U.S. patent application number 12/587612 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-15 for solid waste compression loading and waste treatment apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Estech, LLC. Invention is credited to Jan K. Michalek, Theodore J. Thomas.
Application Number | 20100092356 12/587612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42099011 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100092356 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Michalek; Jan K. ; et
al. |
April 15, 2010 |
Solid waste compression loading and waste treatment apparatus and
method
Abstract
The invention includes an apparatus, system, waste treatment
facility and method of autoclave loading and treatment that
involves (a) receiving solid waste at a solid waste treatment
facility; (b) compressing the waste into a plurality of compressed
bales, the compressed bales bound by a binding material adapted to
melt at a temperature at which an autoclave operates or otherwise
break upon the operation of the autoclave; (c) loading the
compressed bales into an autoclave; and (d) operating the autoclave
so as to melt or break the binding material to allow the compressed
bales of solid waste to be decompressed and treated in the
autoclave.
Inventors: |
Michalek; Jan K.;
(Pataskala, OH) ; Thomas; Theodore J.; (Columbus,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROGER A. GILCREST
250 WEST STREET
COLUMBUS
OH
43216-7513
US
|
Assignee: |
Estech, LLC
Canal Winchester
OH
|
Family ID: |
42099011 |
Appl. No.: |
12/587612 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61195791 |
Oct 10, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/07 20130101; A61L
11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/295 |
International
Class: |
A61L 2/00 20060101
A61L002/00 |
Claims
1. A system for loading solid waste into an autoclave at a solid
waste treatment facility and treating said waste, said system
comprising: i. an autoclave; ii. a baling apparatus adapted to
compress said waste into a plurality of compressed bales, said
bales bound by a material adapted to melt at a temperature at which
said autoclave operates; and iii. a conveyor adapted to load said
bales of said waste into said autoclave.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor additionally
comprises a conveyor belt and a mechanical forcing arrangement for
rapidly and positively charging said bales into said autoclave.
3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said autoclave is disposed
at an angle to the horizontal so as to assist in the loading of
said bales.
4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said autoclave is rotated
during loading so as to assist in the loading of said bales.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor has a
loading end and a discharge end, and additionally comprising a
barrier disposed between said conveyor loading end and said
conveyor discharge end, said conveyor extending through said
barrier.
6. A solid waste treatment facility for storing solid waste
containing a system for loading solid waste into an autoclave at a
solid waste treatment facility and treating said waste, said system
comprising: a. a building containing a system for loading solid
waste into an autoclave for treatment, said system comprising: i.
an autoclave; ii. a baling apparatus adapted to compress said waste
into a plurality of compressed bales, said bales bound by a
material adapted to melt at a temperature at which said autoclave
operates; iii. a conveyor adapted to load said bales of said waste
into said autoclave; and iv. said building containing a storage
area for containing a plurality of compressed bales while said
autoclave is operating.
7. A solid waste treatment facility according to claim 6 wherein
said building comprises a tipping floor area for receipt of solid
waste from trucks.
8. A solid waste treatment facility according to claim 6 wherein
said building comprises a storage area for said compressed
bales.
9. A solid waste treatment facility according to claim 6 wherein
said building comprises a tipping floor area for receipt of solid
waste from trucks, a barrier between said tipping floor and said
autoclave, said conveyor extending from said tipping floor through
said barrier to said autoclave.
10. A system for loading solid waste into an autoclave at a solid
waste treatment facility and treating said waste, said system
comprising: i. an autoclave; and ii. a conveyor adapted to load
said bales of said waste into said autoclave, said conveyor holding
a plurality of compressed bales, said bales bound by a material
adapted to melt at a temperature at which said autoclave operates.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/195,791, filed Oct. 10, 2008,
which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the treatment of municipal
solid waste ("MSW") and the like. This invention disclosure
presents a means of loading an autoclave and utilizing steam to
heat and dry wet solids inside a rotating vessel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A waste autoclave is a form of solid waste treatment that
utilizes heat, steam and pressure of an industrial autoclave in the
processing of waste. Saturated steam is pumped into the autoclave
at elevated temperatures. The pressure in the vessel is maintained
for a temperature-dependent period to allow the process to fully
`cook` the waste. The autoclave process provides an effective
pathogen and virus kill.
