Abstract: In a bucket elevator having two traction members guided in parallel loops by upper and lower guide wheels, and buckets spacedly mounted between the traction members, the rim of at least one of the upper guide wheels defines a free space about its axis of rotation, and one or more rollers mounted on the supporting structure in the free space engage the rim for supporting and/or driving the wheel so that the material discharged from the buckets during travel over the upper guide wheels can be conveyed further by a chute extending axially through the one upper guide wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing bulk material from a storage bed comprises a pivotal beam carrying a bucket wheel on one end for taking up the bulk material and an endless band conveying the bulk material to the other end of the beam, and a girder carrying an endless band conveying the bulk material received at one end of the girder to the other end thereof, whence it is removed. The one beam end is supported on a pair of driving wheels adjacent the bucket wheel, the driving wheels being symmetrically arranged with respect to the beam. A coupling supports the other end of the beam on the one end of the girder for pivoting about a vertical axis. Two wheels with stationary axles support the ends of the girder, the wheel axles extending parallel to the girder, one of the wheels being disposed in the vertical pivoting axis and the other wheel being a driving wheel supporting the other end of the girder.