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Title:
VESSEL FOR POWDER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/261196
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Vessel with a hold which delimits at least one volume in which a bulk good can be held, wherein the vessel comprises a mechanism for pneumatic conveying of the bulk good, the mechanism comprising a pipe system which is movably connected via a frame to the hold, which pipe system can be connected at a proximal end to an engine room and is provided at a distal end with a nozzle, wherein the frame is provided with actuators for controlling the position of the nozzle inside said volume.

Inventors:
PAUWELS ERIK ADOLF PAUL (BE)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2020/056054
Publication Date:
December 30, 2020
Filing Date:
June 26, 2020
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
GITRA BVBA (BE)
International Classes:
B63B27/25
Foreign References:
DE2229412A11974-01-03
US3481495A1969-12-02
EP0111015A11984-06-20
NL6911625A1970-02-03
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PHILIPPAERTS, Yannick Thomas Sidon (NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. Vessel with a hold which delimits at least one volume in which a bulk good can be held, wherein the vessel comprises a mechanism for pneumatic conveying of the bulk good, the mechanism comprising a pipe system which is movably connected via a frame to the hold, which pipe system can be connected at a proximal end to an engine room and is provided at a distal end with a nozzle, wherein the frame is provided with actuators for controlling the position of the nozzle inside said volume.

2. Vessel according to claim 1, wherein the pipe system comprises at least a first, second and third pipe segment, wherein the first pipe segment can at a proximal end be pivotally connected to the engine room and at a distal end is connected pivotally to a proximal part of the second pipe segment, wherein at a distal end the second pipe segment is connected pivotally to a proximal part of the third pipe segment, and wherein the third pipe segment has said nozzle at a distal end.

3. Vessel according to the foregoing claims, wherein the frame has segments corresponding with the pipe segments for the purpose of holding and controlling the pipe segments.

4. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the vessel has a longitudinal direction and wherein the frame and the vessel comprise complementary guides such that the frame is movable relative to the hold in the longitudinal direction.

5. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims, further comprising the engine room with an air displacing mechanism which is provided to generate an air flow through the pipe system for the purpose conveying the bulk good via the air flow.

6. Vessel according to the foregoing claim, wherein the engine room is provided in a central zone, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the vessel.

7. Vessel according to the foregoing claim, wherein the vessel has a plurality of fixed connecting points for connecting the proximal part of the pipe system, which connecting points are connected via a pipe system to the engine room.

8. Vessel according to the foregoing claim, wherein the vessel has at least one double side wall, wherein the connecting points are situated in an inner wall of the double side wall and wherein the pipe system is formed in the double side wall.

9. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims and claim 2, wherein the first pipe segment and the second pipe segment extend substantially in lying manner in a zone situated at the top of the volume.

10. Vessel according to the foregoing claim, wherein the third pipe segment is rotatable between a lying position, in which the third pipe segment is situated in the zone at the top of the volume, and an oblique position in which the nozzle is situated close to a bottom of the hold.

11. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims and claim 3, wherein the frame segments comprise a first frame segment and a second frame segment which are in a scara configuration.

12. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims, further comprising hatches for covering the hold, wherein the mechanism is formed in a zone under the hatches.

13. Vessel according to the foregoing claim, wherein in closed state the hatches are connected substantially airtightly to each other and to a inner hold edge of the vessel, and wherein a channel extends from the hold to the outside, wherein the channel is provided with a filter.

14. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the vessel is an inland waterway vessel.

15. Vessel according to any one of the foregoing claims and claim 4, wherein the hold comprises at least one partition so that a plurality of volumes in which a bulk good can be held are delimited, wherein the mechanism is movable via the guides for the purpose of being placed at each of the volumes.

Description:
Vessel for powder

The invention relates to a vessel for powders.

When powders are transported by road, this is typically done in a tanker. This is a truck on which a typically substantially cylindrical tank is mounted. Built into the underside of such a tank are systems for fluidizing the powder such that the powder can be pneumatically conveyed into and out of the tank. Pneumatic conveying means that the propelling force with which the powder is conveyed is a gas flow or air flow. It is here in the first instance less relevant whether the gas flow or air flow is realized by suction, underpressure or vacuum, or by blowing or overpressure.

