초록 ▼

Solid particulate material is moved through a hopper bottom bin in mass flow inducted by a conical surface positioned within the hopper to compensate for the shallowness thereof. Laminar mass flow movement will occur in the uppermost region of the material within the vertical bin walls. The hopper c

Solid particulate material is moved through a hopper bottom bin in mass flow inducted by a conical surface positioned within the hopper to compensate for the shallowness thereof. Laminar mass flow movement will occur in the uppermost region of the material within the vertical bin walls. The hopper cross-section is separated into segregated flow channels by the conical surface, and by webs extending therefrom. The conical surface and webs have overall dimensions small enough for insertion through a bolt ring on the bottom of the hopper. The proportion of the material flowing through each channel is chosen to achieve a desired discharge flow pattern by varying the relative cross-sectional areas of either the inlets or the outlets of the channels. This results in changes in the velocity profile of the downwardly flowing material in a zone above and adjacent to the separate flow channels.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for controlling the flow of a solid material through a bin having a hopper with an opening at its bottom comprising: first means, extending into the lower portion of the hopper for dividing the lower portion of the hopper into a central channel and a unitary peripheral channel through

1. A device for controlling the flow of a solid material through a bin having a hopper with an opening at its bottom comprising: first means, extending into the lower portion of the hopper for dividing the lower portion of the hopper into a central channel and a unitary peripheral channel through which the material will move in mass flow, said first dividing means being insertable through said opening; means forming extensions of said central and peripheral channels below said opening at the bottom of said hopper through which the material will move in mass flow; second means extending between said first dividing means and said extension forming means for dividing said extension of said peripheral channel into a plurality of segregated portions and supporting said first dividing means; means for selectively fixing the ratio between the rates at which material flows through said central and peripheral channels and said segregated portions thereof; and means for recombining the material from said extensions of said central and peripheral channels into a single stream. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first dividing means includes a first conical surface positioned in proximity to the bottom of said hopper with its vertex downward, and open at each end for receiving and discharging material therethrough, said first conical surface being sufficiently steep to promote downward movement of material. 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said means forming extensions of said peripheral channels includes a second conical surface open at each end and positioned below and in proximity to said opening and around said first conical surface to receive material flowing between said first conical surface and the walls of said hopper. 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said second dividing means includes a plurality of webs mounted on and extending outwardly from said first conical surface to said second conical surface, whereby said webs and second conical surface define a plurality of segregated portions of said peripheral channel around a central channel defined by said first conical surface, the upper and lower edges of said channels defining inlets and outlets, respectively. 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the flow rate ratio fixing means includes means for fixing the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the outlets of said segregated portions of said peripheral channel and said central channel. 6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the cross-sectional area ratio fixing means includes a movable extension on the lower edge of each of said webs. 7. A device according to claim 4 wherein said recombining means includes an inner conduit extending downward from said first conical surface, and an outer conduit extending downward from said second conical surface to receive material therefrom and discharge said material in mass flow. 8. A device for controlling the flow of material through a bin having a hopper bottom with an outlet opening, comprising: an outer conical channel means open at both ends; an inner conical channel means insertable through said outlet opening, and open at both ends, nested within and spaced from said outer conical channel means and having at least a portion thereof extending above the outer conical channel means; a plurality of webs extending between said inner conical channel means and said outer conical channel means and insertable through said outlet opening for supporting said inner conical channel means relative to said outer conical channel means; and means for mounting said outer conical channel means to said outlet opening with the vertex of said outer conical channel means extending away from said hopper, whereby said outer conical channel means will receive material flowing between said inner conical channel means and the walls of said hopper. 9. A device according to claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of webs is generally triangular in shape, with one side thereof forming a right angle with the general plane of the top of said inner conical channel means. 10. A device according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of webs are arranged symmetrically around said inner conical channel means. 11. A device for controlling the flow of a solid material through a bin having a hopper with an opening at its lower end and a mounting ring around its lower end comprising: first means, extending into the lower portion of the hopper for dividing the lower portion of the hopper into a central channel and a unitary peripheral channel through which the material will move in mass flow, said first dividing means being insertable up through said ring; means forming extensions of said central and peripheral channels below said opening at the lower end of said hopper through which the material will move in mass flow; second means for dividing said extension of said peripheral channel into a plurality of segregated portions; means for selectively fixing the ratio between the rates at which material flows through said central and peripheral channels and said segregated portions thereof; and means for recombining the material from said extensions of said central and peripheral channels into a single stream. 