Pumps – Expansible chamber type – Mechanically actuated distributor
Patent
1990-10-17
1993-03-02
Bertsch, Richard A.
Pumps
Expansible chamber type
Mechanically actuated distributor
417532, 417900, 417519, F04B 1502
Patent
active
051904497
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to material feed tanks and, in particular, to material feed tanks for sludge pumps, such as two-cylinder sludge pumps.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Known material feed tanks for two-cylinder sludge pumps typically comprise: an upwardly facing material supply opening located in a top portion thereof, which is used, for example, for coupling a material supply line thereto; two discharge cylinder orifices extending through a front wall thereof and bordered by a wear steadyrest; a pressure connector extending through the tank wall for coupling a conveyor line thereto; a tube switch supported within the feed tank and coupled to the pressure connector, which can be swivelled alternately in front of the discharge cylinder orifices; and at least one agitator driven by a motor supported on a side wall thereof.
These types of feed tanks are usually cleaned and serviced through the material supply opening located in the top portion thereof. One problem with such feed tanks, however, is that it has proven to be difficult to disassemble and/or assemble the tube switch when servicing the feed tank through the material supply opening. Also, in cases where the feed tank has a supply line directly coupled thereto, the material supply opening is usually only accessible after the supply line is removed.
One attempted solution to this problem has been to provide a material feed tank with a removable rear panel, wherein the pressure connector is coupled to the rear panel. However, one disadvantage with this configuration is that when service is performed, the conveyor line joined to the pressure connector has to be dismantled. Also, in many instances the rear wall is not accessible from the outside of the feed tank.
Cleaning openings have also been provided in the bases of feed tanks, wherein the cleaning openings are sealed with lids. However, such cleaning openings have proven to be difficult to access and, accordingly, are not suited (or any only conditionally suited) for performing maintenance on, for example, the tube switch or an agitator.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a feed tank, which is easily accessible for cleaning, maintenance, and repair purposes, even if the feed tank is fixed in a stationary installation and is accessible only through a narrow space. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a feed tank in which such maintenance can be performed without having to dismantle the material delivery and removal lines coupled thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a feed tank wherein at least one side wall thereof includes a service opening extending therethrough and, at least one portion of a side wall equipped with an agitator is designed as a sealing lid to cover the service opening. Thus, when the sealing lid is opened, the agitator is swung outwardly from the interior of the feed tank, through the respective service opening.
One feed tank of the present invention comprises a first wall including two material discharge openings extending therethrough. A second wall is located on an opposite side of the feed tank relative to the first wall. A tube switch is supported between the first and second walls and is alternately coupled in fluid communication with the discharge openings. A third wall is coupled to the first and second walls and extends therebetween. The third wall includes a first opening extending therethrough. The first opening is adapted to permit access to the interior of the feed tank therethrough for servicing components located within the feed tank.
A first member of the feed tank is adapted to seal the first opening. The first member is pivotally supported from the feed tank to pivot the first member away from the first opening to access the interior of the feed tank, and to pivot the first member toward the first opening to seal the same.
One feed tank of the present invention further comprises a first motor coupled to the first member, and a first drive shaft
REFERENCES:
patent: 3588294 (1971-06-01), Schlecht
patent: 3682575 (1972-08-01), Guddal
patent: 4437817 (1984-03-01), Metzelder
patent: 4466782 (1984-08-01), Hirashima
patent: 4613290 (1986-09-01), Evenson
patent: 5061158 (1991-10-01), Egli
Benckert Hartmut
Dose Rolf
Hurr Hellmut
Bertsch Richard A.
Korytnyk Peter
Putzmeister-Werk Maschinenfabrik GmbH
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