A hopper has a gate pivotable to open and close the lower opening of a hopper body, wherein opposing side parts more spaced apart than a width of the body are extending from the gate, and the opposing side parts of the gate are externally fitted pivotably to fulcrum shafts protruding from outer side surfaces of the hopper body. The hopper further includes regulating members interposed between the outer side surfaces of the body and the opposing side parts of the gate. The regulating members are configured to regulate movements of the gate in pivotal directions thereof and are detachably engaged with the fulcrum shafts circumferentially around the fulcrum shafts.

A self-closing lid that can be applied to a container and which provides a screen to prevent oversized debris from entering an inlet. The self-closing lid preferably includes a pair of flaps that rotate into an open position when material is being applied to the inlet and which rotate closedpreferably via a counterbalance, when material is no longer being applied to the inlet. The autonomous self-closing lid is preferably configured to not open in response to rainwater falling into the inlet and has shapes and/or features which direct the rainwater away from the inlet and outside of the lid.

An automatic bin lid opener system is an apparatus used for opening and closing the top hatch of a storage bin from a control box at ground level to allow the user to avoid climbing ladders to the top of the storage bin. The control box may be operated manually or may be programmed to operate automatically as preferred by the user. The programmable control box may also be operated remotely at great distances via a cell phone using a cell phone application.

A proppant discharge system includes a container having an outlet formed at a bottom thereof, a gate affixed at the outlet and positioned on the floor of the container so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, a support structure having the container positioned on the top surface thereof. The support structure has at least one actuator affixed thereto. The actuator is positioned so as to move the gate between the first position and the second position. The container has a cage affixed on the floor thereof in a position over the outlet. The gate is positioned within the cage and is movable by the actuator so as to open the gate so as to allow proppant to be discharged therefrom.

A lid for a tank which is stably supported at various angles when open includes a tank or box, the lid, and at least one supporting component. The interior of the box contains components which are immersed in coolant for example, the lid allowing access thereto. The lid is rotatably connected to the box and covers or exposes the interior. The one or more supporting components are connected to the lid and the box. The lengths of the supporting components which stably support the lid at certain angles can be changed, which makes it convenient and risk-free for an operator to access the interior under the open lid. An immersion cooling system is also disclosed.

A motorized lid assembly is provided on the roof opening of a grain bin. The assembly includes a ring attached to an upstanding collar of the roof opening, with a lid pivotally secured to the ring for movement between a closed position over the roof opening and an open position away from the roof opening. A motor is mounted to the ring and connected to the lid to pivot the lid between the open and closed positions. The motor is actuated remotely by a person on the ground. In the open position, the lid allows 360 access to the roof opening for discharging seed or grain into the bin.

A hopper gate opening/closing mechanism for use in a combination weigher (100) includes an actuator (31) for generating a driving force for opening and closing the hopper gate; and a cam mechanism (40A, 21) for opening and closing the hopper gate (14A) based on the driving force applied by the actuator (31); wherein the cam mechanism (40A, 21) inhibits the hopper gate (14A) from being opened in a position at which the hopper gate (14A) is closed.

A hopper gate opening/closing mechanism for use in a combination weigher (100) includes an actuator (31) for generating a driving force for opening and closing the hopper gate; and a cam mechanism (40A, 21) for opening and closing the hopper gate (14A) based on the driving force applied by the actuator (31); wherein the cam mechanism (40A, 21) inhibits the hopper gate (14A) from being opened in a position at which the hopper gate (14A) is closed.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly includes a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances. The retractable tank includes an upper frame structure. The tank assembly further includes an attachment mechanism attached to the upper frame structure and configured to engage a main rotor transmission of the helicopter to suspend therefrom. A helicopter including a fuselage, a main rotor transmission, and a tank assembly is also provided.

A doser apparatus includes a throttle device on a doser mechanism. The throttle device includes a vibratory hopper and a vibration device. The vibratory hopper is configured to hold a granular material within a vibratory hopper conduit that tapers towards a bottom opening and is configured to induce bridging of the granular material at the bottom opening. The vibration device is configured to break the bridging of the granular material at the bottom opening to induce flow of the granular material through the bottom opening to a doser reservoir of the doser mechanism, based on inducing vibration of the vibratory hopper. The throttle device is configured to control a head pressure of the granular material at a portion of a conveyor device of the doser mechanism extending into the doser reservoir based on operating the vibration device to adjustably control the flow of granular material through the bottom opening.