Abstract: A vacuum receiver for separating particles entrained in a gas-particle stream and for allowing a gas stream to exit from the vacuum receiver to an exhaust blower while simultaneously allowing the particles to remain in a particle receiving vessel having an open top. A cover is provided which has a top wall with a perimeter thereof resting on a surface of the receiving vessel encircling the open top. The cover has two openings therethrough, the first opening being oriented directly above the particle receiving vessel and a second opening being oriented on an axis that is wholly outside a peripheral boundary of the particle receiving vessel. The cover further includes a structure defining a passageway extending from the particle receiving vessel to the aforesaid second opening. A reciprocal valve member is mounted in the passageway and a drive motor is provided therefor which is mounted on an exterior part of the passageway to facilitate easy access thereto.