Land vehicles – Tank or boiler
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2001-03-06
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Tank or boiler
C220S262000, C220S345200, C049S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196590
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a slide hatch for a bulk carrier, in particular for a vehicle carrier for dry cement. The slide hatch can be used on any bulk carrier vehicle of the type used for transport of dry powdered or granular material that is free flowing in a hopper style container. This description utilizes a cement carrier as a preferred example of the transport carrier contemplated. Bulk transport of dry cement is accomplished utilizing a gondola-style trailer that is loaded with cement from a top port by means of a hose or chute. Typically, the gondola has a tank with sloping sides that converge to a bottom discharge for gravity feed of the cement to a discharge hose that is used to pneumatically deliver the bulk cement to a destination for storage or mixing. To assist in the discharge of the fine powder cement, the gondola tank is pressurized to both compensate for volumetric displacement by the discharging cement and to assist in moving the cement to the discharge pump.
To maintain a pressure within the gondola tank, the hatch cover must have a sealed engagement with the hatch port at the top of the tank. Typically, the hatch cover is connected to the tank with a hinge and a series of threaded dogs mounted around the hatch cover. When the tank is refilled, the hatch cover must be opened which has customarily required that the driver or assistant climb to the top of the trailer and manually disengage the tie-down dogs to open the hatch. Not only is this task time consuming, but because of the configuration of the tank and carrier trailer the task is dangerous as well.
The slide hatch for bulk carriers of this invention is designed to enable removal of a hatch cover by an automatic or manual actuator. The system for displacing the hatch cover is designed to not only position the hatch cover over the access port but to forcibly seat the hatch cover on the port rim to create a hermetic seal for allowing internal pressurization of the gondola tank. In this manner removal and replacement of the hatch cover can be accomplished automatically with a piston type actuator operated from inside the vehicle cab, or manually from the end of the trailer without having to climb on top of the tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The slide hatch for bulk carriers of this invention comprises a manually or automatically operated hatch cover for the access port of a vehicle bulk carrier. In particular, the slide hatch is designed for a bulk dry powder material carrier that is customarily pressurized to assist in pneumatically discharging the transported material to a storage or mixing facility. The typical vehicle carrier for dry material includes a gondola tank having a top hatch that covers an access port for filling the gondola tank with a bulk material such as dry cement. The access port also function as a manhole for entry into the tank for clean-out or repair. Because the hatch is pressurized during discharge of the transported material, the hatch must be secured with sufficient force to withstand the internal pressurization.
The slide hatch of this invention permits removal and replacement of the hatch to be accomplished without having to climb onto the top of the gondola tank and manually remove a series of tie-down dogs. This task must be performed before the vehicle is moved into position for loading of the carrier with the bulk material. Not only is this task time consuming, it is dangerous and can result in injury. Customarily, a ladder on the carrier is provided to ascend to the top of the tank which may be contoured with a narrow access between longitudinal reinforcement members for the tank. After the carrier tank has been filled with material, the cover must be replaced and secured. The slide hatch of this invention includes a hatch mechanism for manually or automatically removing and replacing the hatch cover over an access port utilizing a displacement mechanism that securely seats the hatch cover on the access port. These and other features will become apparent upon a detailed consideration of the preferred embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3131925 (1964-05-01), Coats
patent: 3142410 (1964-07-01), Arnold
patent: 3339785 (1967-09-01), Nugent
patent: 3386206 (1968-06-01), Loveless
patent: 4653662 (1987-03-01), Wise et al.
patent: 5190182 (1993-03-01), Copas et al.
patent: 6105805 (2000-08-01), Labelle et al.
Ilan Ruth
Mai Lanna
Richard Esty Peterson Patent Attorney
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