U.S. patent application number 09/782321 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-06 for protective housing for aerobic reduction reactor.
Invention is credited to Roberts, Gary D., Roberts, Verlin J..
Application Number | 20010049135 09/782321 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24355269 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010049135 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roberts, Gary D. ; et
al. |
December 6, 2001 |
Protective housing for aerobic reduction reactor
Abstract
A metallic protective housing for a skid-mounted aerobic
reduction reactor which includes a pitched roof supported by two
side walls and an end wall, each wall being secured to the skid.
The two side walls and roof having reinforced structural members
secured to the skid and to the reactor to form a point of
attachment for moving the reactor. A series of hinged doors in the
side and end walls to provide selective access to the reactor. The
interior surfaces of the walls and roof being covered by insulation
to control temperatures within the housing.
Inventors: |
Roberts, Gary D.;
(Montpelier, ID) ; Roberts, Verlin J.; (Ovid,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert B. Crouch
944 East 200 North
Springville
UT
84663
US
|
Family ID: |
24355269 |
Appl. No.: |
09/782321 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09782321 |
Feb 12, 2001 |
|
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09588779 |
Jun 5, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/290.3 ;
220/592.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C05F 17/964 20200101;
C05F 17/929 20200101; Y02W 30/40 20150501; Y02W 30/43 20150501;
Y02P 20/145 20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/290.3 ;
220/592.2 |
International
Class: |
C05F 009/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A housing for enclosing the rotatable drum of a skid-mounted
aerobic reactor, said housing including two side walls and an end
wall secured to the skid and a gabled roof secured to said walls;
said walls and roof being lined with batts of insulation to inhibit
transfer of heat to or from the interior of said housing, each of
said walls having at least one pair of insulated double doors to
provide access to the drum within the housing; and the exterior
surfaces of said drum being covered with batts of insulation to
inhibit heat transfer from the interior of the drum to the
atmosphere within said housing.
2. A housing as defined in claim 1 in which one of the side walls
includes a transparent window through which measurements of the
operation of the reactor can be monitored.
3. A housing as defined in claim 2 in which each of the side walls
has two pairs of insulated double doors
4. A protective housing for a skid-mounted dual chamber aerobic
reactor which includes a blending chamber and a rotatable drum,
said housing including a pair of side walls connected to the
blending chamber and to the skid; an end wall connected to both
side walls; and a gabled roof connected to the blending chamber and
each of said walls; the inner surfaces of the roof and each of the
walls being lined with batts of insulation, and the exterior
surfaces of the rotatable drum being covered with batts of
insulation
5. A protective housing as defined in claim 4 in which each of said
walls includes at least one pair of double doors for access to all
parts of the drum.
6. A protective housing as defined in claim 5 in which each of the
two side walls includes two pairs of double doors.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of application
Ser. No. 09/588,779 filed Jun. 5, 2000 for Aerobic Reduction
Reactor.
[0002] The present invention relates to a protective housing and
more particularly to a housing for an aerobic reduction reactor
which shields the moving parts and insulates and protects the
reactor from the elements and from vandalism or theft.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the construction of oxidation reduction devices for
decomposition of organic wastes it is well known to provide an
elongated cylindrical vessel which is mounted for rotation about
its longitudinal axis. Such vessels are typically mounted on
rollers and rotated with a friction drive, such as a motor driving
the rollers, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,959-Kreuzburg et al,
or by a positive drive such as a ring gear secured to the exterior
of the vessel and meshing with a motor-driven pinion gear, as shown
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,178,267-Larson and 3,245,759-Eweson. Such drive
mechanisms, as well as the vessel itself, are frequently left
uncovered with little or no protection from the weather, vehicles
or the idly curious. In an industrial situation this poses little
problem except for deterioration of the equipment due to climatic
conditions. However, in an agricultural setting where animals, pets
and foot traffic are present, exposed drive mechanisms and the
rotating vessel are safety hazards which may cause serious injury.
In addition, automatic equipment, such as chain oilers, sensors,
computers, etc., associated with a modem aerobic reactor have a
very limited usefull life when not protected from the elements.
[0004] Since the oxidation reduction process occurs at elevated
temperatures, typically 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the vessel
is usually insulated to inhibit heat transfer from, or to, the
interior of the vessel and maintain the temperature levels within
the vessel which are necessary to complete decomposition of the
waste materials. This is typically accomplished by spraying the
exterior of the vessel with a thick coating of foamed plastic and
then weatherproofing the coating with a layer of elastic vinyl
resin. This process is both time consuming and expensive since the
vessel must be rotated past the spray apparatus at a controlled
rate to ensure that the necessary thickness of insulation is
applied evenly over all of the various portions of the vessel being
insulated. In the event of damage to the foamed plastic coating by
workmen or vehicles, repair or replacement of a section of the
coating requires that the reactor be removed from service and the
repair work be done by hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a housing for a rotating drum
of a skid-mounted aerobic reactor which simplifies installation and
reduces the cost of insulation of the drum, shields the moving
parts of the reactor from accidental contact, provides a controlled
environment for sensitive accessories of the reactor, and protects
the reactor and its accessories from the weather and from theft or
vandalism while providing a readily accessible point of attachment
for relocating the reactor.
