Apparatus for supporting sensor above open top of containment structure to monitor loading of particulate material into same

An apparatus for use with a sensor configured to monitor loading of particulate material into a containment structure having a plurality of perimeter walls upstanding from a bottom of the containment structure to delimit thereover an interior for containing the particulate material, the containment structure having an open top defined by tops of the perimeter walls through which the particulate material is passed into the interior, the open top of the containment structure being selectively coverable by a covering sheet arranged to span across the open top of the containment structure in an extended position to substantially enclose the interior of the containment structure, the covering sheet being operatively configured for movement relative to the open top between the extended position and a retracted position in which the open top is substantially unobstructed by the covering sheet so that the particulate material can be suitably loaded into the containment structure through the open top thereof, in combination with the containment structure the apparatus comprising:

• a sensor support arm extending from a mounting end attached to the containment structure at a location which is within a periphery of the containment structure defined by the perimeter walls and lying along a path of the movement of the covering sheet from the retracted position to the extended position, to a distal end of the sensor support arm disposed above the tops of the perimeter walls at a location within the periphery of the containment structure in a raised monitoring position of the sensor support arm;
• the sensor support arm being configured to receive the sensor at or in proximity to the distal end thereof so as to locate the sensor over the bottom of the containment structure and above the tops of the perimeter walls in the raised monitoring position of the sensor support arm;
• and
• the sensor support arm being movable relative to the perimeter walls of the containment structure from the raised monitoring position to a lowered transport position in which the distal end of the sensor support arm is substantially received in the interior of the containment structure responsive to the movement of the covering sheet from the retracted position to the extended position.