Paddle switch for automatic gate closure on hoppers

Claim 2

In a gravity operated hopper having downwardly converging walls forming a bottom discharge opening and a lower extension directly below said bottom discharge opening the combination with said gravity operated hopper of: a. a sensing device extending within said lower extension substantially balanced pivotally about a generally horizontal axis; b. closure means for said bottom discharge opening above said lower extension; c. said sensing device arranged to be pivoted by material discharged through said bottom opening and to return to a substantially balanced position when said hopper is empty; and d. switch means operable by said sensing devicE for closing said closure means when said sensing device is in the substantially balanced position.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 in which: a. the generally horizontal axis of said sensing device is located outside the flow path of material discharged through said bottom opening; and b. said sensing device in the substantially balanced position forms an inverted V having a paddle portion downwardly extending in the flow path of material discharged through said bottom opening and an arm portion downwardly extending outside the flow path of material discharged through said bottom opening.

Claim 4

A gravity operated conical hopper comprising: a. downwardly converging hopper walls; b. a bottom discharge opening formed by said hopper walls; c. a sliding plate closure means for closing said bottom discharge opening; d. a cylindrical lower extension on said hopper directly below said bottom discharge opening, said lower extension forming an opening the same size as said bottom discharge opening; e. a sensing device pivotally mounted on a wall of said lower extension, said sensing device including: i. a horizontal pivot axis; ii. a rotatable bushing telescoped over said pivot axis; iii. a paddle portion connected at one end to said bushing, said paddle extending downwardly into the flow path of material discharged through said bottom discharge opening and conforming to the inside wall of said lower extension when said paddle is pivoted; iv. an arm portion connected on one end to said bushing and extending downwardly outside the flow path of material discharged through said bottom discharge opening; v. an upwardly extending push rod pivotably fastened at one end to said arm portion; said sensing device substantially balanced about said pivot axis; and f. switch means on said hopper slidably fastened to said push rod and activated by said sensing device.

Claim 5

A gravity operated conical hopper comprising: a. downwardly converging hopper walls; b. a bottom discharge opening formed by said hopper walls; c. a sliding plate closure means for closing said bottom discharge opening; d. a cylindrical lower extension on said hopper directly below said bottom discharge opening, said lower extension forming an opening the same size as said bottom discharge opening; e. a sensing device pivotally mounted on a wall of said lower extension, said sensing device including: i. a horizontal pivot axis; ii. a rotatable bushing telescoped over said pivot axis; iii. a paddle portion connected at one end to said bushing, said paddle extending downwardly into the flow path of material discharged through said bottom discharge opening and conforming to the inside wall of said lower extension when said paddle is pivoted; iv. an arm portion connected on one end to said bushing and extending downwardly outside the flow path of material discharged through said bottom discharge opening; v. an upwardly extending push rod pivotably fastened at one end to said arm portion; said sensing device substantially balanced about said pivot axis; and f. switch means on said hopper slidably fastened to said push rod and activated by said sensing device.

Claim 6

In a gravity operated hopper having a bottom discharge opening the combination with said gravity operated hopper of: a. closure means for closing said bottom discharge opening; b. an extension below said closure means; c. a sensing device on said extension below said closure means, said sensing device substantially balanced pivotally about a generally horizontal axis and arranged to be pivoted by material discharged through said bottom discharge opening and to return to a substantially balanced position when said hopper is empty; and d. switch means operable by said sensing device for closing means when said sensing device is in the substantially balanced position.

Claim 7

In a gravity operated hopper having a bottom discharge opening the combination with said gravity operated hopper of: a. closure means for closing said bottom discharge opening; b. an extension below said closure means; c. a sensing device on said extension below said closure means, said sensing device substantially balanced pivotally about a generally horizontal axis and arranged to be pivoted by material discharged through said bottom discharge opening and to return to a substantially balanced position when said hopper is empty; and d. switch means operable by said sensing device for closing means when said sensing device is in the substantially balanced position.