Batch Ram Feeding Apparatus

Abstract

A batch ram feeding apparatus for feeding of material to an incinerator or other mechanism and characterized by being constructed to feed batches of comparatively equal weight regardless of variations in sizes or compositions of the material. The apparatus comprises a housing having a material receiving opening in the top and a material dispensing opening in the front and horizontally-extending upper and lower internal compartments with a communicating passageway therebetween. The apparatus further includes reciprocating rams positioned in each of the compartments and drive means for individually driving the rams to receive a batch of material in the upper compartment, compact the batch and allow it to drop into the lower compartment where it is pushed out of the dispensing opening.

Description

This invention relates to batch ram feeding apparatus and more particularly to a batch ram feeding apparatus which feeds batches of comparatively equal weight regardless of variations in size or composition of the material.

Heretofore, various material feeding devices have been proposed for the feeding of material into incinerators or other mechanisms including ram feeding devices, generally of the single ram type. However, all of these prior mechanisms have suffered from one or more disadvantages in the design and operation due to the difficulty of separating a batch of material from the bulk of storage volume and resulting jamming, and complexity of the mechanical, electrical or fluid operated mechanisms utilized in these machines, etc.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a batch ram feeding apparatus which overcomes difficulties and problems presented in prior feeding apparatus and which is characterized by feeding batches of comparatively equal weight regardless of variations in size or composition of the material being fed.

It has been found by this invention that the above object may be accomplished by providing a batch ram feeding apparatus comprising a generally horizontally-extending substantially enclosed hollow housing defining an opening in the top thereof for the reception of material therein to be fed from a bulk supply and an opening in the front thereof for dispensing of the material batches, and having an internal horizontally-extending partition forming an upper horizontally-extending compartment communicating with the material receiving opening, a slightly larger lower horizontally-extending compartment communicating with the material dispensing opening and an internal passageway for the passage of material from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. The apparatus further includes a first horizontally reciprocating ram positioned in the upper compartment and a second horizontally-extending ram positioned in the lower compartment. The rams each have cross-sectional dimensions substantially equal to the compartments and an axial length less than the length of the compartments.

Drive means are operatively connected to the rams for individually driving the rams to move the first ram to a rearward position for the reception of material in the upper compartment from the bulk supply while maintaining the second ram in a forward position to prevent the flow of the material into the lower compartment, then moving the first ram forwardly in the upper compartment to separate a batch of material and carry the material therein to a position forwardly of the material receiving opening for closing the opening and to compact the material, then moving the second ram rearwardly allowing the compacted separated batch of material in the upper compartment to flow into the lower compartment through the internal passageway, and then moving the second ram forwardly to push the compacted material in the lower compartment out of the material dispensing opening.

The batch feeding apparatus preferably includes a hopper attached to the top of the housing and communicating with the material receiving opening for containing a bulk supply of material for feeding through the apparatus. Preferably, the drive means includes a double-acting, fluid operated piston and cylinder means connected to each of the ram means and sequentially operated electrical circuit means operatively connected with the piston and cylinder means. Preferably, the drive means further includes pressure sensing means operatively connected between the piston and cylinder means for the upper ram and the electrical circuit means for sensing abnormal pressure on the upper ram during its forward movement caused by an obstruction of material between the hopper and the upper compartment or by abnormally uncompressible material in the upper compartment and for actuating the electrical circuit means for causing rearward movement of the second ram to allow the batch of material to fall into the lower compartment.

Some of the objects and advantages of this invention having been stated, other objects and advantages may be seen as the description proceeds, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the batch ram feeding apparatus of this invention for feeding of batches of material into an incinerator and schematically illustrating a fluid operated piston and cylinder and electrical circuit drive and control means;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view taken generally along the line 1A--1A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the batch ram feeding apparatus with the rams in non-feeding position;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 illustrating the first sequence of operation of the apparatus in which material is fed into the upper compartment;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating a second operational sequence of the apparatus in which a batch of material is separated and pushed forwardly and compacted in the upper compartment;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIGS. 2-4 illustrating a further operational sequence of the apparatus in which the ram in the lower compartment is moved rearwardly to allow the compacted batch of material to drop into the lower compartment;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIGS. 2-5 illustrating a further operational sequence in which the ram in the lower compartment is moved forwardly to push the compacted batch of material in the lower compartment out of a dispensing opening and into an incinerator or other mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a view like FIGS. 2-6 illustrating a possible situation in which an obstruction of material is present between the hopper and upper compartment.

Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to FIG. 1, the batch ram feeding apparatus of this invention is referred to therein generally by the reference numeral 10. The batch ram feeding mechanism 10 is shown connected to an incinerator apparatus 11 for the feeding of batches B of material M into the lower chamber of the incinerator apparatus for burning thereof. While the batch ram feeding apparatus 10 of this invention is particularly adapted for feeding of the material M into an incinerator 11, it is to be understood that this apparatus 10 can also feed material M to other mechanisms for other purposes wherein a batch of material is processed by such other mechanism.

The batch ram feeding apparatus 10 comprises a generally horizontally-extending, substantially enclosed, generally rectangular hollow housing 15 defining an opening 16 in the top thereof for the reception of material M therein to be fed from a bulk supply above the opening 16. The housing 15 further defines an opening 17 in the front thereof for dispensing into an incinerator 11 or other mechanism batches B of material M fed through the apparatus 10. The housing 15 further includes an internal, horizontally-extending partition 20 forming an upper horizontally-extending compartment 21 communicating with the material receiving opening 16, and a lower horizontally-extending compartment 22 communicating with the material dispensing opening 17. The partition 20 in the housing 15 further defines an internal passageway 24 for the passage of material M from the upper compartment 21 to the lower compartment 22.

A first horizontally reciprocating ram 30 is positioned in the upper compartment 21 and a second horizontally reciprocating ram 31 is positioned in the lower compartment 22. Each of the rams 30 and 31 and the respective compartments 21 and 22 are generally rectangular in cross-sectional configuration. However, the upper compartment 21 and first ram 30 are somewhat smaller than the lower compartment 22 and ram 31. Also, the upper compartment includes an outwardly inclined front wall and outwardly inclined side wall, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A to insure falling of the separated batch from the upper compartment into the lower compartment.

The batch ram feeding apparatus 10 further includes a hopper 35 connected to the top of the housing 15 and communicating with the material receiving opening 16. The hopper 35 is adapted to contain a bulk of material M for feeding through the apparatus 10.

Drive means, schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 and described more fully below, are operatively connected to the rams 30 and 31 for individually driving the rams in sequential operation for feeding of batches of material through the apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2-7, the first ram 30 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates both rams 30 and 31 in the at rest or non-feeding position, to a rearward position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for the reception of material M by gravity flow from the hopper 35. In this position of the first ram 30, the second ram 31 is maintained in a forward position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to close the internal passageway 24 and prevent the material M from flowing into the lower compartment 22.

Next, the first ram 30 in the upper compartment 21 is moved forwardly in the upper compartment 21 to normally separate a batch B of material from the bulk supply and carry the separated batch B of material to a position forwardly of the material receiving opening 16 to compact the batch of material and close the material receiving opening 16 by the first ram 30, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, it may be seen that predetermined quantities of material of comparatively equal weights will be separated into a batch from the bulk of material in the hopper 35 during each of these operational sequences of the first ram 30.

Next, the second ram 31 in the lower compartment 22 will be moved rearwardly opening the internal passageway 24 and allowing the compacted, separated batch B of material in the upper compartment 21 to drop or flow into the lower compartment 22, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, the second ram 31 in the lower compartment 22 is moved forwardly to push the compacted batch B of material in the lower compartment 22 out of the dispensing opening 17 and into the incinerator apparatus 11, as shown in FIG. 6. The ram 31 is then reversed to the position shown in FIG. 2 for another sequence of operations, as described above.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the drive means, schematically illustrated therein, comprise a double-acting, fluid-operated, self-reversing piston and cylinder mechanism connected to each of the rams 30 and 31 and including a cylinder 40 and piston 41 connected at its forward end to ram 30, and cylinder 42 and piston 43 connected at its forward end to ram 31. Mechanically operated valves 44 and 45 are connected with each of the piston and cylinder devices 40, 41 and 42, 43, respectively. Suitable air conduits lead from a source of pressurized air 46 through the valves 44 and 45 to the piston and cylinder devices 40, 41 and 42, 43. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the piston and cylinder devices operate through the valves 44 and 45 to reverse themselves by introducing air under pressure on alternate sides of the pistons 41 and 43 after the pistons have moved through a stroke to the left or right. The valves 44 and 45 are conventional mechanically actuated spool valves which are moved to open air lines to either side of the piston mechanisms by the rod devices or the like extending therefrom.

The drive means further includes normally closed, solenoid actuated valves 50 and 51 disposed in the pressurized air conduits between the source and the reversing valves 44 and 45 of the piston and cylinder mechanisms 40, 41 and 42, 43, respectively. The solenoid operated valve 50 includes a mechanical time delay 53 which retards the closing of the valve.

The solenoid actuated valves 50 and 51 are controlled by a suitable electric circuit including a normally open limit switch 55 actuated by movement of the first ram 30, a normally closed limit switch 56 actuated by movement of the second ram 31, a double pole limit switch 57 with one normally open and one normally closed set of contacts and actuated by movement of the second ram 31, a solenoid actuated control relay 60 having one normally closed and two normally opened sets of contacts, a solenoid actuated control relay 61 with two sets of normally opened contacts in which one set comprises a holding circuit, and a normally opened pushbutton switch 65.

As described above, the operational sequence of the batch ram feeding apparatus 10 starts with the second ram 31 in the lower chamber 22 in the at rest or non-feeding position, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which limit switch 57 is actuated, allowing current to flow through the normally closed contacts of relay 60 to relay 61 which, if energized by pushbutton 65, allows current to energize solenoid valve 50 to open the valve. Air under pressure from the source 46 passes through the air conduits, through the open valve 50 and through the valve 44 to the self-reversing cylinder 40. The piston 41 moves the first ram 30 in the upper cylinder 21 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the piston 41 strikes the actuating rod of the valve 44 moving it to a position for reversing the direction of travel of the piston 41 so that the piston 41 then moves to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to move the ram 30 to a forward position, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In this position, the ram 30 actuates the limit switch 55 to energize control relay 60. The control relay 60 de-energizes solenoid valve 50, but the mechanical timer 53 delays the closing of the valve for sufficient length of time to permit the piston 41 to reverse and move the upper ram 30 away from the switch 55. However, control relay 60 is now held energized by current through one set of its actuated closed contacts and through the normally closed switch 56.

When control relay 60 was energized, it closed one set of contacts which permitted current to flow to the solenoid valve 51 and thereby allowed air under pressure to flow through the solenoid valve 51 and the valve 45 to the cylinder 42. The piston 43 moves the second ram 31 in the lower chamber 22 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, until the piston 43 moves the rod actuating mechanism of the valve 45 to allow air to flow into the other side of the piston 43 to cause the piston 43 to reverse and move the second ram 31 forwardly to a position where switch 57 is deactuated and to a position where the switch 56 is opened. This de-energizes the control relay 60. Switch 57 maintains current to valve 51 allowing the piston 43 to reverse and move the ram 31 rearward to its at rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this position, switch 57 is actuated which de-energizes valve 51 and permits current to flow to the control relay 61, completing the cycle. If pushbutton switch 65 is depressed, relay 61 will be energized and current will flow to valve 50 repeating the operating sequence.

In addition to the normal situation in which the first ram 30 separates a batch of material from the hopper 35 and compresses the batch forwardly in the upper compartment 21 actuating limit switch 55 to cause the drive means to move the rams 30 and 31 through the remaining portions of the above-described cycle, there are two other situations which may occur during operation of the apparatus of this invention. A first possible situation is where the material M dropping into the upper compartment 21 will not separate from the bulk of material M in the hopper 35 and therefore jams between the upper ram 30 and the forward edge of the material receiving opening 16, as shown in FIG. 7. The other situation occurs when the material M being fed by the apparatus 10 of this invention is of such a nature that it will not sufficiently compress in the upper compartment 21 by forward movement of the first ram 30. In both of these situations, the ram 30 will not be moved forwardly enough to actuate limit switch 55 to cause the drive means of the apparatus 10 to proceed through the above-described cycles of operation.

