Wagon sampler

The "HOPPER" SRMGP-3 system is designed for remote sampling of point samples of grain from the filling hatches of a covered railway car and delivering them to the laboratory to determine the quality indicators of grain upon its acceptance, as well as returning excess grain from the laboratory back to the car.

The systems include samplers that provide sampling from a depth of up to 3 meters due to a rotating probe tip. The systems ensure the delivery of samples to laboratories via a pneumatic line, the division of samples into the required number of portions, and the return of the remainder to the wagons.

Depending on the operating conditions and the size of the site where the sampling system will be installed, as well as the customer's preferences, the system may include one or multiple movable modules, which, in turn, can be equipped with coaxial or telescopic probes.

Sampling of the following crops is ensured:

System implementation options:

1. A mobile structure with a single probe that moves along additional rails located on both sides of  the railway track Advantages: High mobility; The possibility of taking a sample from several wagons in a coupler without moving the train; Small metal capacity of structures; Mode of automatic search for car hatches.   Limitation: The need for permits for laying additional rails.
2. Mobile units with a single probe, one or several, which move along a hinged minirail path Advantages: High mobility; The possibility of taking a sample from several wagons in a coupler without moving the train; Mode of automatic search for car hatches; No need for permits for laying additional rails.   Limitation: Large metal capacity of hinged structures.
3. A movable structure in the form of a supporting frame with several probes Advantages: Fast, up to 30 seconds, sampling from one car; Small metal capacity of structures; No need for permits for laying additional rails.   Limitation: Little mobility; The need to rearrange the train for taking each sample; Availability of different types of hopper cars (with 4 or 5 hatches).

The composition of the system:

• One or several movable mobile sampling units;
• System control cabinet;
• Pneumatic transport system, which includes blowers, pneumatic pipe, return hopper;
• One or more laboratory cabinets;
• Main and backup radio control sets;
• Video control kit, which includes surveillance cameras and cameras that are installed on moving blocks.

The mobile unit is equipped with a probe with a rotating drill, a hydraulic station for probe opening and displacement drives, pneumatic transport equipment, a control system based on a high-performance Shcneider Modicon programmable logic controller, radio control, wireless monitoring and adjustment systems, maintaining temperature regimes, video monitoring, security and notification.

The mobile unit independently, without the operator's participation, scans car hatches, samples selection and accumulation, their delivery to the points of shipment to the laboratory. In order to prevent the occurrence of accidents, the mobile unit provides sound and visual notification to staff about its movement and work modes, which, in the event of an unforeseen obstacle, will stop immediately thanks to mechanical and ultrasonic sensors.

To facilitate the system configuration, the sampling system kit includes a control and monitoring cabinet with a color touchscreen graphic panel, a video monitoring and recording kit, as well as primary and backup sets of remote control.

The system operator can take samples without leaving the laboratory. At the same time, the movement of the moving modules of the system will be possible only in the absence of staff on the wagons / cars, otherwise the system will block the execution of any operations.

According to the decision of the experts of the 11th National Maritime Rating of Ukraine, based on the results of the work of water transport in 2017, the mobile unit of the SRMGP-3 "HOPPER" was marked with the "Engineering Achievement" commemorative sign.

Currently, the modification of the mobile unit on rechargeable batteries is being developed.

Certificates of conformity for the system

Examples of system implementation

SRMGP with two automatic mobile modules that move on a hinged mini-railway

Storage:

• Two movable mobile sampling units - one for each track;
• A mini-railway that is ringed by two railway tracks and has repair platforms between the tracks;
• System control cabinet with touch graphic panel;
• Pneumatic transport system, which includes two sets of air blowers, two pneumatic lines, two return hoppers;
• Two laboratory cabinets;
• Main and backup radio control sets;
• Video control kit, which includes two overview cameras and two aiming cameras, which are installed on movable blocks, a video recorder and a monitor.

SRMGP based on a moving frame with four probes

Storage:

• Movable frame with four coaxial probes;
• System control cabinet with graphic panel;
• Pneumatic transport system, which includes a set of air blowers, pneumatic pipes, return hopper;
• Laboratory cabinet;
• The main and backup sets of radio control.