Diverting and sampling gate

Claim 1

A diverting gate for diverting the vertically downward flow of particulate material comprising, in combination, substantially upright chute means having at least one wall in which is formed an opening, gate means inclined from the horizontal at an angle greater than the angle of repose of the material flowing through the upright chute and positioned to extend slidably from an inoperative position in which said gate means is outside said chute and spans none of the cross-sectional area of the upright chute means to an operative position in which said gate means is within said chute and spans the entire cross-sectional area of the upright chute means and thereby serves to divert the flow of particulate material from a vertically downward direction to a direction along the gate means and to said opening, said gate means having at least one upstanding wall mounted on a lower end thereof across the flow of material to stop the flow along the gate means, said gate means having a wall mounted on an upper end thereof and which, in co-operation with said one upstanding wall, forms a sample pocket for diverted material, a substantially air tight seal on said wall on the upper end of said gate means and disposed within the upright chute, said seal registering with the opening to minimize the loss of material from the chute when the gate means is in said inoperative position, second chute means in communication with said opening when said gate means is in the operative position and receiving diverted material, and actuating means for extending the gate means across the upright chute means to the operative position in order to divert the entire flow of material from the upright chute means to the second chute means.