A material flow assist mechanism for a feed hopper using a vertically aligned rotating auger includes a frame, the frame having a pair of spaced apart first and second telescoping arms attached to frame, and a connector to link a shaft of a motor to the auger for auger and material flow assist mechanism rotation. Each of first and second telescoping arms have an elongated member mounted to a plate-containing end portion of each respective first and second telescoping arms. Rotation of the material flow assist mechanism by the motor rotates the first and second elongated members for material dispensing out a hopper. Dispensing of the material from the hopper results in extension of portions of the first and second telescoping arms such that the elongated members and plate travel with a top portion of the material as the top portion of the material in the hopper descends during dispensing.

A material flow assist mechanism for a feed hopper using a vertically aligned rotating auger includes a frame, the frame having a pair of spaced apart first and second telescoping arms attached to frame, and a connector to link a shaft of a motor to the auger for auger and material flow assist mechanism rotation. Each of first and second telescoping arms have an elongated member mounted to a plate-containing end portion of each respective first and second telescoping arms. Rotation of the material flow assist mechanism by the motor rotates the first and second elongated members for material dispensing out a hopper. Dispensing of the material from the hopper results in extension of portions of the first and second telescoping arms such that the elongated members and plate travel with a top portion of the material as the top portion of the material in the hopper descends during dispensing.

A device (20) for distribution of solid particles (22) for loading a vessel with solid particles, comprising a solid particles feed hopper (21), a rotating member and a drive member for driving in rotation said rotating member about a rotation axis, and a set of at least one deflector element (25, 25′, 25″) carried by said rotating member and erected, or adapted to be erected, on rotation of the shaft, relative to the rotation axis, in which device the feed hopper defines a set of at least one opening (29) conformed in an asymmetric manner relative to the rotation axis, defining at most one plane of symmetry passing through the rotation axis.

A material flow assist mechanism for a feed hopper using a vertically aligned rotating auger includes a frame, the frame having a pair of spaced apart first and second telescoping arms attached to frame, and a connector to link a shaft of a motor to the auger for auger and material flow assist mechanism rotation. Each of first and second telescoping arms have an elongated member mounted to a plate-containing end portion of each respective first and second telescoping arms. Rotation of the material flow assist mechanism by the motor rotates the first and second elongated members for material dispensing out a hopper. Dispensing of the material from the hopper results in extension of portions of the first and second telescoping arms such that the elongated members and plate travel with a top portion of the material as the top portion of the material in the hopper descends during dispensing.

A device (20) for distribution of solid particles (22) for loading a vessel with solid particles, comprising a solid particles feed hopper (21), a rotating member and a drive member for driving in rotation said rotating member about a rotation axis, and a set of at least one deflector element (25, 25, 25) carried by said rotating member and erected, or adapted to be erected, on rotation of the shaft, relative to the rotation axis, in which device the feed hopper defines a set of at least one opening (29) conformed in an asymmetric manner relative to the rotation axis, defining at most one plane of symmetry passing through the rotation axis.