bears a crenellated crown on its surface directly facing the container base.

7. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein several shearing strips are provided with a crenellated crown, and the crenellations of the shearing strip that follow in the rotation direction assume a radial position differing from the crenellations of the foregoing shearing strips.

8. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein the side of the at least one shearing strip running ahead in the rotation direction is curved in concave manner.

9. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein the end of at least one shearing strip extends to the immediate area of the removal opening and ideally drains out tangentially to the outline of the removal opening.

10. The emptying system according to claim 1, wherein the container follower plate comprises at least one exhaust valve for removing a possible air cushion in the collection chamber.

11. The emptying system according to claim 1, wherein the container follower plate is conical-shaped on its side facing the collection chamber, so that tbetween less than 1? and at most 10?, better only a maximum of 5?.

12. The emptying system according to claim 1, wherein the container follower plate on its outer periphery bears a flat sealand preferably a flat seal forming a lip sealwhich upon sinking is diverted contrary to the sinking direction; its radial width B and axial width D are subject to the following: B<2?D.

13. The emptying system according to claim 1, wherein the container follower plate with its removal opening is attached to a hollow column that can be raised and lowered in relation to the emptying container, and inside which an eccentric screw pump is arranged in order to draw material by suction through the removal opening.

14. A method for emptying paste-like material from barrel-type containers by pumping, preferably by using an emptying system for emptying paste-like material from barrel-type containers having a container follower platewhich preferably can be lowered like a plunger into the interior of the containerand which comprises a removal opening having a pump that is in operative connection with the removal opening, for extracting the material enclosed in the collection chamber between the container base and the container follower plate, characterized in that in the collection chamber at least one agitator is provided, which imposes a motion in relation to the container follower plate upon the material enclosed in the collection chamber, wherein the material to be pumped is preferably warmed and then drawn by an agitator.

15. The emptying system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one shearing strip bears a crenellated crown on its surface directly facing the container base.

16. The emptying system according to claim 4, wherein several shearing strips are provided with a crenellated crown, and the crenellations of the shearing strip that follow in the rotation direction assume a radial position differing from the crenellations of the foregoing shearing strips.

17. The emptying system according to claim 4, wherein the side of the at least one shearing strip running ahead in the rotation direction is curved in concave manner.

18. The emptying system according to claim 4, wherein the end of at least one shearing strip extends to the immediate area of the removal opening and ideally drains out tangentially to the outline of the removal opening.

19. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein the container follower plate comprises at least one exhaust valve for removing a possible air cushion in the collection chamber.

20. The emptying system according to claim 2, wherein the container follower plate is conical-shaped on its side facing the collection chamber, so that tbetween less than 1? and at most 10?, better only a maximum of 5?.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an installation with two emptying systems drivable in parallel, in a three-dimensional view.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a container follower plate with shearing strips in the lower area.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a container follower plate with shearing strips in a three-dimensional depiction from below.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a container follower plate with shearing strips in a three-dimensional depiction from below, wherein the container follower plate is fastened to a hollow column of a pumpwherein the hollow column is preferably the stator of the eccentric screw pump.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a container follower plate in a three-dimensional depiction from above, wherein the container follower plate is fastened to a hollow column of a pump.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows the rotatably powered container carrier of the emptying system in a three-dimensional depiction.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a container follower plate with shearing strips in three-dimensional depiction from below, wherein the container follower plate is fastened to a hollow column of a pump. It is important to note here that shearing strips are possible in fully different numbers, designs, contours and lengths, differing from the preferred embodiments illustrated in this exemplary model.

[0035] FIG. 8 shows the second exemplary model of a container follower plate from FIG. 7 in three-dimensional view from above.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows an emptying system with lowered container follower plate in partially cut-out frontal view.

[0037] FIG. 10 shows a housing for the inventive emptying system or an overall system based on it, in vertical plane section.

[0038] FIG. 11 shows a front view, from the front and outside, of the content of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The starting point for the invention, as described above, is a series of highly viscous, not fluid and in this condition nonpumpable materials (e.g., clay, modeling compound) in a barrel-like container 2. The material can be present in the container 2 in several different forms. Thus, the container 2, for example, can be filled entirely, the material can be found in the container 2 in an extreme case as bar material, as well as in the form of chunks or particles, and in some cases even of shavings.

