GB1560857A

GB1560857A - Container

Info

Publication number: GB1560857A
Application number: GB27665/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-07-06
Filing date: 1977-07-01
Publication date: 1980-02-13
Also published as: JPS5634508B2; PL199395A1; DE2729597A1; IT1081013B; FR2357439A1; SE7707608L; ES242129U; AU2669877A; FR2357439B3; JPS5481633A; DE2729604A1; FR2357349A1; PL199394A1; AR212043A1; BR7704437A; DD131396A5; BR7704438A; ES460435A1; JPS53128853A; SE7707607L

Description

(54) CONTAINER (71) I, WILLEM JAN HERMAN BAKE, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, resident in Madrid, Spain, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a container, it being an object of the invention to provide a container which is suited for transporting materials which have to be kept separate during transport and which are automatically combined at the place of destination when the container is emptied. For example, such a container would be extremely useful for transporting pre-weighed quantities of cement and aggregate which are intended to be combined and mixed on site to form a batch of concrete of predetermined quality.

According to the invention a transportable container has attached to it a supporting frame which is capable of standing freely on a surface and supporting the whole weight of the container clear of the surface, and the container comprises at least two hopper-like compartments, each of which has a filling opening at its upper end and an outlet opening at its lower end, valve elements which are biassed to close the outlet openings of the compartments when the whole weight of the container is supported by the frame, and operating means for causing the valve elements to uncover the outlet openings substantially simultaneously, the operating means projecting laterally outwards of the outlet openings for actuation by auxiliary supporting means which engages the operating means when the container is lowered over a receptacle over which the contents of the compartments are to be discharged and on which the auxiliary supporting means is mounted.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the valve elements are connected to a part of the container which is movable in relation to the rest of the container and are biassed to close the outlet openings under the influence of the weight of the container.

The auxiliary supporting means is preferably provided on a receiving hopper on which the container is positioned when the contents of the compartments are to be discharged. For example, the auxiliary supporting means may be provided by a ringlike upper rim of the receiving hopper.

The container is always close in the full or empty condiiton when it is supported in the normal way, i.e. by the supporting frame resting on a suitable surface with the whole weight of the container clear of the surface. Only when the container is partially supported by the auxiliary supporting means are the compartments of the container opened automatically.

The container may comprise two complementary hopper-like compartments which are movably connected to each other and each of which has a wall or part of a wall which is arranged to abut the other compartment, and the valve elements are formed by flaps or slides, the flap or slide which is arranged to close the outlet opening of one compartment forming part of, or being connected to, a wall of the other compartment, the two complementary compartments being so connected that on actuation tof the operating means to open the valve elements the compartments are moved with respect to one another to cause the flaps or slides to uncover the outlet openings.

Preferably the container is attached to the supporting frame so that, under the influence of the deadweight, the relatively movable compartments adopt a position with respect to one another in which the outlet openings are closed. This eliminates any problems in connection with keeping the container compartments closed. Once they have been filled they automatically remain closed until the valve element operating means is actuated.

The frame to which the container is attached is preferably so constructed that it can be stacked on a corresponding frame of another container while still supporting the whole weight of its container. The advantage of this is that a large number of containers can be transported on a truck very easily.

In one embodiment of the invention one of the complementary compartments of the container has at least one vertical guide in which a member provided with stops can move, the member being connected to the other compartment of the container in such manner that when the frame together with the container is lowered over the discharge receptacle the auxiliary supporting means engages the stop so that, under the influence of the deadweight of the filled container the member is moved in the vertical guide to cause the complementary compartments to perform a relative movement with respect to one another to open the outlet openings. The particular advantage of this is that when the container is placed on a suitable support e.g. above a concrete mixer, the compartments automatically empty into the concrete mixer.

Preferably the relatively movable compartments taper, at least near the bottom end of the container, and are pivotally connected at or near their adjacent top edges, the member which is movable in the vertical guide being pivotally connected to its compartment. As a result, the compartments readily move apart about the pivot at the top when they are disposed on the appropriate support. The member may be fixed angularly to the spindle of a rotatable flap valve element which closes the outlet opening of the other compartment to which the member is pivotally connected. As a result, the pivoting flap opens automatically under the influence of the pivoting member.

