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Hopper tee having drop opening with arcuate closure

  • US 20160200506A1
  • Filed: 07/22/2015
  • Published: 07/14/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An integral tee directing the flow of bulk material from a container, located above a horizontal surface of the ground, into a horizontal unloading system using pressurized air or gravity, said tee providing for the vertical discharge of the bulk material from a container, the horizontal unloading system having an upstream and an opposite downstream flow for bulk material therefrom, said integral tee increasing a rate of unloading the bulk material from the container and having a ground clearance, comprising:

  • a flange, generally planar, having a top surface, and an opening through said flange, said opening communicating with said container for passage of bulk material therefrom and through said integral tee;

    a vertically directed hollow pipe extending from said flange and centered upon said opening;

    a transverse hollow pipe joining to said vertically directed hollow pipe at a juncture opposite said flange, generally parallel to said flange, said transverse hollow pipe including an inlet adapted to receive bulk material or pressurized airflow from upstream in the horizontal unloading system, an opposite outlet adapted to discharge bulk material downstream from said integral tee into the horizontal unloading system, and said transverse hollow pipe having a diameter;

    said transverse hollow pipe having a drop opening therein generally opposite said flange and corresponding in width approximately to the diameter of the opening in said flange;

    a door closing upon said tee drop opening and sealing said drop opening when said door is closed, said door having an interior surface, said interior surface attaining an approximate flush position with the interior of said transverse hollow pipe wherein the bulk material flows smoothly over said door to prevent leakage of bulk material from said integral tee when discharged through said transverse hollow pipe;

    said door being arcuate, to conform to the drop opening and the bottom of said tee, said door including at least one hinge, proximate one end of said door, and said hinge attaching to the approximate edge of said door on one side, and said hinge attached to said tee, to provide for a pivotal opening of said door with respect to said tee to allow for a vertical discharge of bulk material from said container and through said drop opening of said tee when the door is opened;

    a cam lock pivotally attached to the opposite edge of said door, and including a bail for engagement with the opposite side of said tee wherein when said cam lock is engaged through its bail with said tee, and the cam lock pivoted, providing for a locked closure of the arcuate door against the bottom opening of said tee during usage;

    wherein said transverse hollow pipe having at least one integral ear extending approximately diagonally from each of its sides, said at least one integral ear on one side engaging said arcuate door through the hinge to the tee, the opposite edge of said door engaging through said bail with the at least one ear extending from the opposite side of said tee, said cam lock capable of locking said arcuate door into a closed position, and said cam lock capable of being opened, to release said bail from the cam lock, to provide for full opening of said arcuate door;

    wherein said bail pivotally connecting with the at least one integral ear on one side of said tee, connecting to the proximate edge of said door, and connecting upon said cam lock when the arcuate door is locked into closure through the pivotal manipulation of said cam lock; and

    wherein said arcuate door having an internal curved surface with a radius of curvature which is the same as a radius of curvature transverse hollow pipe at it'"'"'s drop opening, said curved surface of the arcuate door having structure applied thereto, which when the arcuate door is closed upon the tee drop opening, provides sealed closure for the transverse hollow pipe to prevent the vertical discharge of any bulk material therethrough from the container.

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