Method of and apparatus for storing and preserving granular material

Claim 1

MEANS FOR HANDLING AND STORING GRANULAR MATERIAL, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A STORAGE CONTAINER MADE OF LIMP FLEXIBLE IMPERVIOUS SHEET MATERIAL, A PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR HAVING A SUCTION CONDUIT, A DISCHARGE CONDUIT, AND MEANS FOR SUCKING AIR AND GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO SAID SUCTION CONDUIT AND FOR BLOWING AIR AND GRANULAR MATERIAL OUT OF SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT, SID DISCHARGE CONDUIT BEING MOVABLE INTO SAID CONTAINER FOR INFLATING SAID CONTAINER AND FILING SAID CONTAINER WITH GRANULAR MATERIAL, SAID DISCHARGE CONDUIT BEING MOVABLE OUT OF SAID CONTAINER WHEN SAID CONTAINER HAS BEEN FILLED WITH GRANULAR MATERIAL, SAID SUCTION CONDUIT THEREUPON BEING MOVABLE INTO SAID CONTAINER FOR WITHDRAWING AIR THEREFROM AND ESTABLISHING A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN, A VACUUM PUMP FOR MAINTAINING THE PARTIAL CAVUUM IN SAID CONTAINER, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY CONNECTING SAID VACUUM PUMP TO SAID CONTAINER THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD OF STORAGE, THE PRESSURE OF THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE BEING EFFECTIVE TO PRESS THE CONTAINER AGAINST THE GRANULAR MATERIAL AND TO CAUSE COMPACTION OF THE GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO A SEMI-RIGID MASS.

Claim 3

A METHOD OF STORING AND PROTECTING MATERIAL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING, PLACING A QUANTITY OF GRANULAR MATERIAL IN A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER MADE OF A LIMP FLEXIBLE IMPERVIOUS SHEET MATERIAL, INITIALLY WITHDRAWING AIR FROM SAID CONTAINER THROUGH AN OPENING THEREIN WHILE SUBSTNATIALLY PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF AIR INTO SAID CONTAINER TO PROVIDE A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN, THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE BEING EFFECTIVE TO PRESS SAID CONTAINER AGAINST THE GRANULAR MATERIAL THEREIN SO THAT THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IS COMPACTED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PUMPING AIR FROM SAID CONTAINER THROUGH AN OPENING THEREIN FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IS STORED THEREIN AND THEREBY CONTINOUSLY MAINTAINING THE PARTIAL VACUUM IN SAID CONTAINER WHILE WITHDRAWING ANY GASES OR VAPORS EVOLVED BY THE GRANULAR MATERIAL.

Claim 4

A METHOD OF STORING AND PROTECTING MATERIAL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING, PLACING A QUANTITY OF GRANULAR MATERIAL IN A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER MADE OF A LIMP FLEXIBLE IMPERVIOUS SHEET MATERIAL, INITIALLY WITHDRAWING AIR FROM SAID CONTAINER THROUGH AN OPENING THEREIN WHILE SUBSTNATIALLY PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF AIR INTO SAID CONTAINER TO PROVIDE A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN, THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE BEING EFFECTIVE TO PRESS SAID CONTAINER AGAINST THE GRANULAR MATERIAL THEREIN SO THAT THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IS COMPACTED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PUMPING AIR FROM SAID CONTAINER THROUGH AN OPENING THEREIN FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IS STORED THEREIN AND THEREBY CONTINOUSLY MAINTAINING THE PARTIAL VACUUM IN SAID CONTAINER WHILE WITHDRAWING ANY GASES OR VAPORS EVOLVED BY THE GRANULAR MATERIAL.