US3845794A

US3845794A - Filling systems

Info

Publication number: US3845794A
Application number: US00227101A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Folde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-19
Filing date: 1972-02-17
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05
Also published as: FR2125603B1; SE350218B; DE2207698B2; FR2125603A1; DE2207698A1; CA963420A; GB1332640A

Abstract

A system for automatically filling a transport container for concrete and the like from a frame-mounted storage container having a gravity feed exit in the bottom thereof is described. This system includes an arm mounted container holder for receiving a container which is lowered into the holder when the holder is swung by the arm outside of the framework of the storage container. The holder is then swung by the arms about a horizontal or vertical axis into a second position beneath the discharge exit of the storage container. Switch actuated means energize a control valve to a pressure cylinder to move the closing flap of the storage container aside, filling the transport container to a predetermined level. Reaching of this level is automatically sensed, re-energizing the drive means to return the arm mounted holder to the original position from which the transport container may be removed. The automatic control system also includes means for automatically closing the discharge flap in the event of a power failure; means for automatically energizing the drive means after a predetermined period of time; and means for momentarily partially reopening the discharge flap during the closing cycle in the event that a stone or the like becomes lodged in the discharge exit preventing complete closure of the flap.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 lFoltle Nov. 5, 1974 1 1 FllLlLlNG SYSTEMS [76] Inventor: Erik Rune Folde, Forshagagatan 14,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,379 5/1916 Ritter 222/160 1,849,203 3/1932 Powell 141/271 X 2,854,171 9/1958 Trief 222/558 X 3,073,401 1/1963 Zenke 141/83 UX 3,191,642 6/1965 Saito 1 141/83 X 3,252,654 5/1966 Deutch 1 1 141/373 X 3,543,812 12/1970 Friedman 141/373 X Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Assistant ExaminerCharles Gorenstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schuyler, Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett [57] ABSTRACT A system for automatically filling a transport con tainer for concrete and the like from a frame-mounted storage container having a gravity feed exit in the bottom thereof is described. This system includes an arm mounted container holder for receiving a container which is lowered into the holder when the holder is swung by the arm outside of the framework of the storage container. The holder is then swung by the arms about a horizontal or vertical axis into a second position beneath the discharge exit of the storage container. Switch actuated means energize a control valve to a pressure cylinder to move the closing flap of the storage container aside, filling the transport container to a predetermined level. Reaching of this level is automatically sensed, re-energizing the drive means to return the arm mounted holder to the original position from which the transport container may be removed. The automatic control system also includes means for automatically closing the discharge flap in the event of a power failure; means for automatically energizing the drive means after a predetermined period of time; and means for momentarily partially reopening the discharge flap during the closing cycle in the event that a stone or the like becomes lodged in the discharge exit preventing complete closure of the flap.

19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEUnnv 5 m4 SHEHBUFS TIME RESTRICTING MEANS- FILLING SYSTEMS The present invention relates to a system for automatically filling a transport container, suspended by a cable from a crane or other form of lifting apparatus, with, for example, concrete from a storage container.

Cranes are being used to an increasing extent for moving materials both vertically and laterally, particularly within the building industry. For example, concrete and cement etc. are normally moved by means of a transport container, a so-called basket, suspended by a cable from a crane or similar lifting apparatus. The basket is normally open at the top and is provided with a closable discharge opening in its bottom. The basket is filled from a large storage container, a so-called bunker, whose loading opening is normally arranged in the bottom wall thereof. Problems are encountered when attempting to place the basket correctly beneath the loading opening of the bunker. One reason for this is that since the basket is suspended freely from the crane by a cable, it is not possible to move the basket laterally into its correct position beneath the discharge opening of the bunker without manual assistance, owing to the fact that the basket tends to swing on the cable. It is therefore necessary to station a workman by the bunker, in order to ensure that the basket is positioned correctly and to superintend the filling of the basket from the bunker.