[0004] The `cooking` process causes plastics to soften and flatten,
paper and other fibrous material to disintegrate into a fibrous
mass, bottles and metal objects to be cleaned, and labels etc. to
be removed.
[0005] Rotating waste autoclaves provide mechanical forces to
further process the waste. With rotation, the cellulose fibers (in
paper, cardboard, and yard wastes) are mechanically and thermally
pulped, analogous to the process known as thermo-mechanical pulping
in the pulp and paper industry.
[0006] After `cooking`, the steam flow is stopped and the pressure
vented. When depressurized, the autoclave door is opened, and by
rotating the drum the `cooked` material can be discharged and
safely and easily separated by a subsequent series of screens and
recovery systems. Consequently, a waste autoclave system can serve
as a functional alternative to landfills, providing benefits of
recycling of clean and sterile materials recovered from municipal
wastes.
[0007] A basic invention for municipal waste autoclaves is found in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,495 (Holloway, 1985) and is now in the public
domain which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0008] The present invention represents an improvement over prior
art apparatus and methods, such as those described in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,540,391; 5,126,363; 5,253,764; 5,190,226; 5,361,994;
5,427,650; 5,407,809; 5,636,449; 5,655,718 and 6,397,492, all of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. PCT application
PCT/US06/16773 and co-pending patent application Ser. No.
11/716,101 are also hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0009] The cost performance of an autoclave is driven predominantly
by throughput, which in turn is determined by the density to which
vessels can be loaded. Practitioners to date have used a variety of
methods to load vessels, ranging from loose feed systems (e.g.,
conveyors) to light duty compression systems (compressing
conveyors) to heavy-duty compression systems (compaction and load).
Systems to date have not solved the core problem, which is to
rapidly load an autoclave, preferably while rotating, with a
designed or predetermined load of material.
[0010] In expansion of this core problem, MSW typically arrives on
a "tipping" floor as a compacted mass. This compacted mass is
broken apart and larger salvageable items are recovered. Waste
materials expand in volume during the recovery.
[0011] In autoclave system processing, waste is moved by conveyor
from the tipping floor to the processing floor. Waste may move more
or less continuously after the tipping floor begins operations,
while waste is charged into a vessel over a much shorter period.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a "warehousing" activity and
facility to store and accumulate waste over an hour or so, and then
release it much more rapidly for load-out into a vessel.
[0012] Vessels are typically designed to operate within a 5-40% of
full volume load range. Typically, an initial load will see
significant volume reduction during vessel operations. Thus it is
possible to compress the waste prior to or during the loading
process, while still resulting in a partially filled vessel (on the
basis of volume) after processing.
[0013] The economics of a system are driven by throughput. It is
therefore desirable to operate a vessel near its upper design load,
rather than near its lower design load. In order to achieve the
upper design load, the load must be compressed prior to and/or
during the loading process.
[0014] Prior practitioners have found pre-compression and/or in
vessel compression difficult to achieve in practice because, once
released from pressure, waste expands rapidly. Further, compression
during the loading process requires significant time that could
otherwise be used in waste processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] One of the key aspects of the present invention is the use
of a separate waste compressor/baler, preferably operating during
the time window of the vessel processing, so as to "debottleneck"
the waste compression/loading process.
[0016] Waste may pre-densified using any of a number of standard or
modified compactors, the list including hay bailers, trash
compactors, and MSW compactors. The bales may be cubic, spherical,
rectangular, or cylindrical, and of any size that is convenient for
loading into a vessel. The bales may be produced more or less
continuously, such as in a continuous batch process, and then
warehoused for later use, preferably on site. Upon demand,
warehoused bales are retrieved and dispatched into the vessel(s)
using standard conveying equipment.
[0017] One of the important features of the invention, is the use
of baling materials and wraps that fail in the high
temperature/high steam pressure environment of the vessel as the
temperature approaches 300 F or higher. For example, the melting
point of LDPE/HDPE film is .about.260 F. The film, once melted in
the vessel, forms balls of plastic that can be separated for
recycle.