Similar transport means have been developed for inland waterway vessels. More specifically, inland waterway vessels are provided with tanks or silos in which

mechanisms are provided at the bottom for fluidizing and pneumatically conveying the powders. An inland waterway vessel typically has a plurality of individual tanks or silos, each having a predetermined volume. The advantage of such an inland waterway vessel is that powders can be transported in reliable manner. Drawbacks are that such an inland waterway vessel is expensive due to its complex construction. The utility is also limited because the tanks are provided fixedly in the vessel. The tanks are also difficult to clean.

It is an object of the invention to improve a vessel for transporting powders.

The invention provides for this purpose a vessel with a hold which delimits at least one volume in which a bulk good can be held, wherein the vessel comprises a mechanism for pneumatic conveying of the bulk good, the mechanism comprising a pipe system which is movably connected via a frame to the hold, which pipe system can be connected at a proximal end to an engine room and is provided at a distal end with a nozzle, wherein the frame is provided with actuators for controlling the position of the nozzle inside said volume.

The invention is based on the insight that pneumatic conveying of powders can also be realized via the upper side of the volume. A mechanism for fluidizing the powder at the bottom of the volume can hereby be dispensed with. Existing tanks and silos have a mechanism on the underside for fluidizing and pneumatic conveying. The invention provides a mechanism with a pipe system and a nozzle, wherein the pipe system is connected via a frame to the hold and wherein the nozzle can be moved inside the volume of the hold. The nozzle will hereby function as a vacuum cleaner, whereby powder stored in the hold can be sucked up and pneumatically conveyed from the hold in simple manner. The other way around, filling of the hold is also considerably simpler because the hold can be filled via the nozzle, which can be controlled within the volume. The powder can thereby be spread out over the whole surface area of the hold so that formation of dust and piling up of the powder can be avoided.

Because the hold does not comprise a mechanism at the bottom for fluidizing and conveying the powder, the hold can be made flat at the bottom. This appreciably increases the possible applications of the vessel and also allows other types of good to be

transported. In other words, the vessel becomes multifunctional. This has been found to have great advantages in practice. This is because powder vessels are typically employed to carry powders from location A to location B. The powder is unloaded and typically also processed at location B. In most cases no new or other powders that require transportation back to location A are made at location B. In practice a powder ship will therefore travel from location B back to location A empty, and be filled again at location A. This is not very efficient, because the ship is only filled for half of the distance travelled. With the vessel according to the invention it becomes possible to transport other goods, for instance pallets or containers, between location B and location A, this appreciably increasing the cost-efficiency of the vessel. Tests have also shown that cleaning of a hold of a vessel according to invention is significantly simpler than cleaning a silo or tank from a prior art vessel. Building a vessel with an open hold and providing a mechanism is also

significantly simpler and cheaper than building a vessel with one or more silos and/or pressure tanks.

The pipe system preferably comprises at least a first, second and third pipe segment, wherein the first pipe segment can at a proximal end be pivotally connected to the engine room and at a distal end is connected pivotally to a proximal part of the second pipe segment, wherein at a distal end the second pipe segment is connected pivotally to a proximal part of the third pipe segment, and wherein the third pipe segment has said nozzle at a distal end.

The frame preferably has segments corresponding with the pipe segments for the purpose of holding and controlling the pipe segments.

The vessel preferably has a longitudinal direction, wherein the frame and the vessel comprise complementary guides such that the frame is movable relative to the hold in the longitudinal direction. The vessel preferably further comprises the engine room with an air displacing mechanism which is provided to generate an air flow through the pipe system for the purpose of conveying the bulk good via the air flow.

The engine room is preferably provided in a central zone, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the vessel.

The vessel preferably has a plurality of fixed connecting points for connecting the proximal part of the pipe system, which connecting points are connected via a pipe system to the engine room.

The vessel preferably has at least one double side wall, wherein the connecting points are situated in an inner wall of the double side wall and wherein the pipe system is formed in the double side wall.

The first pipe segment and the second pipe segment preferably extend substantially in lying manner in a zone situated at the top of the volume.

The third pipe segment is preferably rotatable between a lying position, in which the third pipe segment is situated in the zone at the top of the volume, and an oblique position in which the nozzle is situated close to a bottom of the hold.

The frame segments preferably comprise a first frame segment and a second frame segment which are in a scara configuration.

The vessel preferably further comprises hatches for covering the hold, wherein the mechanism is formed in a zone under the hatches.

The vessel is preferably an inland waterway vessel.

The hold preferably comprises at least one partition so that a plurality of volumes in which a bulk good can be held are delimited, wherein the mechanism is movable via the guides for the purpose of being placed at each of the volumes.