The outlet opening of at least one of the compartments may be closed by a wall part of the other compartment resting against it in the filled state. The outlet opening of the other compartment may then be closed by a pivoting flap, or alternatively by a wall part of the first compartment.

In a specific embodiment of the container in accordance with the invention, the container, consisting of two complementary compartments, has a cylindrical upper part and an adjoining inverted conical lower part about a common vertical axis, the division between the two compartments comprising an upper portion which is parallel to and spaced from the container axis and a bottom portion which is inclined to and intersects the axis, the outlet opening of the larger compartment being situated near the lower edge of the bottom portion of the division between the compartments, and the outlet opening of the smaller compartments being formed by the conical segment which is cut off by the bottom portion of the division and which forms the lower part of the smaller compartment.This gives a container divided into compartments having approximately the required relative sizes and with which very easy emptying is possible.

In an advantageous arrangement of the above described container, the outlet opening of the smaller compartment is at the bottom end of the conical segment, and its valve closure element comprises a pivoted flap pressed into the closed position by a stop on the largest compartment. As soon as the compartments move away from one another, the stop releases the pivoting flap so that it can open. The outer wall of the conical segment is preferably tapered so that it extends parallel to the bottom portion of the division between the compartments.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the relatively movable compartments abut at a vertical flat wall and one compartment has its outlet opening in this flat wall near the bottom, the outlet opening being closable by the abutting wall of the other compartment, and the other compartment has its outlet opening closed by an inclined plate forming part of the one compartment, both compartments tapering near the bottom. The compartments may move in various ways with respect to one another, still giving good sealing of their outlet openings in the closed condition.

In another embodiment of the invention the container consists of two concentrically and vertically arranged cylindrical compartments, the outer compartment tapering inwards at its lower end to a bottom outlet opening which co-operates with a valve element formed by a conical part mounted at the lower end of the inner compartment, the inner compartment, being vertically movable in relation to the outer compartment, and the outer compartment supporting a centrally arranged valve elements which, at its outer circumference, cooperates with the lower edge of the inner compartment to close its outlet opening in the lower position of this compartment, the valve operating means comprising arms provided on the inner compartment and extending outside the outer compartment for co-operation with the auxiliary supporting means to raise the inner compartment.

An advantage of this embodiment is that, during discharge the flow of material from the outer compartment surrounds completely the flow of material from the inner compartment.

In a further embodiment of the invention the container consists of an inner compartment and an outer compartment concentrically and vertically arranged with respect to each other, the inner compartment being fixed to the outer compartment and having its outlet opening at its lower end cooperating with a valve element which is movable in the vertical direction, and the outer compartment being provided with an inwardly directed conical extension, the inner compartment having, near its lower end, and outwardly and downwardly directed conical part which has a cylindrical sleeve like ring at its outer edge spaced above the lower end of the outer compartment so that the gap forms the outlet opening of the outer compartment, the sleeve like ring surrounding a second sleeve like ring which is movable in the vertical direction with the the valve element, in the lower position of which the valve element closes the outlet opening of the inner compartment and the second sleeve like ring closes the outlet opening of the outer compartment, and the operating means comprises arms which are provided on the valve element and which extend outside the outer compartment for co-operation with the auxiliary supporting means. This embodiment of the container is very simple and can be made very robust.

The valve element which closes the outlet opening of the inner compartment is preferably provided with an upwardly directed cone.

The valve element for the oulet opening of each compartment may comprise a horizontal flaplike element which is biassed to close the outlet opening my spring means and which is provided with a lever which is arranged to co-operate with the auxiliary supporting means to open the outlet opening.

The flaplike element may be rotatable about a horizontal axis lying near the outlet opening at about the same height as the opening, and the lever comprises an arm extending at the side of the axis remote from the flaplike element.

Alternatively, the flaplike element may be rotatable about an axis lying centrally above the oulet of the compartment such that the flaplike element, under influence of the weight of the contents of the compartment resting on the flaplike element, is not forced into the open position, the flaplike element being provided with at least one lever which extends outwardly in relation to the container and which is arranged to be engaged by the auxiliary supporting means to rotate the valve into the open position.