[0018] This present invention provides improvements in the
functionality of waste autoclave systems by increasing loading
efficiency and overall throughput efficiency.
[0019] Another benefit of using a film-baled pre-compressed waste
is that the waste can be baled on the tipping floor, and then
transported to the vessel area. In a related U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/123,351 (hereby incorporated herein by
reference), there is described designs and practices that segregate
the clean area of the exit end of the vessel from the non-clean
area beginning with the tipping floor. The use of baled wastes
extends the clean zone to include the vessel loading area. That is,
using baled waste allows one to bring the waste directly to the
vessel without loose waste being laid in the vessel area.
[0020] Another feature of the process of the present invention is
that of over-compressing the bales. In order to achieve maximum
throughput, preferentially the load is about 30% of full density.
However, it is demonstrated technology to be able to routinely
compress municipal waste to 60%-90% of full density. The use of
overly compressed bales increases the rate at which vessels may be
loaded.
[0021] In general terms, the invention includes an apparatus,
system, waste treatment facility and method of autoclave loading
and treatment.
[0022] The present invention includes a method of loading solid
waste into an autoclave at a solid waste treatment facility and
treating the waste, the method comprising: (a) receiving solid
waste at a solid waste treatment facility; (b) compressing the
waste into a plurality of compressed bales, the compressed bales
bound by binding material adapted to melt at a temperature at which
an autoclave operates or otherwise to break upon the operation of
the autoclave; (c) loading the compressed bales into an autoclave;
and (d) operating the autoclave so as to melt or break the binding
material to allow the compressed bales of solid waste to be
decompressed and treated in the autoclave.
[0023] The present invention also includes a method of operating an
autoclave comprising the steps of obtaining a plurality of
compressed bales of waste, the compressed bales bound by a material
adapted to melt at a temperature at which an autoclave operates or
otherwise to break upon the operation of the autoclave; and loading
the compressed bales into an autoclave. This method is then
followed by operating the autoclave so as to melt or break the
binding material to allow the compressed bales of solid waste to be
decompressed and treated in the autoclave.
[0024] The present invention thus includes a baling process,
whereby the baling material (not limited to strapping and wrapping)
is constituted of a material that is designed to yield and fail at
vessel operating conditions, thereby releasing bale contents after
the autoclave is loaded and/or after its doors are sealed and the
autoclave operated under steam. This process neatly averts the
problems of pre-compression or in-vessel compression found by
others. The failure mechanism may be thermal, but other vessel
conditions could be used to initiate a failure.
[0025] The compression bales of the present invention may be made
through the use of any baling equipment that may be adapted to
using binding material as described herein, such as those described
in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,996,849; 3,999,476; 4,041,856;
4,121,515; 4,129,070; 4,148,255; 4,161,911; 4,463,669; 4,658,719;
5,007,337; 5,044,271; 5,081,922; 5,170,702; 5,279,441; 5,558,014;
5,732,617; 5,816,141; 5,845,568; 6,468,019; 6,499,931; and
6,823,776 which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0026] It is preferred that an additional plurality of compressed
bales is prepared while the autoclave is operating, to efficiently
reduce delays between operation cycles. These bales typically and
preferably are stored at the solid waste treatment facility prior
to loading.
[0027] The present invention also includes a process whereby waste
streams are compression baled and optionally stockpiled prior to
processing in an autoclave vessel, thereby allowing the process
equipment operations to be decoupled from the waste supply
operations.
[0028] It is also preferred that the solid waste treatment facility
comprises a conveyor, and that the plurality of compressed bales is
stored on the conveyor mechanism prior to loading. The process in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention features
the stockpiling on one or more conveyor belts used to transfer
bales to the vessel, so as to have a number or bales poised to be
rapidly injected into the autoclave. The conveyor may be operated
at relatively high speed, such that the full complement of bales
may be injected into the autoclave within a time frame of a matter
of a few minutes (i.e., such as less than 5 minutes), and indeed
may be operated at such high speeds that allow a full complement of
bales to be injected into the autoclave in less than 60 seconds,
and even well less than 30 seconds.
