Method of supervising the filling level in hoppers, shafts, silos and the like for miscellaneous materials and means for performing the method

Abstract

For supervising the filling level in an elongated space, such as hoppers, shafts, silos and the like, for miscellaneous granular material, the movement of the material is transformed into vibrations and the vibrations are converted into indicating signals which indicate the filling level. This may be accomplished by a plurality of rods which extend through the wall of the space and are subjected to the vibrations produced by solid materials falling through the space. This may be done by providing rods which extend beyond the wall into the space, and by accelerometers or the like which detect the vibrations and convert them into electrical signals which may control the discharge from the shaft.

We claim: 
     
       1. Method of supervising the filling level and downward movement of granular material in a vertically elongated space, which comprises pouring said material into said space past and in engagement with at least one sensing mechanism placed at a level substantially above the bottom of said space located in the downward path of said material, transforming the movement of the material engaging said sensing mechanism when falling down into said space into vibrations, converting said vibrations into indication signals denoting the falling of material past said sensing mechanism, whereby, when material in the space has reached a level above said sensing mechanism, substantially no vibration is transmitted. 
     
     
       2. Method according to claim 1, which comprises transforming said movement of the material mechanically into vibrations. 
     
     
       3. Method according to claim 2, in which the sensing mechanism includes an elongated body influenced by the movement of the material to produce vibrations thereof. 
     
     
       4. Method according to claim 3, in which the body has its end in the path of movement of the material. 
     
     
       5. Method according to claim 3 which includes sensing oscillatory movements of the other end of the body. 
     
     
       6. Method according to claim 1, which includes transforming the movement of the material when it passes various levels in the space into individual indicating signals which indicate in stages how far the space has been filled. 
     
     
       7. Means for supervising the filling level and downward movement of granular material in a vertically elongated space, said space having a filling opening above the bottom thereof, comprising at least one sensing member arranged in the wall of said space above the bottom and located in the downward path of material fed into said space through said filling opening, .Iadd.said sensing member comprising a rod device placed substantially spaced from the walls in the hole and being axially fastened near its end in the hole .Iaddend.whereby such material will come into contact with the member when falling down into the space as long as the level of the material in the space is below said member, said member being provided with vibration transmitting means responsive to the fall of material against said member when passing into said space, and an indicating mechanism connected to said vibration transmitting means to indicate the movement of material and filling level in the space.[...]. .Iadd.other vibrations being substantially not sensed in the member because of the spaced positioning of the rod means in the hole. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       8. Means according to claim 7, in which said member comprises a .[.sensing member.]. .Iadd.rod .Iaddend.which is mechanically influenced by the material. 
     
     
       9. Means according to claim 8, in which the sensing member is located at least partially in the path of movement of the material in the space. 
     
     
       10. Means according to claim 8, in which the sensing member is in indirect communication with the path of movement of the material.  .[.11. Means according to claim 7, in which the sensing member comprises an elongated body, one end of which is at least indirectly influenced by the movement 
     
     
        of the material..]. 12. Means according to claim .[.11,.]. .Iadd.7, .Iaddend.in which the other end of the elongated body is connected with 
     
     
        the indicating mechanism. 13. Means according to claim 7, in which a plurality of members caused to vibrate by the movement of the material are located at various levels along the space, each being connected to its own indicating instrument.