US3125257A

US3125257A - Loading device for a pumping machine

Info

Publication number: US3125257A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-17

Description

March 17, 1964 M. T. VUKICH LOADING DEVICE FOR A PUMPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1962 I INVENTOR. Myer/N .7. fine/6H CO NT'ROL March 17, 1964 I M. 'r. VUKICH 3,125,257

LOADING DEVICE FOR A PUMPING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill. gwllllull,

. INVENTOR.

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M. T. VUKICH LOADING DEVICE FOR A PUMPING MACHINE March 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Mme-rm 7: VZl/d/CH Filed July 5, 1962 United States Patent O 3,125,257 LOADING DEVICE FOR A PUMPHNG MACEHNE Martin T. Vukich, 10891 Glinda St, Sun Valley, (Ialif. Filed July 5, 1962, Ser. No. 207,706 7 Claims. ((31. 222-255) This invention relates to a loading device for a machine for pumping material containing aggregate and sand, and more particularly to such a loading device which is jamproof, leakproof, and measures and delivers a uniform amount of material to a loading chamber of a pumping machine for each pumping cycle.

Heretofore, machines for pumping material, such as concrete compositions containing aggregate, have been inefiicient and frequently become inoperative due to the aggregate or rock in the mixture becoming lodged or wedged in the loading device or the inlet valve. When the loading device or inlet valve was jammed, the concrete composition from the feeding hopper deluged or flooded the loading chamber and caused the pumping piston to become inoperative. The entire machine was then required to be disassembled, cleaned and cleared of all jamming rocks or aggregate. Since cementitious compositions must be used promptly before setting, all of the premixed composition or material in the loading hopper would have to be discarded.

Moreover, even when the loading device or inlet valve was not jammed and operated properly, the cement portion of the composition or material would leak past the valve or through the loading device. Since the cementitious composition or material had a rather heavy consistency due to the aggregate and sand, there was a preformed clearance provided between the valve and valve housing to allow the valve to actuate freely. This clearance allowed the composition or material to leak down into the loading chamber when the inlet valve or loading device was closed. In time, a sufficient amount of the material or composition would flow behind the piston, causing it to operate very sluggishly or to become inoperative.

In addition, loading devices or inlet valves for concrete pumping machines used heretofore would deposit non-uniform loads of concrete composition into the loading chamber for each pumping cycle. This provided a spasmodic or fluctuating delivery or flow of the concrete composition from the outlet of the machine rather than asmooth and continuous delivery.

. The present invention obviates the above disadvantages of loading devices used heretofore by providing a hopper means for holding a supply of material to be loaded, and a hollow loading cylinder slidably mounted to move within a discharge duct extending from the low- I er portion of the hopper supply means. The loading cylinder is adapted to move axially within the discharge duct and through the hopper supply means between a filling position when the filling port of the loading cylinder is adapted to be open and in contact with the material in the lower portion of the hopper supply means and a discharging position when the filling port of the loading cylinder is adapted to be closed by a valve means and is out of contact with the material in the hopper supply means. This device prevents the aggregate or sand contained within the material provided in the hopper supply means from jamming the loading device, and also prevents leakage into the loading chamber.

The present invention also includes means for actuating the valve, drive means for moving the loading cylinder between the filling position and the discharging position, and control means operatively connected to the valve actuating means and the loading cylinder drive means for sequentially operating the various elements in timed relationship to move the loading cylinder between the filling position and the closing position.

7 3,125,257. Patented Mar. 17, 1964 As the open loading cylinder of the present invention is moved through the material in the hopper supply means, the material pours through the filling port and into the loading chamber of the pumping machine. The amount of material thus provided to the loading chamber is uniform during each pumping cycle.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention provide a loading device for a pumping machine that avoids all of the foregoing disadvantages of similar type loading devices used heretofore.

An object of the present invention is to provide a loading device for a machine adapted to pump material containing aggregate, such loading device being leakproof, jamproof and adapted to meter and deliver a uniform amount of material to the loading chamber of a pumping machine.

