A liner floor for use in a container liner is provided. The liner floor includes a floor portion arranged between a distal end and a proximal portion and the floor portion is configured for being arranged on a floor of the container. The floor portion includes a plurality of stacks of folded sections. The stacks are folded such that a top fold of one stack is connected to a bottom fold of a proximal neighbouring stack. A weight of the folded sections varies along the floor portion with each of the folded sections having at least the same weight as a proximal neighbouring folded section. Also provided are methods for unloading cargo from a container including a liner, and methods and apparatuses for loading cargo into a container.

Disclosed is a valve for use in particulate material processing. The valve has a rotatable closure member having a convex sealing surface and a resilient sealing ring moveable between a first configuration in which the sealing ring forms a seal around a circumference of the convex sealing surface; and a second position in which a circumferential gap is defined between the convex sealing surface and the sealing ring. The valve body defines a fluid-directing surface extending around the fluid passage between the inlet and the sealing ring to define an annular clearance which tapers towards the sealing ring and becomes narrower than the annular gap. When there is a pressure drop across the valve and before the closure member is moved to fully open the valve, material flowing through the valve experiences a dynamic pressure rise towards the circumferential gap, decreasing flow velocity and wear.

Disclosed is a valve for use in particulate material processing. The valve has a rotatable closure member having a convex sealing surface and a resilient sealing ring moveable between a first configuration in which the sealing ring forms a seal around a circumference of the convex sealing surface; and a second position in which a circumferential gap is defined between the convex sealing surface and the sealing ring. The valve body defines a fluid-directing surface extending around the fluid passage between the inlet and the sealing ring to define an annular clearance which tapers towards the sealing ring and becomes narrower than the annular gap. When there is a pressure drop across the valve and before the closure member is moved to fully open the valve, material flowing through the valve experiences a dynamic pressure rise towards the circumferential gap, decreasing flow velocity and wear.

Described is a powder dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder, comprising: a dispensing chamber for dispensing a predetermined volume of powder to a receptacle; an inlet valve movable between a closed state and an open state to control ingress of powder into the dispensing chamber from a powder source; an outlet valve movable between a closed state and an open state to control egress of powder from the dispensing chamber to a receptacle. The inlet valve and outlet valve are individually actuated between the closed state and open state by a common removable handle. The inlet valve and outlet valve each comprise an interlock for receiving and engaging the handle. The interlock is configured to receive and release the handle when the respective valve is in the closed state and engage the handle so as to prevent removal of the handle when the respective valve is in the open state.

Granular material flows out through the discharge opening of a silo and through a sealed housing to a target location. A vent opening in a top portion of the silo has a vent cover operative to selectively open and close the vent opening. When the vent cover is closed, air movement into an upper portion of the silo is prevented. A gate is operative to control a flow of granular material through the discharge opening. A vacuum conduit has a lower input end thereof connected to an interior of the housing, and an upper output end thereof located in an upper portion of an interior of the silo. Material flowing out of the silo creates a vacuum drawing dust from the housing up the vacuum conduit into the silo.

Granular material flows out through the discharge opening of a silo and through a sealed housing to a target location. A vent opening in a top portion of the silo has a vent cover operative to selectively open and close the vent opening. When the vent cover is closed, air movement into an upper portion of the silo is prevented. A gate is operative to control a flow of granular material through the discharge opening. A vacuum conduit has a lower input end thereof connected to an interior of the housing, and an upper output end thereof located in an upper portion of an interior of the silo. Material flowing out of the silo creates a vacuum drawing dust from the housing up the vacuum conduit into the silo.

A transportable container apparatus includes an elongate container having a central axis and a base attached to a bottom end of the container. The container and base are substantially symmetrical about the central axis and the container is oriented substantially vertically with the base resting on a ground surface when in a working position. The container having an upper container section with upper walls substantially parallel to the central axis and a lower container section with lower walls substantially parallel to the central axis. The upper container section includes a sloping hopper at a bottom thereof to direct granular material into the lower container section. A floor of the container is sloped toward an outlet port defined in a ported wall of the lower container section such that granular material stored in the container slides down the floor to the outlet port.

A safety latch for a mud skip container includes a first latch that is pivotal within a bracket that is mounted to a top of the container. The first latch may include a pivoting head with a downwardly projecting catch and an arm connected to the head. The arm extends through an aperture in the bracket and a spring is disposed about the arm between the head and an end wall of the bracket. The safety latch further includes a second latch mounted to a pivoting lid of the container; and, the second latch includes an upwardly projecting catch on a head of the latch. The head of the second latch is positioned over a pivot axis of the lid and positioned relative to the first latch such that the catches of respective first and second latches engage one another when the lid is opened.

A safety latch for a mud skip container includes a first latch that is pivotal within a bracket that is mounted to a top of the container. The first latch may include a pivoting head with a downwardly projecting catch and an arm connected to the head. The arm extends through an aperture in the bracket and a spring is disposed about the arm between the head and an end wall of the bracket. The safety latch further includes a second latch mounted to a pivoting lid of the container; and, the second latch includes an upwardly projecting catch on a head of the latch. The head of the second latch is positioned over a pivot axis of the lid and positioned relative to the first latch such that the catches of respective first and second latches engage one another when the lid is opened.

A bulk material shipping container unloader having an expandable supporter, a pallet receiver supported by the extendable supporter, and a material director supported by the pallet receiver.