Flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device

Abstract

A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly has a top removable valve or flow control device that has components to interface with the outlet of a flexible container and that can be supported upon a bridge. Various cone configurations can be added to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container including a rigid cone, multi member cone, or “y Axis dynamic cone system. The apparatus is further enhanced with a floating bridge and the addition of a powered lifting and lowering device for the advantage of manipulating the flexible container in a vertical motion for improving the filling of product into or the discharging of product out of a flexible container.

1 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly comprises
 a flexible silo support structure having a plurality of members assembled in a length width and height form, and having a plurality of horizontal members positioned between adjacent vertical members or a ring connecting vertical members;   means to secure connectors located on said flexible silo or bulk bag, typically recognized as, yet not limited to, loops or sleeves by one skilled in the art;   a flexible silo or bulk bag, herein referred to as “flexible container”, comprising a bottom outlet and connectors located on said flexible silo or bulk bag, typically recognized as, yet not limited to, loops or sleeves by one skilled in the art, and may further comprise an outlet spout;   a valve or flow control device, herein referred to as “valve”;   a flexible container outlet and valve interface means;   means to rest said valve, or any component thereof, upon a support means; and   means to support said valve, or any component thereof, herein referred to as “bridge”, wherein said valve, or any component thereof, is placed upon and supported by said bridge   
   
   
       2 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a preferred embodiment of said flexible container outlet and valve interface means comprises
 a flexible container having an outlet opening and may further comprise an outlet spout;   an orifice type “valve”;   means for connecting said flexible container outlet, or outlet spout, with said orifice type valve, wherein said means for connecting comprises threading said outlet, or outlet spout through said orifice type valve; and   an inlet adapter, connecting to the inlet of said orifice type “valve”, wherein said inlet adapter, or any component thereof, provides means to rest upon said bridge with said orifice type “valve” suspended below   
   
   
       3 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a second preferred embodiment of said flexible container outlet and valve interface means comprises
 a flexible container having an outlet opening and may further comprise an outlet spout;   an outlet adapter, comprising means for securing said outlet opening, or outlet spout, and wherein said outlet adapter, or any component thereof, provides means to rest supported upon a bridge with said “valve” suspended below; and   a “valve”, comprising means to secure to said outlet adapter   
   
   
       4 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a preferred embodiment of said bridge comprises
 a plurality of vertical or inclined support members having two opposed ends, with a first base end mounting upon said support structure, or any component thereof, or mounting upon an independent structure located within the footprint of said support structure, herein referred to as “supported bridge”; and   means to support said valve, or any component thereof, upon said second end comprising   
   
   
       5 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said “supported bridge” comprises
 at least one a gap, thereby allowing components of said valve or flow control device, or components thereof, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction   
   
   
       6 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said supported bridge further comprises
 means to “float”, herein referred to as “floating bridge”, thereby allowing said supported bridge to rest unfixed upon members of said support structure, or components thereof, or rest upon an independent structure located within the footprint of said support structure   
   
   
       7 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said floating bridge further comprises
 means to lift and lower said floating bridge, located in the vicinity of the footprint of said support structure and mounting either upon said support structure, or any component thereof, or mounting upon an independent structure   
   
   
       8 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said means to lift and lower further comprises
 a through port; and   an expandable through connector, for example, a bellows   
   
   
       9 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in claim Al, a preferred embodiment of said flexible silo support structure further comprises
 a cone structure to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container, comprising an open base area forming a lower opening perimeter, wherein said lower opening perimeter is such that said valve may pass through from above, wherein said lower opening perimeter provides the function of said bridge; and   a slot, wherein said slot provides a gap at the lower perimeter of said cone that runs vertically as needed to allow components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction;   
   
   
       10 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a second preferred embodiment of said flexible silo support structure further comprises
 a cone structure to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container, comprising an open base area forming a lower opening perimeter, wherein said lower opening perimeter is such that said valve may pass through from above,   a slot, wherein said slot provides a gap at the lower perimeter and runs vertically as needed to allow components of said valve or flow control device or any component thereof, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to drop through vertically from above with little or no obstruction; and   a bridge, suspended below said open base of said cone, for resting said valve, said outlet adapter, said inlet adapter, or any component thereof, thereby providing a base, and allowing alignment of the edges and a continuing transition of the cone slope angle to the inlet of said valve, said outlet adapter, said inlet adapter or any component thereof, herein referred to as “suspended bridge”, and having at least one gap, thereby allowing components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction   
   
   
       11 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a third preferred embodiment of said flexible silo support structure further comprises
 a cone structure to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container, comprising a plurality of inclined members, forming a “V” or cone structure and having an open base area forming a lower opening perimeter, wherein said lower opening perimeter is such that said valve may pass through from above, wherein said lower opening perimeter provides the function of said bridge, and having at least one gap, thereby allowing components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction   
   
