Material handling device

Claim 1

A material handling device for receiving a bulk delivery of granular or lumpy material from a tipper delivery vehicle and for transferring said material to a reception hopper of pneumatic material conveying apparatus, the device comprising a container in the form of an open-topped trough a base substantially at ground level and having a first open end through which said tipper vehicle may be backed to unload its entire bulk delivery along the length of the container during subsequent forward movement of the vehicle, and a second, substantially funnel-shaped end, opposite said first end, having an apical opening, and a pivotally mounted closure member over said apical opening, the container being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis located a short distance beyond said second end; means connected to the device for moving said container pivotally about said axis between a first position for the reception of said tipper vehicle and its bulk delivery and a second, raised position in which the opening of said apical opening lies just above said reception hopper of the pneumatic conveying means, the pneumatic conveying means being located at least partially below ground level, the device further including means for causing said closure member to open during the latter stage of movement of the container from the first to the second position, the closure member being arranged to return to its original position under the influence of gravity when the container moves from the second to the first position.