The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 1978
Filed:
May. 04, 1977
Richard H Dugge, St. Louis, MO (US);
Ronald D Van Dyke, Florissant, MO (US);
ACF Industries, Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A pneumatic outlet for a hopper is disclosed having a tubular conduit extending from at least one end of the outlet to which suction or air under pressure may be applied for unloading the outlet. The tubular conduit is rotatably mounted and is connected to an internal valve member whereby rotation of the tubular conduit actuates the valve member to control the flow of lading from the outlet. The tubular conduit has a cylindrical outer surface, and a hub having at least one handle extending therefrom is rotatably and axially slidable on the cylindrical surface. Clutch teeth are provided on the tubular conduit and on the hub member which interengage in one axial position of the hub and are disengaged in another axial position of the hub whereby when the teeth are engaged, the tubular conduit is connected to said hub and is rotated when said hub member is rotated by the handle, and when said teeth are disengaged, the hub is free to rotate without rotating the tubular conduit whereby the handle and hub may be re-positioned. A removable end cap in closed position covers one or more annular discharge connections provided on the tubular conduit, and locking members on the cap engage keepers on the outlet end wall to maintain the cap in the closed and locked position. An indexing arrangement is disclosed in which the cap can only assume the closed and locked position when the hub and handle are in proper position to rotate the valve. If the hub and handle are in proper position to rotate the valve, a protrusion on the cap engages a slot in the hub when the cap is applied over the discharge connections of the tubular conduit.