[0040] First, FIG. 1 shows an installation with two emptying systems 1 operated in parallel, each comprising a pump with raisable and lowerable hollow column 13, which preferably also equally constitutes the stator housing of the eccentric screw pump or leads directly into it

[0041] The motor 5 of the pump used in this embodiment, which is preferably flange-mounted on the highest end of the hollow column, can be seen in FIG. 1while the eccentric screw, which generates the actual pump effect in the present case, is situated inside the hollow column 13 and thus is not visible from outside. Consequently this hollow column 13 is fastened to a container follower plate 3, preferably in such a way that it encloses the preferably central removal opening 4 of the container follower plate 3 on one side. The container follower plate 3, in addition, preferably encloses a flat seal 12, which is situated on the outer radius of the container follower plate 3 and, with the lowering and raising process of the container follower plate 3, glides along on the container inside wall. If, by means of the raising and lowering mechanism of the hollow column 13, the container follower plate 3 is pressed downward onto the material, a collection chamber 6 is formed in the container 2 between the container follower plate 3 and the container base, so that the material to be emptied is located in this collection chamber 6. The container follower plate 3 also preferably includes an agitator 7, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. This described preferred embodiment of an emptying system 1 can also be recognized in FIG. 9, whereas here the collection chamber 6 between the container follower plate 3 and the container base is depicted better by the section view.

[0042] The container 2 is preferably mounted on a container carrier 9, which is rotatably powered (see also FIG. 6). This occurs preferably by means of a motor, a belt and a belt disk, which in turn powers the device on which the container 2 stands. Alternatively but not preferably, a chain or ribbon wheel drive is also possibly, as well as possibly a gear drive. Thus the container 2 preferably rotates during the emptying process in order to ensure a relative motion between stationary container follower plate 3 and material in the container 2.

[0043] It should also be mentioned that this rotational motion or relative motion can also be achieved in other ways. Thus, for example, it is possible that the container 2 remains immobile while only the agitator 7 rotates. This could occur since the agitator 7 is firmly connected with the container follower plate 3. The said container follower plate 3 would then be rotated by a corresponding rotational device and thus generate the relative speed between material and agitator 7. This rather theoretical solution should also be claimed here as well at the outset, although it causes some additional cost.

[0044] With respect to one clearly preferred embodiment, it is true that the agitator 7 is not connected with the container follower plate 3 and the container follower plate 3 is not rotatable. Because of the technical properties of the employed pump 5, it is possible with this variant to place the agitator 7 in direct contact with the pump rotor. Thus, on the container side, an additional rotating device is not strictly necessary, because the rotation motion of the agitator 7 can be supplied directly by the rotational motion of the pump rotor, preferably to the rotor of an eccentric screw shaftregardless of the possibility of accumulated rotational motions of the barrel-like container and of the agitator.

[0045] A first preferred version of the agitator 7 can be recognized in FIGS. 2 through 5. The agitator 7 here consists preferably of at least two, preferably even at least three, shearing strips 8, which each (or nearly each) in turn bears a crenellated crown 10. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the shearing strips 8 are firmly connected with the container follower plate 3.

[0046] From diverse test sequences, it was discovered that the viscosity of the material decreases by shearing, which the shearing strips 8 ensure in combination with the aforementioned relative motion. The crenellated crowns 10 here are staggered in their arrangement so that shearing forces are continuously introduced into the material, as long as the container follower plate 3 is contiguous with the material. The combination of the rotational motion and the specially arranged shearing strips 8 produces a very strong shearing effect in the material, so that the viscosity is further reduced. In addition, the said shearing strips 8 are arranged in such a way that they also simultaneously move the material in the direction of the suction opening of the pump or of the removal opening 4.

[0047] Thus it is possible to convey extremely highly viscous materials out of a container 2. To achieve a further optimization, attention should be paid to making a particularly favorable adjustment of the proportion between pump speed and the relative speed between material and container follower plate 3 by the agitator 7. The optimal speed both of the pump 5 and of the rotating unit depends on the configuration of the shearing strips 8, the feed rate, the pump size/design or the amount of material to be removed. In many cases it will be useful to provide a possibility for individual rotation speed adjustment by the user so that said user can adjust speed in such a way that the stream of material being pumped out subject to his observation is as great as possible.

[0048] In general, the container follower plate 3 is preferably configured as a round plate with an opening in the center, the so-called removal opening 4. This removal opening 4 functions as a suction opening, onto which the suction device of the pump 5 is applied, ideally in the center of the plate, in order to keep the pathways of the material from all directions to the suction opening as small as possible.

[0049] The flat seal 12 on the container follower plate 3 serves as insulation between the container follower plate 3 and the container 2. Preferably with this embodiment, the width of the flat seal 12 is kept as small as possible (width<2?thickness of the flat seal 12) so that this flat seal 12 cannot be turned over and the material is pressed past on the side.

[0050] To ensure the functioning of the shearing, at least one shearing strip 8 must be reconfigured as an agitator 7. But a number of at least two or three shearing strips is preferable. However, inclusion of more than six or at least more than eight shearing strips 8 has no appreciable further improvement effect as a rule and should be reduced.

[0051] The shearing strips 8, as mentioned, preferably each bear one crenellated crown 10 with crenellations that preferably configure a mountain-valley combination. The mountain has a total height hges from the container follower plate 3 to the highest point of the mountain. The valley has the height of h1 from the valley to the container follower plate 3. The height h2 then describes the difference between mountain and valley.

[0052] The shearing strips can thus be divided into two regions. The height h1 is fully consistent over the entire radius of the container follower plate 3 and thus is the hydraulic surface that is always fully affected by the rotation motion and serves as guide or as conducting surface in order to advance the material in the direction toward the center of the suction opening. The height h1 should equal at least 0.05% of the diameter of the container follower plate 3. The maximum height is theoretically unlimited, but from a practical viewpoint is meaningless beyond a height of 5% of the container follower plate diameter. As soon as the shearing strips become too high, it is technically still possible but the forces and rotational momentum that must be applied in order to move these large shearing strips 8 through the material become extremely great and non-economical.

[0053] The height h2, on the other handin the preferred case illustrated hereis not consistent over the entire radius and always has a mountain and a valley portion. Here the mountain area is engaged in the material and in the next layer generates the necessary shearing to reduce the viscosity and to obtain fluidity. As soon as the material is rendered flowable over this region, it is then moved through the guidance region h1 to the suction opening. The height h2 should preferably correspond essentially to the height h1. The configuration of mountains and valleys is variable. Thus the jagged structure of the crenellated crown 10 shown in the drawings is preferred, although other structures, such as wave contours, are also possible.

[0054] The shearing strips 8 of the first illustrated preferred embodiment are preferably not identical or symmetrical. The mountains or valleys are always arranged unevenly. Viewed in the direction from radially inward toward radially outside, the one shearing strip 8 starts with a mountain and the other shearing strip 8 with a valley. This continues radially outward. Thus the one shearing strip 8 has a valley at the outside and the other has a mountain. Thus, owing to the rotating motion, a mountain always follows a valley and a valley follows a mountain and a shearing effect is produced by force.

[0055] The shearing strips 8 of the first preferred embodiment, in addition, preferably comprise a radius. The radius of the shearing strips 8 here is preferably ? of the diameter of the container follower plate 3. In addition, the rotating direction and the curvature of the shearing strips 8 are preferably adapted to one another in such a way that by means of the rotating motion the material is moved inward, to reach the centerpoint of the container follower plate 3.

[0056] Because of the tapered configuration of the container follower plate 3 (similar to a cone, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8), the downward pressing of the container follower plate 3 would contribute still further to moving the material into the center of the suction opening of the pump or to the removal opening 4. The agitator 7 in turn consists of shearing strips 8 with crenellated crown 10, so that as a result at least four shearing strips are preferably employed.

[0057] The container follower plate 3, in addition, comprises preferably at least exhaust valve 11 and at least one compressed air supply 14.

[0058] The exhaust valve 11 is opened when the container follower plate is lowered into the container interior or otherwise is to be brought as if by relative motion to the container base in position, and must not include any air cushion between itself and the mass that is to be moved forward or removed. The compressed air supply 14 has another characteristic. It can cause compressed air to be emitted selectively (with the exhaust valve 11 simultaneously closed) in order to press the container follower plate 3 and the container base further apart from one another when the container 2 is emptied and anew container 2 is to be employed.

[0059] In general, the emptying system 1 is, in addition, is equipped with a heating device, which above all warms the material further in the collection chamber 6. Ideally, the entire emptying system 1 is not internally heatedeven at selected spotsbut instead is placed inside a housing to allow the emptying system 1 as a whole to be tempered, ideally up to a temperature approaching or equal to 60? C.

[0060] Such an installation with housing is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. As can be seen, the housing defines at least two, better three, essentially mutually separated compartments 17, 18, 19. Preferably each of these compartments is heated, primarily with controlled or regulated heating, to a temperature above the surrounding temperature or to a temperature which, considered in its own right, does not yet allow pumping out in most cases, but does facilitate it more than insignificantly. Two compartments 17, 18 each contain one emptying system 1 in the inventive configuration, preferably complete.

[0061] Ideally, alternating operation is employed.

[0062] In the case illustrated here, the emptying system 1 shown at the right runs straight; that is, it pumps out the contents of the barrel-type container 2 associated with it. Thereupon it surrenders the contents outward, preferably by way of a U-shaped connector hose 16, preferably to a booster pump BOR that will be explained in detail presently. The mass is passed along by the booster pump by way of a feeder line 20, e.g., to the mouthpiece MST or a type of applicator gun, by either of which the mass emptied from the barrel-type container in situ is carried to its intended application site.

