Abstract: A bottom discharge system for upright storage vessels adapted to contain solid, particulate and/or fibrous materials includes a flail chain type unloader for dislodging the material to be discharged including a rotary shaft extending upwardly through a central opening in the bottom wall of the storage vessel for moving material out of the lower end portion of the vessel when the shaft is rotated to swing the flail chains. The improved bottom discharge system includes a material outlet opening formed adjacent the bottom wall of the vessel extending radially outwardly of the shaft and a discharge gate that is movable radially inwardly and outwardly of the shaft for closing and opening the outlet.

Abstract: A flail chain unloader for discharging particulate material from a lower output of an upright storage vessel includes a rotating shaft extending upwardly of the central portion of the vessel above the outlet and flail chains secured to the shaft at different levels thereon to rotate with the shaft and loosen the particulate materials in the vessel to flow downwardly for discharge through the lower outlet. One or more upper flail chains are secured adjacent an upper level portion of the shaft and have outer ends movable in a generally circular path closely adjacent the inside wall surface of the vessel for loosening the material adjacent the vessel wall. At least one set of intermediate flail chains of a relatively short length is provided at spaced apart lower levels below the upper flail chains in order to dig out the material in the central portion of the vessel around the shaft.

Abstract: A silo unloader for unloading silage from a discharge opening in a bottom wall thereof includes a housing mounted in the opening having a downwardly extending discharge chute. The chute includes an inner sloping wall having a lower drip edge and a pair of side walls joined thereto with side edges sloping upwardly with respect to the drip edge in a direction opposite that of the sloping wall. The side edges define lower edges of a discharge outlet of the chute. A discharge door is mounted to pivot between an open and a closed position with respect to the discharge outlet and the door includes a resilient gasket around the perimeter adapted to provide an air-tight seal for the outlet when the door is closed. The discharge chute includes a lower sealing bar joined at opposite ends to the sidewalls, and spaced below and horizontally offset from the drip edge so that material falling over the drip edge does not interfere with establishing a tight seal when the door is closed.

Abstract: A silo unloader for a bottom unloading type silo having a discharge opening in the bottom wall thereof comprises a housing adapted to be mounted in said opening and including an upper wall having a shaft opening. The shaft is supported on bearings in the housing below the upper wall and the shaft extends upwardly through the shaft opening into the silo for supporting a plurality of flexible silage dislodging members which rotate with the shaft. A rotary seal between the shaft and the shaft opening in the upper housing wall comprises an inside annular collar around the shaft extending upwardly of the upper wall of the housing and an outside annular collar around the inside collar and supported by the shaft to project downwardly below the upper end of the inside collar forming an overlapping seal between the relatively rotating collars.

Abstract: Material dislodging means for a bottom unloading type silo having a central vertical shaft projecting upwardly from the bottom adjacent an outlet opening therein and including a series of chains connected at one end to said shaft in vertically spaced relationship and of progressively greater length with the shortest being lowermost, said connections comprising openings extending diametrically through said shaft to receive said ends of said chains to provide effective, long lasting flexible connections for said chains. The outer ends of the chains have digging and raking elements connected thereto by means of sockets on said elements which receive at least the terminal outer link of each chain. Pin means connect the opposite ends of the chains respectively within said openings in said shaft and said sockets on said elements.