Apparatus and method for unloading particulate material from containers

Apparatus for the gravity unloading of particulate material from a sealed plastic bag in a container mounted on a highway trailer upon tilting of the container a desired amount, the rear end of the container having a rear bulkhead for supporting the plastic bag;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a connecting fitting for mounting on said bulkhead and for extending therethrough;
• a vacuum unloading device detachably connected to said fitting, said vacuum unloading device including a pair of substantially rigid tubular conduits secured to each other at a desired angle and in fluid communication with each other, one of said tubular conduits being a lading conduit for receiving particulate material from the container, the other tubular conduit being a pneumatic conduit extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of said trailer and connected to a pressurized pneumatic source for exerting a vacuum on said one tubular conduit to draw the particulate material therefrom for conveyance along said other conduit, and a manually operated flow control member on said one tubular conduit to control the flow of particulate material from said container to said other conduit.