For ensuring operation of the apparatus 10 during the above two described situations, the drive means further includes a spring bias pressure sensitive valve 66 connected by a suitable air conduit to the air conduit extending between valve 50 and valve 44, as shown in FIG. 1. The valve 66 also includes a stem extending therefrom and controlling a switch 67 which is operatively connected by suitable electric circuit to the relay 60. The valve stem of valve 66 also includes a depending portion which is adapted to mechanically contact an upstanding portion of control rod of valve 44.

Accordingly, in either of the above-described abnormal situations, the ram 30 will move forwardly attempting to reach the forward position illustrated in FIG. 4. Because of jamming of the material M, as shown in FIG. 7, or because the material M will not compact sufficiently, air pressure builds up in the piston and cylinder devices 40 and 41 until this pressure is backed up in the air conduit sufficiently to push the stem of the valve 66 against the bias of the spring therein to close the contacts of switch 67 and to mechanically reverse the valve 44. This causes the piston and cylinder mechanisms 40 and 41 to reverse and electrically energizes the relay 60 so that the sequence of operation continues as described above, without stopping of the operation of the apparatus.

Thus, it may be seen that a batch ram feeding apparatus has been provided which utilizes a dual ram feeding mechanism sequentially operated and controlled to separate a batch of material from a bulk supply of the material, compact the batch of material and feed the batch of material into an incinerator or other mechanism and will overcome the prior problems inherent in batch feeding mechanisms.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of this invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. A batch ram feeding apparatus for feeding of material to an incinerator or other mechanism characterized by being constructed to feed batches of comparatively equal weight regardless of variations in sizes or compositions of the material, said apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontally-extending substantially enclosed hollow housing defining an opening in the top thereof for the reception of material therein to be fed from a bulk supply and an opening in the front thereof for dispensing of the material batches, and having an internal horizontally-extending partition forming an upper horizontally-extending compartment communicating with said material receiving opening, a lower horizontally-extending compartment communicating with said material dispensing opening, and an internal passageway for the passage of material from said upper compartment to said lower compartment;

a first horizontally reciprocating ram positioned in said upper compartment and a second horizontally reciprocating ram positioned in said lower compartment, said rams each having cross-sectional dimensions substantially equal to said compartments and an axial length less than the lengths of said compartments; and

drive means operatively connected to said rams for individually driving said rams to move said first ram to a rearward position for the reception of material in said upper compartment from the bulk supply while maintaining said second ram in a forward position to prevent the flow of the material into said lower compartment, then moving said first ram forwardly in said upper compartment to separate a batch of material and carry the material therein to a position forwardly of said material receiving opening for closing said opening and to compact the material, then moving said second ram rearwardly allowing the compacted separated batch of material in said upper compartment to fall into said lower compartment through said internal passageway and then moving said second ram forwardly to push the compacted material in said lower compartment out of said material dispensing opening.

2. A batch ram feeding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a hopper means connected to the top of said housing and communicating with said material receiving opening for containing a bulk of material for feeding through said apparatus.

3. A ram feeding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said drive means includes a double-acting, fluid-operated piston and cylinder means connected to each of said ram means.

4. A ram feeding apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, in which said drive means further comprises sequentially operating electrical circuit means operatively connected with said piston and cylinder means.

5. A ram feeding apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, in which said drive means includes pressure sensing means operatively connected between said piston and cylinder means for said upper ram and said electrical circuit means for sensing abnormal pressure on said upper ram during its forward movement caused by an obstruction of material between said hopper and said upper compartment or by abnormally uncompressible material in said upper compartment and for actuating said electrical circuit means for causing rearward movement of said second ram to allow the batch of material to fall into the lower compartment.

6. A ram feeding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said compartments and said rams have generally rectangular cross-sectional configurations.

7. A ram feeding apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, in which said upper compartment includes an outwardly inclined front wall and outwardly inclined side walls to ensure falling of the separated batch of material from said upper compartment into said lower compartment.