Claims:We Claim:
1. An assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper comprising:
a support structure mounted on the ground, the support structure including a plurality of elongated bars disposed vertically for retaining a supporting frame thereon, the supporting frame having a central hole that opens up in the feed hopper rigidly attached below the supporting frame; and
a vibrating sieve capable of being positioned over the support structure, the vibrating sieve including:
a main frame having plurality of screening members arranged in mesh form;
a first plurality of resilient member supporting section, each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section attachable to a corresponding corner of the main frame and having a resilient member positioned therein, the resilient members engaging with a corresponding second plurality of resilient member supporting section attachable to the support structure when the vibrating sieve is positioned on the support structure; and
a vibration inducing mechanism which comprises one or more vibration motors which operates through electrical means and enables the vibrating sieve to linearly vibrate in a feed direction of the raw material so as to allow a controlled discharge of raw material through the hopper.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main frame further includes one or more I-section beams joining the oppositely disposed sides of the main frame to provide rigidity to the main frame structure and wherein the plurality of screening members comprising flat solid bars are positioned over one or more I-section beams.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating sieve is rectangular in shape having four corners, and wherein each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section is attachable to each of the four corners, respectively, of the vibrating sieve.
4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein out of the four second plurality of resilient member supporting sections, two are attachable to a top surface of the main frame and the other two are attachable to projections arising from the elongated bars, respectively, and wherein the vibrating sieve is inclined at an angle with respect to the supporting frame when the vibrating sieve is positioned over the support structure.
5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the vibrating sieve is disposed over the support structure in such a manner that the vibrating sieve covers a substantial portion of the central hole of the supporting frame, and wherein an operator standing platform is mounted on the support structure in a manner that the operator standing platform covers the remaining portion of the central hole.
6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the first and second plurality of resilient member supporting sections further comprises at least two sections having similar shape, and wherein each pair of the first and the second resilient member section has a resilient member positioned there between when the vibrating sieve is positioned over the support structure.
7. A vibrating sieve for improving the controlled downstream flow of raw material through the feed hopper comprising:
a main frame having plurality of screening members arranged in mesh form;
a first plurality of resilient member supporting section, each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section attachable to a corresponding corner of the main frame and having a resilient member positioned therein, each of the resilient member supporting section attachable to a support structure when the vibrating sieve is positioned on the support mounted on the ground and includes the feed hopper rigidly attached thereto; and
a vibration inducing mechanism which comprises one or more vibration motors which operates through electrical means and enables the vibrating sieve to linearly vibrate in a feed direction of the raw material so as to allow a controlled discharge of raw material through the hopper.
8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the main frame further includes one or more I-section beams that join the oppositely disposed sides of the main frame to provide rigidity to the main frame structure, and wherein the plurality of screening members are positioned over the one or more I-section beams.
9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the vibrating sieve is rectangular in shape having four corners, and wherein each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section is attachable to the corresponding corner of the vibrating sieve.
10. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the first and second plurality of resilient member supporting sections further comprises at least two sections having similar shape, and wherein each pair of first and second resilient member section has a resilient member positioned there between when the vibrating sieve is positioned over the support structure.

Dated this 2nd day of July 2016
For Sachin Gupta & Associates

(Abhishek Saini)
Agent for UltraTech Cement Limited
Reg. No. IN/PA-1731
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to an assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper. The invention also relates to a vibrating sieve for improving the controlled downstream flow of raw material through the feed hopper.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[002] In the concrete industry, conventionally, large screens are used at the mouth of feed hoppers. These screens serve as a filter to classify oversize materials like granite, basalt and limestone known as pebbles in general language. These pebbles causes quality problems in the Concrete. These materials enter the hopper prior to mixing with High moisture tends to cause choking of raw materials in the hopper causing reduced output by 40 to 50%. However, when materials are emptied onto the sieves all at once, often all of the material falls into the hopper at once and this can cause blocking or choking of the hopper. Maintaining a flow of material into the hopper is essential to prevent choking of the hopper. There is a need for materials to gradually drop into the hopper in a controlled downstream flow after they are emptied onto the sieves.
