Apparatus for storing material
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for storing and discharging material, comprising:
- a containment vessel having a top, a bottom spaced from the top, and an outer sidewall extending generally around a periphery of the top and bottom and vertically between the top and the bottom;
a liner in the containment vessel, the liner having an internal chamber for surrounding material therein;
a discharge port through a lower portion of the liner for dispensing material;
a movable floor arranged along the bottom, the movable floor carrying at least a portion of the liner, the movable floor including a distal end spaced laterally from the discharge port and a proximate end arranged between the distal end and the discharge port; and
an inflatable bag arranged proximate the bottom and under the floor proximate the distal end, the inflatable bag having an inflated state raising the distal end above the proximate for gravitationally conveying material through the discharge port.
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Abstract
A new storage apparatus is provided which includes a rectangular box-like containment vessel in which a false movable floor is provided over the bottom floor. A dunnage bag or other actuator is provided to selectively raise and lower the false floor to facilitate self-evaluation and discharge of dry flowable material through a discharge port. The false floor structure may be removed to provide for versatility and different storage options. For example, the containment vessel can be left empty to provide for storage of other objects through openable doors or a pillow tank may be installed within the containment vessel to provide for liquid holding capabilities.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for storing and discharging material, comprising:
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a containment vessel having a top, a bottom spaced from the top, and an outer sidewall extending generally around a periphery of the top and bottom and vertically between the top and the bottom;
a liner in the containment vessel, the liner having an internal chamber for surrounding material therein;
a discharge port through a lower portion of the liner for dispensing material;
a movable floor arranged along the bottom, the movable floor carrying at least a portion of the liner, the movable floor including a distal end spaced laterally from the discharge port and a proximate end arranged between the distal end and the discharge port; and
an inflatable bag arranged proximate the bottom and under the floor proximate the distal end, the inflatable bag having an inflated state raising the distal end above the proximate for gravitationally conveying material through the discharge port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for storing and discharging material, comprising:
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a containment vessel having a top, a bottom floor spaced below the top, and an outer side wall extending generally around a periphery of the top and the bottom floor and vertically between the top and the bottom floor;
a discharge area proximate a lower portion of the containment vessel;
a movable floor on top of the bottom floor, the movable floor having a top support surface; and
an actuator acting upon the movable floor, the actuator operable to raise the movable floor and thereby incline the top support surface with a slope that angles downwardly generally toward the discharge area. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification