Abstract: An apparatus for loading particulate materials includes a flexible discharge chute having an accordion outer pipe 7 surrounding an inner pipe 3 comprising a plurality of telescopingly nested skirt sections 4 connected by chains 5. A flared hood 8 having a flexible lower skirt 10 is connected to a support ring 13 at the lower end of the chute, and the hood has a plurality of air intake ports 11 and adjacent material detecting contact switches 12. A winding apparatus 14 for raising and lowering the hood, and simultaneously contracting or expanding the chute, is controlled by the switches 12. Dust particles swirling up under the hood and skirt are drawn up through the annular space between the inner and outer pipes to a collector and precipitator 15, which separates out the dust particles and returns them to the discharge chute.