Abstract: The system and method for molecular contamination control permits purging a SMIF pod to desired levels of relative humidity, oxygen, or particulates. The SMIF pod includes an inlet port including a check valve and filter assembly for supplying a clean, dry gaseous working fluid to maintain low levels of moisture, oxygen, and particulate content around materials contained in the SMIF pod. The SMIF pod outlet port, which also includes a check valve and filter assembly, is connected with an evacuation system. Flow of purge gas inside the SMIF pod can be directed with one or more nozzle towers to encourage laminar flow inside the pod, and one or more outlet towers, having a function similar to that of the inlet tower, may also be provided. The purge gas can be dried by exposure to a desiccant, heated to temperatures between about 100.degree. C. and about 120.degree. C., and can be tested for baseline constituent levels prior to or after introduction into a SMIF pod.

Abstract: An air permeable pad to help load a bulk cargo into or unload a bulk cargo from a cargo container including a body and a hose. The body, in turn, includes a first, gas permeable layer and a second, gas impermeable layer. The two layers of the body are connected together and form an interior and a seal extending around that interior. The hose is connected to the body of the pad in communication with the interior thereof to conduct gas into or out from that interior. In use, one or more of these pads is installed in or on a cargo container or vehicle to help load a bulk cargo into the container and/or to help unload a bulk cargo from the container. More specifically, to help load a bulk cargo into a container, air is drawn from that cargo, via the air permeable pads and associated hoses, to compact the cargo therein, reducing the volume of space occupied by a given mass of the bulk cargo.

Abstract: A dust control system and method for controlling the dust emitted into the atmosphere while dumping grain at a pit at grain elevators. The system includes a plurality of sections, including metering sections with sensing device and dump sections with louvers in each section which are opened and closed in response to predetermined signals. The predetermined signals may be electrically generated or manually applied to ensure that the proper louvers are opened or closed so that the air and dust in the pit does not escape into the atmosphere during the unloading of grain.

Abstract: A hatch cover is a tent-like fabric structure having a skirt with dimensions which fit around and is attachable to a periphery of a hatch to keep foreign substances from falling into the hatch. Examples of such substances are rain, snow, dust, and any other contaminants. The fabric structure has a sloping roof rising from the skirt to a top where the fabric is sealed to a spout for delivering particulate matter into a space (such as the hold of a ship) under the fabric. A plurality of ropes extends around the periphery of the hatch to the top of the fabric, whereby the spout may be positioned and repositioned by changing the length of the tie-down ropes. The fabric structure may also be supported by creating a positive air pressure under the structure relative to ambient atmosphere pressure. Preferably the fabric structure is a generally conical structure with eaves at the base of the cone.

Abstract: A device for loading bulk material from a stationary source to a filler pipe located at a chosen spot within a predetermined line of travel. The device comprises a loading hopper which is shiftable along the line of travel and exhibits, at its lower end, a filling mechanism and a conveying pipe, feeding the bulk material to the loading hopper, which conveying pipe is pivotably mounted at its end receiving the material and the outlet end of which opens out into the loading hopper. The loading hopper is closed off at the top by a cover, which exhibits an opening receiving the outlet end of the conveying pipe. The cover is rotatable in relation to the loading hopper, the opening being eccentrically disposed. Expediently, the rim of the loading hopper and the cover are circular.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for finely ground particulate materials such as drugs or vitamin concentrates to supplement animal feed and the like, enabling control of the materials, accounting of the particulate materials being dumped and inhibiting exposure of workers to the materials, comprising an integral assembly having a suction fan above the hopper into which the material is dumped through an inlet opening, and bag filters between the hopper and the suction fan, as well as between the inlet opening and the suction fan. These bag filters collect air-entrained material dust into a layer which is discharged into the hopper by a momentary reverse flow of air through venturi nozzles to reclaim the material. The contents to be dumped can be weighed accurately and dumped in a fashion meeting OSHA standards and FDA requirements. The unit preferably is on tracks movable from one bin to the next.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering flowable bulk material such as grain, substantially free of dust into a receptacle, such as a vehicle, wherein the grain is delivered through a filter assembly to a chute which can be elongated and contracted and which has a lower end for connection to the vehicle. The filter assembly is also capable of assuming elongated and contracted states in order to confer a greater free height below the lower end of the chute. The filter assembly is formed with an outside filter housing capable of being elongated and contracted and within the filter housing is a suction chamber downstream of which, one or more filter bags are provided to separate dust from suctioned air. The filter bags can be constructed to prevent radial and longitudinal collapse thereof, as well as to undergo contraction when the chute and filter housing are contracted. An inlet pipe can be provided within the bag to convey the grain to the chute and in the contracted state the chute surrounds the inlet tube.

