Hopper discharge unit with sliding gate

Abstract

A hopper discharge unit for attachment to the bottom of a hopper has upright side and sloping end walls all terminating in horizontally inwardly directed flanges defining between them a rectangular outlet opening, with the side walls extended rearwardly beyond the sloping rear end wall to form a support for a sliding gate, which is perforated along its sides to form racks engaged by pinions on a transverse operating shaft journaled in the side wall extensions above the gate. To provide a tight seal the flange on the rear end wall is spaced above the side wall flanges to overlie the gate and a second longitudinal flange co-planar with the rear end wall flange is similarly spaced above the side wall flanges to overlie and cover the rack perforations in the gate when the gate is closed. Lugs on the front wall force the forward edge of the plate downwardly into sealing engagement with the flange on the front end wall when the gate is closed and a transverse rib on the top of the gate is adapted for wedging engagement with the rear of the rear end wall when the gate is fully closed. A gravity-actuated hook-like latch is arranged to lock the gate automatically when in closed position. For initiating opening movements of the gate, radial projections on the operating shaft engage the forward surfaces of upstanding blocks on the rear edge of the gate when opening movement of the shaft commences.