In another arrangement the valve element for the outlet opening of each compartment may comprise a sliding valve plate which is guided horizontally and which is hingeably connected to at least one arm which at its other end is guided in vertical direction, this other end of the arm being provided with abutment means which is arranged to co-operate with the auxiliary supporting means such that when the auxiliary supporting means presses the end of the arm upwards against the pressure of a spring the sliding valve plate is moved to uncover the outlet opening.

The valve plates of the compartments preferably lie in the same plane, and the arm of each valve plate is connected to the valve plate at its edge facing the other valve plate, the vertical guided end of the arms being hingeably connected to each other. There may be at least two upwardly directed arms also hingeably connected to the valve plates at the edges facing each other, the other ends of these arms being guided in the vertical direction and being hinge ably connected together, and the spring being mounted between the connected ends of the two sets of arms.

These embodiments of the invention are very simple as there are only a very few parts which move in relation to each other.

Various specific examples of containers in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one example of a container in accordance with the invention Figure 2 is an end view of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the container shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a slightly different form of the container; Figure 6 is a side elevation of another example of a container in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a detail of Figure 6, showing the container in a different operative position; Figure 8 is a section view of yet another example of a container in accordance with the invention;; Figure 9 is a sectional view of a part of a further example.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of part of a further example; Figure 11 is a side elevation of part of a further example; and, Figure 12 is a side elevation of part of a still further example.

The Figures 1 to 4 show a container which is disposed in a frame 4. The frame 4 consists of a top ring 5 borne by a bottom ring 9 through the agency of vertical posts 6, 7 and 8. The container 10 is attached to the posts 6, 7 and 8 and consists of two complementary parts 11 and 12 connected together to form a unit. The parts 11 and 12 form separate compartments. The container unit 10 consists of a cylindrical top part 13 with an adjoining inverted conical lower part 14. The compartments 11 and 12 abut by the walls 15 and 16 respectively.

The top parts of the walls 15 and 1.6 are parallel to, and at some distance from, the axis 17 of the cylindrical part 13 and the conical part 14 of the container. Bottom parts 18 and 19 adjoin the wall parts 15 and 16 and are inclined to and intersect the axis 17. The compartment 11 consequently tapers downwardly near the bottom end. The wall part 18 is formed with an aperture 20 near the bottom end. Aperture 20 in the position illustrated is closed by the adjoining wall part 19. At the bottom, the compartment 12 has an outlet duct 21 formed mainly by a conical seg ment cut off from the conical part 14 by the wall part 19. The outer wall of the duct 21 is bevelled somewhat more sharply and the outer describing line of this part extends approximately parallel to the wall part 19.Near the free bottom end the duct 21 has a pivotable flap 23 which closes the duct 21 and which can turn about its pivot axis 24. In the position shown in figure 4, the flap 23 is pressed in the closed position by a leaf spring 25 fixed to the compartment 11. Near the top end of the walls 15 and 16 the compartments 11 and 12 are pivotally connected via a pivot 26. Two lids 27 and 28 close two filling apertures of the compartments 11 and 12. As will be apparent from the various figures, and particularly figure 4, two vertical guides 29 are disposed on the outside of the compartment 11. Each of two arms 30 is pivotally fixed by one end at 31 on the compartment 12. The other end of each arm 30 has a projecting part 32 mounted in the respective guide 29, the part 32 extending outwardly past the guide 29 as will be clear from figure 2.When the bottom wing 9 of the frame 4 is resting on a flat surface, the whole weight of the container supported by the frame 4. The system operates as follows.

The container 10 is filled with measured quantities of raw materials at a supply station for the solid raw material, for example for the preparation of concrete, via the filling apertures at the top. For example, sand and gravel are introduced into the compartment 11, while the cement is stored in compartment 12. In the position illustrated, the outlet apertures of the com partments 11 and 12 are closed and the container remains closed at the bottom under the influence of the weight of the filling of the compartment 12. The wall part 19 presses with force against the wall part 18 so that the aperture 20 is closed and the spring 25 presses the flap 23 into sealing- tight relationship under the influence of the same force.When the compartments 11 and 12 are filled with the correct measured quantities of the raw materials, the filling apertures are closed by means of the lids 27 and 28 and, for example, a crane is used to place the container 10 in the filled state on a truck or lorry. When the Iatter is completely loaded, it is driven to the building site where the raw materials are required for the preparation of concrete. A crane.

