# US 10,766,694 B2 · Alternative bottom drop and straight tee discharge from bulk tank having various extensions for automatic and manual operations of the tee valve

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- Number: US 10,766,694 B2
- Document ID: US10766694B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/350,884
- Filed: 2019-01-28
- Published: 2019-08-01
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-31
- Assignees: Bulk Tank, Inc.
- Applicants: David E Sisk; Jason Huskey; Peter Kemp
- Inventors: David E Sisk; Jason Huskey; Peter Kemp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766694B2

## CPC

- B65D 90/623: {having a rotational motion}
- B60P 3/224: {comprising auxiliary devices, e.g. for unloading or level indicating (catwalks, ladders or safety railings therefor B60R3/005)}
- B65D 88/28: Construction or shape of discharge section
- F16K 1/2028: {Details of bearings for the axis of rotation}
- F16K 11/0525: {the closure members being pivoted around an essentially central axis}
- F16K 27/0227: {with the valve members swinging around an axis located at the edge of or outside the valve member}
- F16K 27/0263: {multiple way valves}
- F16K 31/041: {for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence)}
- F16K 31/12: actuated by fluid ({fluid-actuated lift valves F16K1/126} ; fluid-actuated check valves F16K15/00; fluid-actuated safety valves F16K17/00)
- F16K 31/46: for remote operation
- F16K 31/602: {Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence)}
- F16L 41/021: {T- or cross-pieces (F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence)}
- B60P 1/56: the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings
- B60P 3/2245: {Adaptations for loading or unloading}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

An alternative bottom drop and straight tee discharge from bulk tank conveying granular material, the tee having extensions for the automatic and manual operations of a disc valve, pivotally located within the horizontal section of the tee, during functioning. The disc valve may be manually operated, or pivoted through motorized operations, to allow for the alternative flow of bulk material from the vehicle hopper. The disc valve has an annular disc, integrally formed with upright supports, that are bearing mounted by shafts to the sidewalls of the structured tee.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An alternative bottom drop or straight tee discharged from a bulk tank trailer vehicle having various extensions for automatic and manual operations of the tee valve:
a hopper tee, said hopper tee having a horizontal section through which pressurized air and granular material may flow, and an integral vertical section through which the bulk material flows upon discharge from the tank trailer;
said tee having a pair of seats, one formed at the bottom of the tee beneath its vertical section, and the second seat being provided approximately perpendicularly with respect to the first seat, and structured at the incoming flow portion of the horizontal section of the tee at its incoming air flow location beneath the vertical section of said tee;
a disc-like valve, said disc-like valve having a valve means for locating and seating proximate either of said seats provided within the tee, said disc-like valve having a circular disc portion, and upstanding integral supports;
a pair of bearings shafts, mounted to either side of the horizontal section of the tee, said bearing shafts mounting the upright supports of the disc-like valve for pivotal movement, provided for either a lowering of the disc-like valve to the bottom of the tee, or pivoting of the disc-like valve approximately 90° for blocking the incoming flow of pressurized air through the horizontal section of said tee; and
mechanical means for providing either the automatic or manual turning of the disc-like valve to attain either a bottom drop unloading of granular material from the tank trailer, or to provide for the horizontal flow of granular material through the tee from said tank trailer vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tee of claim 1 wherein the handle secures with one of the bearing shafts to provide for manual turning of the disc-like valve between its alternative positions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tee of claim 2, and including an extension between the handle, and the associated bearing shaft, to provide for the extended manipulation and turning of the disc-like valve within the tee when selecting the type of discharge required from the bulk tank through arrangement of said disc-like valve within the associated tee.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tee of claim 1, and including a motorized means for turning of said disc-like valve between its alternative unloading positions for the tee.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tee of claim 1, wherein the disc-like valve and said upright supports form a U-shaped configuration in their structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tee of claim 1, and including said associated bearing shafts provided for pivotal connecting of the integral circular disc portion and the upstanding integral supports of the disc-like valve to the hopper tee in operation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The tee of claim 6, including a valve seat provided surrounding the opening at the bottom of the tee, and provided for cooperating with the disc-like valve when sealing the tee from the downward discharge of material from the hopper tee during its operations.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tee of claim 1, including disc arm wear plates provided to either side of the tee arranged between the upstanding integral supports of the disc-like valve and the hopper tee to protect the disc-like valve against wear during usage.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tee of claim 1, wherein one of said bearing shafts is an operating shaft, connected to the mechanical means for providing turning of the disc-like valve, and the other of the bearing shafts being a stub shaft, to provide for pivot of the disc-like valve within the tee during its manipulation.