Moreover, when loading the basket from the bunker, aggregate, stones and like obstacles are liable to lodge between the closure flap of the bunker and its seating surface, thereby preventing the flap from closing properly, with obvious consequences.

The object of the present invention is to provide a filling system which automatically sees to filling of the basket and which eliminates the presence of an assistant to place the basket beneath the bunker and to superintend filling of the basket. Another object of the invention is to provide a system which automatically frees the flap from obstructing objects, such as stones or the like. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a system for automatically filling a transport container suspended by a cable from a crane or the like with, for example concrete, from a storage container, the transport container being intended to be placed in a holder located in a first position externally of the defining surfaces of the storage container, and thereby to start a drive means arranged to move the holder and the transport container to a second position located beneath a discharge opening in the storage container, in which second position means for opening and closing the discharge opening of the storage container are actuated to open the discharge opening and to cause the transport container to be filled to a predetermined level, means being arranged to start the drive means subsequent to filling the transport container to return the filled container and the holder to its first position, and the system is mainly characterized in that the holder is supported on one end of at least one arm, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a frame or directly to the storage container, the drive means being attached to the frame or the storage container and connected to the arm or arms to drive said arm or arms between the first and the second position and vice versa.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a filling system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 shows the side view of an alternative embodiment of a filling system constructed in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 6 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

The illustrated filling system is provided with a storage container in the form of a bunker l for concrete mounted in a frame structure 2 and arranged to be hydraulically raised and lowered for filling purposes. Such bunkers are used generally on building sites. The invention, however, is not restricted to the use of elevatable bunkers, but also pertains to bunkers which are fixedly mounted in position.

The frame structure 2 of the bunker 1 includes a framework intended to be placed on a supporting surface, such as the ground, and to carry the bunker and the means by which it is raised and lowered. In the illustrated embodiment, the framework also carries a horizontal shaft 3, which is supported in bearings 4 on the frame structure and on which two arms 5 are pivotally mounted. The arms 5 are interconnected by means of the shaft 3. The free end of each of the arms 5 is pivotally connected to a holder means 6 intended to carry a transport container in the form of a so-called concrete basket 7. The holder means 6 is also provided with guide means 45 for the basket 7. The basket 7 is made of sheet metal and tapers downwardly, and is provided at its upper circular edge with a horizontally outwardly projecting circular flange 7a. The basket is also provided with a support frame comprising a number of vertical posts 7b and a horizontal circular ring 7c to which the lower ends of the posts 7b are attached. The ring has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the flange, and thus smaller than the largest diameter of the basket. The ring is also located slightly below the lower portion of the basket container, to protect an emptying flap 7d located at the lower end of the container, from impact and knocks when the basket is moved while in use.

The upper flange 7a of the concrete basket 7 abuts a flange 6a at the upper end of the circular conical guide means 45, which is arranged to facilitate movement of the basket to the correct position. The conical guide means 45 extends into a lower cylindrical guide portion 46 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the ring 7b in the support frame of the basket.

The basket 7 is suspended by a cable 9, via a stirrup 8, from a crane or similar lifting means. The holder means 6 is positioned so that its pivotal connection with the arms 5 is located above its centre of gravity and also above the common centre of gravity of the holder means 6 and the basket 7. This means that the holder means 6 constantly attempts to adopt the same position, with its basket receiving opening located in a horizontal plane. No extra means for ensuring that the holder means 6 adopts the said position are therefore required.

The arms 5, and therewith also the holder means 6, are capable of moving between the first position shown with full lines in FIG. 1 i.e., substantially inside the volumetric space defined by vertical extensions of the defining surfaces of bunker l; and the second position shown with dash-and-dot lines substantially outside the bunker defining surfaces. Thus in the first position the transport container 7 may be filled from bunker 1; in the second position the transport container 7 may be inserted in or removed from holder 6. Movement between the two positions is effected by means of a drive arrangement, which in the illustrated embodiment has the form of a piston-cylinder assembly 10 driven by a pressure medium and connected via its cylinder 11 to a lug 12 on the framework and via its piston rod 13 by means of a pin 14 to a lug 15 on the arm 5. The pistoncylinder assembly 10 can be driven either hydraulically or pneumatically and, when the bunker l is capable of being raised and lowered by means of its own individual hydraulic system, this system can be used also to drive the piston-cylinder assembly 10.

in the position illustrated with full lines in H08. 1 and 3, the arms bear against a load sensing means 16 mounted on the frame structure, the means 16 being arranged to detect the magnitude of the load when the piston-cylinder assembly has been disconnected. The load sensing means 16 may be hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanic, or may be in the form of an electrical weighing device.

Mounted to the frame structure is also a sensing means 17, which is arranged in a position such that it is actuated by the arms 5 when the arms reach the position shown with full lines.

When wishing to fill the basket with material from the bunker, the filling system of the present invention is operated in the following manner.

When the basket 7 is to be filled, it is lowered by the cable 9, together with the stirrup 8 down into the holder means 6, which is then located in the position illustrated by the dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 1. When the basket 7 reaches its correct position in the holder means 6, a sensing means 18 is actuated, the sensing means causing the drive means to start up, i.e., the piston-cylinder assembly It) begins to operate. The holder means 6 and the basket 7 are then moved by the arms 5 to the position shown with full lines in FIG. 1. When this position is reached, the arms 5 come into contact with the load sensing means 16 and the sensing means 17. The sensing means 17 switches off the pistoncylinder assembly 10. The assembly 10 has some residual movement of rod 13, however, through idling means comprising pin 14 and lug on arm 5 having elongated hole or slot 19 therein until the pin 14 on the piston rod 13 is moved from one end of an elongated hole 19 in the lug 15 to the other end and adopts the position shown with full lines in FIG. 3. ln this way, the arms 5 are not prevented from bearing against the load sensing means 16 and the sensing means 17.

The sensing means 17 is also arranged to cause a piston-cylinder assembly 20 to open a discharge flap 22 arranged in the bunker 1, whereby concrete, for example, flows from the bunker down into the basket 7. When the basket 7 has been filled to a predetermined level, the load sensing means 16 sends a signal instructing the piston-cylinder assembly 20 to close the discharge flap 22. When the discharge opening is closed, a sensing means 21 is actuated by the flap at the discharge opening of the bunker and causes the pistoncylinder assembly 10 to operate to move the arms 5 and the holder means 6 with the basket 7 to the position shown with dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 1, in which position the piston-cylinder assembly drive is disconnected in a known manner, e.g., by means of a sensing device comprising a photocell, electric switch, or other appropriate device which interrupts the supply of pressure medium to the piston-cylinder assembly. The filled basket 7 can then be readily lifted out of the holder means 6.

As before mentioned, the system of the present invention also includes means for ensuring that the bunker flap is closed properly subsequent to filling the basket 7, and FIG. 4 illustrates diagramatically the storage bunker 1 and means for controlling the arrangement 20 for opening and closing the discharge flap 22 of the bunker. The opening and closing means 20 comprise in the illustrated embodiment a pressure medium operated piston-cylinder assembly, the piston rod 23 of which is connected to the discharge flap 22 and the cylinder 24 of which is connected to the bunker 1. Movement of the piston 25 of the piston-cylinder assembly 20, and therewith also of the piston rod 23, is caused by supplying pressure medium to the flap closing or flap opening sections (80,81, respectively) of the piston 25 through

lines

26 and 27. These lines are connected to a directional valve 28 supplied with pressure medium. The valve 28 is actuated by the load sensing means 16 and sensing means 17 to effect the aforementioned control of the movement of the piston-cylinder assembly 20. The load sensing means 16 also actuates the drive means 10, although not directly, the arrangement being such that the drive means 10 is not actuated until a pulse pressures. obtained from the sensing means 21 when the flap 22 reaches its fully closed position.

