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.

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 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.

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.

A bulk material shipping container including a pallet, a compartment configured to receive, hold, and release materials and connected to and supported by the pallet, a material unloading assembly positioned under a bottom portion of the compartment, configured to facilitate the release or unloading of materials from the compartment, and connected to and supported by the pallet, and a material loading assembly configured to facilitate the loading of material into the compartment and connected to and partially supported by a top wall assembly of the compartment.

A replaceable liner is for use with a storage tank hatch having a rim adapted to engage with a gasket within a cover and a neck extending vertically downward from the rim to define an aperture that provides access to an inside of the storage tank. The replaceable liner has a body having a rim-facing surface having a vertical cross sectional shape that conforms to a vertical cross sectional shape of the rim and a horizontal cross sectional shape that conforms to a perimeter of the rim, and a gasket facing surface opposite the rim facing surface. Sealant is provided along the rim facing surface of the body, the rim facing surface of the body adapted to engage the rim in a vapor-tight seal, and the gasket facing surface adapted to engage the gasket in a vapor-tight seal.

A replaceable liner is for use with a storage tank hatch having a rim adapted to engage with a gasket within a cover and a neck extending vertically downward from the rim to define an aperture that provides access to an inside of the storage tank. The replaceable liner has a body having a rim-facing surface having a vertical cross sectional shape that conforms to a vertical cross sectional shape of the rim and a horizontal cross sectional shape that conforms to a perimeter of the rim, and a gasket facing surface opposite the rim facing surface. Sealant is provided along the rim facing surface of the body, the rim facing surface of the body adapted to engage the rim in a vapor-tight seal, and the gasket facing surface adapted to engage the gasket in a vapor-tight seal.