Apparatus for removing viscous material from barrels

Abstract

An apparatus for removing viscous material from barrels includes a conventional drum dumper, an auger formed of a double helix of metal ribbon, a motor for rotating the auger, and a carriage assembly for supporting the motor and auger and advancing the auger into and out of an inverted barrel. As the auger is advanced into the open end of an inverted barrel, the motor rotates the auger to insert the double helix into the viscous material and urge the viscous material rearwardly out of the open barrel end. The carriage assembly includes a carriage which supports a central shaft of the auger and the auger motor, and four guide rails which constrain the movement of the carriage to rectilinear motion. The tolerances between the carriage assembly and rails are such that the auger can skew slightly relative to the direction of travel so that the auger can negotiate around a side bung formed on the barrel, and yet provide a relatively close tolerance between the outer periphery of the auger and the inner surface of the barrel. Also, the leading edge of the auger includes cross bars provided with adjustable and/or removable teeth for digging into the viscous material, and the shaft includes a steam supply system for projecting jets of steam and/or other fluids from the sides and ends of the auger to loosen the viscous material. Limits of forward and rearward travel of the frame are controlled by a programmable logic controller.