US 5,697,535 A · Bulk material container with a sliding cam lock closure plate

Abstract

A bulk material container comprises a discharge opening defined by a discharge assembly. A sliding gate overlays the discharge opening for preventing bulk material to advance through the discharge assembly. The sliding gate is withdrawn from the position overlaying the discharge opening to discharge material from the bulk material container through the discharge assembly into a hopper. A closure seal surrounds the discharge opening. When the sliding gate is disposed over the discharge opening, cam assemblies raise the sliding gate into compressive sealing engagement with the closure seal. When the cam assemblies lower the sliding gate, the sliding gate is withdrawn from the discharge assembly. Wipers mounted on the discharge assembly remain in contact with the sliding gate to remove bulk material that may remain on the sliding gate while the sliding gate is withdrawn from the discharge assembly.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A discharge assembly for a bulk material container comprising:

(a) a housing defining a discharge opening;
(b) a closure seal in said housing surrounding said discharge opening;
(c) a slidable closure plate disposable between a position overlaying said discharge opening and a position withdrawn from said housing, said closure plate being in engagement with said closure seal while in position overlaying said discharge opening;
(d) camming means in said housing rotatable to urge said closure plate into compressive engagement with said closure seal and rotatable to release said closure plate from compressive engagement with said closure seal to enable said closure plate to be withdrawn from said housing;
and
(e) a first wiper mounted in said housing to engage said closure plate while said closure plate is withdrawn from said housing for removing bulk material from said closure plate as said closure plate is being withdrawn from said housing.

3 more elements

A bulk material container comprising a bin disposed above a discharge assembly of said bulk material container, and a hopper in combination with said bulk material container disposed below said discharge assembly of said bulk material container, said discharge assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining a discharge opening;
(b) a closure seal in said housing surrounding said discharge opening;
(c) a slidable closure plate disposable between a position overlaying said discharge opening and a position withdrawn from said housing, said closure plate being in engagement with said closure seal while in position overlaying said discharge opening;
(d) camming means in said housing rotatable to urge said closure plate into compressive engagement with said closure seal and rotatable to release said closure plate from compressive engagement with said closure seal to enable said closure plate to be withdrawn from said housing;
(e) a first wiper mounted in said housing to engage said closure plate while said closure plate is being withdrawn from said housing for removing bulk material from said closure plate as said closure plate is being withdrawn from said housing;
and
(f) said housing having an exit end for the withdrawal of said closure plate from said housing, said hopper extending beyond the exit end of said housing to receive bulk material removed from said closure plate.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bulk material container with a sliding cam lock closure plate

Life of this patent

Bulk material container with a sliding cam lock closure plate

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28