for example, is used at the building site to take from the truck a frame 4 with a filled container 10 and bring it above a concrete mixer. A ring 33, see Figure 2, may be provided above the receiving hopper of a con crete mixer, as may also a support for the frame base ring 9. This ring 33 serves as auxiliary supporting means for the container 10. The base ring 9 drops around the ring 33 and the diameter of the latter ring is so selected that before the ring 9 comes to rest on the said support the projecting parts 32 are pressed upwardly by the ring 33 so that the projecting parts 32 slide in the guide 29. This takes place under the dead weight of the contents of the compartments 11 and 12.When the projecting parts 32 slide upwardly in the guide 29, the arms 30 press the compartment 12 outwardly via the pivot points 31, the compartment 12 pivoting about the axis 26 with respect to the compartment 11. Figure 4 shows in broken lines how this movement takes place. The arms 30 reach a position 30', and the outlet duct 21 of compartment 12 moves into position 21'. The wall 19, which closes the aperture 20 in the wall part 18, moves into the position 19' so that the aperture 20 is uncovered and the contents of the compartment 11 drop down into the concrete mixer. The leaf spring 25 also releases the flap 23, which pivots into the position 23' under the influence of the filling in the compartment 12, so that the contents of the compartment 12 also discharge into the concrete mixer.

Of course the containers can be used for transporting any kind of materials which have to be kept separately.

Figure 5 shows a somewhat different con struction of the container. The cross-section in figure 5 corresponds to that shown in figure 4 and like parts have like references.

The difference in the construction is that the flap 23 and leaf spring 25 are not pro vided in figure 5. The outlet duct 21 of compartment 12 is in this case closed by means of the pivoting flap 34, which is fixed to the pivot for the arms 30. When the arms 30 pivot on the opening of the container and the pivot 31 rotates to ether with the arms 30, the flap 34 secured to the pivot 31 will also turn and reach position 34', the outlet of the compartment 12 then being open as will be clear from figure 5. Otherwise the system operates in exactly the same way as described with reference to figures 1 to 4.

The embodiment shown in figure 6 basically corresponds to the embodiment according to figures 14. One principal difference is that the two compartments 60 and 61 are connected to each other around an axis 62 which is displaced in the direction away from the compartment 61. The compartment 61 is connected with the axis 62 by means of supports 63 which e.g. are welded to the upper side of the compartment 61.

The free ends of these supports 63 are connected to the axis 62. It will be clear that the two compartments 60 and 61 are pressed against each other under the influence of the weight of the filled compartments with a larger force than in the case of the containers described above.

An arm 64 is pivotally connected to the compartment 61 at each side thereof, as shown at 65. The other end of each arm 64 is guided in a corresponding vertical guide 66. Each arm 65, at its vertically guided end, is provided with a projecting part 67 which can cooperate with auxiliary supporting means for moving the compartment 61 in the relation to the compartment 60. Connected to the guide 66 on the compartment 60 is a part 68 with a stop 69 which cooperates with a projecting part 70 on a pivotting flap 71 which is mounted on the lower end of the compartment 61. In the position shown in figure 6 the flap 71 closes the opening of the compartment 61.

Further the compartment 61 is provided with a fixed flap 72, which is supported by a strut member 73. The part 72 and the lower end of the wall of the compartment 61, in the position of figure 6, close the opening 74 of the compartment 60. When the container is supported by the foot ring 75 the compartments 60 and 61 will be closed. When, however, part of the weight is supported by auxiliary supporting means through the projecting parts 67, the compartments will be opened, as indicated in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows a different embodiment consisting of a cylindrical inner compartment 80 and a cylindrical concentrically arranged outer compartment 81. The outer compartment is fixed in a frame 82 with a foot ring 83, and the inner compartment is vertically movable in relation to the outer compartment. The upper end of the inner compartment 80 is guided at 84 by arms 85 connected to the outer compartment 81.