When closing the flap 22, pressure medium is passed via the line 27 to the cylinder 24. Connected in the line 27 is an over pressure sensing means 30, comprising a so-called pressure monitor, which sends a pulse when sensing abnormally high pressure. The pressure monitor 30 is connected to the directional valve 28 in a manner such that the pulse from the pressure monitor causes the function of the

lines

26 and 27 to be reversed during the duration of the pulse, which means that the direction of movement of the piston 25 and the piston rod 23 is also reversed. This is important in those cases when the flap 22 cannot be closed properly, owing, for example, to the presence of a stone located between the rim of the flap 22 and the rim of the discharge opening. When this occurs, the pressure in the line 27 rises to above the normal pressure and the pressure monitor 30 sends a pulse to the directional valve 28, causing the flap to be momentarily re-opened, thereby enabling the obstructing object to fall out. When the pulse ceases, the function of the

lines

26 and 27 is again reversed and the closing movement continues. To provide for a pulse of desired duration, the pressure monitor 30 can be provided with a suitable type of delay means.

In order to prevent the discharge flap 22 of the bunker 1 from remaining open in the event of an electric current failure while the basket 7 is being filled with concrete from the bunker 1, in which case a drop in pressure in the pressure medium system would also occur simultaneously as the electro-magnetically controlled directional valve 28 would, in this case, block the

lines

26 and 27, a pressure accumulator 31 is connected in the line 27 to the piston-cylinder assembly 20. The pressure accumulator 31 is charged when the pressure medium places, for example, the line 27 to the piston-cylinder assembly under pressure. Extending from the line 27 is a branch line 29 having a non-return valve 32 to the pressure accumulator 31. Connected to the branch line 29, between the non-return valve 32 and the pressure accumulator 31, is a branch line 33 leading to an electro-magnetically controlled directional valve 34, the line 33 extending further through a non-return valve 35 to the line 27. On the line 26 is located a branch line 36 having a non-return valve 37, through which pressure medium from the line 26 can pass through the valve 34 and further to the container 38 in the pressure medium system or to the pressure accumulator 31, depending on the position of the valve. When the supply of electric current is interrupted, the valve 34 takes an end position. Pressure medium from the charged pressure accumulator 31 will then pass through the

lines

33, 39 and 27 to actuate the pistoncylinder assembly 20, so that the flap 22 is moved to close the discharge opening of the bunker l. The pressure medium located in front of the piston will be forced through the

lines

26, 36 and the valve 34 to the container 38. By means of this arrangement the risk of the entire contents of the bunker I being emptied in the event of an interruption in the current supply is obviated. In order to enable the discharge opening of the bunker I to be held open intentionally, for example to enable the bunker to be cleaned, a manually closable valve 40 is provided in the line 26.

To prevent the holder means 6 with the basket 7 remaining beneath the discharge opening of the bunker I in the event that the concrete in the bunker 1 is exhausted during a filling operation and the amount charged to the basket falls short of the predetermined amount required to actuate the load sensing means 16 and the sensing means 21, which normally starts the drive means I0, the operating system of the opening and closing means 20 is provided with a time relay restricting means which, after a predetermined period of time, sends a pulse to the directional valve 28, which actuates the opening and closing means 20 so that the discharge opening of the bunker l is closed and the holder means 6 with the basket 7 returned to the first position externally of the bunker ll.

It may also be convenient to provide manually actuable means for operating certain functions of the sequence.

In order to reduce the effect of possible knocks and bangs experienced when the arms 5 contact the sensing means 16, suitable shock absorbing means can be used. Such means can be mounted either on the arms 5 or on the sensing means 16 and may be of any known type suitable for the purpose.

