Container including a magnetically operated scraper

摘要

There is provided a container for a bulk material. The container includes an elongated shell. A scraper assembly is configured to move within the shell. The scraper assembly further is configured to contact at least one interior wall of the shell. A driver assembly is located outside the shell and is configured to move along an outer surface of the shell. A driven assembly is located inside the shell and is coupled to the scraper assembly. Each of the driver assembly and driven assembly includes one of a magnet and a magnetically attractable material. Movement of the driver assembly, by a motion appliance, outside the shell causes a corresponding movement of the driven assembly and coupled scraper assembly inside the shell to move the bulk material inside the shell.

主权项

1. A container for a bulk material, comprising:
an elongated shell having a first end wall and a second end wall and an intermediate wall extending around a longitudinal axis and coupled to each end wall; a scraper assembly configured to move between the first end wall and the second end wall within the shell, the scraper assembly further configured to contact at least one interior wall of the shell; a driver assembly located outside the shell and configured to move along an outer surface of the shell; a driven assembly located inside the shell and coupled to the scraper assembly, wherein each of the driver assembly and driven assembly includes one of a magnet and a magnetically attractable material, wherein a magnetic coupling is established between the driver and driven assemblies; and a motion appliance coupled to the driver assembly and configured to move the driver assembly along the outer surface of the shell, wherein movement of the driver assembly outside the shell causes a corresponding movement of the driven assembly and coupled scraper assembly inside the shell to move the bulk material inside the shell;wherein the driver assembly and driven assembly each comprise:
a carriage defining a slot with at least one surface of each carriage configured with the same contour as one of the exterior wall and interior wall of the shell; and one of a magnet and a magnetically attractable material disposed in each slot with one surface of one of the magnet and the magnetically attractable material configured with the same contour as the one surface of the carriage;wherein the carriage of the driven assembly is encapsulated in a polymer casting with a layer of polymer between the magnet and an interior wall of the shell.