[003] Also, when materials are dropped onto the sieve all at once, it is possible that some of the raw material tumbles onto the sieve presenting one face of itself on the sieve in a manner in which it cannot pass through the open portions of the sieve. There is a need for a mechanism by which the material being screened can be moved in such a way that the material offers different faces of each particle to the sieve to better ensure that the material passes through the sieve rather than blocking the passage of the overlying material through the sieve due to obstructions by some of the material presenting an unyielding face on the sieve.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[004] An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper and preventing choking in the hopper.
[005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vibrating sieve for improving the controlled downstream flow of raw material through the feed hopper by causing materials to present different faces to the surface of the sieve thereby improving flow of the material through the sieve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper including a support structure mounted on the ground, the support structure including a plurality of elongated bars disposed vertically for retaining a supporting frame thereon, the supporting frame having a central hole that opens up in the feed hopper rigidly attached below the supporting frame; and a vibrating sieve capable of being positioned over the support structure, the vibrating sieve including a main frame having plurality of screening members arranged in mesh form; a first plurality of resilient member supporting section, each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section attachable to a corresponding corner of the main frame and having a resilient member positioned therein, the resilient members engaging with a corresponding second plurality of resilient member supporting section attachable to the support structure when the vibrating sieve is positioned on the support structure; and a vibration inducing mechanism which comprises one or more vibration motors which operates through electrical means and enables the vibrating sieve to linearly vibrate in a feed direction of the raw material so as to allow a controlled discharge of raw material through the hopper.
[007] According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a vibrating sieve for improving the controlled downstream flow of raw material through the feed hopper comprising a main frame having plurality of screening members arranged in mesh form; a first plurality of resilient member supporting section, each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section attachable to a corresponding corner of the main frame and having a resilient member positioned therein, each of the resilient member supporting section attachable to a support structure when the vibrating sieve is positioned on the support mounted on the ground and includes the feed hopper rigidly attached thereto; and a vibration inducing mechanism which comprises one or more vibration motors which operates through electrical means and enables the vibrating sieve to linearly vibrate in a feed direction of the raw material so as to allow a controlled discharge of raw material through the hopper.
[008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[009] FIG. 2 is an isometric close view of a vibrating sieve for improving the controlled downstream flow of raw material through the feed hopper;
[010] FIG. 3 is the top view of vibrating sieve of FIG. 2 comprising a plurality of resilient member supporting sections; and
[011] FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through the feed hopper showing the vibrating sieve of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 at the top mounted on a plurality of resilient member supporting sections comprising resilient members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[012] With reference to the drawings, various embodiments of the present invention describe an assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper by causing materials to fall into the hopper gradually thereby preventing choking in the hopper. The assembly comprises a support structure mounted on the ground and a vibrating sieve on top of the support structure. The support structure includes a plurality of elongated bars disposed vertically for retaining a supporting frame thereon. The supporting frame has a central hole that opens up in the feed hopper rigidly attached below the supporting frame. The supporting frame together with the body of the feed hopper is funnel shaped. The vibrating sieve is detachable from the rest of the assembly. It is capable of being positioned over the support structure for use. The vibrating sieve comprises a main frame, a vibration inducing mechanism and a plurality of resilient member supporting sections. The main frame has a plurality of screening members arranged in mesh form. The vibrating sieve rests on a plurality of spring-like resilient structures which are supported by or partially housed in tubular structures which rest on the supporting frame of the support structure or on any projections which may be attached to the support structure. The first of the plurality of spring-like resilient member supporting sections is attachable to a corresponding corner of the main frame of the vibrating sieve and has a spring-like resilient member positioned therein, partially within the supporting section and partially extending out of it at one end. The end of the resilient members which extends out of the first plurality of resilient member supporting sections engages with a corresponding second plurality of resilient member supporting sections attachable to the support structure when the vibrating sieve is positioned on the support structure. The vibration inducing mechanism comprises one or more vibration motors housed in a motor supporting section on the main frame of the vibrating sieve. The vibration motors operate through electrical means and enables the vibrating sieve to linearly vibrate in the vertical direction i.e. in the feed direction of the raw material so as to allow a controlled discharge of raw material through the hopper.
