Hopper tee with comformable arcuate closure member

An integral tee directing the flow of bulk material from a container, located above a horizontal surface of ground, into a horizontal unloading system using pressurized air or gravity, said tee providing for the alternative vertical discharge of the bulk material from a container, the horizontal unloading system having an upstream and an opposite downstream flow of bulk material therefrom, said integral tee increasing a rate of unloading the bulk material from the container and having a ground clearance, comprising:

• a flange, generally planer, having a top surface, and an opening through said flange, said opening communicating with said container for passage of bulk material through said integral tee;
• a vertically directed hollow pipe extending from said flange and centered upon said opening;
• a transverse hollow pipe joining to said vertically directed hollow pipe at a juncture opposite said flange, generally parallel to said flange, said transverse hollow pipe including an inlet adapted to receive bulk material from upstream in the horizontal unloading system, an opposite outlet adapted to discharge bulk material downstream from said integral tee into the horizontal unloading system, and said transverse hollow pipe having a diameter;
• said transverse hollow pipe having a drop opening therein generally opposite said flange and corresponding in width approximate to the diameter of the opening in said flange;
• a door closing upon said tee drop opening and sealing said drop opening when said door is closed, said door having an interior surface, said interior surface attaining an approximate flush position with the interior of said transverse hollow pipe wherein the bulk material flows smoothly over said door to prevent leakage of bulk material from said integral tee when discharged through said transverse hollow pipe;
• said door being arcuate, to conform to the drop opening of said tee, said door including at least one hinge means, proximate one end of said door, and said hinge attaching to the approximate edge of said door on one side, and said hinge attached to said tee, to provide for a pivotal opening of said door with respect to said tee to allow for a vertical discharge of bulk material from said container and through said drop opening of said tee;
• a cam lock pivotally attaching to the opposite edge of said door, and including a bail for pivotal engagement with the opposite side of said tee wherein when said cam lock is engaged through its bail with said tee, and the cam lock pivoted, providing for a locked closure of the arcuate door against the bottom opening of said tee during usage;
• wherein said transverse hollow pipe having at least one ear extending approximately diagonally and integrally from each of its sides, said at least one integral ear on one side engaging said arcuate door through the hinge means to the tee, the opposite edge of said door engaging through said bail with the at least one ear extending from the opposite side of said tee, said cam lock capable of locking said arcuate door into a closed position, and said cam lock capable of being opened, to release said bail from the cam lock, to provide for opening of said arcuate door;
• wherein said bail is a U shaped bail, pivotally connecting with the at least one integral ear on one side of said tee, and capable of connecting to the proximate edge of said door, and locking upon said cam lock when the arcuate door is locked into closure through the pivotal manipulation of said cam lock;
• and
• wherein a lip integrally extends around the drop opening provided through the transverse horizontal hollow pipe of said tee, said lip extending integrally from the transverse hollow pipe around its bottom opening, said arcuate door having an internal curved surface with a radius of curvature which is the same as a radius of curvature as said transverse hollow pipe, said curved surface of the arcuate door having a gasket applied thereto, which when the arcuate door is closed upon the tee drop opening, providing sealed closure for the transverse hollow pipe to prevent the vertical discharge of any bulk material therethrough from the container.