The invention will now be further described on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

In the drawing:

figure 1 shows a vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; figure 2 shows a top view of a hold with mechanism according to the embodiment of figure 1 ;

figure 3 shows a top view of a vessel with a hold with a plurality of segments; figure 4 shows a section of a vessel according to an embodiment of the invention; figure 5 shows a cross-section of a side of a hatch; and figure 6 shows a side view of a hatch.

The same or similar elements are designated in the drawing with the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a vessel 1 in which an embodiment of the invention is applied. Vessel 1 is an inland waterway vessel. Inland waterway vessels can be constructed in different ways, for instance with a single wall or a double wall. The location of the cabin and the type of drive can also differ. The invention is not limited to a specific type of inland waterway vessel. The invention can even be applied in a wider context of vessels, also including seagoing vessels. As will become apparent hereinbelow, the invention can also be used for a seagoing vessel. The invention is however preferably used on an inland waterway vessel, i.e. a ship primarily designed to navigate on rivers and canals.

The ship has a hold 2. Hold 2 is formed by a bottom of the ship and upright walls. The bottom and upright walls define a volume. This volume can be filled with goods, for instance bulk goods such as sand, coal, cement, ore or other goods. Break bulk goods can alternatively also be placed in hold 2. Break bulk goods are typically provided on pallets or in containers. These pallets and/or containers can be placed in hold 2 and can even be stacked so as to extend at least partially above the walls of hold 2. These options make an inland waterway vessel 1 widely applicable, thus enabling a high transport efficiency to be achieved. In order to further increase the transport efficiency partitions which divide hold 2 into a plurality of segments are often placed in the hold. In figure 1 one segment is designated with reference numeral 2 and another segment of the hold is designated with reference numeral T . The volumes of different segments can be filled with different types of good.

Traditionally built for transporting powders are inland waterway powder vessels. These ships have tanks or silos in which the powder can be stored built fixedly into the hold. These silos have means at the bottom for fluidizing the powder in order to convey the powder. In the context of this description powder is defined as a dry bulk material containing a large number of extremely small particles. In the context of this invention the powder has flow properties, and a powder can therefore be fluidized. Powders can be displaced via pneumatic conveying. A pneumatic conveying system displaces a powder by creating an air flow through a pipe, which air flow entrains the powder through the pipe.

In figure 1 a mechanism 3 for pneumatic conveying of powder is provided at the position of hold 2. Mechanism 3 has a pipe system 4 with a nozzle 5. Pipe system 4 is suspended from a frame 6 at the position of the upper side of hold 2. Pipe system 4 and frame 6 are formed such that nozzle 5 can be positioned at almost any position within the volume of hold 2. Pipe system 4 has for this purpose a plurality of segments which are held by frame 6. Frame 6 has a plurality of actuators for moving the different pipe parts relative to each other. The combination of movements is chosen such that nozzle 5 can be moved within substantially the whole volume of hold 2. Figure 1 further shows hatches 21. The hatches 21 are typically movable in the longitudinal direction of vessel 1. Hatches 21 can be slid to a position in which they cover hold 2. In order to provide access to hold 2 the hatches can be slid open, i.e. be slid toward one side of the ship. In figure 1 the hatches are at least partially opened by sliding to the right-hand side. Hold 2 and hold T are hereby opened. The use of hatches is known for inland waterway vessels and is therefore not further elucidated in this description.

Pneumatically displacing of powders by means of an air flow can cause dust to form. Dust formation in combination with pressure as a result of the air flow should preferably be filtered. This is to prevent excessive amounts of dust ending up in the ambient air. There are European standards regarding excessive dust in the ambient air, namely a maximum of 5 mg/m 3 .

Using hatches to close the loading space has the advantage that access to the loading space can be provided for a grab of for instance a transfer crane by sliding the hatches. For loading and unloading of powders the hatches are adapted to be preferably substantially watertight and substantially dust-tight.

The hatches are preferably constructed as stacking hatches as known on the market, wherein at least one of the hatches, preferably every hatch, is provided with a built-in filter and ventilation openings. Via the ventilation openings and with the filter an air flow can escape while being filtered. The hatches are further preferably formed substantially dust- tightly relative to each other, and relative to the inner hold edge (referred to in Dutch with the term‘den’) of the vessel, with rubber profiles.