A further object is to provide a novel loading device for controlling material containing aggregate which is leakproof, jamproof and meters and delivers a uniform amount of material.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an exemplary loading device of the present invention connected to a pumping machine, the exemplary controls therefor being diagrammatically shown.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the loading device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the loading device in FIG. 1 in the discharging position wherein the filling port of the loading cylinder is closed by the valve and the discharging stroke is adapted to begin.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device wherein the loading cylinder is at the end of the discharging stroke and the valve is still closing the filling port of the loading cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the device in the filling position wherein the filling port of the loading cylinder is open and the filling stroke is adapted to begin.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an exemplary connection between the valve actuating means and drive means for the loading cylinder.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the device wherein the loading cylinder is at the end of the discharging stroke as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a transverse section of the device taken along VIlI-VlII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the pumping machine taken along IXIX of FIG. 10 showing the swinging check valve in the closed position during the filling stroke of the loading device.

FIG. 10 is a transverse section of the pumping machine taken along plane XX of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary loading device 15 of the present invention connected to a machine 16 adapted to preferably pump material, such as concrete, containing aggregate and sand. It is understood that the loading device of the present invention may be connected to and cooperate with other machines, but has particular advantages with those machines pumping material containing aggregate and sand as the loading device is jarnproof and leakproof.

The pumping machine 16 may have a loading chamber 17, an inlet end 18, and outlet end 19. A pumping or power piston 21 is slidably mounted in the inlet end 18 and is adapted to move toward and away from the loading chamber 17 during the filling and discharging strokes as will be described in detail hereinafter. The piston 21 may be connected to a cylinder 21a provided with fluid ports 21b and 210, at either end thereof. Fluid control lines adapted to be connected to ports 21b and 210 are shown in dotted lines and are adapted to be connected to well-known controls 22 shown in dotted lines.

The control system adapted to be used with the pumping machine 16 and the loading device 15 of the present invention is well known by those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail. Since the control system forms no part of the present invention, it will be shown in dotted lines. It is understood that hydraulic, compressed air or even electric control systems could be used in connection with the present invention.

It is preferred that the longitudinal axis of the pumping machine 16 is inclined upwardly toward the outlet end 19. It has been found that an angle of 7-13 between the axis of the machine 16 and the horizontal produces satisfactory results during the pumping cycles. However, it is understood that such longitudinal axis of the pumping machine may also be horizontal.

A check valve 23 may be provided in the outlet end 19 of the machine 16 for controlling the flow of material therethrough from the loading chamber 17. It is preferred that the valve 23 is of the swinging gate type, although rotary or butterfly valves may be used. The check valve may be rigidly connected to a rotatable transverse shaft 24 adapted to move the valve 23 between open and closed positions in timed sequence with movement of the piston 21.

The shaft 24 has one end 24a which is adapted to be rigidly connected with one end of a control arm 25 having an elongated slot 25a provided in the other end thereof. A control piston 26 may be provided for rotating or oscillating the shaft 24 by having a pin 26' carried on the outer end of piston 26 and slidably received in slot 25a in control arm 25. A cylinder 26a having

fluid ports

26b and 260 may be provided for actuating piston 26 and fluid lines may be provided for connecting the

ports

26b and 26c with the control apparatus 22. It is understood that actuation of the piston 26 causes the shaft 24 to rotate and move the valve 23 between open and closed positions.

In the closed position, the valve gage seat 19a (FIG. 9) provided in the outlet end 19 of the machine 16. A removable cleanout door 1% may be provided in the outlet end 19 for emergency purposes.

The loading device 15 of the present invention includes a hopper means 31 for holding a supply of material, such as concrete containing aggregate, to be loaded into the loading chamber of the pumping machine 17. An elongated, substantially vertical, discharge duct 32 extends from the lower portion of the hopper supply means 31 and communicates with the loading chamber 17 of the machine 16. The discharge duct 32 may be rigidly secured to the supply hopper 31 and machine 16 by any suitable means, such as welding, to insure that the duct 32 1S stationary.

The supply hopper 31 is preferably provided with a bottom inclined downwardly and toward the discharge duct 32. The angle of inclination may vary but preferably it should be between 20 and 60.

A hollow loading cylinder 33 is slidably mounted in the discharge duct for axial movement. The loading cylinder 33 includes an open discharge end 33a within the discharge duct 32 and a filling end including a filling port 33b adapted to extend into and move through the mate rial provided in the supply hopper 31. The filling port 3312 may have inclined surfaces (FIG. to provide a seat for a valve adapted to open and close such port.

