Emptying device for silos with telescopic fall pipe arranged in the silos

An apparatus for emptying bulk material from a silo, said bulk material having an upper surface, said apparatus comprising:

• a silo base defining a bulk material storage chamber above said base and a lower area below said base, said base having an opening therethrough;
• a clearing device for removing bulk material from said upper surface, said clearing device including means for selectively moving said device in vertical directions within said silo as said upper surface of said bulk material changes vertically within said silo;
• a material receiving pipe extending vertically within said silo and adapted to convey said bulk material downwardly from said upper surface through said base to said lower area, said pipe comprising at least three hollow telescopic pipe sections including an upper section having an inlet means associated with said clearing device for receiving material from said clearing device into said pipe, a standpipe section arranged in said lower area, and a sliding section extending through said base;
• means for connecting said upper section of said pipe to said clearing device, said connecting means causing said upper pipe section to generally follow the vertical movement of said clearing device;
• means for removing said bulk material from said pipe at said lower area;
• and
• mechanical means in said lower area for exerting a vertical force on said sliding section of said pipe.