   
       12 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a fourth preferred embodiment of said support structure further comprises
 a “Y” axis dynamic cone system for use with a flexible silo, bulk bag or flexible container filling and discharging apparatus, to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container, of US Patent Application “A “Y” axis dynamic cone system for use with a flexible silo, bulk bag or flexible container filling or discharge apparatus”, Mark Kosich, Jul. 3, 2008, comprising   a plurality of radially extending members, having two ends with a first or base end, and a second end;   said first or base end having an open area forming a lower opening wherein said lower opening perimeter is such that said valve may pass through from above;   a bridge located in the vicinity of said lower opening perimeter;   said bridge having at least one gap, thereby allowing components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction;   means for mounting said plurality of radially extending members that will allow the changing of the angle of said radially extending members, wherein said first end, or component thereof, has a first pivot mount or any component thereof, mounting upon said bridge, and said second end extending radially from center;   means to provide a second pivot point along said plurality of radially extending members, said means located upon said support structure and comprising   means to mount said second pivot point means;   compensation means to provide one of the following:
 a) a variable pivot point along said radially extending member; 
 b) a variable pivot mount position; or 
 c) a variable length of said member between said first and second pivot points; 
   thereby allowing said first pivot end to move vertically along a fixed “y” axis and said second end to move in an arc motion providing for a range of angular changes of said radially extending members to form a concave “V” cone, flat surface or convex cone or pyramid shape;   a floating bridge; and   means to lift and lower said floating bridge, located in the vicinity of the footprint of said support structure and mounting either upon said support structure, or any component thereof, or mounting upon an independent structure   
   
   
       13 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said means to lift and lower further comprises
 a through port; and   an expandable through connector, for example, a bellows   
   
   
       14 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a fourth preferred embodiment of said flexible silo support structure further comprises
 a cone structure to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container, comprising a plurality of inclined members, forming a “V” or cone structure comprising an open base area forming a lower opening, wherein said lower opening perimeter is such that said valve may pass through from above;   a bridge, suspended below said open base of said cone, for resting said valve, said outlet adapter, said inlet adapter, or any component thereof, thereby providing a base, and allowing alignment of the edges and a continuing transition of the cone slope angle to the inlet of said valve, said outlet adapter, said inlet adapter or any component thereof, herein referred to as “suspended bridge”; and   at least one gap, thereby allowing components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction   
   
   
       15 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a fourth preferred embodiment of said flexible silo support structure further comprises
 a “Y” axis dynamic cone system for use with a flexible silo, bulk bag or flexible container filling and discharging apparatus, to support the cone section or bottom of a flexible container, of US Patent Application “A “Y” axis dynamic cone system for use with a flexible silo, bulk bag or flexible container filling or discharge apparatus”, Mark Kosich, Jul. 3, 2008, comprising   a plurality of radially extending members, having two ends with a first or base end, and a second end;   said first or base end having an open area forming a lower opening, wherein said lower opening perimeter provides the function of said bridge; and   at least one gap, thereby allowing components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction;   means for mounting said plurality of radially extending members that will allow the changing of the angle of said radially extending members, wherein said first end, or component thereof, has a first pivot mount in the vicinity of said open area, with said second end extending radially from center;   means to mount said first or base pivot end, or any component thereof;   a bridge, suspended below said open base of said cone, for resting said valve, said outlet adapter, said inlet adapter, or any component thereof, thereby providing a base, and allowing alignment of the edges and a continuing transition of the cone slope angle to the inlet of said valve, said outlet adapter, said inlet adapter or any component thereof, herein referred to as “suspended bridge”; and   at least one gap, thereby allowing components of said outlet adapter, valve or flow control device, for example, a valve handle or shaft, to be set in place from above with little or no obstruction   means to provide a second pivot point along said radially extending member;   means to mount said second pivot point means;   compensation means to provide one of the following:
 a) a variable pivot point along said radially extending member; 
 b) a variable pivot mount position; or 
 c) a variable length of said member between said first and second pivot points; 
   thereby allowing said first pivot end to move vertically along a fixed “y” axis and said second end to move in an arc motion providing for a range of angular changes of said radially extending members to form a concave “V” cone, flat surface or convex cone or pyramid shape;   a floating bridge; and   means to lift and lower said floating bridge, located in the vicinity of the footprint of said support structure and mounting either upon said support structure, or any component thereof, or mounting upon an independent structure   
   
   
       16 . A flexible silo apparatus having a top removable valve or flow control device assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said means to lift and lower further comprises
 a through port; and   an expandable through connector means, for example, a bellows