Mobile Apparatus And Method For Filling An Elongated Bag With Particulate Material

Abstract

There is described a mobile apparatus for filling an elongated bag with particulate material. The mobile apparatus is adapted for moving along a surface at a controlled velocity, and comprises a receiving means for receiving the particulate material to be filled into the elongated bag. The mobile apparatus comprises a tubular member adapted to extend essentially horizontally into said elongated bag during filling, and a rotary auger extending at least partially into said tubular member from said receiving means.

1 . A mobile apparatus for filling an elongated bag with particulate material,
 said mobile apparatus being adapted for moving along a surface at a controlled velocity, and   said mobile apparatus comprising a receiving means for receiving the particulate material to be filled into the elongated bag,   a tubular member adapted to extend essentially horizontally into said elongated bag during filling, and   a rotary auger extending at least partially into said tubular member from said receiving means, wherein it comprises means adapted to continuously form said elongated bag from at least one continuous sheet of material around the outside of said tubular member by joining the edges of said at least one continuous sheet.   
     
     
         2 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the tubular member is located at a predetermined distance from the distal end of the rotary auger. 
     
     
         3 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined distance is in the interval of 0.5 to 5 times the internal diameter of the tubular member, preferably in the interval of 1 to 3 times the internal diameter of the tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises control means for controlling the controlled velocity and the speed of rotation of said rotary auger with respect to each other. 
     
     
         5 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one sensor for monitoring the degree of filling of said elongated bag with the particulate material. 
     
     
         6 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one sensor is located in connection with said tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises conveying means adapted to transport the elongated bag along the outside of said tubular member at a speed adapted to the speed with which the edges are joined, and the controlled velocity of the mobile apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a sewing apparatus for joining the edges of said at least one continuous sheet. 
     
     
         9 . Method for filling an elongated bag with particulate material comprising the providing of the particulate material to a receiving means, conveying the particulate material through an essentially horizontal tubular member into the elongated bag using an auger wherein said elongated bag is continuously formed around said tubular member by joining the edges of at least one sheet member, and in that
 said auger fills said tubular member to a predetermined degree, so as to achieve a predetermined compactness of the particulate material.   
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein monitoring said filling degree using at least one sensor in connection with the tubular member. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 10 , wherein the elongated bag is foamed as an endless tube, which is pinched off at one end before filling. 
     
     
         12 . The use of an elongated bag provided using a mobile apparatus according to  claim 1  as a barrier against water.