GB2464673A

GB2464673A - Frame work for supporting a bulk bag during emptying

Info

Publication number: GB2464673A
Application number: GB0819178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth George Cutler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-20
Filing date: 2008-10-20
Publication date: 2010-04-28
Also published as: GB0819178D0

Abstract

A frame work includes three or four legs and may support a one tonne bag of sand, ballast, aggregate, etc at sufficient height to allow a wheelbarrow to be placed underneath the bag. The plate may include a hole through which material may flow, e.g. into the wheelbarrow. A hole may be cut in the base of the bag through which material may flow into the wheelbarrow. The flow may be controlled means of a movable plate underneath the holes, which plate may slide (figures 1 & 2) or rotate (figure 3). The legs may include feet to prevent sinking into soft ground. The framework may be used at building or construction sites.

Description

Easi -Empty Bag Frame 1 This invention relates to a device for emptying a required amount of material from a large bag of sand or ballast etc. (normally one tonne approx. per bag) into a wheelbarrow.

At the present time,when one of these bags is delivered to a building site or to a private user, the only practical way of emptying into a wheelbarrow is by shovel.This is quite difficult due to the sides of the bag falling inwards as the contents are removed resulting in the shovel catching in the sides. it also puts a strain on the users back as one has to reach out each time to fill the shovel.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the framework which carries the bag, Figure 2 shows the plate underneath which controls the flow of material: Figure 3 shows another method of fixing the plate in position and of moving it.

This device consists of a framework supported by three or four legs. Each leg has a plate fixed to the bottom to prevent sinking into the ground. The legs are long enough to allow a wheelbarrow to be pushed underneath. The legs are also splayed out to give stability and to prevent the framework from tipping over when the bag is loaded onto it. The user will need to ensure that the ground is sound enough to carry the weight of the device when loaded. The bag is delivered by a lorry which has a crane for unloading and is dropped onto the framework by the crane. On the larger building site, where there may be many bags delivered at a time, there is nearly always a digger or forklift truck etc. on hand to lift a new bag onto the device when the old bag is empty. The base on which the bag sits has a large hole in the centre of it. Underneath this hole is a plate which can be moved by an attached handle. When a supply of the contents is required, a wheelbarrow is positioned under the centre hole. The plate is slid away from the hole by pulling the handle. For the first load, several cuts need to be made in the base of the bag up through the hole. This will result in the contents falling through the hole into the wheelbarrow. When there is the required amount in the barrow, the plate can then be moved back into position under the hole thereby stopping the flow of material. When the next load is needed it is only necessary to place the wheelbarrow in position and slide the plate out of the way. This device will save a lot of time and labour for the user.

As can be seen from fig. 1, this device can be manufactured from box or tubular steel or any material capable of carrying the weight of a big bag of material. The top of each leg slides into a suitable socket fixed to the base and can be easily removed for storage or transport. It can be protected from corrosion by painting, galvanizing or any other suitable method.

Fig. 2, shows the plate which is underneath the framework and shuts the flow of material off and on.

It is u shaped to stop any of the bag contents from fouling the slides which hold the plate in position.

This plate moves backwards and forwards in two slides which have a stop at the end to prevent the plate from being pushed too far backwards. There is also a device to stop it being pulled out too far.

Fig.3 shows how the plate could also be fixed to the frame at the rear of it by a pivot. The front of it would then be secured by a slide shaped as an arc of a circle.

Claims

Claims.1 A frame work having three or four legs designed to carry a one tonne bag of sand, ballast, etc. of sufficient height to allow a wheelbarrow to be pushed underneath.
2 A frame work according to claim 1 which has plates fixed to the bottom of each leg to prevent sinking into the ground.
3 A framework according to claim 2 which has a hole in the centre to allow material to flow freely into a wheelbarrow placed underneath it.
4 A framework according to claim 3 which has a movable plate underneath the hole to control the flow of material into the wheelbarrow by moving it to one side and stopping the flow by returning to its original position under the hole.