Abstract: An inflatable liner for mounting within a hopper type receptacle or container which receives and discharges flowable bulk particulate material. The liner is comprised of one or more inflatable members such as inflatable fabric bags or tubular members loosely supported by sling members at spaced locations along the interior surface of the walls of the container in such manner that each inflatable member is capable of limited miltidirectional movement with respect to the adjacent container wall and a flexible wear resistant cover sheet loosely covering the wall and the inflatable members. The slings may be attached to either the container wall or to the bottom side of the cover sheet. Alternate inflatable members are inflated and deflated in any desired sequence to cause the cover sheet to undulate and thereby set up a continuous cyclic wave motion which serves to maintain the continuous flow of particulate material through the container.

Abstract: A resilient liner for mounting within a hopper type receptacle which receives and discharges flowable bulk particulate material. The liner is comprised of one or more resilient panels each having a fluid tight envelope with a top and bottom sheet held in substantially spaced parallel relationship by a series of internal transverse seams or walls or by a layer of open celled foam when the internal pressure of the envelope is at least slightly higher than the ambient pressure outside the envelope. The panels are sufficiently resilient, that particles or chunks of material passing through the hopper striking the top of the envelope cause undulation of the top of the envelope which aids in maintaining the constant flow of particulate material through the receptacle. The panels may be protected by a wear resistant cover loosely covering the panels or integral with the panels.