[0006] The above objects of the invention are realized by provision
of an insulated housing which encloses the rotating drum and all
the associated drive and control equipment while providing easy
access thereto for inspection or maintenance. The housing is
supported on the skid by means of a framework which includes a
sturdy post and beam structure located adjacent the center of
gravity of the reactor
DRAWINGS
[0007] The best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the
present invention will be understood from the detailed description
of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of the present housing as applied to
the dual chamber aerobic reduction reactor of the parent
application showing the access doors in closed position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an end view of the housing of FIG. 2; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the housing and
reactor of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Referring more particularly to the invention as depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the present invention comprises a
housing 1 having side walls 2 & 3, an end wall 4 and a shallow
gabled roof 5 made of approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch sheet
steel. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 1 is mounted on a skid 6
made of I-beams and which supports the drum 7 and blending chamber
8 of the dual chamber reactor 9. A supporting framework for side
wall 2 includes a vertical post 11 made of 4".times.4" square
hollow steel tubing which is located at the approximate mid point
of the side wall 2 and is welded to the skid 6. A
horizontally-extending 4".times.4" square hollow beam 12 is secured
between the upper extremity of the vertical post 11 and the surface
13 of the blending chamber 8 to form a bearing plate to which
approximately one-half of the rafters 14 are secured. A smaller
2".times.2" square hollow beam 15 extends between the vertical post
11 and a 2".times.2" square hollow corner post 16 to form a bearing
plate for the remaining rafters. A 2".times.2" square hollow post
17 is spaced from post 11 and extends between the beam 15 and the
skid 6. A pair of double doors 18 & 19 are hinged to the post
11 and surface 13 of the blending chamber, respectively. The
proximate edges of the doors 18 & 19 overlap and a commercial
locking mechanism (not shown) operated by handle 21 locks both
doors to the beam 12 and the skid 6. The space between post 11 and
post 17 is covered by a panel 22 of sheet steel which has a
transparent plastic window 23 behind which is mounted a monitor of
a Programmable Logic Controller or computer which controls the
operation of the reactor 9. A second pair of double doors 24 &
25 are hinged to the post 17 and the corner post 16, respectively,
and are locked to the beam 15 and the skid 6 by a locking mechanism
(not shown) operated by handle 26. Side wall 3 is similar to side
wall 2 with a supporting frame which includes a 4".times.4" square
hollow vertical post, a 4".times.4" square hollow horizontal beam,
a 2".times.2" square hollow beam, a 2".times.2" square hollow
corner post and two pairs of equal-sized double doors. One pair of
double doors is hinged to the vertical post and surface 13 of the
blending chamber, while the other pair of double doors is hinged to
the vertical post and the corner post. The horizontal beams of the
two supporting frames are connected at their ends and at intervals
over their length by square hollow attic joists.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the end wall 4 is made up of a pair of
double doors 27 & 28 which are hinged to the corner posts and,
at their proximate edges, surround the discharge opening 29 of the
drum 7. Similar to the double doors in both side walls, the doors
27 & 28 overlap at their proximate edges and are locked to the
skid and the attic joist (not shown) of the gable by a locking
mechanism operated by handle 31.
[0013] The rafters 14 are formed of 2".times.2" square hollow
tubing and are spaced at intervals along the beams 12 & 15 and
are welded to the respective beams of each side wall and to a
2".times.2" square hollow ridge pole 32 which extends along the
ridge of the roof. A series of roofing panels 33 of sheet steel are
attached to the rafters 14 and form the roof of the housing. A pair
of lifting plates 34 & 35 are welded, or otherwise secured, to
the ridge pole for attachment to a crane or other lifting device in
order to move the reactor and housing. The inner surfaces of all of
the doors and the inner surfaces of the roofing panels between the
rafters are covered by batts of insulation and the edges of the
doors are provided with seals to inhibit transfer of heat from or
into the interior of the housing.
[0014] The present housing provides an alternative to the expensive
and time-consuming process of spraying insulation onto the exterior
surfaces of the rotating drum by permitting the use of batts of
insulation of the desired thickness to be attached to the inner
surfaces of the roofing panels and the side and end walls as well
as to the exterior surfaces of the drum itself The batts of
insulation are easily and quickly installed and, in case of damage,
they can be easily replaced while the reactor is operating. The
insulated walls and roof of the housing provide a stable, dry
atmosphere surrounding the drum and its accessories which allows
the necessary temperatures to be maintained Within the drum over a
wide range of ambient climatic conditions. In addition, devices
such as chain oilers, sensor lenses, computers, etc. are kept free
from dust and dirt, thus reducing the maintenance requirements and
extending the effective life of such devices. The handles on the
double doors can be keyed to prevent unauthorized entry, thus
protecting the accessory devices from theft or vandalism and
preventing accidental contact of humans or animals with moving
parts of the reactor. The 4".times.4" vertical posts in the side
walls, together with the attic joists, 4".times.4" horizontal beams
and rafters provide a sturdy structure for lifting the combined
weight of the skid-mounted reactor and the housing.
[0015] While the invention has been described with reference to
specifically illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that
various changes may be made without departing from the inventive
subject matter particularly pointed out and claimed here below.
* * * * *