Similarly, a shock absorbing means may be arranged in the arm drive means. For example, the pistoncylinder assembly 10 may be provided on one end with a shock absorbing means. This particular means is suitably made to be double acting, so that it will be able to absorb knocks and bangs in both movement directions, for example the knocks which are experienced when the arms 5 pass the vertical position and the pin 14 is moved from one end of the hole ll9 tothe other.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment, but can be modified within the scope of the following claims. For example, the arms 5, the drive means and associated elements may be arranged on a separate frame placed in a suitable manner in or adjacent the frame structure 2. Another conceivable embodiment is one in which the shaft 3 is arranged vertically and the arms 5, or some other suitable support means for the holder 6, are arranged to pivot between first and second positions in a horizontal plane, and in which the sensing means 16 is arranged to sense the magnitude of the load from the holder means 6 and the basket 7. For example in the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, holder means 6 is connected to an arm means 50 which comprise arms which are secured to each other. The two upper horizontal arms 50A of arm means 50 which are secured to a holder 6, are pivotally or turnably arranged on a collar 52 which is supported by bearings 54 fastened to the upper part of a vertical shaft 56 which is turnably mounted in bearings 58. The bearings 58 are fastened to the same structure 2.

Holder 6 with arm means 50 and transport container 7 are turnable, around the vertical shaft 56, between a first and second position shown in full lines and dashed lines respectively in FIG. 6. The turning between these two positions is performed by means of the pistoncylinder assemble 10, which in this embodiment is con nected between the frames structure 2 and an arm 60 at the lower end of shaft 56. Further, in order to reduce the load on the sensing means 16, the sensing means can be arranged at a greater distance from the shaft 3 or may be actuated by a separate arm, for example, in FIG. 5 the load sensing means 16 is arranged between the vertical shaft 56 and the lower part of the arm means 50 so that it continuously senses the load of the basket 7 and the holder 6. It is also possible to arrange some form of transmission means between the arms 5 and the sensing means R6, for example a system of levers. Moreover, it is, of course, also possible to arrange separate drive means for each arm 5 and to use other types of drive means, for example hydraulic rotary motors or mechanical means with gears or the like.

The present invention provides a filling system which is relatively simple in construction, robust and reliable in operation and also inexpensive and simple to maintain. A further advantage obtained with the filling system of the present invention is that the bunker 1 can be constructed in a more effective manner than conventional bunkers. The bunkers used at present are normally rectangular in shape and taper downwardly to a discharge opening which is asymmetrically placed, to enable filling of the basket in a known manner. The asymmetric design of the bottom of the bunker renders it difficult for the contents thereof to be discharged because some of the angles of inclination in the bunker become too small. With a filling system constructed in accordance with the invention, however, a bunker having a symmetrically located discharge opening can be used, thereby providing for more favourable angles of inclination in the bottom of the bunker and facilitating emptying of the same.

I claim:

1. A filling system for automatically filling a transport container with material from a storage container having a support frame, the transport container being placed in a holder located in a first position substantially externally of the support frame of the storage container, drive means for moving the holder and the transport container both from said first position to a second position located substantially within said support frame and beneath a discharge opening in the storage container and from said second position to said first position, means responsive to the positioning of said holder in said second position for actuating the opening and closing of the discharge opening of the storage container to cause the transport container to be filled with a predetermined amount of said material, load sensing means responsive to filling the transport container for causing said drive means to return the filled container and the holder to its first position, the holder being supported on one end of at least one arm, the other end of said arm being pivotally connected to said frame of said storage container, the drive means being connected to the arm and said frame to drive said arm between the first and the second position and vice versa.

2. A filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means comprises a pressure medium operated piston-cylinder assembly.

3. A filling system according'to claim 2, characterized in that one end of said arm is pivotally connected to a common horizontal shaft of said frame, the other end of said arm comprising a pivotal support for said holder, said holder being mounted on said arm above the center of gravity of said holder arranged so that the upper edge of said holder adopts a horizontal position in said first and second positions.

4. A filling system according to claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a switch responsive to the positioning of said holder in said second position, for generating a signal causing the drive means to be disconnected and actuating said storage discharge actuating means said arm thereafter abutting a control switch of said load sensing means for transmission of a signal to said storage discharge means when the transport container is filled with a predetermined quantity of mate rial.