The loading cylinder 33 is adapted to move axially within the discharge duct 32 and through the hopper supply means 31 between a filling position (FIG. 5) when the filling port 33b is open and in contact with the material in the lower portion of the supply hopper 31, and a discharging position (FIG. 3) when the filling port 33b 23 is adapted to enis closed and out of contact with the material in the supply hopper.

An annular delivery piston means 34 is provided around the discharge end 33a of the loading cylinder 33 and is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the discharge duct 32. The delivery piston 34 is adapted to act upon material left in the discharge duct 32 by the loading cylinder and force the material out of the discharge duct and into the loading chamber 17 of the machine during the discharge stroke. The piston 34 also acts as a guide for and centers the loading cylinder 33 during movement within the discharge duct 32.

Sealing means may be provided to prevent material within the supply hopper 31 from leaking through the connection between the discharge duct 32 and supply hopper 31. Such means may include an annular clamping ring 35 (FIG. 7) including a synthetic rubber gasket 36, such ring 35 adapted to be welded to the discharge duct 32 and the bottom of the supply hopper 31. An opening 35a is provided in the sealing ring 35 and has a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the hollow loading cylinder 33 which is adapted to slidably move through such opening 35a in tight sliding contact.

Packing rings 37 are provided in the upper portion of the discharge duct 32 between the loading cylinder 33, the sealing ring 35 and the inner surface of the duct 32. These packing rings also prevent leakage of the material from the supply hopper 31 and are retained in a tightly compressed condition in the upper end of duct 32 by a plurality of retaining fingers 38 adapted to extend into the duct 32 through elongated openings 32a and contact the lower packing ring 37. Clamping means 39, such as bolts and nuts, may be provided on the duct 32 for urging the retaining fingers 38 upwardly in the openings 32a and for compressing the packing rings 37 into tight sliding contact with the loading cylinder 33. The openings 32a also function as vents for the chamber provided in the duct 32 through which delivery piston 34 moves, such chamber being provided between duct 32 and cylinder 33.

In addition to the above functions, the packing rings 37 also retain and hold the loading cylinder 33 in an elevated position when the filling port is being closed just prior to the discharge stroke. This will be described in detail hereinafter. It may be desirable to provide passageways and other means for continuously applying lubrication to the center packing ring 37 to allow a smoother sliding action for the loading cylinder 33.

A movable valve 41 may be carried by the loading device 15 for opening and closing the filling port 33b of the loading cylinder 33. Such valve 41 may have inclined surfaces for tight mating contact with the inclined seating surface on the filling port 331) and may be made of various materials. It is preferred that the inclined surfaces of the valve 41 be made of resilient material, such as synthetic rubber, for insuring a tight frictional contact with the seat of filling port 33b of the loading cylinder 33.

In the exemplary valve 41 shown of the present invention, an inner bore 41a (FIGS. 6 and 7) may be provided in the valve 41 for receiving means adapted to drive and control the loading cylinder 33.

Valve actuating means is provided and is operatively connected with the valve 41 for moving the valve into and out of sealing relation with the filling port 3311. A preferred valve actuating means may include a movable, closed cylinder 42, as best seen in FIG. 7, which is rigidly connected to the upper portion of the valve 41 and whose axis is coaxial to the axis of opening 41a in valve 41. Vents 42a may be provided on either end of the movable cylinder 42.

As best seen in FIG. 2, cylinder 42 and valve 41 may be moved as a unit by means of a supporting link 43 pivotally connected to the upper end of cylinder 42, a crossbar 44 pivotally connected at each of its ends io drive pistons 45 which are actuated by cylinders 45 The upper end of supporting link 43 is rigidly secured by welding or other well-known means, to the midpoint of the cross-bar 44. Fluid ports 45b and 45c may be provided to each of the driving cylinders 45 and are adapted to be connected with fluid lines communicating with the control apparatus 22.

It can now be understood that as the driving pistons 45 are actuated, the cylinder 42 and valve 41 are moved as a unit and valve 41 is moved into and out of sealing contact with the filling port 33b of the loading cylinder 33.

Drive means is provided and operatively connected with the loading cylinder 33 for moving such cylinder 33 axially within the discharge duct 32 and through the hopper supply means 31 between the filling position (FIG. 5 and discharging position (FIG. 3). Such means preferably includes an elongated rod 46 rigidly connected at its lower end to the loading cylinder 33 by a transverse connecting member 46a adapted to be rigidly secured on the rod 46, by well-known means, such as a nut threaded on the lower threaded end of rod 46. The ends of the transverse connecting member 46a may be welded to the inner surfaces of the loading cylinder 33.

The rod 46 is adapted to extend upwardly, through opening 41a in valve 41, and into the movable cylinder 42. A piston element 4612 may be provided on the upper end of the rod 46, such piston element 46b being in slidable contact with the inner surface of the movable cylinder 42. An accordion-type resilient housing 460 may be provided around the mid-section of the rod 46 and resilient bumper elements 47 may be provided in the lower portion of the movable cylinder 42 to absorb shock when the valve 41 is opened. The piston element 46b on rod 46 is adapted to contact the resilient bumper elements 47 when the valve is opened, but is spaced from and is not adapted to engage the top of the movable cylinder 42 during any stage of the pumping cycle, as seen in FIG. 7.

Suitable packing means 48 may be provided in the valve opening 41a to prevent leakage of material and it is preferred that releasable means be provided for replacing such packing 48 as it becomes worn.

As stated above, the control means 22 forms no part of the present invention and is diagrammatically shown together with fluid lines (dotted) communicating with the fluid ports of the

actuating cylinders

21a, 26a, and 45a for the power piston 21, check valve 23, and valve 41 and loading cylinder 33, respectively. Such control means 22 is operatively connected with the valve actuating means and the drive means for the loading cylinder for sequentially operating such means in timed relationship to move the open loading cylinder 33 from the filling position (FIG. 5) through the material in the supply hopper 31, causing material to pour through the cylinder into the loading chamber 17 to the discharging position (FIG. 3), to close and seal the filling port 33b with the valve 41 when the filling port is out of contact with the material in the supply hopper 31, and to return the closed loading cylinder 33 to the position shown in FIG. 4 where the valve 41 is opened to allow the cylinder 33 to assume the filling position of FIG. 3.

In operation with the pumping machine 16, the following sequence of steps occurs by the elements of the loading device and machine 16;

Starting with the elements in the filling position of FIG. 5, the loading cylinder 33 is in its lowermost position and is about to begin the filling stroke; and the valve 41 is spaced from the cylinder 33 to open the filling port 33b. The power or pumping piston 21 is in its most extended position at the end of a power stroke. The check valve 23 is closed as shown in FIG. 9; and the piston element 46b on rod 46 is resting on the bumper elements 47 in cylinder 42.

In timed sequence and as controlled by the control apparatus 22, the pistons 45 are moved upwardly and cylinder 42, valve 41, and loading cylinder 33 are lifted as a unit through the material in the supply hopper 31 causing such material to flow downwardly through the loading cylinder 33 into loading chamber 17. The loading cylinder continues upwardly until the filling port 33b is above the level of the material in the supply hopper 31 as shown in FIG. 1. During this filling stroke the power piston 21 has moved toward the cylinder 21a thus causing a suction to be created in loading chamber 17. This aids in drawing material from the supply hopper 31 into the loading chamber.

In the discharge stroke, the drive pistons 45 are moved downwardly causing the movable cylinder 42 and valve 41 to move downwardly as a unit until the valve is tightly seated on and seals the filling port 33b of the loading cylinder 33 above and out of contact with the material in the supply hopper 31; this is the discharging position of the loading device 15 as shown in FIG. 3. During this closing of the filling port 33b, the loading cylinder 33 was held and maintained in this elevated position by the tight frictional contact of the packing rings 37 in the discharge duct 32.

