Flow facilitation and control system and related method

Apparatus for increasing and controlling the flow of bulk materials from a bulk storage receiver being defined in a lower portion thereof by a truncated cone member, said apparatus comprising:

• a. a solid plate member suspended horizontally in said storage receiver for supporting the weight of a central core of the bulk materials stored therein, and for creating a low pressure void above a discharge port formed at the truncation of said cone member;
• b. flexible link members supporting said plate member and being attached to said storage receiver above said cone member;
• c. a plate vibrator rigidly attached to a surface of said plate member for selectively oscillating said plate member and thereby promoting the flow of bulk materials around said plate member and out of said discharge port, and;
• d. wherein said plate vibrator can be adjusted, by means of adjustable weights located inside a casing surrounding said plate vibrator, to vary the horizontal oscillation imparted to said plate member upon operation of said plate vibrator.

Apparatus for facilitating, promoting and regulating the flow of stored particulate material within a bulk storage facility, and also controlling the flow out of a bulk storage facility, said apparatus comprising:

• a substantially impermeable pre-shaped member suspended within said bulk storage facility in a substantially horizontal orientation above a discharge port, said pre-shaped member comprising a substantially solid plate having a limited shallow angle with respect to its horizontal orientation rising from an edge of the plate to a central apex such that the weight of a central core of the stored material is supported on an upper surface of the plate defined by the shallow angle, and such that the stored particulate matter will not become wedged between the plate and a surrounding wall of said bulk storage facility upon material flow through said discharge port, a vibrator unit operatively connected to said pre-shaped member, a power source for energizing said vibrator unit and oscillating said pre-shaped member thereby creating voids and shock waves within the stored material to produce a mass flow unloading pattern, and flexible link members suspending said pre-shaped member within said storage facility, said pre-shaped member and said flexible link members substantially transmitting the oscillation forces created upon operation of the vibrator unit to the stored material stored in the bulk storage facility and not substantially transmitting said oscillation forces to the bulk storage facility.

Apparatus for increasing and better regulating the flow pattern of bulk materials within a storage receiver, and better controlling the flow of bulk materials being discharged from a bulk storage receiver, said receiver being defined in a lower portion thereof by a truncated cone member, said apparatus comprising:

• a. a solid plate member having a limited shallow angle with respect to the horizontal and rising toward an upper portion of said receiver from a continuous edge of the plate member to an apex thereof, said plate being suspended horizontally in said storage receiver for supporting the weight of a central core of the bulk materials stored therein, and for minimizing the possibility of material becoming wedged between the plate member and the lower truncated cone member portion of the receiver and thereby creating a low pressure void above a discharge port formed at the truncation of said cone member;
• b. flexible link members suspending said plate member in said storage receiver and being attached to said storage receiver above said cone member, and;
• c. a plate vibrator rigidly attached to a surface of said plate member for selectively oscillating said plate member and thereby promoting the flow of bulk materials around said plate member and out of said discharge port, said plate member and said flexible link members substantially transmitting the oscillation forces created upon operation of the plate vibrator to the bulk materials stored within the bulk storage receiver and not substantially transmitting said oscillation forces to the bulk storage receiver.