Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus – With indicator – signal – recorder – illuminator – or inspection... – For determining – observing – or recording position of...
Patent
1997-09-30
2000-06-27
Davis, Robert
Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
With indicator, signal, recorder, illuminator, or inspection...
For determining, observing, or recording position of...
210271, 425317, 425472, 172199, 172772, E01C 1940
Patent
active
060799692
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a compactor, particularly to such apparatus for compacting granular material such as granular activated carbon, sand, pea shingle or the like.
The granular materials mentioned are often used in large expanses for example in filter beds in water treatment works. In such applications, it is a requirement that the material be level, and compacted so that it provides an even filtering of water, but at the same time, while the filter bed is empty, it is firm enough for its surface to remain intact if personnel, dumpers or other equipment move over it. Prior apparatus does not generally provide such a compacted layer.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to provide apparatus which mitigates this disadvantage.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for compacting granular material, comprising a plough means, and a compacting means whereby to compact material.
There may be means adapted to provide swivelling of the apparatus in a substantially horizontal plane.
The means may provide for substantial 360.degree. swivelling. This provides for more or less universal compacting action.
The means may comprise a hydraulic motor. This is a relatively simple and inexpensive item.
There may be a motor/gearbox assembly and the plough means may be connected therewith and the compacting means may be pivotably connected to the plough means. This provides for "flexibility" in operation particularly where the compacting means is essentially a separate means.
There may be restraining means adapted to prevent undue separation of the plough means and compacting means. This provides for control during operation.
The restraining means may comprise flexible elongate means, such as for example chains.
The compacting means may have a curved compacting surface. This provides for a smooth compacting operation.
The compacting means may have flared lateral wings adjacent the curved surface. This provides for the obviation of furrows in the compacted surface.
The compacting means may have an inclined surface adapted in a compacting operation to prevent accumulation of granular material. This provides for efficient use of the material.
There may be means for gauging the depth of a surface being compacted.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a grader or dumper having an arm, and apparatus as hereinbefore defined mounted on that arm.
Apparatus for compacting granular material, such as granulated activated carbon, is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show respective views of apparatus according to the invention in use on the distal end of an arm of a digger;
FIG. 3 shows to an enlarged scale a perspective view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in use;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, to an enlarged scale, of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3;
FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a hydraulic circuit for operation of a compactor according to the invention.
FIGS. 8-11 are respectively schematic end elevational views of further embodiment of apparatus according to the invention, to a much smaller scale; and
FIGS. 12 and 13 are respectively a front elevational view and a perspective view from the rear of a yet further embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.
Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by like numerals,
FIGS. 1 to 4 show apparatus 1 for compacting granular material 2, comprising a plough means 3, a compacting means 4 and means 5 to provide swivelling of the apparatus 1 in a substantially horizontal plane whereby to compact material 2, in the embodiment granular activated charcoal or carbon laid as a filter layer on a bed of sand 6 (which can also be compacted using the apparatus 1). The sand 6 and carbon 2 form layers in a filter such as a slow sand filter in a water treatment
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Davis Robert
Thames Water Utilities Limited
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