Abstract: A silo for bulk materials has a rigid base and a fluidizing means which comprises an air-pervious mesh floor arranged above the rigid base, a support surface means holding the said floor in spaced relation relatively to the rigid base and at least one compressed air supply duct opening into the intermediate space between the rigid base and the mesh floor, the support surface means being formed by a wire gauze placed on the rigid base. The wire mesh may be annular and may be in sector-shape portions with a radially extending packing or seal arranged between each of the separate sectors and a compressed air supply duct associated with each sector. A helical wire mesh is particularly described and illustrated, with tube sections arranged as seals on the terminal wire helices.

Abstract: In a suction conveying installation in which different bulk materials are conveyed from respective supply containers to a separator which may serve as a weighing container, the separator is adapted to serve as a mixer and comprises at the bottom at least one ventilation valve to be opened after the end of the separating or weighing operation while the suction fan of the installation is still running, so that air is drawn into the container from the bottom to entrain and mix the materials. Constructional details of the separator including various valve arrangements are described, also certain control arrangements including a pressure monitoring device downstream of the separator.