[013] Preferably, the main frame of the vibrating sieve further includes one or more I-section beams joining the oppositely disposed sides of the main frame to provide rigidity to the main frame structure and wherein the plurality of screening members comprising flat solid bars are positioned over one or more I-section beams. Also, preferably, the vibrating sieve is rectangular in shape having four corners, and wherein each of the first plurality of resilient member supporting section is attachable to each of the four corners, respectively, of the vibrating sieve.
[014] Further, the vibrating sieve preferably has four second plurality of resilient member supporting sections out of which two are attachable to a top surface of the supporting frame and the other two are attachable to the elongated bars, respectively, and wherein the vibrating sieve is inclined at an angle with respect to the supporting frame when the vibrating sieve is positioned over the support structure. The vibrating sieve can be disposed over the support structure in such a manner that the vibrating sieve covers a substantial portion of the central hole of the supporting frame, and wherein an operator standing platform is mounted on the support structure in a manner that the operator standing platform covers the remaining portion of the central hole. Preferably, each of the first and second plurality of resilient member supporting sections further comprises at least two sections having similar shape, and wherein each pair of the first and the second resilient member section has a resilient member positioned there between when the vibrating sieve is positioned over the support structure.
[015] It was found that the double vibration motor was much more efficient in overcoming the challenges of the prior art than a single vibration motor and double spring mountings i.e. mounting resilient members in pairs was more efficient than mounting the springs singly. Optionally, one can also introduce vibrating plates along the inner walls of the hopper, mechanised by vibration motors. The vibrating sieve and other parts of the assembly can be made of mild steel.
[016] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention where a support structure is mounted on the ground. The support structure includes a plurality of elongated bars 102 disposed vertically for retaining a supporting frame 100 thereon. The supporting frame 100 has a central hole that opens up in the feed hopper rigidly attached below the supporting frame. The supporting frame together with the body of the feed hopper is funnel shaped. The materials entering the feed hopper collect at the base of the funnel 114. The vibrating sieve 105 rests on a plurality of spring-like resilient structures which are supported by or partially housed in tubular structures which rest on the supporting frame of the support structure or on any projections which may be attached to the elongated bars of the support structure 102. The first of the plurality of spring-like resilient member supporting sections 108 is attachable to a corresponding corner of the main frame 116 of the vibrating sieve 105 and has a spring-like resilient member 120 positioned therein, partially within the supporting section 108 and partially extending out of it at one end. The end of the resilient members which extends out of the first plurality of resilient member supporting sections 108 engages with a corresponding second plurality of resilient member supporting section 109 attachable to the supporting frame 100 of the support structure when the vibrating sieve 105 is positioned on the support structure.
[017] FIG. 2 illustrates the vibrating sieve 105 which comprises a main frame 116 and a vibration inducing mechanism 110 housed in a structure 106 which is attached to the main frame 116 of the vibrating sieve. The main frame has a plurality of screening members 118 arranged in mesh form. The vibration inducing mechanism 110 comprises one or more vibration motors.
[018] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the vibrating sieve of FIG. 2 comprising a plurality of resilient member supporting sections 108 at the corners of the main frame 116 of the vibrating sieve within which the resilient members 120 are housed. The vibration inducing mechanism 110 is housed in a structure 106 which can be welded to the main frame 116 of the vibrating sieve 105.