[0029] The binding material may be selected from the group
consisting of strapping and wrapping materials that are of such
material and thickness to hold the baled waste in place under
compression, while being amenable to disintegration under autoclave
rotation or operating conditions, such as those selected from the
group consisting of polyethylenes. The present invention thus
includes a baling and autoclaving process whereby the temperature
range of the vessel is substantially in excess of 260 F, preferably
300-340 F, so as to rapidly melt polyethylene (and other low
melting point) baling material, such as baling strands, straps,
films and the like.
[0030] The compressed bales are charged into the autoclave through
application of mechanical forces, such as through conveyor belt
action or other mechanical force that throws the compressed bales
into the autoclave. The present invention also includes an
apparatus and process in accordance with which the vessel feeding
conveyor belt is a high speed belt and/or is provided with a
"thrower" to rapidly move the bales into the vessel.
[0031] It is preferred that the autoclave is disposed at an angle
to the horizontal so as to assist in the loading of the bales, and
it is also preferred that the autoclave is rotated during loading
so as to assist in the loading of the compressed bales.
[0032] The invention also includes a system for loading solid waste
into an autoclave at a solid waste treatment facility and treating
the waste, the system comprising: (a) an autoclave; and (b) a
baling apparatus adapted to compress the waste into a plurality of
compressed bales, the bales bound by a material adapted to melt at
a temperature at which the autoclave operates; and (c) a conveyor
adapted to load the bales of waste into the autoclave.
[0033] The present invention may be adapted to operate with any
autoclave system, such as those known and used in the art,
autoclaves that are held permanently at an angle, or those that may
be tilted from the horizontal are preferred owing to the loading
system featured in the present invention.
[0034] The conveyor additionally preferably comprises a conveyor
belt and a mechanical forcing arrangement for rapidly and
positively charging the bales into the autoclave. The autoclave
most preferably is disposed at an angle to the horizontal so as to
assist in the loading of the bales, and is rotated during loading
so as to assist in the loading of the bales. It is preferred that
the conveyor, or at least its loading terminal segment, is linear
and faces directly into the autoclave in order to the speed
loading.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor has a loading end
and a discharge end, and there is a barrier disposed between the
conveyor loading end and the conveyor discharge end, such that the
conveyor extends through the barrier. The barrier may be part of an
entire chamber holding the autoclave so as to better separate and
maintain the area of the autoclave as a clean area.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, an additional plurality of
compressed bales may be prepared while the autoclave is operating.
It is preferred that the plurality of compressed bales be stored at
the solid waste treatment facility prior to loading, typically
adjacent to or part of the building or building complex that houses
the autoclave. The plurality of compressed bales next to be loaded
may be stored on the conveyor mechanism prior to loading.
[0037] The binding material may be selected from the group
consisting of strapping and wrapping materials, and preferably
includes polyethylene and polyethylene materials.
[0038] The compressed bales are typically charged into the
autoclave through application of mechanical forces, and preferably
may be thrown into the autoclave or otherwise injected into the
autoclave through the application of inertial forces.
[0039] The autoclave is preferably disposed at an angle to the
horizontal so as to assist in the loading of the bales. Preferably,
the autoclave is rotated during loading so as to assist in the
loading of the compressed bales.
[0040] The invention further includes a solid waste treatment
facility for storing solid waste containing a system for loading
solid waste into an autoclave at a solid waste treatment facility
and treating the waste, the system comprising: (a) a building
containing a system for loading solid waste into an autoclave for
treatment, comprising: (i) an autoclave; (ii) a baling apparatus
adapted to compress the waste into a plurality of compressed bales,
the bales bound by a material adapted to melt at a temperature at
which the autoclave operates; and (iii) a conveyor adapted to load
the bales of waste into the autoclave; and the building containing
a storage area for containing a plurality of compressed bales while
the autoclave is operating.
[0041] Preferably, the building comprises a tipping floor area for
receipt of solid waste from trucks, as well as a storage area for
the compressed bales.
[0042] The facility and process preferably allows for the waste to
be compression baled on the tipping floor, thereby allowing the
entire vessel area to be a clean zone, if desired. In a preferred
embodiment, there may be provided a barrier between the tipping
floor area and the autoclave, with the conveyor extending from the
tipping floor through the barrier to the autoclave, in order to
better isolate the autoclave area as a clean area.
[0043] A solid waste treatment facility for storing solid waste
containing a system for loading solid waste into an autoclave at a
solid waste treatment facility and treating the waste, the system
comprising: (a) a building containing a system for loading solid
waste into an autoclave for treatment, the system comprising: (i)
an autoclave; (ii) a baling apparatus adapted to compress the waste
into a plurality of compressed bales, the bales bound by a material
adapted to melt at a temperature at which the autoclave operates;
(iii) a conveyor adapted to load the bales of waste into the
autoclave; and (iv) the building containing a storage area for
containing a plurality of compressed bales while the autoclave is
operating.
[0044] The building typically and preferably comprises a tipping
floor area for receipt of solid waste from trucks. The solid waste
treatment facility also preferably features a building comprising a
storage area for the compressed bales, or the compressed bales may
be stored elsewhere. Most preferably, the building comprises a
tipping floor area for receipt of solid waste from trucks, a
barrier between the tipping floor and the autoclave, the conveyor
extending from the tipping floor through the barrier to the
autoclave.
[0045] The present invention also includes a method of loading
solid waste into an autoclave and treating solid waste therein, the
method comprising: (a) providing: (i) an autoclave; and (ii) a
conveyor adapted to load the bales of waste into the autoclave, the
conveyor holding a plurality of compressed bales, the bales bound
by a material adapted to melt at a temperature at which the
autoclave operates or otherwise break upon the operation of the
autoclave; and (b) loading the compressed bales into an autoclave;
and (c) operating the autoclave to melt or break the binding
material to allow the compressed bales of solid waste to be
decompressed and treated in the autoclave.
[0046] The additional and preferred parameters are as otherwise
described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system for processing
solid waste products in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a system for processing solid waste
products in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0049] FIG. 3 is partial elevation view of a conveyor and autoclave
vessel for processing solid waste products in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] In accordance with the foregoing summary, the following
provides a detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which
is presently considered to be the best mode thereof.
[0051] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system for processing
solid waste products in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 1 shows autoclave vessel 1 having input end
2 and an output end 3, each of which is closed by a door (not
shown) to form a pressure seal. Output end 3 is served by optional
and preferred discharge conveyor 4 that accepts and transports
treated waste from the autoclave vessel 1. Input end 2 is served by
preferred input conveyor 5 that provides bales of waste 6 for
treatment by autoclave vessel 1. As shown in this Figure, the input
conveyor 5 may comprise one or more individual conveyor belts, such
as load/stockpile conveyor portion 5a. At the end of input conveyor
5 is optional and preferred "thrower" device 7 that serves to throw
or kick bales 6 into autoclave vessel 1 in rapid succession during
the loading cycle. As an alternative, the load/stockpile conveyor
portion 5a may terminate sufficiently close to the input end 2
[0052] The bales may be formed off-site, but preferably are formed
at the treatment site as shown, such as by baler 8 that is served
by hopper 9. Hopper 9 in turn may be provided with loose waste by
grapple device 10 that typically takes the loose waste from the
tipping floor 11 where it is dumped from trucks or rail cars, and
the like.
[0053] An inventory of bales 6 may be stored in the tipping floor
area in order to have a backlog of bales awaiting transport and
processing. These may be stored in the tipping floor area, or in
any other area or building conveniently located so as to offer
convenient access to the conveyor system.
[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the tipping floor area 11, which
normally is relatively unsanitary and generates foul odors, may be
partially or completely isolated from the environment of the
loading/stockpile and treatment area 12 (typically desired to be
clean to isolate workers and the treated waste from dirt, dust and
odor) by an environmental barrier, such as demising wall through
which conveyor 5 may extend. Preferably, the environmental barrier
is in the form of a partially or completely enclosed room that
contains the loading/stockpile and treatment area 12. Likewise, the
tipping floor area 11 may also be partially or completely enclosed
in a room.
