Pump unloading trailer container for powdered bulk material

Abstract

A trailer especially useful for transporting and unloading bulk powdered material that tends to clump or clod under slight compacting is disclosed, which trailer includes a generally enclosed compartment for holding the bulk material, an air vent at an upward part of the compartment, and has a bottom floor to the compartment equipped with means for injecting air under pressure, which air travels through the material and exits at the vent and serves to mobilize and fluidize the powdered material in the compartment and allows it to flow by gravity down the floor toward an exit wherein it is removed. The particular trailer disclosed is converted from a conventional rectilinear combination or box trailer by the addition of a double set of pipes in the floor, which pipes are supplied during unloading with air from outside the trailer while the trailer is tilted upward on its rear wheels to slant its floor toward the rear wherein an exit manifold is provided for pumping out the fluidized bulk material.