In this way a dust-tight hatch cover is created, which provides the option of filtering the dust, caused by the pneumatic loading and unloading of powder, by means of the integrated dust filter, and preventing pressure build-up in the hold.

Two round openings are further preferably provided per hatch, which openings are covered by a removable lid. Via the openings the hold can be loaded with a loading bellows. When the hold is loaded from for instance a silo wagon, another silo ship or a factory, loading can take place via the suction arm of the rolling bridge which is further described below.

The hatch cover is preferably in fully closed position during loading and unloading of products in powder form. The hatches are only opened and closed for loading/unloading of conventional goods, such as pallets, containers, break bulk goods, ores or building materials.

Figure 2 shows a top view of hold 2. Figure 2 shows here that a frame 6 extends over hold 2. Frame 6 preferably extends over the whole width of hold 2. Frame 6 is preferably connected to the two opposite edges of hold 2. In other words, frame 6 bridges the width of the hold. Frame 6 has for this purpose a base part, also referred to as a bridge part. The walls are more preferably provided at the top with guides 13 which are compatible with the frame 6 so that frame 6 can move over the guides. By giving frame 6 a movable form the same mechanism 3 can be used for a plurality of segments of hold 2.

The movement of frame 6 relative to hold 2 is illustrated in figure 2 with arrow 14.

A pipe system 4 is provided via frame 6 at the top of the hold. Pipe system 4 comprises a first segment 7, a second segment 8 and a third segment 9. The first segment is connected via a first pivot point 10 to a base part of frame 6. Pivot point 10 is preferably a pivot point which allows rotation about an upright axis. Second segment 8 is pivotally connected with a proximal part to the distal part of first segment 7. Figure 2 shows a second pivot point 11 between first segment 7 and second segment 8. First pivot point 11 preferably also allows a rotation of the second segment relative to the first segment about an upright axis. The first segment and second segment are hereby connected in a so-called scara configuration. The third segment 9 is connected via a third pivot point 12 to the second segment 8. More specifically, a proximal part of third segment 9 is connected to the distal part of second segment 8. The third pivot point 12 preferably allows both a rotation about an upright axis and a rotation about a lying axis. The downward angular orientation of third segment 9 can hereby be determined by rotation of third pivot point 12 about the lying axis. This construction of the pipe system as described above allows nozzle 5, which is situated distally on the third segment 9, to be moved through the whole volume of hold 2 in extremely simple manner.

A fourth segment (not shown), which is provided with the nozzle 5, can optionally be provided distally of third segment 9. Via the fourth segment the nozzle can move at least in a lying plane relative to the distal end of third segment 9. The pipe system hereby has a wider reach and a simpler operation.

Figure 3 shows a top view of a part of a vessel 1. Figure 3 illustrates here that vessel 1 has a double side wall 15. This double side wall can be provided on at least one side with a plurality of fixed pipes 19. These fixed pipes 19 extend between the two walls of the double side wall 15 from an engine room 16 to respective connecting points 18. The inner wall of double wall 15 is provided with a plurality of connecting points to which mechanism 3 can be connected. The connecting points are preferably provided at a substantially fixed intermediate distance. More preferably, at least one connecting point is provided per hold segment.

The inner wall of double wall 15 is preferably also provided with the guides 13 (not shown in figure 3). Figure 3 illustrates that mechanism 3 is connected to connecting point 18 lying closest to engine room 16. The figure shows a partition 22 which separates a first segment of hold 2 and a second segment from each other. The figure further illustrates that mechanism 3 can be moved, indicated with arrow 14, and connected to a further connecting point 18 at the position of the second segment T of the hold. Mechanism 3 can thus be used to serve a plurality of segments of the hold. Engine room 16 preferably comprises an air displacing mechanism 17. Air displacing mechanism 17 is preferably connected via a plurality of valves to the fixed pipes 19 so that the air displacing mechanism 17 can be controlled to displace air through the pipe which runs to the connecting point 18 where mechanism 3 is connected. Engine room 16 can thus co-act with mechanism 3 in order to transport powder into and out of the segments of hold 2.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of hold 2 and mechanism 3. Figure 4 shows here the volume 20 situated inside hold 2. Figure 4 illustrates that frame 6 extends over the width of the hold in the manner of a bridge. First segment 7 is connected rotatably to this bridge. Second segment 8 is connected rotatably to first segment 7. Third segment 9 can extend downward in order to move nozzle 5 upward and downward in the volume 20. Pipe system 4 is preferably supported by frame 6. In addition to the base part which forms the bridge, frame 6 for this purpose also has segments corresponding with the pipe segments. Each frame segment supports a pipe segment. Actuators are provided between the frame segments in order to move the pipe segments via the frame segments.

