Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a flexible bulk container includes a dust collector having a negative pressure chamber connected through a vacuum hose to a fill spout support chamber to which a dirty container is connected in a substantially dust tight relationship. An exhaust blower of the dust collector is connected through a pressure hose to the fill spout support chamber. An alternating valve connected to the two hoses alternately disrupts fluid flow through one hose while allowing fluid flow through the remaining hose to alternately inflate and evacuate the dirty container connected to the fill spout support chamber. The alternate inflating and evacuation of the dirty container is repeated a predetermined number of times to remove the desired amount of particulate material from the dirty container. A third hose is connected to the dust collector for vacuuming the exterior of the dirty container.

Abstract: A vacuum fill system for continuously deaerating and compacting flowable materials for transportation and storage in containers includes a first rotatable chamber valve for receiving the flowable materials. Attached to the rotatable chamber valve is a fixed position chamber connected to a vacuum source for receiving the flowable materials from the first rotatable chamber and for deaerating the flowable materials. The fixed position chamber is in turn connected to a second rotatable chamber valve for receiving the deaerated flowable materials from the fixed position chamber, maintaining the materials in a vacuum, then returning the materials to atmospheric pressure substantially instantaneously as the valve rotates to compact the deaerated materials into a substantially solid mass.