The disclosure relates to a method for metering bulk material by means of a metering device which has a conveyor container for bulk material to be metered and an elongated conveyor, which extends through the conveyor container, for the bulk material, which the conveyor transports out of the conveyor container to a dispensing line, wherein the bulk material located in the conveyor container is stirred by a stirring mechanism during the metering process and thus continuously forming bridges of bulk material are again removed, wherein the area at least lateral to the conveyor in the conveyor container is stirred, or the active area of the stirring mechanism of a metering device covers an area in the conveyor container lateral to the conveyor.

A charging port 5 in an upper part is covered in an openable and closeable manner with a lid body 6 of a sliding door type (sliding type) that reciprocates horizontally. The lid body 6 reciprocates in conjunction with a movement of an operation member 50 provided in a side part of a container vessel 3 or at a location close to the side part. It is preferable that the charging port 5 includes an opening that is long along a length direction of the container vessel 3, and the lid body 6 reciprocates horizontally in a width direction of the container vessel 3 to open and close the charging port 5.

In one embodiment, a system for an aerial application aircraft includes a hopper cover, an electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover, a latch sequencing mechanism, a spring, and a dual latch mechanism. The latch sequencing mechanism includes a latch rod coupled to the electric actuator that moves the latch rod between a latched position and an unlatched position. The spring is coupled to the latch sequencing mechanism and the latch rod, and the spring exerts linear mechanical force based on the latch rod being in the latched or unlatched position. The dual latch mechanism is coupled to the latch rod and includes a first latch pin that engages a first latch box and a second latch pin that engages a second latch box opposite the first latch box.

In one embodiment, a system for an aerial application aircraft includes a hopper cover, an electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover, a latch sequencing mechanism, a spring, and a dual latch mechanism. The latch sequencing mechanism includes a latch rod coupled to the electric actuator that moves the latch rod between a latched position and an unlatched position. The spring is coupled to the latch sequencing mechanism and the latch rod, and the spring exerts linear mechanical force based on the latch rod being in the latched or unlatched position. The dual latch mechanism is coupled to the latch rod and includes a first latch pin that engages a first latch box and a second latch pin that engages a second latch box opposite the first latch box.

In one embodiment, a system for an aerial application aircraft includes a hopper and advanced control system. The hopper includes a hopper cover to retain the application materials within the hopper, an electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover that is operable to open and close the hopper cover, an auger operable to rotate and disperse the application materials within the hopper, and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the auger and operable to automatically rotate the auger upon actuation in a direction. The advanced control system includes a safety indicator and is communicatively coupled to the hopper and operable to control the electric actuator and the hydraulic actuator from a cockpit of the aerial application aircraft. When actuated, the advanced control system causes the electric actuator to engage the hopper cover and causes the hydraulic actuator to engage the auger.

In one embodiment, a system for an aerial application aircraft includes a hopper and advanced control system. The hopper includes a hopper cover to retain the application materials within the hopper, an electric actuator coupled to the hopper cover that is operable to open and close the hopper cover, an auger operable to rotate and disperse the application materials within the hopper, and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the auger and operable to automatically rotate the auger upon actuation in a direction. The advanced control system includes a safety indicator and is communicatively coupled to the hopper and operable to control the electric actuator and the hydraulic actuator from a cockpit of the aerial application aircraft. When actuated, the advanced control system causes the electric actuator to engage the hopper cover and causes the hydraulic actuator to engage the auger.

A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor obtains a first measurement of an angle of slope of a portion of piled granular material in a bulk store. In response to the first measurement satisfying a first condition, the robot traverses the portion of piled granular material to incite sediment gravity flow in the portion of piled granular material by disruption of viscosity of the portion of piled granular material through agitation of the portion of piled granular material by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system. The processor obtains a second measurement of the angle of slope of the portion of piled granular material. In response to the second measurement satisfying a second condition, the robot ceases traversal of the portion of piled granular material.

A robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory and configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor obtains a first measurement of an angle of slope of a portion of piled granular material in a bulk store. In response to the first measurement satisfying a first condition, the robot traverses the portion of piled granular material to incite sediment gravity flow in the portion of piled granular material by disruption of viscosity of the portion of piled granular material through agitation of the portion of piled granular material by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system. The processor obtains a second measurement of the angle of slope of the portion of piled granular material. In response to the second measurement satisfying a second condition, the robot ceases traversal of the portion of piled granular material.