[019] FIG. 4 illustrates a front sectional view of the assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through the feed hopper showing the vibrating sieve 105 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 at the top mounted on a plurality of resilient member supporting sections 108 engaged with the vibrating sieve 105 on one side and a corresponding resilient member supporting section 109 engaged with the supporting frame 100 of the support structure. The spring like resilient members 120 are partially housed in each resilient member supporting section 108 and 109. A vibration motor 110 is shown attached to the vibrating sieve 105. According to another embodiment of the invention, vibrating plates 117 are arranged along the length of the walls of the hopper, the top end of each vibrating plate being near the supporting frame 100 and the bottom end of each vibrating plate being near the bottom end 114 of the funnel shaped hopper. These vibrating plates enable smooth downward flow of materials into the base of the hopper. Vibration motors 119 housed within the walls of the hopper induce vibration in the vibrating plates 117.
[020] Raw material falling on the vibrating sieve is shaken up by the up-and-down i.e. vertical movement of the sieve which is powered by the vibration motors. The material falls into the hopper in a controlled way in the direction in which the feed raw material was dropped onto the sieve. The assembly provided according to an embodiment of the invention improves the flow of the material through the hopper and thereby prevents choking of the hopper. The assembly also enables different faces of the raw material to engage with the vibrating sieve thereby preventing blockages on the sieve. Further, the assembly displays the optimum structural stability combined with efficient flow of materials through the hopper. This assembly does not require too many major structural changes to existing hopper designs and hence provides an economical solution to improve output from hoppers even during high humidity conditions.
[021] The following experimental example is illustrative of the invention but not limitative of the scope thereof:
Example 1:
[022] The assembly for improving downstream controlled flow of raw materials through a feed hopper according to an embodiment of the invention was run for 12 months and the productivity of the said assembly (Trial 1) was compared with a conventional assembly which comprises a sieve that does not vibrate (Trial 2) over the same 12 month period. The data gathered over the 12 month period is provided in the Table 1 below.

Trial 1 Trial 2
Month Production (m3) Mixer Time (hr) Productivity
(m3/hr) Production (m3) Mixer Time (hr) Productivity
(m3/hr)
1st 7598.00 205.02 37.06 5491.25 179.07 30.67
2nd 8921.50 260.14 34.29 6696.25 239.42 27.97
3rd 8446.00 238.13 35.47 6454.25 241.88 26.68
4th 7638.50 221.67 34.46 4619.00 179.16 25.78
5th 7484.75 227.08 32.96 4205.25 161.21 26.09
6th 6704.00 205.69 32.59 4030.50 155.19 25.97
7th 7489.75 239.21 31.31 4714.75 195.67 24.10
8th 6145.00 186.95 32.87 3936.75 148.35 26.54
9th 7472.25 223.85 33.38 4057.50 136.05 29.82
10th 7813.75 242.12 32.27 3618.00 126.25 28.66
11th 7876.00 245.40 32.09 3684.75 130.66 28.20
12th 9013.25 243.20 37.06 4875.25 165.12 29.53
Average 7716.90 228.21 33.82 4698.63 171.50 27.50
Table 1
[023] It is clear from Table 1 that the productivity (in m3/hr) for Trial 1 was 33.82 m3/hr which was much better than the productivity for Trial 2 which was found to be 27.50 m3/hr over a period of 12 months. This demonstrates improved efficiency and economic benefits associated with the assembly arranged according to an embodiment of the invention when compared against the convention non-vibrating sieve assembly.
[024] Above noted embodiments of the present invention provides us following benefits listed below:
1) In conventional system we need to engage a manpower to continuous watch the jamming and in case of Jamming occurs, he removes it through poking by a Hollow pipe, which he holds the other end. This Job is classified as a risky job where the said person is subjected to Dust and safety risks. The New developed screen does not need any person and is self-regulated.
2) The Presence of Pebbles in the raw materials possess an occasional quality issue in the concrete, The Screen helps to eliminate such causes.
The above example is non-limiting. The invention is defined by the claims that follow.