Further downward movement of the drive pistons 45 move the cylinder 42, valve 41 and now closed loading cylinder 33 downwardly during the discharge stroke until the cylinder 33 assumes the position shown in- FIG. 4. During the discharge stroke, the check valve 23 was open to allow material to pass through the outlet end 19, and the pumping piston 21 moved through its power or pumping stroke from adjacent cylinder 21a into the loading chamber 17 -In addition to the action of power piston 21, it should be understood that a second pumping or power force acts on the material in the loading chamber .17 to move the material through the outlet end 19. The closed loading cylinder 33 and delivery piston 34 moving downwardly in the discharge duct 32 during the discharge stroke functions as a piston and adds a second or additional pumping action or force to the material in the loading chamber 17 This places the material under a double head or load and produces greater pumping efficiency for the machine.

To begin the next cycle, the drive pistons 45 are raised until the movable cylinder 42 and valve 41 are moved away from the loading cylinder 33 into the filling position Sl'lOWIl in FIG. 5. It is understood that the loading cylinder 33 remains stationary until the piston element 46b on rod 46 contacts the bumper elements 47 in movable cylinder 42. The power piston 21 also remains stationary during the opening ott the filling port 33b in this position.

The filling and discharging strokes sequentially continue in timed relationship to provide a pumping machine which is more eflicient than other similar type machines. Moreover, the loading device 15 is jamproof and leakproof, eliminating loss of time, money and effort now required to frequently clear and unjam inlet valves and loading devices on pumping machines for material containing aggregate.

It should be understood that the supply hopper 31 is continuously supplied with freshly mixed material to be loaded into the machine 16. It is preferred that a uniform load of material be maintained in the supply hopper 31 so as to provide a substantially uniform level above which the filling port 33b of the loading cylinder 33 is adapted to be closed by the valve 41.

Loading devices or inlet valves, as used on concrete pumping machines heretofore, operated within the concrete supply and thus were prevented from fully opening and closing during each cycle. This, of course, caused a jammed condition at the pump or in the line. In addition, the size of the aggregate used in the material being pumped was required to be relatively small due to the valve opening for the inlet valve or loading device. In comparison, the loading device of the present invention is adapted to load material containing relatively large pieces of aggregate into a pumping machine and there is no practical limitation on the size of the opening of the load ing device.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, other means such as springs may be provided for maintaining the loading cylinder 33 in the position shown in 'FIG. 1 just prior to the valve 41 being moved downwardly to seal the filling port 33!: of the cylinder 33 above the level of the concrete or material within the supply hopper 31. These springs or other means may function separately from or in addition to the packing rings 37 provided in the upper portion of the discharge duct 32. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a leakproof, jamproof loading device for a pumping machine having a loading chamber adapted to receive material containing aggregate, the provision of:

hopper means for holding a supply of material to be loaded;

a discharge duct extending from the lower portion of said hopper supply means and adapted to communicate with the loading chamber in a pumping machine a hollow loading cylinder slidably mounted in said discharge duct for axial movement said loading cylinder having an open discharge end within said duct and a filling end including a filling port adapted to extend into and move through the material in said hopper supply means said loading cylinder being adapted to move axially within said discharge duct and through said hopper supply means between a filling position when said filling port is adapted to be open and in contact with the material in the lower portion of said hopper supply means and a discharging position when said filling port is adapted to be closed and out of contact with the material in said hopper supply means;

a movable valve carried by the loading device for opening and closing said filling port of said loading cylinder;

valve actuating means operatively connected with said valve for moving said valve into and out of sealing relation with said filling port;

drive means operatively connected with said loading cylinder for moving said loading cylinder axially within said discharge duct and through said hopper supply means between said filling position and said discharging position;

and control means operatively connected with said valve actuating means and said loading cylinder drive means for sequentially operating said means in timed relationship to move said open loading cylinder from the filling position through the material in said hopper supply means to the discharging position causing material to pour through said cylinder, to close and seal said filling port with said valve when the loading cylinder is in said discharging position and the filling port is out of contact with the material in said hopper supply means, and to return the closed loading cylinder to the filling position where the filling port is opened by removing the valve therefrom.

2. A loading device as stated in claim 1, including:

delivery piston means carried by said loading cylinder at the discharge end thereof to act upon material left in said discharge duct by said loading cylinder and force the material out of said discharge duct.

3. A loading device as stated in claim 1, wherein:

said hopper supply means include a bottom inclined downwardly and toward said discharge duct.