At the upper end the compartments are opened and closed by a cover 86. The outer compartment 81 has at its lower end a conically tapering part 87. The lower edge of the part 87 cooperates with the lower end of a conical part 88 connected with the inner compartment. The lower edge of the inner compartment cooperates at 89 with a valve element 90. This element 90 is, through a bridge construction 91, rigidly connected with the outer compartment 81.

The inner compartment is provided with arms 92 outwardly projecting parts 93.

When the container is supported by the foot ring 83 at the lower end of the inner container 80 cooperates with the valve 90 and with the lower edge of the part 87 of the outer compartment. Both compartments are then closed at their lower ends. When the container is placed on a receiving hopper 94 with auxiliary supporting means 95 formed by the upper rim of the receiving hopper, the weight of the inner compartment 80 is supported by the auxiliary supporting means 95 through the arms 92. The outer compartment 81 will move downwards in relation to the inner compartment 80, and the part 88 moves into the position 88' relative to the outer compartment 81.

So it will be clear, that both compartments are then open at their lower ends. The container opens automatically when it is placed on the receiving hopper 94.

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of a container in which an inner compartment 100 is fixedly connected, through arms 101, to an outer cylindrical compartment 102. The container is again provided with a supporting foot ring 103. The outer compartment 102 has at its lower end a conically tapering part 104. The lower edge of this part 104 cooperates with a sleevelike portion 105, which is movable in the vertical direction and is guided in a sleevelike portion 106 connected, through a part 107, to the inner compartment 100. A valve part 108 cooperates at its outer rim with the lower end 109 of the inner compartment 100. The valve 108 is connected through the parts 110 with the sleevelike portion 105.The parts 110 which connect the valve 108 with the sleevelike portion 105 have projecting arms 111 which can cooperate with the auxiliary supporting means e.g. the upper edge of a receiving hopper. When the container according to figure 9 is placed on a receiving hopper in the same way as the container of figure 8, the arms 111 contact the upper edge of the receiving hopper and the valve 108 moves into the position 111' whereas the sleeve 105 moves into the position 105'. It will be clear that both compartments 100 and 102 are then open at their lower ends. Spring means can be provided for forcing the valve 108 and the sleevelike portion 105 into the closed position.

In the embodiments according to figure 8 and figure 9 the valve 90 and the valve 108 can be provided with conical parts 112, 113, respectively to prevent material from remaining lying on the valve after the emptying of the containers.

The receiving hopper in figure 8 is provided with a vibration generator 114. By this means the receiving hopper can be vibrated so that a container placed on the hopper is also vibrated. This facilitates the emptying of the container.

Figure 10 shows a very simple embodiment of a container according to the invention. The container 120 is supported in a frame 121 which is provided with a foot ring 122. The container 120 consists of a compartment 123 and a compartment 124.

These compartments are fixedly connected to each other. The compartment 123 is at its lower end closed by a flap 125 which is pivotable around an axis 126. A spring 127 is at 128 connected with the flap 125 and at 129 with the compartment 123. The spring 127 forces the flap 125 into the closed position. The flap 125 is provided with a projecting part 130. In a similar way the compartment 124 is closed at its lower end by a pivoting flap 131, which is provided with a spring 132 and a projecting part 133.

When the container 120 is supported by the foot ring 122 the flaps 125 and 131 are closed. When the container is placed on a receiving hopper the projecting parts 130 and 133 cooperate with the auxiliary supporting means so that the valve will open automatically.

In the embodiment according to figure 11 a container 140 is supported in a frame 141 with a supporting foot ring 142. There are two compartments 143 and 144 which are fixedly connected. At the lower end of the compartments 143 and 144 there are outlets 145, 146 respectively. The outlets 145 and 146 are closed by valve 147 and 148. The valves pivot around axes which lie centrally above the respective valve, in each case. The valve 147 pivots around an axis 149, and is actuated by a projecting arm 150. In the same way the valve 148 pivots around an axis 151, and is actuated by means of a projecting arm 152. Due to the arrangement of the valves the weight of the contents of the compartments 143 and 144 does not provide an opening force for the valves 147 and 148. Spring means, not shown, are provided for biassing the valves 147 and 148 into their closed positions.When the container 140 is placed on a receiving hopper the auxiliary supporting means cooperate with the projecting arms 150 and 152 to move the valves into the open positions 147', and 148'.

