WO2017051189A1

WO2017051189A1 - Improved chute

Info

Publication number: WO2017051189A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/052971
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Fuller
Original assignee: Loadfast Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-24
Filing date: 2016-09-23
Publication date: 2017-03-30
Also published as: GB201516904D0

Abstract

A bulk material transfer chute (10) is operable to transfer bulk material (12) from an elevated location to a lower location. The bulk material transfer chute (10) comprises a plurality of chute sections (14A-14E). Each chute section (14A-14E) defines at least one flow surface (28, 30) and each flow surface (28, 30) has an inlet end (32A, 32B) and an outlet end (34A, 34B). Each flow surface (28, 30) is configured to decelerate the bulk material (12) adjacent the outlet end (34A, 34B).

Description

IMPROVED CHUTE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location.

Background to the Invention

The transfer of bulk materials such as grains or any other granular material, from a manufacturing location to a storage location or from a storage location to a transport container is a widely practised procedure. Systems to transfer these bulk materials often comprise a series of conveyors and chutes, the conveyors elevating the bulk material before transferring the bulk material into a chute which delivers the bulk material to another conveyor or an end location, for example, under gravity.

The systems have a number of issues to deal with. The primary issue is the generation of dust. As the bulk material falls under gravity, dust is generated which, in some materials, can be highly flammable. Additionally, the transfer of the bulk material into the chute and the passage of the bulk material through the chute can cause significant damage to the system and product making the process inefficient.

Both of these issues can be successfully managed by controlling the flow of bulk material. Various chute systems have been proposed with varying degrees of success.

United Kingdom patent number GB2258460 describes a series of frusto-conical chute sections arranged in series. This product is widely used and controls the flow by depositing the material from one chute section on to the next chute section at a substantially perpendicular angle, the impact retarding or stopping at least some of the flow before accelerating downwards once again. This stop-start method may generate substantial amounts of dust and, in some materials, the force of impact of the material leaving one chute section on the next chute section can be significant. The system described in GB2258460 has a further drawback in that during the transfer from the conveyor to the first chute section the material flow, which has a substantially rectangular cross section on the conveyor, is disrupted as it flows into the conical chute. This disruption generates increased dust and damage.

Furthermore, GB2258460 requires a diverter to direct material flowing off the conveyor into the top section of the chute. This diverter is often just an angled plate which has to withstand the impact of the material being projected from the conveyor before being directed by the plate into the chute. The impact of the diverter can wear the diverter and/or result in damage to the material.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising:

a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an inlet end and an outlet end;

wherein each flow surface is configured to decelerate the bulk material adjacent the outlet end.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, providing a bulk material transfer chute, as described in the first aspect, gives much improved control of the flow as the deceleration allows the bulk material to be gathered together before transferring under gravity to the next chute section. In practice this means a retarding impact, which generates dust, on the next chute section is not required to control the speed of the flow.

The chute sections may be arranged such that, in use, a bulk material transferring from an elevated location to a lower location, passes through each chute section in series. In such an arrangement, the outlet end of a preceding chute section flow surface may be spaced away from the inlet end of a subsequent chute section flow surface, the preceding and subsequent chute sections being arranged in series, such that the flow of material falls from the preceding chute section flow surface onto the subsequent chute section flow surface. In this arrangement, as the bulk material leaves the preceding chute section flow surface outlet, it will accelerate, and the effects of gravity, prior to engaging the subsequent chute section flow surface. This acceleration draws dust into the bulk material which may be desirable before deceleration begins again.

Each flow surface may have a bulk material receiving portion configured to receive the flow of bulk material from, for example, the preceding chute section.

The subsequent chute section may be arranged with respect to the preceding chute section such that, in use, the flow of bulk material engages the subsequent chute section flow surface bulk material receiving portion at an engagement angle, the engagement angle being acute.

In some embodiments, the engagement angle may be less than 75°.

In a preferred embodiment, the engagement angle is less than 60°. Such an arrangement reduces rebound of the bulk material off the subsequent chute flow surface, which generates dust, and particularly reduces rebound of the bulk material in a direction opposite the flow direction which can cause a build-up of stalled material choking off the main flow of the material. This arrangement also prevents a sudden retardation of the flow of bulk material. Avoiding a sudden retardation of the flow of bulk material avoids a wide spread of velocities of particles in the flow and may increase the average particle velocity for the flow as a whole increasing efficiency.

