Device for loading an enclosure with solid particles and method using this device

The device comprises a sleeve (1), preferably flexible and cylindrical, in which the particles circulate from top to bottom. Inside the sleeve there is at least one helical ramp (2) fixed to and wound round a central axis (3) and with a size such that the distance between the external edge (4) of the ramp and the sleeve is less than the dimension of the solid particles to be introduced : The central axis is a rod or a flexible or rigid tube, or is formed of a number of flexible or rigid axial elements articulates relative to each other. These axial elements are between 6cm and 5m long, preferably between 0.5 and 2m long and are articulates relative to each other by intermediate elements, which are preferably flexible and which do not form an obstacle to the free flow of the solid particles inside the sleeve between two helical ramps. The intermediate elements are slings, cords, cables, chains or flexible tubes and are between 5cm and 5m long, preferably between 0.5 and 2m long. The helical ramp has a brush structure; the number and rigidity of the bristles forming the brush are sufficient to support the weight of the particles at maximum load. The pitch of the helix is between 5 and 100cm, preferably between 15 and 80cm. The flexible sleeve is a woven or knitted fabric, or a plastic material reinforced by fibres or a textile. The flexible sleeve has over all or part of its length two straight folds diametrally opposed to each other, closed at their base by a cut line and each defining a band extending radially towards the outside of the sleeve. The band has means of fixing the sleeve. The internal diameter of the sleeve is between 50 and 400mm, preferably between 100 and 200mm. An independent claim is made for a method of using such a device, by fixing a loading device as described above by its top end to the level of an opening in the top part of the vessel and introduction of the particles via the top end of the device. The particles leaving the lower end of the loading device are spread by an operator over the whole of the base of the vessel. The loading device is used without the flexible sleeve, with the walls of the filled vessel carrying out its function. In this case, the size of the helical ramp is such that the distance between the external edge of the ramp and the wall of the reactor is less than the size of the solid particles being introduced.