In the embodiment according to figure 12 a container 160 is supported in a frame 161 with a supporting foot ring 162. The container consists of two fixedly connected compartments 163 and 164. At their lower end these compartments are closed by sliding valves 165, 166, respectively. The valve 165 is guided in- a guide 167 and the valve 166 is guided in a guide 168. Two arms 169 and 170 are hingedly connected to the edge of the valve 165. Two arms 171 and 172 are in the same way hingedly connected to the valve 166. The arms 170 and 172 are hingedly connected at 173 and the arms 169 and 171 are hingedly connected at 174. A compression spring 175 is placed between the points 173 and 174.

This spring 165 may instead be an hydraulic or a pneumatic spring. The arms at 174 are provided with projecting parts 176. At the other side of the container there is a similar construction. When the container is placed on a receiving hopper the projecting parts 176 cooperate with the auxiliary supporting means and through the arms 169 and 171 the valves are moved into the open positions 165' and 166'. When the container is free from the auxiliary support the spring 165 acts through the arms 169, 171, 170 and 172 to return the valves to the closed position. The opening and the closing of the valves thus takes place automatically.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A transportable container having attached to it a supporting frame which is capable of standing freely on a surface and supporting the whole weight of the container clear of the surface, the container comprising at least two hopper-like compartments, each of which has a filling opening at its upper end and an outlet opening at its lower end, valve elements which are biassed to close the outlet openings of the compartments when the whole weight of the container is supported by the frame, and operating means for causing the valve elements to uncover the outlet openings substantially simultaneously, the operating means projecting laterally outwards of the outlet openings for actuation by auxiliary supporting means which engage the operating means when the container is lowered over a receptacle over which the contents of the compartments are to be discharged and on which the auxiliary supporting means is mounted.

2. A container according to claim 1, in which the valve elements are connected to a part of the container which is movable in relation to the rest of the container and are biassed to close the outlet openings under the influence of the weight of the container.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the frame is so constructed that it can be stacked on a corresponding frame of another container while

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In the embodiments according to figure 8 and figure 9 the valve 90 and the valve 108 can be provided with conical parts 112, 113, respectively to prevent material from remaining lying on the valve after the emptying of the containers. The receiving hopper in figure 8 is provided with a vibration generator 114. By this means the receiving hopper can be vibrated so that a container placed on the hopper is also vibrated. This facilitates the emptying of the container. Figure 10 shows a very simple embodiment of a container according to the invention. The container 120 is supported in a frame 121 which is provided with a foot ring 122. The container 120 consists of a compartment 123 and a compartment 124. These compartments are fixedly connected to each other. The compartment 123 is at its lower end closed by a flap 125 which is pivotable around an axis 126. A spring 127 is at 128 connected with the flap 125 and at 129 with the compartment 123. The spring 127 forces the flap 125 into the closed position. The flap 125 is provided with a projecting part 130. In a similar way the compartment 124 is closed at its lower end by a pivoting flap 131, which is provided with a spring 132 and a projecting part 133. When the container 120 is supported by the foot ring 122 the flaps 125 and 131 are closed. When the container is placed on a receiving hopper the projecting parts 130 and 133 cooperate with the auxiliary supporting means so that the valve will open automatically. In the embodiment according to figure 11 a container 140 is supported in a frame 141 with a supporting foot ring 142. There are two compartments 143 and 144 which are fixedly connected. At the lower end of the compartments 143 and 144 there are outlets 145, 146 respectively. The outlets 145 and 146 are closed by valve 147 and 148. The valves pivot around axes which lie centrally above the respective valve, in each case. The valve 147 pivots around an axis 149, and is actuated by a projecting arm 150. In the same way the valve 148 pivots around an axis 151, and is actuated by means of a projecting arm 152. Due to the arrangement of the valves the weight of the contents of the compartments 143 and 144 does not provide an opening force for the valves 147 and 148. Spring means, not shown, are provided for biassing the valves 147 and 148 into their closed positions.When the container 140 is placed on a receiving hopper the auxiliary supporting means cooperate with the projecting arms 150 and 152 to move the valves into the open positions 147', and 148'. In the embodiment according to figure 12 a container 160 is supported in a frame 161 with a supporting foot ring 162. The container consists of two fixedly connected compartments 163 and 164. At their lower end these compartments are closed by sliding valves 165, 166, respectively. The valve 165 is guided in- a guide 167 and the valve 166 is guided in a guide 168. Two arms 169 and 170 are hingedly connected to the edge of the valve 165. Two arms 171 and 172 are in the same way hingedly connected to the valve 166. The arms 170 and 172 are hingedly connected at 173 and the arms 169 and 171 are hingedly connected at 174. A compression spring 175 is placed between the points 173 and 174. This spring 165 may instead be an hydraulic or a pneumatic spring. The arms at 174 are provided with projecting parts 176. At the other side of the container there is a similar construction. When the container is placed on a receiving hopper the projecting parts 176 cooperate with the auxiliary supporting means and through the arms 169 and 171 the valves are moved into the open positions 165' and 166'. When the container is free from the auxiliary support the spring 165 acts through the arms 169, 171, 170 and 172 to return the valves to the closed position. The opening and the closing of the valves thus takes place automatically. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A transportable container having attached to it a supporting frame which is capable of standing freely on a surface and supporting the whole weight of the container clear of the surface, the container comprising at least two hopper-like compartments, each of which has a filling opening at its upper end and an outlet opening at its lower end, valve elements which are biassed to close the outlet openings of the compartments when the whole weight of the container is supported by the frame, and operating means for causing the valve elements to uncover the outlet openings substantially simultaneously, the operating means projecting laterally outwards of the outlet openings for actuation by auxiliary supporting means which engage the operating means when the container is lowered over a receptacle over which the contents of the compartments are to be discharged and on which the auxiliary supporting means is mounted.

