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US3929261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Aeration device and method for assisting discharge of material from containers
Assignee: ACF Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-04
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-02-04
Abstract
Abstract An aeration device and method for assisting discharge of material from containers, comprising a cone shaped support adapted to be affixed to a wall of a container and to extend into the interior of the container, said device having an air inlet at one end thereof adapted to be connected to a source of air exteriorly of the container and an air outlet at the other end thereof interiorly of the container, a flexible, cone shaped flap shaped complementary to the support and secured thereon in close fitting relationship therewith closing said air outlet interiorly of the container, and having an open, large diameter end adjacent the container wall free of attachment to said support for flexing movement thereof toward and away from the support to close and open said air outlet, whereby flow of air through said support and outwardly through said outlet induces flexation of said large diameter end of said flap away from said support and flow of air toward the container wall and into material stored in the container to aerate the material, said flap being caused to flutter or vibrate by air flowing therepast to prevent bridging of the material in the container and to insure substantially complete removal of the material from the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith F Solimar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/54; B65D88/64; B65D88/70; B65D88/706; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/04; B65G53/16; B65G53/18; B65G53/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
An aeration device for assisting discharge of material from containers, comprising a cone shaped support means having a small diameter end and a large diameter end and adapted to be affixed to a wall of a container with the large end thereof adjacent the interior of the container wall and the small diameter end extending into the interior of the container, said support means having an air inlet adjacent the large diameter end thereof adapted to be connected to a source of air exteriorly of the container, and an air outlet interiorly of the container, a flexible, cone shaped flap correspondingly shaped to the support and having a small diameter end fixed on the small diameter end of the support means and extending in close fitting relationship to the support means and closing said air outlet, the large diameter end of the flap disposed adjacent the container wall when the device is in operative position and said large diameter end of the flap being free of attachment to said support means for flexing movement thereof toward and away from the support means to close and open said air outlet, whereby when said device is used, flow of air through said support means and outwardly through said outlet induces flexation of said large diameter end of said flap away from said support means and flow of air outwardly relative to the axis of the support and toward the container wall and into material stored in the container to aerate the material, the flexibility of said flap being such that it is caused to flutter or vibrate by air flowing therepast to agitate material in the container and prevent bridging of the material in the container and to insure substantially complete removal of the material from the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
An aeration device for assisting discharge of material from containers, comprising a cone shaped support means having a small diameter end and a large diameter end and adapted to be affixed to a wall of a container with the large end thereof adjacent the interior of the container wall and the small diameter end extending into the interior of the container, said support means having an air inlet adjacent the large diameter end thereof adapted to be connected to a source of air exteriorly of the container, and an air outlet interiorly of the container, a flexible, cone shaped flap correspondingly shaped to the support and having a small diameter end fixed on the small diameter end of the support means and extending in close fitting relationship to the support means and closing said air outlet, the large diameter end of the flap disposed adjacent the container wall when the device is in operative position and said large diameter end of the flap being free of attachment to said support means for flexing movement thereof toward and away from the support means to close and open said air outlet, whereby when said device is used, flow of air through said support means and outwardly through said outlet induces flexation of said large diameter end of said flap away from said support means and flow of air outwardly relative to the axis of the support and toward the container wall and into material stored in the container to aerate the material, the flexibility of said flap being such that it is caused to flutter or vibrate by air flowing therepast to agitate material in the container and prevent bridging of the material in the container and to insure substantially complete removal of the material from the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
An aeration device as in claim 1, wherein said aeration device is mounted in a bottom of a container, and said support means comprises a hollow, substantially arrow shaped body having a generally conically shaped portion with an inner end projecting into the interior of the container and a diametrically enlarged base end engaged with an inner surface portion of the bottom of the container, an axially projecting extension on the base end and extended through an opening in the bottom of the container to exteriorly of the container, and fastening means on the outside of the container engaged with the support means to securely maintain the support means against the inner surface of the bottom of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An aeration device as in claim 2, wherein a radially enlarged annular flange is on the inner end of the body and said flexible flap has a small diameter end resiliently engaged behind The flange on the body to retain the flap in position on the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
An aeration device as in claim 2, wherein said fastening means includes a cup shaped housing engaged against the outer surface of the bottom of the container and in surrounding relation to the extension on the body, an inlet fitting on the cup shaped member for attachment thereto of a suitable source of air under pressure, and a threaded fastener extended through an opening in the cup shaped member into threaded engagement with the extension of the body to draw the extension and cup shaped member toward one another on opposite sides of the bottom of the container to securely position the aeration device in the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An aeration device as in claim 2, wherein a plurality of said aeration devices are mounted in the bottom of the container in equally spaced relationship to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
An aeration device as in claim 2, wherein said body has a short cylindrical extension at the inner end thereof with a radially outward extending annular flange on the end of the extension, said flexible flap having a small diameter end with a short cylindrical portion disposed in snug fitting surrounding relation to the cylindrical portion of the body and resiliently engaged behind said flange to maintain said flap in position on said body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |