Device for closing the outlet end of a worm conveyer

Claim 1

A SEALING SCREW CONVEYER, COMPRISING: A GENERALLY TUBULAR CONVEYER PIPE MEANS FOR RECEIVING BULK MATERIAL AND HAVING OPPOSITE INLET AND OUTLET ENDS CONNECTED TO AREAS OF MATERIALLY DIFFERENT PRESSURES; CONVEYER SCREW MEANS OPERATIVELY ROTATIONALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID PIPE MEANS FOR AXIALLY CONVEYING BULK MATERIAL TOWARD ONLY THE OUTLET END OF SAID PIPE UPON ROTATION IN ONE DIRECTION; A GENERALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE ON SAID PIPE MEANS AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OUTLET END; AND HIGHLY ELASTIC FLEXIBLE VALVE PLATE MEANS COMPLETELY COVERING SAID OUTLET END OF SAID PIPE AND HAVING A GENERALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE BIASED IN FACE TO FACE SEALING CONTACT WITH SAID PIPE MEANS SEALING SURFACE, AND FOR FORMING A NORMALLY CLOSED PREDETERMINED PRESSURE OPENING VALVE AND FOR GUIDING THE DISCHARGE OF BULK MATERIAL GENERALLY RADIALLY BETWEEN SAID SEALING SURFACES WHEN OPEN.