still supporting the whole weight of its container.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the container comprises two complementary hopper-like compartments which are movably connected to each other and each of which has a wall or part of a wall which is arranged to abut the other compartment, and the valve elements are formed by flaps or slides, the flap or slide which is arranged to close the outlet opening of one compartment forming part of, or being connected to, a wall of the other compartment, the two complementary compartments being so connected that on actuation of the operating means to open the valve elements the compartments are moved with respect to one another to cause the flaps or slides to uncover the outlet openings.

5. A container according to claim 4, in which the container is attached to the supporting frame so that, under the influence of the deadweight, the relatively movable compartments adopt a position with respect to one another in which the outlet openings are closed.

6. A container according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which one complementary compartment of the container has at least one vertical guide in which a member provided with a stop can move, the member being connected to the other compartment of the container in such manner that when the frame together with the container is lowered over the discharge receptacle the auxiliary supporting means engages the stop so that, under the influence of the deadweight of the filled container, the member is moved in the vertical guide to cause the complementary compartments to perform a relative movement with respect to one another to open the outlet openings.

7. A container according to claim 6, in which the relatively movable compartments taper, at least near the bottom end of the container, and are pivotally connected at or near their adjacent top edges, the member which is movable in the vertical guide being pivotally connected to its compartment.

8. A container according to claim 7, in which the complementary compartments are pivotally connected about an axis which is displaced in the direction towards the middle of the container relative to the adjacent top edges of the two compartments.

9. A container according to claim 8, in which the smaller one of the two complementary compartments is provided with two supports attached to the upper side of the compartment, the supports extending to outside the edge of the compartment and being connected at their free end to the pivot axis.

10. A container according to any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the member is fixed angularly to the spindle of a rotatable flap valve element which closes the outlet opening of the compartment to which the member is pivotally connected.

11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the container, consisting df two complementary compartments, has a cylindrical upper part and an adjoining inverted conical lower part about a common vertical axis, the division between the two compartments comprising an upper portion which is parallel to and spaced from the container axis and a bottom portion which is inclined to and intersects the axis, the outlet opening of the larger compartment being situated near the lower edge of the bottom portion of the division between the compartments, and the outlet opening of the smaller compartment being formed by the conical segment which is cut off by the bottom portion of the division and which forms the lower part of the smaller compartment.

12. A container according to claim 11, in which the outlet opening of the smaller compartment is at the bottom end of the conical segment, and its valve closure element comprises a pivoted flap pressed into the closed position by a stop on the largest compartment.