Figure 4 further illustrates that mechanism 3 is connected via a fixed connecting point 18 to a fixed pipe system 19. The figure further illustrates that a hatch 21 can extend above the hold in order to cover the hold. When the third segment 9 lies substantially horizontally, the mechanism preferably extends above the lower 80% of volume 20, more preferably above the lower 90% of volume 20, most preferably wholly above the volume 20. Volume 20 is defined as the usable volume 20 inside hold 2 for transporting a powder in. Hatches 21 preferably extend above volume 20 and above mechanism 3.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of a hatch 21 which, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is adapted to cover a hold 2 dust-tightly. Hatch 21 has an upper surface 26, typically formed by a plate, this typically taking a watertight and dust- tight form. At the position of the edge 23 of the ship the upper surface 26 extends at least partially beyond the inner hold edge and hatch 21 rests on the inner hold edge of the ship. For this purpose hatch 21 is provided at the position of the transverse edge with a support element 24 in the form of a bracket which opens downward, i.e. has a reverse U-shape. Support element 24 is preferably provided at least partially with a rubber layer 25 or other soft and/or elastic material which allows a substantially airtight closure to be realized between support element 24 and the inner hold edge.

Formed above support element 24, between support element 24 and upper surface 26, is a channel which opens on the outer side of the inner hold edge so that air can flow out and/or in between support element 24 and upper surface 26. This makes it possible to allow an air flow, drawn in the figure with arrows 29, from inside hold 2 to outside via the channel.

A filter is further provided to filter the air flow 29 in order to stop dust. In the embodiment of figure 5 a filter cloth 28 is provided under the upper surface 26. Filter cloth 28 is connected to support element 24, for instance via profiles 27. Filter cloth 28 has a porosity selected by the skilled person on the basis of the desired filtering. With this construction an air chamber is formed below the upper surface, which air chamber opens to the outside via the channel between upper surface 26 and support element 24, and which air chamber opens toward hold 2 via filter 28. It will be apparent that this is only one preferred embodiment. Filter 28 can also be formed at other locations, for instance between support element 24 and upper surface 26.

Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of two complimentary hatches 21A and 21B. For the purpose of closing a loading space the hatches 21 A and 21B are hooked into each other as illustrated with arrow 30. This provides for a substantially airtight connection between adjacent hatches. More specifically, hatch 21 A has a U-shaped edge 34 which opens upward. Hatch 21B has a U-shaped edge 35 which opens downward. Hatch 21 A hereby forms a so-called lower hatch and hatch 2 IB forms a so-called upper hatch.

Alternatively, a downward opening U-shaped edge can be formed on one side and an upward opening U-shaped edge can be formed on the other side of the hatch, so that a plurality of hatches with the same form can be connected to each other. Provided in the downward opening U-shaped edge 35 is a soft and/or elastic layer 25, for instance a rubber layer, in order to enable substantially air-tight connection of the two hatches.

Figure 6 further shows several components on the side of hatches 21A and 21B which improve the overall operation of the hatches. Wind safety elements 31 are thus shown. Wind safety elements 31 are formed by a rod, preferably a threaded rod, which is connected at the top to the hatch 21 and is connected at the bottom to the edge of the ship. Drawn at the top of the figure is a wingnut which indicates that the wind safety element can be loosened and tightened in simple manner for the purpose of removing and placing the hatches. Further shown are lifting protrusions 32. The lifting protrusions 32 extend over the edge and serve as stop for a lifting system for hatches. More specifically, a lifting system can lift the hatches by engaging the hatches at the position of the lifting protrusions 32. Hydraulic lifting systems for hatches are known and are therefore not further elucidated. Further shown in the figure is a fitting part 33 which facilitates stacking of hatches. More specifically, fitting part 33 ensures that hatches which are stacked onto each other are self-centering and come to lie between upper surfaces 26 at a predetermined distance. This facilitates working with hatches 21.

The skilled person will appreciate on the basis of the above description that the invention can be embodied in different ways and on the basis of different principles. The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. The above described embodiments and the figures are purely illustrative and serve only to increase

understanding of the invention. The invention will not therefore be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is defined in the claims.