Abstract: A portable self-erecting surge storage silo comprises a bin, a conveyor elevator and a base frame that supports the bin and elevator in operation and for transport. The bin has a pair of long rear legs and a pair of shorter front stub legs. At each side of the base frame is an L-shaped unit having a longer leg and a shorter leg, swingable about a horizontal first axis transverse to the base frame and through the junction of the legs of the L-unit. The shorter legs of the L-units are rigidly connected to the bin stub legs, substantially in alignment with them, for swinging of the bin between a horizontal transport position and an inclined intermediate position at which the rear bin legs are detachably connectable to the base frame for swinging of the bin about a second axis, parallel to the first.

Abstract: A self-erecting silo assembly comprises a horizontally elongated trailer frame and a cylindrical paving mix bin that overlies the frame when in a horizontal transport position, with its front side lowermost and its top end near a front end of the frame. Rear legs on which the bin is supported when erected are rigidly connected to the bin; front legs have their upper ends pivoted to the bottom of the bin. A detachable bin connection between the bin and the frame defines a horizontal axis about which the bin is swung up from transport position to an inclined intermediate position at which detachable leg connections are made between the rear legs and the frame. The bin connection is then disconnected, the bin is swung up to upright position about the leg connections, and the bottom ends of the front legs are connected to the frame.

Abstract: In storage apparatus wherein asphalt hot mix is moved by gravity along a chute from the top of a bucket elevator to the inlet of a batching hopper at the top of a storage bin, a baffle in the chute, over the inlet, prevents segregation of mix entering the hopper. The baffle is spaced forwardly of the front end of the chute bottom wall, is oriented generally vertically and transversely to the length of the chute, and is flatwise swingable backward and forward. By means of a set screw through a front wall of the chute the position of swinging motion of the baffle is so adjusted that coarse mix components, carried against the baffle by momentum, are deflected by it towards the center of the hopper. Adjustable remixing baffles in the chute, adjacent its side walls and behind the front end of its bottom wall, deflect material away from the chute side walls to effect remixing of aggregate that became segregated during its charging into the bucket elevator.

Abstract: An automatic clean-out for the charging bin of an asphalt mix bucket elevator provides for removal of material from the bottom of the charging bin so that hardened asphalt mix will not interfere with operation of moving elevator parts upon subsequent restarting. The clean-out device comprises a pusher having an upright front surface and a flat top surface, with a length and width to overlie substantially the whole bottom area of the charging bin. The pusher is actuated forwardly and rearwardly by a double-acting pressure fluid cylinder jack mounted behind it. In moving forward, the pusher expels mix from the bottom of the charging bin through a front opening therein. It is rearwardly withdrawn through a closely fitting opening so that asphalt mix resting on its top is scraped off to remain in the charging bin.

Abstract: An asphalt mix storage bin outlet is surrounded by a rim member having a flat bottom surface in which there is an annular groove that extends around the outlet. An outlet closure comprises a plate-like edgewise slidable gate member mounted on rollers that ride on parallel rails at opposite sides of the outlet. The rails have long, straight portions along which the gate member rides to and from its open position with its top surface spaced below the bottom surface of the rim member, but as the gate member nears its closed position it rides up onto wedge-like portions of the rails that cam it towards snug engagement of its top surface with the bottom surface of the rim member. For an airtight seal with the gate member closed, grease is forced into the groove in the rim member, to be distributed around the outlet by the groove and thence forced into any space between the opposing surfaces of the rim member and gate member.