Abstract: Fugitive dust generated by a bottom dumping railroad hopper car is captured by a dust containment system. The dust containment system includes an open railroad track segment for supporting the car above a hopper pit defined by enclosed end walls, an interconnecting rear sidewall and a partially open front side. A building structure encloses the track segment and hopper pit and includes roof mounted ventilators for emitting fresh air to the interior thereof. A backhoe device is positioned above the car to assist in discharging material. Air passageways are formed on opposite sides of the track segment with motorized dampers positioned therein. Dust collector units are positioned adjacent to the front side of the hopper pit. The fans of the dust collectors induce a draft from the roof ventilators downwardly along the sides of the rail car, through the air passageways to the hopper pit.

Abstract: A car shaker for use particularly on a rail type hopper car. At least one closure and preferably a plurality thereof is provided to preclude or minimize the amount of dust which results from a dust carrying cargo being discharged. The at least one closure rests on the top of the hopper car to preclude coal dust entering the atmosphere. The car shaker is further provided with an aspiration system to draw away cargo dust which has been wetted by water sprays from a manifold carried on the closures.

Abstract: In a loading system for containers, tank vehicles, or other containers that can be flange-mounted to the discharge hopper of a silo, with a tube slide, the inner casing of a double-walled dump pipe that is secured to the discharge hopper is used as a guide for this tube slide. The loading system is arranged beneath this discharge hopper. Apart from the closed position and the dump position, the tube slide can also be locked in a flushing position by means of an operating system. The lower end of the tube slide is configured as an opener for a closing plate of the filler opening of the container or the like that can be closed by the action of a spring.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting and drying powder used for electrostatic coating of a workpiece has air injection means incorporated into the collection bin both to dry and also to homogenize powder recovered, just prior to withdrawal from the bin.

Abstract: A dust discharging apparatus suitable for use in a dust collector, which comprises series-connected upper and lower dust shoot chambers, each having a swingable discharging valve device to close and open its ceiling opening. In order to prevent dust coating on the seal members of the swingable valves and the wear of same, the swingable valve device uses a downstream-convergent throttle ring, a swingable concave pan-like valve and an upstream divergent bucket fixed to the concave plate. The upper chamber has an exhaust pipe to communicate with the dust hopper, and a suction pipe to permit the chamber to open to the surrounding atmosphere to prevent dust backflow when transferring the dust from the dust hopper to the upper chamber and then from the upper to lower chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for filtering a moving gaseous atmosphere in an installation for unloading pulverulent products in bulk, the installation being of the type constituted by a supply sleeve connecting the base of a silo or hopper to the circular filling orifice of a mobile container, wherein it is constituted by a discharge bushing extending the base of the sleeve, this bushing being engaged in the filling orifice of the container, and this bushing is associated with an outer cone concentric to said bushing and adapted to rest with self-centering on the edges of the orifice thus obturated, the cone being closed at its summit by a horizontal wall comprising an evacuation opening, and the annular space defined between the central tubular bushing and the outer cone constitutes a volume for decantation of the gaseous phase, particularly the air laden with solid particles in suspension and driven from the inner atmosphere of the container, this decantation volume communicating with the volume of th

Abstract: Apparatus and method of emptying a material-filled bulk bag of the type having a bottom discharge spout which is releasably closed above a bottom end of the spout being released and opened after the bottom end of the spout is releasably and sealably attached to a material receiving conduit so as to provide a substantially dustless emptying procedure.

Abstract: A device for depositing particulate matter into a storage silo having a system of containers which are alternately filled at the top of said silo and lowered into said silo where the particulate matter is deposited, free falling only a short distance onto the top of previously deposited particulate matter. In a second embodiment, the particulate matter is deposited onto a conveyor having containers formed thereon, transporting said particulate matter down into said silo and depositing said particulate matter onto a second conveyor which distributes particulate matter onto the previously deposit particulate matter, said second conveyor being maintained at a certain height above the level of the previously deposited particular matter.

Abstract: A hopper assembly has an upwardly facing mouth for receiving granular or powder materials, and structured and arranged for preventing or reducing the escape of material from the hopper. The assembly includes at least one resiliently flexible baffle extending obliquely downwards from a substantially fixed, generally horizontally extending top edge portion to a free edge portion. Another member may be provided having an edge portion in the vicinity of and extending substantially parallel to the free edge portion of the baffle. The baffle is arranged with respect to the other member such that if material to be received by the hopper assembly falls onto the baffle, the weight of the material tends to cause the baffle to deflect away from the other member, permitting the material to fall between the baffle and the other member. Being resilient, the baffle returns or tends to return to its original position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tangential distributor for stoppers of a given length and diameter. The distributor comprises a pair of rotating coaxial plates separated by a vertical distance which is slightly more than one stopper diameter. Between these plates is formed a passageway between a central portion of the plates and a peripheral area. Properly aligned stoppers are removed from this peripheral area. A baffle is formed into the passageway to orient the stoppers and allow only those oriented tangentially to the plates to pass into the peripheral area. A guide around the peripheral area retains the stoppers in the peripheral area until they are removed. The plates may be rotated at variable velocities for control of the rate of removal and orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing debris from granular material, utilizes a pair of inner and outer ducts, which are separated by an air chamber for guiding and discharging a backward flow of air under pressure through a passageway opening extending between the two ducts. The air pressure flows through flowing granular material as it moves along a given path from the first duct into the second duct. A spreader member guides the flow of material into an opening between the edge of the spreader and the wall of the outer duct. A porous member disposed downstream of the spreader member near the opening receives the material flowing through the opening and is inclined from the wall toward the central axis of the outer duct, as the air flows backwardly through the porous member.

Abstract: A bin for storing and handling bulk material includes a fill opening through which material is introduced into the bin for storage and a discharge opening in a bottom portion of the bin through which material stored in the bin is discharged. The bin includes a primary bin support frame, and has at least one dump assembly with a bin floor panel that is hinged adjacent the discharge opening of the bin. The bin floor panel is pivotable from a generally horizontal position to an angled position for dumping bulk material into the discharge opening. The dump assembly includes a rigid secondary frame connected to the bin floor panel and pivotable with the bin floor panel. The bin further includes a flexible bin wall portion connected to the primary and secondary frames and the bin floor panel to form an enclosure for storage of bulk materials. The flexible bin wall portion is supported in an erect position by the primary and secondary frames for storage and discharge of bulk materials.

Abstract: A dust-preventing, vertical chute system for loading bulk materials from a conveyor, slide or other dispensing mechanism. The system including a series of interconnected, partially nestled open buckets having a venturi insert of size and configuration compatible with the material to be loaded for generating a low pressure, internal air stream resulting in external air being drawn into the bucket system during dispensing of the bulk material into a ship or the like for inhibiting escape of dust.

Abstract: A device for emptying flexible or rigid containers having flexible discharge stubs for in bulk goods where the discharge stubs are sealable by being tied shut and always issue into the emptying device from where the in bulk goods are conveyed out by partial vacuum or free fall. The emptying device (6) consists of an upright cylindrical housing (7) having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the discharge stub (4). This housing, when connected, is spanned by the discharge stub (4). At least two jaws (10) which when closed are spaced away from the housing wall are provided to which are mounted at least one elastic belt, a cord (11) or the like which in the closed state of the jaws (10) rests while prestressed over the entire periphery of the housing (7) against the discharge stub (4) spanning the housing (7).

