Abstract: An apparatus for discharging dry bulk material by aeration having a substantially annular flexible aeration liner supported by a substantially cone-shaped perforated hopper, which is affixed to an air disc assembly, whereby air introduced into the air disc assembly is distributed evenly through the perforated hopper that supports the aeration liner that tends to fluidize dry bulk material, thereby allowing the material to discharge.

Abstract: An unloader for discharging and feeding dry, granular type materials from bulk bags. Among the many improvements of the discharge apparatus is an open frame (20) and offset discharge location. Other improvements include an I-beam (23) and frame design that keeps the hoist (25) movement within the four corner posts of the frame. The unloader may be provided with vibrators, vibration isolators, load cells, actuators (107, 108), massage paddles, or plates (106, 109) to assist in the discharge function.

Abstract: The invention includes improvements in the device and method for lifting objects, such as bulk bags, in an area of a building with low headroom constraints. Among the many improvements of the hoist arrangement is a movable cart and frame assembly that is mounted to or between various I-Beam configurations of a hoist structure, such as a bulk bag unloader, so that the object being lifted can be raised higher under its overhead hoist frame. By reducing the height requirements of a standard hoist, which can often take up as much as 15? to 24? of space between the I-Beam and object being lifted (such as a bulk bag) a user may now use a taller bulk bag or other object with a greater capacity. In most states, highway trailers are limited to hauling a maximum load of approximately 44,000 pounds. The addition of 12? to 24? of extra lifting height can often be the difference between filling a bag to 2,000 pounds instead of a lesser amount such as 1,500 pounds.