5. A filling system according to claim 2 including manually operable means to start the drive means.

6. A filling system according to claim 2, characterized in that the arm extends generally horizontally and is arranged to rotate around a vertical axis between said first and said second position.

7. A filling system according to claim 6 including a separate lever connected to said generally horizontally extending holder supporting arm for actuating said load sensing means.

8. A filling system according to claim 6, including a discharge flap for said storage container, a first sensing means responsive to correct positioning of said container in said holder for starting the drive means, a second sensing means responsive to said arm positioning said holder in said second position for stopping operation of the drive means and to provide a start signal to the storage discharge actuating means for opening the discharge flap of the storage container, and wherein said load sensing means includes a third sensing means responsive to a predetermined quantity of material being discharged to the transport container for actuating the storage discharge actuating means to close the discharge flap of the'storage container and a fourth sensing means responsive to the discharge flap of the storage container being closed to start the drive means to return the holder and the transport container to the first position.

9. A filling system according to claim 8, characterized in that the third sensing means comprises a hydraulic pressure measuring device having a displaceable contact element in contact with said arm for establishing a signal to initiate closing of said discharge flap when a predetermined load of material is in said transport container said measuring device being adjustable whereby said predetermined load is adjustable with regard to its magnitude.

10. A filling system according to claim 6 characterized in that the storage container discharge actuating means includes a displaceable flap movable by a pressure medium operated piston cylinder assembly connected between said flap and said frame for said storage container for opening and closing said flap in response to signals from said actuating and load sensing means, and including a fifth sensing means connected to said pressure medium operated assembly of said discharge operating means and responsive to pressurization in said assembly in excess of a predetermined magnitude for providing an override signal of limited duration to said actuating means for momentarily overriding said load sensing means signal and thereby partially reopening said flap.

11. A filling system according to claim 10, including a signal controlled directional valve connected to both first and second chamber sections of said double piston cylinder over pressure medium carrying control lines and which is actuated by the signals from the second and third sensing means for controlling movement of said pressure operated piston cylinder assembly in either direction by controlling the flow of pressure medium to said chamber sections over said lines, said fifth sensing means consisting of an over-pressure sensing means connected in parallel with one of said pressure medium lines which reacts at a certain predetermined overpressure above the normal maximum working pressure in line of the pressure medium system actuated by piston movement when closing the flap, for sending said override signal to said directional valv'e said load sensing means including a fourth sensing means which senses when the flap is fully closed to emit a signal which starts the drive means.

12. A filling system according to claim 11, characterized in that the over-pressure sensing means comprises a pressure monitor connected to one of said control lines for sensing the pressure therein, and a delay means connected between said pressure monitor and said directional valve and comprising a time relay for maintaining said override signal which holds the directional valve in the position which causes momentary reversal of the movement of pressure medium to the chamber sections, thereby causing reversal of the direction of movement of the piston and the flap for a predetermined period of time.

13. A filling system according to claim 11, characterized in that a pressure accumulator is connected to at least one of the pressure medium carrying control lines in the pressure medium circuit of the piston-cylinder assembly of said discharge operating means in series with the flap closing section of said cylinder through a circuit-failure-open valve, the accumulator being charged with said pressure medium and discharge through said control lines during opening of said flap,

said accumulator discharging said medium through said failure open valve to said flap closing sectionof said cylinder to force said piston to move said flap to closed position in response to failure in said system.

14. A filling system according to claim 13 including a container connected in series with the flap closed side of said cylinder through said failure-open-valve to store the pressure medium received from said flap open section of said cylinder.

15. A filling system according to claim 11 including a time restricting means is connected to the directional valve in the pressure medium circuit for the pistoncylinder assembly and initially responsive to said second sensing means for establishing an outside time limit for filling said transport container with said material, and for providing a flap closing signal to said directional valve after a predetermined length of time so that the discharge flap of the storage container is closed.