4. A loading device as stated in claim 1, wherein said drive means for said loading cylinder includes an elongated rod rigidly connected with said loading cylinder, said rod having a piston element thereon;

and said valve actuating means includes a movable cylinder surrounding and adapted to slidably contact said piston element on said rod and being rigidly connected to said valve, said movable cylinder having vent ports.

5. In a leakproof, jamproof loading device for a pumping machine having a loading chamber adapted to receive material containing aggregate, the provision of:

hopper means for holding a supply of material to be loaded;

a discharge duct extending from the lower portion of said hopper supply means and adapted to communicate with the loading chamber in a pumping machine;

a hollow loading cylinder slidably mounted in said discharge duct for axial movement;

said loading cylinder having an open discharge end within said duct and a filling end including a filling port adapted to extend into and move through the material in said hopper supply means;

Said loading cylinder being adapted to move axially within said discharge duct and through said hopper supply means between -a filling position when said filling port is adapted to be open and in contact with the material in the lower portion of said hopper supply means and a discharging position when said filling port is adapted to be closed and out of contact with the material in said hopper supply means;

and means for sequentially operating said valve and loading cylinder in timed relationship to move said open loading cylinder from the filling position through the material in said hopper supply means to the discharging position, thus causing material to pour through said cylinder, to close and seal said filling port with said valve when the loading cylinder is in said closed position and the filling port is out of contact with the material in said hopper supply means, and to return the closed loading cylinder to the filling position where the filling port is opened by removing the valve therefrom.

6'. A loading device as stated in claim 5, including delivery piston means carried by said loading cylinder at the discharge end thereof to act upon material left in said discharge duct by said loading cylinder and force the material out of said discharge duct.

7. A loading device as stated in claim 5, wherein said hopper supply means include a bottom inclined downwardly and toward said discharge duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. IN A LEAKPROOF, JAMPROOF LOADING DEVICE FOR A PUMPING MACHINE HAVING A LOADING CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIAL CONTAINING AGGREGATE, THE PROVISION OF: HOPPER MEANS FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF MATERIAL TO BE LOADED; A DISCHARGE DUCT EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS AND ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LOADING CHAMBER IN A PUMPING MACHINE A HOLLOW LOADING CYLINDER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID DISCHARGE DUCT FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT SAID LOADING CYLINDER HAVING AN OPEN DISCHARGE END WITHIN SAID DUCT AND A FILLING END INCLUDING A FILLING PORT ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO AND MOVE THROUGH THE MATERIAL IN SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS SAID LOADING CYLINDER BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE AXIALLY WITHIN SAID DISCHARGE DUCT AND THROUGH SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS BETWEEN A FILLING POSITION WHEN SAID FILLING PORT IS ADAPTED TO BE OPEN AND IN CONTACT WITH THE MATERIAL IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS AND A DISCHARGING POSITION WHEN SAID FILLING PORT IS ADAPTED TO BE CLOSED AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE MATERIAL IN SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS; A MOVABLE VALVE CARRIED BY THE LOADING DEVICE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID FILLING PORT OF SAID LOADING CYLINDER; VALVE ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID VALVE FOR MOVING SAID VALVE INTO AND OUT OF SEALING RELATION WITH SAID FILLING PORT; DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID LOADING CYLINDER FOR MOVING SAID LOADING CYLINDER AXIALLY WITHIN SAID DISCHARGE DUCT AND THROUGH SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS BETWEEN SAID FILLING POSITION AND SAID DISCHARGING POSITION; AND CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID VALVE ACTUATING MEANS AND SAID LOADING CYLINDER DRIVE MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY OPERATING SAID MEANS IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP TO MOVE SAID OPEN LOADING CYLINDER FROM THE FILLING POSITION THROUGH THE MATERIAL IN SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS TO THE DISCHARGING POSITION CAUSING MATERIAL TO POUR THROUGH SAID CYLINDER, TO CLOSE AND SEAL SAID FILLING PORT WITH SAID VALVE WHEN THE LOADING CYLINDER IS IN SAID DISCHARGING POSITION AND THE FILLING PORT IS OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE MATERIAL IN SAID HOPPER SUPPLY MEANS, AND TO RETURN THE CLOSED LOADING CYLINDER TO THE FILLING POSITION WHERE THE FILLING PORT IS OPENED BY REMOVING THE VALVE THEREFROM.