Pneumatic discharge arrangement for hoppers

Claim 2

In a hopper construction having a bottom pan, a pneumatic discharge arrangement supported on said hopper including a first tube supported within said pan, a second tube rotatably mounted within said first tube having a discharge end and a material inlet opening, and means connected to said second tube to rotate said inlet opening to a plurality of circumferentially disposed openings relative to said first tube, comprising: a collar connected to said second tube to rotate therewith, said collar having an annular flange including an inner circumferential surface, overlying an end portion of said first tube; an L-shaped annular element having a first horizontal annular portion connected to the inner circumferential surface and a second vertical annular portion engaging the end portion of first tube in sealing and relative sliding relation during rotation of said collar; an annular plate connected around the peripheral surface of said first tube; a ring-shaped flexible element connected to said plate and engaged by said flange in relative sliding relation during rotation of said collar; and a closure cap releasably locked over the end of said second tube, said collar including a ring-shaped seal sealingly engaged by said closure cap in said locked position.

Claim 3

In a hopper construction having a bottom pan, a pneumatic discharge arrangement supported on said hopper including a first tube supported within said pan, a second tube rotatably mounted within said first tube forming a material discharge and having a discharge end and a material inlet opening and rotatable means connected to said second tube to provide for manual rotation, the improvement comprising: a closure member removably disposed over said discharge end; a locking arrangement including a bail having a central portion and opposedly spaced arms; pivot means on said first tube connecting said arms whereby said bail may be pivoted from an engaging locking position with respect to said closure member to an upright out-of-the-way position and said closure member may be removed; lock means connected to said central portion, and in one lock position of said bail locking said closure membEr over said discharge end; stop means on said bail engageable with said discharge tube for limiting downward hinging movement thereof from said lock position in which said spaced arms extend alongside said discharge tube; said bail being movable from said one lock position to a second out-of-the-way position wherein said arms extend upwardly above said discharge tube and said closure member may be removed from said discharge end; said manual rotating means including a pair of handle elements projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said second tube and in the locked position of said bail member being restrained thereby against rotation; and said first and second tubes defining valve means being moved between open and closed position upon relative rotation between the tubes, said bail in the lock position preventing rotation of said handle elements and thereby holding the valve means in the closed position.

Claim 4

In a hopper construction having a bottom pan, a pneumatic discharge arrangement supported on said hopper including a first tube supported within said pan, a second tube rotatably mounted within said first tube forming a material discharge and having a discharge end and a material inlet opening and rotatable means connected to said second tube to provide for manual rotation, the improvement comprising: a closure member removably disposed over said discharge end; a locking arrangement including a bail having a central portion and opposedly spaced arms; pivot means on said first tube connecting said arms whereby said bail may be pivoted from an engaging locking position with respect to said closure member to an upright out-of-the-way position and said closure member may be removed; lock means connected to said central portion, and in one lock position of said bail locking said closure membEr over said discharge end; stop means on said bail engageable with said discharge tube for limiting downward hinging movement thereof from said lock position in which said spaced arms extend alongside said discharge tube; said bail being movable from said one lock position to a second out-of-the-way position wherein said arms extend upwardly above said discharge tube and said closure member may be removed from said discharge end; said manual rotating means including a pair of handle elements projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said second tube and in the locked position of said bail member being restrained thereby against rotation; and said first and second tubes defining valve means being moved between open and closed position upon relative rotation between the tubes, said bail in the lock position preventing rotation of said handle elements and thereby holding the valve means in the closed position.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 2, and said stop means comprising an arcuate strap and in said one position of said bail resting on said tube adjacent said discharge end.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 2, and said pivot means including slot means in each of said arms, and pivot pins on said first tube disposed in said slot means.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 2, and said stop means in the upright position being supported on said first tube.