16. A filling system according to claim 15, characterized in that the time restricting means comprises a time relay which is capable of being adjusted with respect to the delay with which it actuates the directional valve and thereby restricts the time during which the discharge flap can remain open.

17. A filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder comprises an upper circular conical portion forming a guide means for the transport container, said holder being tapered downwardly from said conical portion to a lower portion comprising a cylindrical portion, the upper horizontal edge of the conical portion including a flange, said transport container including an upper circular end portion having a flange sized to abut said holder flange is guided into said holder. w

18. A filling system according to claim 1 characterized in that an idling means is connected between the arm and the drive means for permitting the arm, at least when it is located in the second position, to move freely through a short distance independently of the drive means, to eliminate the effect of the drive means on the load sensing means.

19. A filling system according to claim 18, characterized in that the idling means comprises a pin included in said drive means and a slot for said pin in a lug carried on said arm, whereby in said second position said drive means is only idly connected to said arm.

Claims

3. A filling system according to claim 2, characterized in that one eNd of said arm is pivotally connected to a common horizontal shaft of said frame, the other end of said arm comprising a pivotal support for said holder, said holder being mounted on said arm above the center of gravity of said holder arranged so that the upper edge of said holder adopts a horizontal position in said first and second positions.

4. A filling system according to claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a switch responsive to the positioning of said holder in said second position, for generating a signal causing the drive means to be disconnected and actuating said storage discharge actuating means said arm thereafter abutting a control switch of said load sensing means for transmission of a signal to said storage discharge means when the transport container is filled with a predetermined quantity of material.

8. A filling system according to claim 6, including a discharge flap for said storage container, a first sensing means responsive to correct positioning of said container in said holder for starting the drive means, a second sensing means responsive to said arm positioning said holder in said second position for stopping operation of the drive means and to provide a start signal to the storage discharge actuating means for opening the discharge flap of the storage container, and wherein said load sensing means includes a third sensing means responsive to a predetermined quantity of material being discharged to the transport container for actuating the storage discharge actuating means to close the discharge flap of the storage container and a fourth sensing means responsive to the discharge flap of the storage container being closed to start the drive means to return the holder and the transport container to the first position.

11. A filling system according to claim 10, including a signal controlled directional valve connected to both first and second chamber sections of said double piston cylinder over pressure medium carrying control lines and which is actuated by the signals from the second and third sensing means for controlling movement of said pressure operated piston cylinder assembly in either direction by controlling the flow of pressure medium to said chamber sections over said lines, said fifth sensing means consisting of an over-pressure sensing means connEcted in parallel with one of said pressure medium lines which reacts at a certain predetermined overpressure above the normal maximum working pressure in line of the pressure medium system actuated by piston movement when closing the flap, for sending said override signal to said directional valve said load sensing means including a fourth sensing means which senses when the flap is fully closed to emit a signal which starts the drive means.

13. A filling system according to claim 11, characterized in that a pressure accumulator is connected to at least one of the pressure medium carrying control lines in the pressure medium circuit of the piston-cylinder assembly of said discharge operating means in series with the flap closing section of said cylinder through a circuit-failure-open valve, the accumulator being charged with said pressure medium and discharge through said control lines during opening of said flap, said accumulator discharging said medium through said failure open valve to said flap closing section of said cylinder to force said piston to move said flap to closed position in response to failure in said system.

15. A filling system according to claim 11 including a time restricting means is connected to the directional valve in the pressure medium circuit for the piston-cylinder assembly and initially responsive to said second sensing means for establishing an outside time limit for filling said transport container with said material, and for providing a flap closing signal to said directional valve after a predetermined length of time so that the discharge flap of the storage container is closed.

17. A filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder comprises an upper circular conical portion forming a guide means for the transport container, said holder being tapered downwardly from said conical portion to a lower portion comprising a cylindrical portion, the upper horizontal edge of the conical portion including a flange, said transport container including an upper circular end portion having a flange sized to abut said holder flange is guided into said holder.