US4669950A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bulk-bag discharge methods
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-06-10
•
Granted: 1987-06-02
•
Expires: 2005-06-10
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to methods for discharging particulate solids, especially hazardous or toxic materials and contaminants of the atmosphere, from bulk shipping containers, such as bulk-bags, at controlled discharge rates, in an environmentally acceptable manner which eliminates exposure of the environment and personnel to contamination by the material and which allows for an essentially clinically clean environment due to emptying and transfer of the contents to process equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. St. Lawrence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/18; B65G69/181; B65B; B65B69/00; B65B69/0075; B65B69/0091; B65G65/00; B65G65/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
The method for discharging particulate matter such as dry solids from flexible wall bulk-bag shipping containers which comprises: inserting the unopened bulk-bag containing the particulate matter to be discharged into a disposable envelope, placing the bulk-bag so enveloped into a vertically positioned drum and securing the bulk-bag and envelope to the drum, fastening the drum containing the enveloped bulk-bag to a vertically positioned dolly which is attached to a frame capable of (a) being tilted through a 180 degree angle (b) horizontal-lateral movement and (c) 360 degree rotation, tilting the assembly so produced to a horizontal position and laterally moving the assembly to a contact seal surface, connected to a discharge chamber isolated from the environment, so there is a continuous seal from the environment between the contents of the bulk bag and the enclosed discharge chamber, opening the bulk bag by a glove box, tilting the drum containing the opened bulk-bag enclosed in the envelope sealed by contact seal to the discharge chamber and rotating said drum when necessary until the contents of the bulk bag is emptied through the discharge chamber, removing the emptied bulk-bag enclosed in the envelope through an exit port-hole in the discharge chamber into a separate disposable poly-tube sealed to said exit and disposing of the sealed package so produced in an environmentally acceptable manner.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
221 words
The method for discharging particulate matter such as dry solids from flexible wall bulk-bag shipping containers which comprises: inserting the unopened bulk-bag containing the particulate matter to be discharged into a disposable envelope, placing the bulk-bag so enveloped into a vertically positioned drum and securing the bulk-bag and envelope to the drum, fastening the drum containing the enveloped bulk-bag to a vertically positioned dolly which is attached to a frame capable of (a) being tilted through a 180 degree angle (b) horizontal-lateral movement and (c) 360 degree rotation, tilting the assembly so produced to a horizontal position and laterally moving the assembly to a contact seal surface, connected to a discharge chamber isolated from the environment, so there is a continuous seal from the environment between the contents of the bulk bag and the enclosed discharge chamber, opening the bulk bag by a glove box, tilting the drum containing the opened bulk-bag enclosed in the envelope sealed by contact seal to the discharge chamber and rotating said drum when necessary until the contents of the bulk bag is emptied through the discharge chamber, removing the emptied bulk-bag enclosed in the envelope through an exit port-hole in the discharge chamber into a separate disposable poly-tube sealed to said exit and disposing of the sealed package so produced in an environmentally acceptable manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particulate matter is hazardous material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible walled bulk-bag is woven poly-propylene.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of clam 1 wherein the capacity of the bulk-bag is at least one hundred pounds.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of clam 1 wherein the capacity of the bulk-bag is at least one hundred pounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the disposable envelope is plastic film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the plastic film is polyethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the drum is composed of rigid material such as steel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the bulk-bag is secured to the drum by means of ties such as a nylon loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the envelope is secured to the drum by a pressure fit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the drum is fastened to dolly by a retainer such as a metal band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the cradled drum is tilted to an angle of 90 degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the cradled drum is movedhorizontally-laterally to make a contact seal with the discharge chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the cradled drum is tilted to the angle of slide required by the material being handled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the rate of discharge is regulated by controlling the angle of slide through variations of tilt and rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the contact seal is made by compressing an old and a new poly-envelopes between a lip of the drum and the sealing contact surface around the discharge chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the opening of the discharge chamber is fitted with a flexible gasket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 wherein an opening in a periphery of the flexible gasket is surrounded by a ring with a diameter equal to that of a rim on said drum
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the emptied bulk-bag and envelope are removed through a disposal exit after attaching the next cycles envelope thus maintaining the environmentally safe seal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure fit of an old envelope is transferred from the bottom of the top lip of the drum to the ring around the discharge chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sealed package of a used bulk-bag and old poly-envelope are melted to encapsulate residual particulate matter for said environmentally acceptable disposal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an environmentally safe seal is maintained while slipping the old envelope into the discharge chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the controlled 360 degree rotation of said bulk-bag occurs about a horizontal axis and imparts a constantly changing gravitational force on each individual particle and results in breaking-up the compacted mass thereby taking advantage of reverse soil mechanics.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-01 | 1990-12-01 | 1991-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-01 | 1994-12-01 | 1995-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-12-01 | 1999-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |