Adjustable aperture apparatus that retains dust from bulk material directed through the apparatus

Abstract

An adjustable aperture apparatus on a bulk material transfer chute that transfers a flow of bulk material from a discharge conveyor to a separate receiving conveyor is automatically closed when no bulk material is being transferred by the transfer chute from the discharge conveyor to the receiving conveyor. With the apparatus being closed, any residual dust from the bulk material remaining on the discharge conveyor is collected on the closed apparatus and primarily contained in the bulk material transfer chute. When bulk material is again conveyed on the discharge conveyor to the bulk material transfer chute, the conveyed bulk material is deposited on the closed aperture apparatus and the weight of the material causes the apparatus to automatically move to an opened condition, allowing the transfer of the collected dust with the bulk material supplied to the bulk material transfer chute to the receiving conveyor. The apparatus improves environmental conditions over the current art, improves health and safety conditions of personnel over the current art, and improves operational safety conditions in respect to explosion risk over the current art.