Water guard

A method of operation for a water guard wherein a vehicle is loaded with bulk material through a clam shell gate from a storage bin and wherein there tends to be water leakage through the gate, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a trough supported by left and right downward extending skids which slide on parallel rails to beneath said clam shell gate to receive water leaking through said gate, wherein said parallel rails are positioned below and offset on opposite sides from said gate;
• positioning a vehicle beneath said clam shell gate, said trough preventing water from dripping from said clam shell gate onto said vehicle;
• retracting said trough from beneath said clam shell gate after the step of positioning said vehicle;
• opening said clam shell gate to load said bulk material downward between said parallel rails into said vehicle after said step of retracting said trough;
• closing said clam shell gate to stop the transfer of said bulk material to said vehicle;
• and
• returning said trough to beneath said clam shell gate, after the step of closing said clam shell gate, to receive water leaking through said clam shell gate thereby preventing water from dripping on said vehicle.

A water guard for use in conjunction with a storage bin having a gate for the release of bulk material from the bin, the water guard comprising:

• a trough having left and right downward extending skids offset from the center line of said trough, said skid supporting said trough;
• first and second rails for supporting said trough in a first position beneath said gate and in a second position offset from beneath said gate, said rails extending below and offset on opposite sides from said gate, said rails respectively supporting said left and right skids;
• and
• means for moving said trough between said first and said second positions.

A water guard for use in conjunction with a bin having a clam shell gate for the release of bulk material from the bin, the water guard comprising:

• a half cylinder trough having a pair of downward extending skids affixed thereto, said skids equally offset from the center line of said trough, said trough positionable to receive water draining from said bulk material through said clam shell gate;
• a pair of parallel rails adapted to receive said skids for supporting said trough and permitting movement of said trough along said rails, said rails positioned below and oppositely offset from said gate;
• and
• an air operated cylinder having a piston and rod wherein said trough is connected to said rod, said cylinder connected to receive pressurized air for positioning said trough in a first position beneath said gate and in a second position offset from beneath said gate.

A water guard system for use in loading a vehicle with bulk material which is received through an air operated gate from a storage bin wherein water tends to leak through said gate, the water guard system comprising:

• a trough having a first end thereof blocked and said trough tilted to have the second end thereof lower than said first end;
• left and right skids extending downward from said trough and offset from the center line of said trough, said skid supporting said trough;
• first and second rails for supporting said skids below said bin, said first and second rails extending below and offset from said gate;
• means for moving said trough between a first position aligned below said gate for collecting water running therethrough and a second position below and offset from said gate to permit loading of said bulk material through said gate, between said rails and into said vehicle;
• and
• means responsive to a first command for activating said means for moving to transfer said trough from said first to said second position followed by opening said gate and responsive to a second command for closing said gate followed by transferring said trough from said second position to said first position.