12. A device for controlling the flow of a solid material through a bin having a hopper with an opening at its lower end and a mounting ring around its lower end comprising: first means extending into the lower portion of the hopper for dividing the lower portion of the hopper into a central channel and a unitary peripheral channel through which the material will move in mass flow, said first dividing means including a first conical surface insertable up through said ring and positioned in proximity to the lower end of said hopper with its vertex downward, and open at each end for receiving and discharging material therethrough, said first conical surface being sufficiently steep to promote downward movement of material; means forming extensions of said central and peripheral channels below said opening at the lower end of said hopper through which the material will move in mass flow, said extension forming means including a second conical surface open at each end and positioned below and in proximity to said opening and around sid first conical surface and mountable to said ring to receive material flowing between said first conical surface and the walls of said hopper; second means for dividing said extension of said peripheral channel into a plurality of segregated portions, said second dividing means including a plurality of webs mounted on and extending outwardly from said first conical surface to said second conical surface, and insertable up through said ring whereby said webs and second conical surface define a plurality of segregated portions of said peripheral channel around a central channel defined by said first conical surface, the upper and lower edges of said channels defining inlets and outlets, respectively. 13. A device for controlling the flow of a solid material through a bin having a hopper with means forming an opening at its lower end comprising: a first tapered channel forming means extending into the lower portion of the hopper for dividing the lower portion of the hopper into a central channel and a unitary peripheral channel through which the material will move in mass flow, said first tapered channel forming means being insertable up through said opening and positionable in proximity to the lower end of said hopper for receiving and discharging material therethrough, said first tapered channel forming means being sufficiently steep to promote gravity mass flow of material; a second tapered channel forming means for forming extensions of said central and peripheral channels below said hopper opening through which the material will move in mass flow, said second tapered channel forming means being open at the top and bottom ends thereof with said top end conforming to said hopper opening and mountable thereto in surrounding relation to said first tapered channel forming means to receive material flowing between said first tapered channel forming means and the walls of said hopper; means for dividing said extension of said peripheral channel into a plurality of segregated portions, said dividing means including a plurality of webs mounted on and extending outwardly from said first tapered channel forming means to said second tapered channel forming means, and insertable up through said hopper opening, whereby said webs and said second tapered channel forming means define a plurality of segregated portions of said peripheral channel around a central channel defined by said first tapered channel forming means. 14. A particulate material flow control insert for a hopper bottom bin having an outlet opening therein comprising; first channel forming means dimensioned to pass through said opening with the lower portion thereof extending below said opening, said first channel forming means being configured to form a central mass flow channel in said hopper and to cooperate with the hopper walls to form a separate peripheral mass flow channel about said central channel; second channel forming means surrounding the lower portion of said first channel forming means in spaced relation therewith to form an extension of said peripheral mass flow channel, said second channel forming means having a top rim conforming to said outlet opening and adapted for connection thereto; and a plurality of generally triangular webs, dimensioned to pass through said opening and connecting said first channel forming means to said second channel forming means for support thereby, each web having one side configured to form a right angle with the general plane of said opening, said plurality of webs comprising means for supporting said first channel forming means and for dividing said peripheral channel into a plurality of separate mass flow channels. 15. A flow control insert according to claim 14 further comprising means for combining material flowing out from said central mass flow channel and said extension of said peripheral mass flow channel into a single stream. 16. A bin bottom insert for creating mass particulate material flow comprising: first channel forming means having an upper open ended portion for insertion into a bin bottom and a lower portion exterior thereto, the inner surface of said channel being tapered to create mass flow therethrough; second channel forming means surrounding the lower portion of said first channel forming means in spaced relation thereto so as to form a peripheral mass flow channel therewith; web means connected between said first and second channel forming means and extending to the upper portion of said first channel forming means to provide support therefor and to maintain said spaced relation, said web means dividing said peripheral channel into a plurality of separate peripheral flow channels having inlet ends and outlet ends; and means on the lower edge of each of said webs for selectively varying the cross-sectional areas of said outlet ends of said peripheral flow channels. 17. A bin bottom insert according to claim 16 wherein said web means comprises the sole support for said first channel forming means.