Abstract: The apparatus comprises stations or silos for accumulating the material, which are connected to stations for the drawing thereof through a pneumatic line including a recycling section which conveys the "trailings" or residues of material towards the silos thus performing the recovery thereof. Devices mounted on the pneumatic line at the stations perform the drawing of the material during its conveyance in the pneumatic line and discharge it therefrom, while for performing the recycling they allow the free transfer of the residues towards the silos.

Abstract: A method for cleanly unloading dry bulk material carried by ships in below-deck holds is disclosed. The method includes the steps of disposing a portable open-topped, intermediate collection station in at least one empty hold of a ship. Loads of material in at least one filled hold are moved in at least one receptacle to the open-topped, intermediate collection station in the at least one empty hold. Airborne dust is continuously collected from over the intermediate collection station to prevent local formation of a dust cloud. The material is transferred from the intermediate collection station through closed conduit structure to an on-shore collection station. Exposure of the drying material to conditions likely to cause dust clouds and likely to result in wetting of the material is minimized. Apparatus for use in cleanly unloading dry bulk material from the holds of a ship includes an open-topped hopper adapted to be lifted into and out of an operative position in the at least one empty hold.

Abstract: A portable, collapsible grain cleaner and spreader apparatus is used to evenly spread and clean grain or similar crops as the grain is introduced into a storage structure. The grain cleaner and spreader apparatus comprises a vertically disposed grain receiver which distributes grain to be dried over a frusto-conically shaped perforated screen device. A funnel-shaped body engages the perforated screen device and has a fan assembly connected thereto. Grain is evenly distributed over the screen device into the storage structure. Debris, chaff, bees wings, dirt, and weevils pass through the screen device, funnel-shaped member, and fan assembly and are discharged exteriorly of the storage structure through a conduit.

Abstract: A catalyst loading hopper suitable for positioning in vertical position above a reactor vessel, having an inlet at its upper end, a catalyst outlet at its lower end and a diagonally-disposed baffle extending downwardly across the hopper but terminating short of one of the walls of the hopper and a weir adjustably arranged so as to control the flow of catalysts through the hopper. There is a dust outlet at the top of the hopper, which may be connected to a conduit so as to draw dust away from the upper end of the hopper and a screen at the bottom of the hopper to separate the catalyst from any fines or undersized catalyst particles. The screen feeds into a catalyst outlet which, in turn, feeds into a conduit, which extends into the reactor vessel so as to allow arrangement of the cleaned catalyst pellets in layers in the vessel. A gas nozzle opens in the wall of the hopper and allows dust to be blown from the catalyst pellets and through the dust outlet to be collected in a suitable filter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dust suppressing device for use in the discharge of granular bulk materials, such as crushed rock, ore, and the like, for example, during the loading of such material onto a transport vehicle such as a ship. The device comprises(a) a central hopper;(b) a first outer tubular member, coaxially disposed and concentrically spaced outward with respect to the hopper; and(c) a second tubular member coaxially disposed and concentrically spaced outward with respect to the hopper and the first tubular member. The spacing between the central hopper and the first tubular member and the spacing between the first and second tubular members are such as to provide alternate path for the discharge of granular material when the flow rate of the granular material into the hopper exceeds the capacity of the hopper.

