A storage tank includes a floor, a roof, a sidewall extending between the floor and the roof, an access hatch provided on the roof and having a base, a lid pivotably coupled to the base, and a latch configured to secure the lid to the base in a closed position, and a system for remotely opening and closing the access hatch. The system includes an elongate arm having a proximal end operatively coupled to the lid, a pull cable attached to a distal end of the elongate arm and extending toward a ground adjacent the storage tank, and a latching cable attached to the latch and extending toward the ground adjacent the storage tank, wherein pulling on the latching cable when the lid is in the closed position actuates the latch to secure the lid to the base in the closed position.

There is provided a door release mechanism for use with a container having at least one door moveable between a closed position and an open position. There is also provided a container system for holding and dispensing a material. The container system comprises a container body for holding material, the container body comprising at least one opening. The container system comprises at least one door moveable between a closed position in which the at least one door occludes the at least one opening, and an open position. The container system comprises the door release mechanism, which is coupled to the container body. The door release mechanism comprises at least one sliding member being moveable between a first position and a second position, in which the sliding member can be retained, and door connecting member connecting the sliding member to the moveable door.

A vacuum system for use in excavation operations. The system uses a tank having an open end that is closed by a door. The door is opened and closed by a door lifting assembly made up of an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm and a hydraulic cylinder. A socket is formed in the upper linkage arm, and a shaft housing is formed in the lower linkage arm. The shaft housing engages with the socket to latch the door closed. The upper linkage arm is attached to the door at a first pivot axis and is attached to the lower linkage arm at a second pivot axis. The lower linkage arm is attached to a side of the tank at a third pivot axis. When the door is open, the second pivot axis extends below a reference plane that contains the first and third pivot axis.

An apparatus for sealing a vacuum tank door. The apparatus comprises a circular flange attached to a door panel of a vacuum tank, a horizontal crossbar connected to the center of the door panel and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly comprises an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm, and a hydraulic cylinder. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder causes the linkage assembly to move downwards pulling on the horizontal crossbar and pulling the vacuum tank door towards the tank. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder also causes a connection point of the lower linkage arm and the upper linkage arm to move over-center of the connection between the lower linkage arm to the to the tank creating a tight seal between the vacuum tank door and the tank.

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.

A directional hopper tee has a fluted interior vertical pipe that merges into a horizontal pipe. The horizontal pipe has an inlet that may receive bulk material, and subject to pressurized air that conveys the bulk material through the hopper tee. Bulk material may be discharged from a hopper through the vertical pipe, for conveyance for discharge from the horizontal pipe of the tee. A closure gate or door is provided through the bottom of the tee, generally in alignment with the vertical pipe, to allow for discharge or dropping of the granular material directly downwardly through and from the tee. The arcuate door is hinged on one side, and is locked by a cam lock on the opposite side, when located into closure against the bottom of the tee, but can be forced opened, through its cam mechanism, to provide for opening of the arcuate door and allow a direct downward discharge of the granular bulk material, from any hopper, and through the drop opening of the tee, as required.

A cover (1) for manholes or traps is described, equipped with a mechanism for lifting and horizontally translating the cover (1), the mechanism being actuated through actuating means (10, 11, 12), and being adapted to automatically lift and afterwards horizontally translate or rotate the cover (1) to which it is operatively connected in order to completely open the manhole or trap.

A cover (1) for manholes or traps is described, equipped with a mechanism for lifting and horizontally translating the cover (1), the mechanism being actuated through actuating means (10, 11, 12), and being adapted to automatically lift and afterwards horizontally translate or rotate the cover (1) to which it is operatively connected in order to completely open the manhole or trap.

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for managing dry bulk material efficiently at a well site or other location are provided. Present embodiments are directed to a rotary clamshell gate actuation system and method, where the gate is separate from the one or more actuators used to open/close the gate. The disclosed system may include a portable bulk material container with a clamshell gate for easily dispensing material from the container. The system also includes a support structure equipped with one or more rotary actuators used to actuate the clamshell gate of the container between a closed and open position when the container is positioned on the support structure. The disclosed clamshell gate actuation system is easy to operate, low cost to manufacture, and reliable even when the portable container is not precisely aligned on the support structure.

A container (10) comprises a base (41), side panels (40) and a cover (30). The side panels (40) are connected to the base (41). The cover (30) is locked onto the tops of the side panels (40) through a locking device. The locking device comprises automatic locks (50) and manual locks (60). The automatic locks (50) are arranged on two opposite sides of the cover (30), and the manual locks (60) are arranged on the other two sides of the cover. The automatic locks (50) and the manual locks (60) are both adopted on the cover (30) and used in cooperation with a tilting-pre-vention device, thus the container (10) has the tilting-pre-vention effect, the stacking and supporting effect, and the locking and unlocking guiding and return guiding effect. The locking strength is increased, and the convenience in locking operation and unlocking operation is improved.