In an example implementation, a build material hopper for a 3D printing system includes a container housing, a top for receiving build material, and a bottom. The build material hopper also includes a fluidizing drain assembled in the bottom of the container housing to aerate build material within the drain to facilitate passing build material through the drain.

Bins for storing and/or dispensing a material, such as preferably a flowable material. In some embodiments, the bin may comprise a body comprising an inner storage chamber configured to receive and store a flowable material therein. A forklift base may be coupled to the body and may comprise one or more pairs of forklift slots configured to receive forks of a forklift to allow the storage bin to be lifted and transported. A dispensing gate may be slidably positioned adjacent to a dispensing opening in the body to allow for positioning between a closed configuration in which the flowable material is blocked from being dispensed from the inner storage chamber and an open configuration in which the dispensing gate is moved away from the dispensing opening to allow the flowable material to exit the inner storage chamber.

Bins for storing and/or dispensing a material, such as preferably a flowable material. In some embodiments, the bin may comprise a body comprising an inner storage chamber configured to receive and store a flowable material therein. A forklift base may be coupled to the body and may comprise one or more pairs of forklift slots configured to receive forks of a forklift to allow the storage bin to be lifted and transported. A dispensing gate may be slidably positioned adjacent to a dispensing opening in the body to allow for positioning between a closed configuration in which the flowable material is blocked from being dispensed from the inner storage chamber and an open configuration in which the dispensing gate is moved away from the dispensing opening to allow the flowable material to exit the inner storage chamber.

Provided is a pressurizing system which includes: a pressurizing nozzle configured to supply a pressurizing gas into a hopper (3) where pulverized coal is accumulated; a filter configured to face a space in the hopper (3) where the pulverized coal is accumulated, and to allow the pressurizing gas to pass through the filter, the filter being provided at an end of the pressurizing nozzle; buffer tanks (5a), (5b) in which a pressurizing gas to be supplied to the hopper (3) is collected at a first predetermined pressure; and a pressure control means configured to start, at a time of starting pressurization of the hopper (3), supply of a pressurizing gas at a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure of the pressurizing gas collected in the buffer tanks (5a), (5b).

Provided is a pressurizing system which includes: a pressurizing nozzle configured to supply a pressurizing gas into a hopper (3) where pulverized coal is accumulated; a filter configured to face a space in the hopper (3) where the pulverized coal is accumulated, and to allow the pressurizing gas to pass through the filter, the filter being provided at an end of the pressurizing nozzle; buffer tanks (5a), (5b) in which a pressurizing gas to be supplied to the hopper (3) is collected at a first predetermined pressure; and a pressure control means configured to start, at a time of starting pressurization of the hopper (3), supply of a pressurizing gas at a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure of the pressurizing gas collected in the buffer tanks (5a), (5b).

A talc applicator is provided for use with agricultural equipment such as grain carts and seed tenders. The talc applicator includes a supply hopper with a trough, a discharge, a feed auger extending through the trough and discharge, and an agitator assembly positioned in the supply hopper immediately above the feed auger and trough. The agitator assembly includes a drive gear driven by the drive element of the feed auger and an elongated agitator element including at least two elongate bars and a plurality of angled crossbars connecting the two elongate bars. The agitator element rotates to assist with flow of talc into the trough so that the feed auger can move the talc to the other agricultural equipment. The talc applicator may also be provided with a hydraulic motor and a flexible flighting in the feed auger.

A talc applicator is provided for use with agricultural equipment such as grain carts and seed tenders. The talc applicator includes a supply hopper with a trough, a discharge, a feed auger extending through the trough and discharge, and an agitator assembly positioned in the supply hopper immediately above the feed auger and trough. The agitator assembly includes a drive gear driven by the drive element of the feed auger and an elongated agitator element including at least two elongate bars and a plurality of angled crossbars connecting the two elongate bars. The agitator element rotates to assist with flow of talc into the trough so that the feed auger can move the talc to the other agricultural equipment. The talc applicator may also be provided with a hydraulic motor and a flexible flighting in the feed auger.

A container assembly comprises a container and a base and is configured to be transported horizontally to a work site where it is raised to a vertical working orientation. A hoppered container floor directs material to a discharge opening in a center of the floor of the container. A plurality of chutes is fixed to the container assembly and each slopes downward and outward from a chute input, located under a central portion of the hoppered floor, to a corresponding chute output. A distributor assembly mounted under the discharge opening receives granular material from the discharge opening and directs same into any one of the chute inputs. When loaded on a gooseneck trailer the container extends over the hitch assembly providing increased volume and capacity.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container is a ten foot ISO container.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container is a ten foot ISO container.