Elevator-conveyor for bulk material

An elevator conveyor for conveying bulk material over a predetermined path, at least a portion of which path is in a vertical or near vertical direction and comprising a pair of juxtaposed belts between which the bulk material is to be located, at least one of said belts passing through an elongated airbox when travelling in said vertical or near vertical direction, and air pressure means being provided adapted to act directly on one or both of the outer belt surfaces via said airbox(es) when the belts are in the vertical or near vertical direction so that the belts are pressed towards one another and against the interposed bulk material so as to enclose the same and so that the juxtaposed longitudinal side portions of the belts are pressed towards each other characterized in that it has sealing means comprising at least one sealing strip, biassing means for lightly biassing said sealing strip towards the belt and flexible obturating means fixedly mounted with respect to the airbox and secured to the sealing strip so as substantially to seal the airbox against substantial airflow therefrom the arrangement being such that, in operation, superatmospheric pressure, obtaining in the airbox, gives rise to forces exerted on the obturating means which, in operation of the conveyor has a substantially arcuately curved surface exposed to said pressure whereby the forces exerted on said sealing strip arising out of said superatmospheric pressure are substantially counterbalanced.