[0063] In the case illustrated here, the compartment at the left shows an additional empty system, which is preferably identical. It is immediately refilled by insertion of a fresh or additional barrel-type container 2. As soon as the barrel-type container 2 of the system in the right-hand compartment is exhausted, it is moved further (completely or, in any case, essentially) without an intermediate step from the system's barrel-type container 2 in the left-hand compartment 17, preferably in such a way that the mass in the feeder line 20 behind the booster pump is continuously kept in motion, which, among other things, helps to avoid re-feeding processes leading to difficulties from a mass brought to a standstill in the conduit line behind the booster pump.

[0064] Compartments 17 and 19 with the systems each comprise preferably at least one storage space (not illustrated) where an additional barrel-type container 2 is already stored and thus can be tempered long enough while the system pumps out material from another barrel-type container.

[0065] Because of the compartments which are thermally isolated from one another and preferably each directly accessible from outside by its own door 21, 22, 23 or flap, the respective emptying system can be reloaded and/or serviced without any risk of temporary cooling. The door or flap preferably should have a glass inspection opening through which the interior of the compartment can be monitored without the need to open the door or flap; see also FIG. 11.

[0066] It is ideal if at least the emptying system compartments are constructed in such a way that it is possible for work to be done inside them even with the door or flap shut. This is useful also in order to prevent cooling off as much as possible with respect to the compartment which is affected by the momentary replacement or maintenance work, since such cooling could adversely affect restarting or mobile readiness.

[0067] Once the mass to be moved has been drawn in by one or both of the inventive emptying systems and set in motion by reduction of its viscosity, then it becomes possible for a booster pump to contribute toward moving the mass to its usage site by way of a longer tube and/or hose connection. For this purpose, the compartment that, as a rule, completely contains the booster pump is preferably also tempered and ideally thermally separated from the other compartments.

[0068] Starting from the booster pump, the pumped mass is preferably removed by way of the roof of the housing because it is favorable for the uniformity of the mass output at the mouthpiece if the mass can be fed to it at the pipeline end in a downdraft.

[0069] In addition, that is, independently and depending on the claims already stated, at a given time protection will also be claimed for the use of the emptying system, as described by one or more of the claims, for emptying a barrel or container which contains modelling compound intended to duplicate a vehicle bodywork that is undergoing development, preferably at least a scale of 1:3, ideallyat least essentially or completelyin a ratio of 1:1.

[0070] Ideally, the aforementioned modeling compound is a modeling mass on the basis of at least one wax and preferably contains filler material and/or color pigments.

[0071] Often, or even as a rule, the aforementioned modeling compound should be produced in such a way thatat temperatures below the temperature at which it starts to change and/or to decompose disadvantageously and/or threatens to be flammableit is not sufficiently viscous in an immobile state to be pumpable.

[0072] Often, or even as a rule, the aforementioned modeling compound has an (airless) density of 0.8 g/cm3 to 1.2 g/cm3 and/or a processing temperature of 45? C. to 65? C. and/or at 20? C. a Shore hardness A of 65 to 80.

[0073] The inventive agitation is preferably arranged in such a way that the mass or modeling compound to be emptied from the container can be pumped for a distance of more than 6 m or at least more than 4 m, after the agitation in the containerpreferably without the need of additional agitation of this kind at a follow-up site. Ideally, it can be pumped still further or in any case for the distance from the container to the tube- or hose-fed dispenser or mouthpiece by which the user issues the modeling compound to the usage site, or primarily onto the model body that is in the process of being made.

[0074] In some cases, relay stations can be used to manage greater distances. Possibilities include stations in which the mass is placed in a puffer container or puffer storage unit, where it is again subjected to an inventive agitation and then can be pumped further once again.

[0075] To improve the pumpability or to make it more consistent, it can be useful to place the barrel-type container entirely inside a heated housing, along with its contents, the frame holding it and where possible also the turntable on which it stands, in any case including the screw spindle pump to be removed from itand in many cases to do so even several hours before the pumping begins.

[0076] Independently of the claims already mentioned, independent protection will also be claimed at a given time for the following emptying system, with or without reference to the claims or subsidiary claims already listed: [0077] an emptying system 1 for emptying paste-like material from preferably barrel-type containers 2 with a container follower plate 3preferably capable of being lowered like a plunger into the container interiorand which comprises a removal opening 4 with a pump 5, which is in operative connection with the removal opening 4, for removing material enclosed in the collection chamber 6 between the container bottom and the container follower plate, distinguished in that at least one meanspreferably a vibrator, an oscillator, a shaker and/or an ultrasonic transduceris provided, which, at least in the area of the removal opening, imposes on the material present in the collection chamber a motion that ideally includes a shearing motion or essentially constitutes one, so that its viscosity is reduced in the area of the removal opening.