A flange assembly comprises an annular mounting ring and a gate. The annular mounting ring is configured to be welded to the equipment and to connect an air cannon thereto. The mounting ring comprises threaded bolt holes and a slot and encircles a fluid passageway. The gate comprises a blocking portion that is frangibly connected to a flange portion. The gate is at least partially insertable through the slot such that the blocking portion is able to at least partially prevent fluid flow through the fluid passageway. The flange portion is configured to be securely attached to the annular mounting ring after the blocking portion of the gate has been frangibly disconnected from the flange portion.

The present invention is a new method to efficiently reclaim cement from a horizontal warehouse. This new reclaiming method combines a mechanical cement reclaiming machine, together with a reduced amount of open air slides. Material is fluidized through a porous media with low pressure air. Material flow is achieved by sloping the Air slide conveyor to match the fluidized angle of repose of the powdered material. Further, the present invention introduces a conveying system, comprising a cascade of open and enclosed air slides and elevator machines, to convey the cement from the reclaiming area to a dispatch hopper. The introduction of these components, together with cement stacking and dispatch systems, is a Fully Automated Cement Horizontal Storage system and method.

The present invention is a new method to efficiently reclaim cement from a horizontal warehouse. This new reclaiming method combines a mechanical cement reclaiming machine, together with a reduced amount of open air slides. Material is fluidized through a porous media with low pressure air. Material flow is achieved by sloping the Air slide conveyor to match the fluidized angle of repose of the powdered material. Further, the present invention introduces a conveying system, comprising a cascade of open and enclosed air slides and elevator machines, to convey the cement from the reclaiming area to a dispatch hopper. The introduction of these components, together with cement stacking and dispatch systems, is a Fully Automated Cement Horizontal Storage system and method.

Methods including placing particles that are substantially dry in a hopper; conveying the particles from the hopper via a conveyance to an open-air gap; adding a fluid to the particles in the hopper, the particles in the conveyance, or both, thereby reducing an amount of a dust produced at the open-air gap. The particles may be sand, silica, gravel, bauxite, ceramic materials, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, composite particulates, and combinations thereof.

Methods including placing particles that are substantially dry in a hopper; conveying the particles from the hopper via a conveyance to an open-air gap; adding a fluid to the particles in the hopper, the particles in the conveyance, or both, thereby reducing an amount of a dust produced at the open-air gap. The particles may be sand, silica, gravel, bauxite, ceramic materials, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, composite particulates, and combinations thereof.

A bag configured to contain and transport bulk material includes at least one through-hole positioned at an upper portion of the bag to facilitate ingress/egress of a hoist-member of a hoisting machine. Other embodiments include a spout located at a bottom-side portion of the bag or at a base of the bag, and inserts placed at a base of the bag to form a desired contour to generate a gradient by which the material may flow. The inserts may be temporarily placed at the base or permanently affixed thereto. Further embodiments may include a contoured base without the use of inserts to generate the gradient. Methods of use include stacking and handling the bags without requiring an operator in addition to the one operating the hoisting machine or requiring the hoist machine operator to interrupt operation of the hoist machine to rig the bag to the hoist machine.

A bag configured to contain and transport bulk material includes at least one through-hole positioned at an upper portion of the bag to facilitate ingress/egress of a hoist-member of a hoisting machine. Other embodiments include a spout located at a bottom-side portion of the bag or at a base of the bag, and inserts placed at a base of the bag to form a desired contour to generate a gradient by which the material may flow. The inserts may be temporarily placed at the base or permanently affixed thereto. Further embodiments may include a contoured base without the use of inserts to generate the gradient. Methods of use include stacking and handling the bags without requiring an operator in addition to the one operating the hoisting machine or requiring the hoist machine operator to interrupt operation of the hoist machine to rig the bag to the hoist machine.