Pneumatic tank having forward and rearward tangential joint lines

A tank trailer comprising:

• a hopper having a hopper sidewall defining a bottom exit opening;
• an end housing which extends forward or rearward of the hopper sidewall and has an end housing inner surface;
• a slide plate which extends upwardly from adjacent the hopper sidewall inside the end housing and has a slide plate outer surface and an outer perimeter edge comprising a left side edge segment and a right side edge segment;
• a first weld along one of the side edge segments which secures the slide plate to the end housing inner surface;
• a first side section of the slide plate which is adjacent the one of the side edge segments;
• wherein the slide plate outer surface along the first side section comprises a first side section surface adjacent the first weld;
• the end housing inner surface comprises a first end housing inner surface angle defining portion adjacent the first weld;
• the first side section surface is adjacent and faces the first end housing inner surface angle defining portion;
• and
• as viewed in a viewing direction which is one of (a) a downward and rearward direction and (b) a downward and forward direction, the first side section surface and the first end housing inner surface angle defining portion have respective tangents which define therebetween a first angle which is no greater than 45 degrees.