Hopper closure assembly with telescoping gate and method of using same

Abstract

A closure mechanism for a hopper bottom trailer is provided which utilizes a telescoping gate with a minor door and a main door. A method of using a hopper closure assembly which involves the steps moving the gate from a closed position to a partially open position by sliding a first section minor door over a second section major door and then moving the gate to an open position by moving the minor and major doors across the discharge opening. The method also includes the steps moving the gate from the open position to a partially closed position and then to a closed position.

1 . A hopper closure assembly for opening and closing a discharge opening in a hopper containing granular material, the hopper closure assembly comprising: 
 a gate frame surrounding the discharge opening;    a gate moveably mounted to the gate frame from a closed position in covering relation over the discharge opening to an open position uncovering at least a portion of the discharge opening for removal of the granular material through the discharge opening;    the gate having a first section and a second section;    the first section having a minor door moveable from a closed gate position to a partially open gate position;    the second section having a main door moveable from a partially open gate position to an open gate position.    
   
   
       2 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first section engages the second section to move the second section.  
   
   
       3 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second section has front stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the open gate position.  
   
   
       4 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second section has rear stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the close gate position  
   
   
       5 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a closure mechanism mounted on the gate frame to move the gate for opening and closing the discharge opening.  
   
   
       6 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 5  wherein the closure mechanism has a rotatable member; 
 an elongated arm having a secured end fixed for rotation with the rotatable member of the closure mechanism and a free end extending alongside the gate frame;    a rack resistively engaging the rotatable member so rotation of the rotatable member moves the guideway longitudinally;    a raceway mounted on the gate frame;    roller wheels attached to the gate frame and rollingly engaging the guide.    
   
   
       7 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 6  wherein the door frame has opposing side edges and opposing forward and rear edges; the raceway being mounted on the opposing side edges.  
   
   
       8 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gate has a total length and the minor door has a length less than 50% the gate total length.  
   
   
       9 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gate has a total length and the minor door has a length less than 25% the gate total length.  
   
   
       10 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gate has a total length and the minor door has a length approximately 17% the gate total length.  
   
   
       11 . A hopper bottom trailer using a hopper closure assembly for opening and closing a discharge opening in a hopper containing granular material, the hopper closure assembly comprising in combination: 
 a gate frame engaging the discharge opening;    a gate operably mounted in the gate frame for longitudinal movement;    the gate having a first section with a minor door and a second section with a main door;    the minor and main doors each having a front portion and a rear portion;    wherein when the gate is in a closed position the minor door front portion is adjacent the gate frame and the minor door rear portion is slidingly coupled to the main door front portion;    wherein when the gate is in a partially open position the minor door at least partially telescopes upon the main door;    wherein when the gate is in an open position the minor and main doors move together to open the discharge opening.    
   
   
       12 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 11  wherein the interface between the minor door rear portion and the main door front portion is reduced friction.  
   
   
       13 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first section engages the second section to move the second section.  
   
   
       14 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 12  wherein the second section has front stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the open gate position.  
   
   
       15 . The hopper closure assembly of  claim 12  wherein the second section has rear stops which receives the first section to move the second section to the close gate position.  
   
   
       16 . A method of opening a hopper closure assembly having a hopper containing granular material and a discharge opening below the granular material whereby the granular material by gravity has a weight force directed toward the discharge opening, the method comprising: 
 providing a gate having a first section with a minor door and a second section with a main door covering the discharge opening;    moving the gate from a closed position wherein the first section and second section cover the discharge opening, to a partially open position wherein the first section opens the discharge opening to initially permit the granular material to move through a portion of the discharge opening;    moving the gate from a partially open position to an open position wherein the second section further opens the discharge opening.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the second section is moved to the open position by engaging the first section.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the second section has at least one front stop for engaging the first section.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step moving the gate from an open position to a partially closed position wherein the first section moves relative the second section to partially close the discharge opening.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step moving the gate from a partially closed position to a closed position wherein both the first section and the second section move together relative the discharge opening.