Abstract: A hopper for use in a dry ash removal system is structured with a front elevational profile which converges from top to bottom while the side elevational profile of same diverges from top to bottom to allow substantially uniform hopper cross-sectional area from top to bottom and thereby reduce incidence of ash bridging within the hopper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the containment of dust within a bulk cargo container such as a ship or barge hold. A horizontal stream of ambient air is directed across the hatch opening by a plurality of interconnected air curtain modules which captures fugitive dust along its path. A plurality of interconnected dust collector modules withdraw the entrained dust particles at an opposite side of the hatch opening and exhaust the filtered air stream therefrom and deposit the filter cake back into the hold. The clean exhaust air from the dust collector modules may be used to form a vertical air curtain to deflect crosswinds.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for the pneumatic injection of pulverulent materials into a pressurized vessel, comprising a storage silo, a distribution silo, a series of metering devices for extracting the pulverulent materials from the distribution silo, pneumatic conveying pipes connecting each of the metering devices to the vessel, and also a device for the automatic transfer of the pulverulent material from the storage silo (which is under substantially atmospheric pressure) to the distribution silo in which a pressure higher than that in vessel prevails. An important feature of the present invention is the presence of two intermediate silos each connected via automatic valves, upstream to the storage silo and, downstream, to the distribution silo; and by a pressurizing circuit connecting a source of inert gas under pressure through automatic valves to each of the intermediate silos.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for discharging particulate solids, especially hazardous or toxic materials and contaminants of the atmosphere, from bulk shipping containers, such as bulk-bags, at controlled discharge rates, in an environmentally acceptable manner which eliminates exposure of the environment and personnel to contamination by the material and which allows for an essentially clinically clean environment due to emptying and transfer of the contents to process equipment.

Abstract: The off loading of bulk particulate cargo from self unloading ships creates considerable dust. A self erecting canopy arrangement is described which connects between a ship's boom and a dockside hopper and which can adjust to sudden movement of the boom created by the effect of wind and waves on the ship. The canopy comprises a pliant skirt and resilient, self supporting means such as an inflatable framework for supporting the skirt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bag-cutting- and emptying-device with a connected collective dust-removal filter, whereby it is the aim to replace the manual cutting process customary in devices of this type by a driven knife and to fix the position of the bag within the housing in such a manner so that this bag can be seized manually and can be shaken.Hereby, also in the case of an additional manual intervention, the bag-feeding-area is to be protected against infiltrating excess air through the intervention of appropriate means surrounding the bag.The invention makes provisions for the feeding of the bag through the intervention of a supporting-table (7/8) ending in a bag-chute (8), whereby the final boundary of the bag-chute (8) can be delimited by means of a stop-flap (15) for the support of the bag.

Abstract: The dust collection units in a rotary railroad car dumper installation are mounted over the hopper pit along one or both sides of the cylindrical, rotatable dumper frame so that dust ladened air can be sucked directly into the dust collection units without the need for duct work and the collected dust can be returned directly to the pit without the need for easily clogged screw conveyors and small chutes. A fixed enclosure means encloses the top and sides of the dumper frame and form with air shields mounted on the cylindrical dumper frame, a rotary valve which restricts flow such that ambient air is sucked into the hopper pit by the duct collection units at velocities which exceed the capture velocity of the dust clouds created by dumping of the contents of the car.

Abstract: In a grain elevator, grain mixed with dust is delivered near the top of a grain silo to the receiving orifice of a grain chute. The chute includes an enclosed conduit which extends from the top of the grain silo to its floor and deposits the grain in the silo without freely falling in the interior of the silo. The conduit has a tandem column series of vertically extending doors which are counter-balanced to be normally closed and which are opened by the weight of the grain in the conduit. The fall of the grain within the conduit separates the grain from the dust and the dust is removed by an exhaust fan connected to the conduit, the air flow being through the open bottom doors of the conduit, through the conduit, and out of the silo to a tube connected to a dust separator. In addition, the grain falls within the conduit and flows out of the doors which the grain column opens and which are immediately above the level of the grain already delivered into the silo, the other doors remaining closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a granular substance, especially for milling nuclear reactor fuel in powder form having a treatment drum supported rotatably about a central axis, an associated drive unit to drive the treatment drum about this central axis, and a cover at one end. The cover has two cover sections which are arranged side by side in the direction of the central axis of the treatment drum and can be rotated relative to each other about the central axis between two stops by means of a cover drive unit. The outer cover section has an opening for docking a substance container and the inner cover section has a passage opening which is aligned at one of the two stops with the opening for docking and which is closed at the other stop by the outer cover section. The treatment drum can be tilted about a tilting axis perpendicular to its central axis by means of a tilting unit.

