Material or article handling – Wheeled – load-transporting type vehicles and means for... – Means is confined to one of the vehicles
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-11-06
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Wheeled, load-transporting type vehicles and means for...
Means is confined to one of the vehicles
C100S100000, C100S208000, C100S209000, C100S215000, C100S226000, C100S22900A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312206
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for loading bulk material into a container, and more particularly, to such a method and apparatus for compressing bulk material within a rail car.
Bulk materials such as cottonseed, cottonseed hulls, rice hulls, rice mill feed and soybean hulls are sometimes shipped in rail cars. Freight charges for shipping bulk materials via rail cars are typically calculated on a per car basis rather than on the weight of material shipped in the cars. Such bulk materials are sometimes compressed into bales for later transporting and loading onto rail cars. Baling and loading such materials may increase the weight of materials that may be carried in a rail car, but the extra steps and difficulties in baling and loading bales likely outweigh any benefits achieved. In end loaded containers, such as intermodal cargo containers, and in open top style containers, such as gondola style rail cars, equipment such as front-end loaders have sometimes been used to compress bulk material within a container. Such methods slow and disrupt loading and are not practical in rail cars with side doors. As a result, such bulk materials are typically propelled into a rail car using a conveyor belt, auger system, blower system, or some similar bulk material moving equipment and without using any form or method of compressing the material during or after loading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for loading a compressible, bulk material within a container.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that quickly and efficiently compresses bulk materials within a container such as a rail car.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that allows for simultaneous loading and compressing of bulk materials within a container.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that allows a press to be situated within a container without interfering with loading of bulk materials.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that allows a press to be quickly and efficiently moved into and out from containers to be loaded with bulk materials.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that allows for repeated loading and compressing of bulk material within a container without repositioning or removing of a press.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that allows for loading and compressing of bulk material within different areas of a container without repositioning or removing of a press.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that reduces the cost of shipping bulk material.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above type that simplifies the loading of bulk materials within a container.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of the above that utilizes a portable press.
Toward the fulfillment of these and other objects and advantages, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a track and a frame movable on the track between a retracted and extended position. A first plate is movably mounted on the frame, and a ram is operably connected to the first plate for moving it between a retracted and extended position. A feeder may also secured to the frame. In operating an apparatus such as the one disclosed, the frame and plate are moved within the container, a compressible material is transferred into the container, the compressible material is compressed, and the frame and plate are moved to a position outside the container. The steps of transferring compressible material into the container and compressing it may be repeated as desired. The frame may also be equipped with a second plate in which case one plate may be compressing material while additional compressible material is simultaneously being transferred into another portion of the container. The container may be a rail car, and the compressible material may be selected from the group consisting of cottonseed, cottonseed hulls, rice hulls, rice mill feed, and soy bean hulls.
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Greenich Larry
Pylate Don
Rodgers Bruce
Bratlie Steven A.
Planters Cotton Oil Mill, Inc.
Rogers Mark
Speed Gary N.
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