Side unloading bin for storing and discharging free-flowing granular material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention utilizes the same general concept of the prior inventions, but in a side-unloading environment.
That is, the present invention has the same advantage of significantly decreasing floor loading from the prior known conventional hoppers, and has additional advantages in that, because it can be emptied from the side, there is no need to provide a hole in the floor supporting the bin for discharging the bin contents.
This not only provides greater convenience, but also easier access to the material stored in the bin.
Additionally, the side unloading bin can be used on a ground floor, which is usually the strongest floor of a building and the contents of the side-unloading bin can be conveniently conveyed away.
The center discharge bin of our prior applications requires a space below the floor for conveying away the contents.
Because the flexible walls of the material supporting bag inflate when unloading the bin, the inflation causes movement of the bag walls which provides a unique self-cleaning action and eliminates the common problems of "rat-holing" known with conventional storage silos.
The side-unloading bin also allows easy access to the discharge area in case there are any plug-ups in that area.
Additionally, controls connected to the inflation and discharge system ensure that there is a continuing discharge in alternating cycles, first by gravity and then by pneumatic pressure assistance from the supporting bag.
After the discharge (with the self-cleaning action), the bag is deflated in such a manner, using a perforated vacuum hose, that it assumes its original condition, ready to receive another load of material.