Abstract: A system for handling fluent solid material includes a material collecting hopper having a bottom provided with several discharge openings, ducts for delivering material from all the discharge openings into a transfer hopper that has one or more bottom outlets. An upright feed conduit with a feed valve is connected to each bottom outlet. If there are two or more bottom outlets at least one may connect to a bypass conduit with a bypass feed valve. A moistening chamber receives liquid at a controlled rate, and material from a feed conduit goes directly into the moistening chamber while material from a bypass conduit does not. Each conduit is provided with a material flow transducer that controls the position of the feed valve in response to the sensed volume of material flowing through the conduit so as to closely control the rate at which material flows from the conduit. Each feed valve or bypass feed valve may be closed so as to load a transport vehicle either with dry material or with moistened material.

Abstract: A bulk material conveyor comprises an elongated flexible conveying duct and apparatus for viewing the materials being transferred within the duct. The apparatus maintains a fluid stream proximate to the apparatus for viewing. The apparatus for maintaining a fluid stream in one form includes first, second and third truncated conical members which are disposed in generally coaxial relationship. At least part of each truncated conical member overlaps at least one other truncated conical member.

Abstract: A dust suppressor apparatus for use in discharging particulate or granular material, such as grain, which includes a housing defining an internal chamber and having an inlet opening in the upper region of the chamber and a discharge opening in the lower region of the chamber. A suppressor control gate is hingedly mounted on the housing and is biased to a position preventing discharge of material through the discharge opening until a predetermined quantity of particulate material acts on the control gate to overcome the biasing and open the control gate. The control gate and is operative to exert pressure on the particulate material discharging through the discharge opening so as to enable bulk discharge while preventing egress of dust ladened air through the discharge opening. Baffle plates are provided in the chamber to reduce grain velocity within the device. The baffle plates may be independently adjustable or may be automatically adjusted upon tilting of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for the dry cooling of coke comprises transferring the coke from the coke oven to a special bucket which is moved over a charging hole of a cooling pit. The space between the bucket and the charging hole is closed off and sealed against the atmosphere and a shutter which closes the top of the charging hole is moved upwardly and then transversely off the charging hole to open it as an intermediate charging guide piece is moved in position between the hole and the bucket for the transfer of the coke therebetween. The space between the bucket and the charging hole is sealed by a frame of a sluicing device in which the shutter and the intermediate charging hole guidepiece is movable. The device advantageously runs on wheels which are located outside the frame which seals the space between the charging bucket and the charging pit. The frame of the sluicing device advantageously includes a sealing element which engages into a recess seal combined around the charging hole.

Abstract: A cyclone valve surrounds a wall opening through which cladding is projected. An axial valve inlet surrounds the cladding. Air is drawn through the inlet by a cyclone stream within the valve. An inflatable seal is included to physically engage a fuel pin subassembly during loading of fuel pellets.

Abstract: A bulk material conveyor comprises an elongated flexible conveying duct and apparatus for viewing the materials being transferred within the duct. The apparatus maintains a fluid stream proximate to the apparatus for viewing. The apparatus for maintaining a fluid stream in one form includes first, second and third truncated conical members which are disposed in generally coaxial relationship. At least part of each truncated conical member overlaps at least one other truncated conical member.

