Dust controlling loading chute apparatus for particulate material

An apparatus for loading particulate materials, comprising:

• a. a discharge chute assembly including a flexible, longitudinally expandable and contractable outer pipe concentrically surrounding a flexible, longitudinally expandable and contractable inner pipe to define an annular space therebetween,
• b. a flared, skirted hood sealingly attached to the lower end of the chute assembly,
• c. a plurality of air inlet ports disposed in the hood,
• d. an equal plurality of switch means individually disposed adjacent the inlet ports for detecting the surface of a pile of particulate material being discharged through the inner pipe,
• e. winch means for controlling the vertical height of the hood and responsive to the actuation of the switch means for raising the hood, and simultaneously contracting the inner and outer pipes, to thereby maintain the hood skirt in contact with the pile surface,
• f. a dust collector and precipitator, and
• g. exhaust means for drawing air through the inlet ports and up through the annular space into the collector and precipitator, whereby dust generated by the discharged material is contained within the hood, mixed with the air flow, and delivered to the collector and precipitator.