Fluted hopper tee

A integral tee directing the flow of bulk material from a container, such as a hopper or a tank locating above a horizontal surface or ground, into a horizontal unloading system using pressurized air, the horizontal unloading system having an upstream and an opposite downstream flow of bulk material therein, said integral tee increasing the rate of unloading the bulk material from the container while raising the ground clearance, comprising:

• a flange, generally planar, having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, and an opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said container for passage of bulk material through said integral tee;
• a vertically directed hollow pipe extending from said flange centered upon said opening;
• a transverse hollow pipe joining to said vertically directed hollow pipe opposite said flange including an inlet adapted to receive bulk material from upstream in the horizontal unloading system, an opposite outlet adapted to discharge bulk material downstream from said integral tee into the horizontal unloading system, and said transverse hollow pipe having a diameter;
• said vertically directed hollow pipe further comprising an internal flute curving immediately from said opening of said flange towards said outlet, said flute forming a transition between said vertically directed hollow pipe and said transverse hollow pipe having a width that of the diameter of said opening narrowing to a width that of the diameter of said transverse hollow pipe, said internal flute rounding the juncture of said vertically directed hollow pipe and said transverse hollow pipe, and said transition having a generally convex shape;
• said flute having a flute line extending from said top surface through said vertically directed hollow pipe then curving into said transverse hollow pipe, said flute accelerating and turning the flow of bulk materials ahead of said flute line towards said outlet, a portion of said vertically directed hollow pipe behind said flute line and extending partially into said transverse hollow pipe creating eddies in the flow of bulk material through said integral tee, wherein the eddies increase the rate of unloading of the bulk material from the container, said vertically directed hollow pipe having a generally curved shape towards said outlet and a generally square shape towards said inlet;
• wherein said transverse hollow pipe and said vertically directed hollow pipe are symmetric laterally;
• said transverse hollow pipe having a drop opening therein generally opposite said flange and corresponding to the diameter of the opening in said flange;
• said drop opening having a lip along the circumference of said drop opening and a bead locating upon said lip;
• a gasket generally annular in shape, abutting said bead, and having a plurality of legs extending outwardly from said gasket;
• a door closing upon said gasket and sealing said drop opening when said door is closed, said door having an interior surface, said interior surface attaining a flush position with the interior of said transverse hollow pipe wherein the bulk material flows smoothly over said door and said gasket preventing leakage of fine bulk material from said integral tee;
• said door including at least one hinge, said hinge offset outwardly from said door and said hinge cooperating with said vertically directed hollow pipe, and a plurality of holes therethrough;
• said legs of said gasket entering said holes of said door for securement of said gasket thereto;
• and,
• a cam lever including at least one hinge, said hinge offset from said cam lever, said cam lever being offset from said door wherein said cam lever opens oppositely from said door;
• wherein the eddies increase the rate of unloading of the bulk material from the container through said integral tee when said door is closed.

A integral tee directing the flow of bulk material from a container, such as a hopper or tank locating above a horizontal surface or ground, said bulk material having a temperature, into a horizontal unloading system using pressurized air, the horizontal unloading system having an upstream and an opposite downstream flow of bulk material therein, said integral tee increasing the rate of unloading the bulk material from the container while raising the ground clearance, said integral tee also providing for dropping said bulk material vertically therethrough, comprising:

• a flange, generally planar, having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, and an opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said container for passage of bulk material through said integral tee;
• a transverse hollow pipe joining flush to said bottom surface of said flange including an inlet adapted to receive bulk material from upstream in the horizontal unloading system, an opposite outlet adapted to discharge bulk material downstream from said integral tee into the horizontal unloading system, and said transverse hollow pipe having a diameter;
• and,
• an internal flute curving immediately from said opening in said flange towards said outlet, said flute curving between said opening and said transverse hollow pipe having a width that of the diameter of said opening narrowing to a width that of the diameter of said transverse hollow pipe, said flute having a generally convex shape, said flute having a flute line extending from said top surface through said flange then curving into said transverse hollow pipe, said flute accelerating and turning the flow of bulk materials ahead of said flute line towards said outlet, said flute rounding the flow of bulk materials along the juncture of said vertically directed hollow pipe and said transverse hollow pipe;
• said vertically directed hollow pipe having a curved shape towards said outlet and a square shape towards said inlet, wherein said transverse hollow pipe and said vertically directed hollow pipe are symmetric laterally;
• a portion of said vertically directed hollow pipe behind said flute line and extending partially into said transverse hollow pipe creating eddies in the flow of bulk material through said integral tee, wherein the eddies increase the rate of unloading of the bulk material from the container through said integral tee.