Abstract: The dust collection units in a rotary railroad car dumper installation are mounted over the hopper pit along each side of the cylindrical, rotatable dumper frame so that dust ladened air can be sucked directly into the dust collection units without the need for duct work and the collected dust can be returned directly to the pit without the need for easily clogged screw conveyors and small chutes. The dust collection units also form with air shields mounted on the cylindrical dumper frame, a rotary valve which restricts flow such that ambient air is sucked into the hopper pit by the dust collection units at velocities which exceed the capture velocity of the dust clouds created by dumping of the contents of the car. The air shields include orthogonal pairs of planar members mounted on the rotary frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading bulk materials from a storage bin into a truck body. An enclosure is defined by flexible rubber movable walls of which at least three are horizontally displaceable into contact with the corresponding sides or edges of the body of the truck to be loaded. Exhaust fans cause a negative pressure inside the enclosure sufficient to urge the movable walls into sealing contact at the corners of the enclosure and against the sides or edges of the truck body. At the end of loading, detectors automatically cause the horizontally displaceable walls to move back out of contact with the truck body to facilitate ingress and egress of the truck.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coal-water slurry atomizer for use a high-pressure dryer employed in a pumping system utilized to feed coal into a pressurized coal gasifier. The slurry atomizer is provided with a venturi, constant area slurry injection conduit, and a plurality of tangentially disposed steam injection ports. Superheated steam is injected into the atomizer through these ports to provide a vortical flow of the steam, which, in turn, shears slurry emerging from the slurry injection conduit. The droplets of slurry are rapidly dispersed in the dryer through the venturi where the water is vaporized from the slurry by the steam prior to deleterious heating of the coal.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling powder substance, comprising a central feed pipe, an outer pipe, a bell-like member of large section which is disposed around the outer pipe and which communicates therewith by way of filter openings, a corolla-like member which is suspended from the bell-like member and into which open the lower ends of the two pipes, a vacuum in the outer pipe, the bell-like member and the corolla-like member, said corolla member floating on the pile of powder substance by virtue of the support effect of the vacuum in the bell-like member.

Abstract: The device is for retaining dust when particulate material is dumped through the device into a container. The device has a plurality of adjacent inverted-V shaped restrictors which swing about an axis along the point where the two leaves of the V meet. There are material deflectors which unevenly load some of the restrictors.

Abstract: An improved particulate material loading system for transferring particulate material from a storage assembly to a vehicle having a storage bin wherein the material is protected from the outside environment during the transfer. The storage assembly includes a temporary cover which is operatively engagable with the vehicle to protect the storage bin of the vehicle when a hatch door of the vehicle is moved from a closed position to an open position to enable transfer of the material thereto. The vehicle is constructed to slidably receive the temporary cover of the storage assembly.

Abstract: In an arrangement for capturing and conducting away flue gases forming during charging of, and pouring off from, metallurgical vessels in a steel-making plant, the material to be charged and poured off is brought into and out of the operating position by a container displaceable by means of a crane. The crane trolley is designed to form a displaceable unit with a hood having a draft opening. The hood, in the operating position, covers the container and the mouth of the metallurgical vessel, and the draft opening borders on the discharge opening of a chimney so as to form a flow connection therewith.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for receiving bulk particulate materials from a material supply carrier into a hopper construction in which the hopper construction includes a multicellular or multitubular arrangement providing for free flowing of the material through the cells or tubes into a hopper chamber, the tubular or cellular construction being provided with a central conically-shaped void or space defined by certain of the tubes or cells being of varying lengths whereby the angle of the conically-shaped void simulates a natural angle of repose of the particulate material so that the particulate material in the hopper chamber and in the void or space seals the tubes or cells preventing cross winds or moving air from affecting or entraining the material thereby minimizing or substantially eliminating loss of the material and contamination of the environment by the material.

Abstract: A novel bag opening apparatus comprises an enclosure or chute or slide for receiving a bag and having bag-opening stationary knives positioned therein. The bag-opening knives comprise a plurality of knives meeting at a sharp point and extending diagonally outward to engage and be supported on the side walls of the enclosure or chute or slide. The arrangement of the knives is such that the point where the knives join is operable to puncture the end of a bag pressed there against and the knives extending diagonally outward toward the walls of the enclosure or chute or slide will make diagonal cuts in the end of a bag pressed there against which extend substantially across the end of the bag and produce an enlarged opening therein. This bag opening apparatus is designed for opening bags containing particulate material and more particularly pulverulant material. The apparatus is particularly useful in combination with dust collecting means and with auger or circulating air-type conveyor systems.