13. A container according to claim 11 or claim 12, in which the outer wall of the conical segment is tapered so that it extends parallel to the bottom portion of the division between the compartments.

14. A container according to any one of claims 4 to 9, in which the relatively movable compartments abut at a vertical flat wall and one compartment has its outlet opening in this flat wall near the bottom, the outlet opening being closable by the abutting wall of the other compartment, and the other compartment having its outlet opening closed by an inclined plate forming part of the one compartment, both compartments tapering near the bottom.

15. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the container consists of two concentrically and vertically arranged cylindrical compartments, the outer compartment tapering inwards at its lower end to a bottom outlet opening which co-operates with a valve element formed by a conical part mounted at the lower end of the inner compartment, the inner compartment being vertically movable in relation to the outer compartment, and the outer compartment supporting a centrally arranged valve element which, at its outer circumference co-operates with the lower edge of the inner compartment to close its outlet opening in the lower position of this compartment, the valve operating means comprising arms provided on the inner compartment and extending outside the outer compartment for co-operation with the auxiliary supporting means to raise the inner compartment.

16. A container according to claim 1, in which the container consists of an inner compartment and an outer compartment concentrically and vertically arranged with respect to each other, the inner compartment being fixed to the outer compartment and having its outlet opening at its lower end co-operating with a valve element which is movable in the vertical direction, and the outer compartment being provided with an inwardly directed conical extension the inner compartment having, near its lower end, an outwardly and downwardly directed conical part which has a cylindrical sleeve like ring at its outer edge spaced above the Lower end of the outer compartment so that the gap forms the outlet opening of the outer compartment, the sleeve like ring surrounding a second sleeve like ring which is movable in the vertical direction with the valve element, in the lower position of which the valve element closes the outlet opening of the inner compartment and the second sleeve like ring closes the outlet opening of the outer compartment, and the operating means comprises arms which are provided on the valve element and which extend outside the outer compartment for cooperaticn with the auxiliary supporting means.

17. A container according to claim 15 or claim 16, in which the valve element which closes the outlet opening of the inner compartment is provided with an upwardly directed cone.

18. A container according to claim 1, in which the valve element for the outlet opening of each compartment comprises a horizontal flaplike element which is biassed to close the outlet opening by spring means and which is provided with a lever which is arranged to co-operate with the auxiliary supporting means to open the outlet opening.

19. A container according to claim 18, in which the flaplike element is rotatable about a hdrizontal axis lying near the outlet opening at about the same height as the opening, and the lever comprises an arm extending at the side of the axis remote from the flap like element.

20. A container according to claim 18, in which the flaplike element is rotatable about an axis lying centrally above the outlet of the compartment such that the flaplike element, under influence of the weight of the contents of the compartment resting on the flaplike element, is not forced into the open position, and in which the flaplike element is provided with at least one lever which extends outwardly in relation to the container and which is arranged to be engaged by the auxiliary supporting means to rotate the valve into the open position.

21. A container according to claim 1, in which the valve element for the outlet opening of each compartment comprises a sliding valve plate which is guided horizontally and which is hingeably connected to at least one arm which at its other end is guided in a vertical direction, this other end of the arm being provided with abutment means which is arranged to co-operate with the auxiliary supporting means such when the auxiliary supporting means presses the end of the arm upwards against the pressure of a spring the sliding valve plate is moved to uncover the outlet opening.

22. A container according to claim 21, in which the valve plates of the two compartments lie in the same plane, and in which the arm of each valve plate is connected to the valve plate at its edge facing the other valve plate, and the vertically guided ends of the arms are hinge ably connected to each other.

23. A container according to claim 22, in which there are at least two upwardly directed arms also hingeably connected to the valve plates at the edges facing each other, the other ends of these arms being guided in the vertical direction and being hingeably connected together, and the spring being mounted between the connected ends of the two sets of arms.

24. A container according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figure 5, Figures 6 and 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 11, or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a receiving hopper for the contents of the compartments, the receiving hopper having auxiliary supporting means which engages the operating means so that the valve elements are opened.

26. A container according to claim 25, in which the auxiliary supporting means is provided by a ring like upper rim of the receiving hopper.