[0055] In operation, a series of bales 6 are created, conveyed to
and staged on the latter portion of the conveyor system 5 (i.e.,
load/stockpile conveyor portion 5a), such as the five bales shown
awaiting input into the autoclave vessel 1. The load/stockpile
conveyor portion 5a is preferably oriented in a straight line
toward the vessel opening at input end 2. After the autoclave
vessel 1 finishes a treatment cycle and is emptied, its output end
is closed and its input end 2 is opened. A series of bales 6
(typically calculated to comprise a complete vessel charge), are
then conveyed in rapid succession into the autoclave vessel 1. This
process may be carried out through the use of a high speed conveyer
such as the downstream second leg of conveyor 5 (i.e.,
load/stockpile conveyor portion 5a). The load/stockpile conveyor
portion 5a, which may be pre-loaded with a sufficient number of
bales to comprise a full vessel load, preferably may be accelerated
to speeds that allow a full vessel load to be placed into the
vessel in a matter of seconds. Indeed, the load/stockpile conveyor
portion 5a may be accelerated to a speed which injects the bales
directly into the vessel opening at input end 2.
[0056] FIG. 1 also shows optional slinger mechanism 7 that may be
used to jettison the bales in rapid succession into the vessel 1.
The mechanism may be in the form of a rapidly actuated hydraulic
actuator that throws each of the bales in succession into the
vessel 1, such as pivoting in a series of throwing actions as shown
in direction arrow A. This may also be done with any equivalent
mechanical arrangement, such as those known and used in the art or
devices such as kick balers that are able to throw hay bales, and
the like. The present invention therefore provides a system that
allows for the very rapid loading of baled waste in a form such
that the bales may be disintegrated through the normal autoclave
processing such as by rotating the vessel and/or supplying it with
steam in order to release the waste for further processing.
[0057] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a system for processing solid waste
products in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the same reference numerals are used as in FIG.
1.
[0058] FIG. 3 is partial elevation view of a conveyor and autoclave
vessel for processing solid waste products in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention, wherein the same reference
numerals are used as in FIG. 1.
[0059] The vessel 1 may be any type of vessel used in the
autoclaving of waste. Preferably, the vessel 1 may have its angle
changed with respect to the horizontal in order to best aid loading
and unloading, as indicated in direction arrows B in FIGS. 1 and
3.
[0060] The operations of the preferred embodiment are described in
terms of FIG. 3, the isometric view. Waste is received on a tipping
floor 11, which preferably is physically and environmentally
separated from the processing room by a demising wall 13. Waste is
charged to a hopper 9, using a grapple 10 or other loader. A
skilled grapple operator can separate long or heavy items from the
bulk of the waste prior to charging the hopper 9. The hopper 9 in
turn charges the baler system. The baler operates more or less
continuously in accordance with the hopper charging. Products from
the baler, consisting of processible Municipal Solid Waste,
preferably compressed to a density of 500-1500 pounds per cubic
yard (preferentially 1000 pounds per cubic yard), and over-wrapped
with a low melting point film such as a polyethylene film, are
transported one at a time from the tipping floor 11 via conveyor 5
through the demising wall 13 and to the stockpile/loader area 12.
This stockpile/loader conveyor section 5a, which is preferentially
horizontal and elevated to the vessel charging height, receives and
stockpiles a sufficient number of bales 6 such as to compose one
full vessel load. In the preferred embodiment, the stockpile loader
is less than 75% of the length of the vessel 1. When the vessel 1
is to be charged, the stockpile/loader conveyor section 5a is
activated. At the end of the stockpile/load is a bale slinger 7 to
impel the bales 6 into the input opening 2 of the vessel 1. A
combination of inertial forces, gravitation forces and physical
forces cause the bales to move down the length of the vessel 1,
which has been tilted to receive the bales, as shown.
[0061] It is apparent that while specific embodiments of the
invention are disclosed, various modifications to the apparatus or
parameters of the process may be made which will be within the
spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope
of the present invention should be determined by reference to the
claims below.
* * * * *