In use, a bulk material may flow along a flow surface in a flow direction, each flow surface being non-linear along an axis parallel to the flow direction. Particularly, each flow surface may be concave towards the outlet end along an axis parallel to the flow direction. A concave flow surface will counter the effects of gravity, decelerating the flow.

At least a region of each flow surface may be of a constant radius along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

Alternatively or additionally, at least a region of each flow surface may be parabolic along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

In some embodiments, each flow surface may comprise a plurality of regions, each region being linear or non-linear along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

In some embodiments, each flow surface may additionally or alternatively define a surface profile towards the outlet end, the surface profile configured to decelerate the flow.

The surface profile may be an undulating surface profile.

The undulating surface profile may be a plurality of protrusions such as ridges, recesses such as groups or combination of both protrusions and recesses.

In alternative embodiments, the surface profile may be a roughened surface. Each flow surface may be linear along an axis perpendicular to the flow direction. Such an arrangement provides a substantially flat surface across the width of the flow surface, maintaining a substantially constant cross-section to the bulk material flow as it flows down the flow surface.

In the preferred embodiment, each flow surface is non-linear over its length and is linear across its width. This preferred design of flow surface resembles a ski jump, this is in contrast to a conventional frusto-conical chute section in which the flow surface is linear along its length and is non-linear across its width. In this preferred embodiment, the bulk material maintains a substantially constant cross-section as it flows down the flow surface, producing a stable flow, as opposed to the frusto-conical arrangement in which the bulk material is funnelled towards the outlet end, the funnelling creating dust by compressing the material and expelling air and hence dust.

Each flow surface may terminate at the outlet end in a linear edge, the linear edge being perpendicular to the flow direction. A straight lower edge to the chute flow surface ensures the elements of the bulk material falling from that flow surface fall in parallel, reducing dust generating impacts with each other.

Each chute section may comprise a plurality of walls.

Each chute section may comprise at least one flow wall and a plurality of sidewalls, the/each flow wall defining a flow surface.

At least one flow section may be moveable with respect to at least one other flow section.

In one embodiment all the flow sections are relatively movable.

The flow sections may be flexibly connected.

The flow sections may be moveable from a nested configuration to a deployed configuration, the flow sections being spaced apart in deployed configuration.

In use, a proportion of the flow sections may be in the nested configuration and a proportion in the deployed configuration.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one flow section may be fixed with respect to at least one other flow section.

In an embodiment the bulk material transfer chute may comprise a housing, the plurality of chute section flow surfaces being connected to the housing

In such an embodiment, at least one flow surface may be fixed with respect to at least one other flow surface.

In this embodiment the flow surfaces may be rigidly fixed to the housing.

In an alternative embodiment the flow surfaces may be moveably fixed to the housing.

The bulk material transfer chute housing may define a passageway. The passageway may be a closed sided passageway.

The passageway may be a partially open sided passageway.

In a preferred embodiment, each chute section comprises a pair of flow walls and a pair of sidewalls, the flow walls being opposed and connected by the sidewalls. At any one time, only one of the flow walls may be in use as the flow surface. Such an arrangement facilitates nesting of the chute sections when not in use.

The chute section walls may combine to define a chute section inlet and a chute section outlet.

The/each flow surface inlet may be at or adjacent the chute section inlet and the/each flow surface outlet may be at or adjacent the chute section outlet.

The chute section inlet and/or the chute section outlet may be rectilinear.

In a preferred embodiment, the chute section inlet and the chute section outlet are rectangular.

The outlet may define a smaller cross-sectional area than the inlet. Again, such an arrangement, permits nesting of the chute sections.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising:

a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an inlet end and an outlet end, the chute sections being arranged such that bulk material flows along each flow section in a flow direction, each flow surface being non-linear along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising:

a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an inlet end and an outlet end, the chute sections being arranged such that bulk material flows along each flow section in a flow direction, each flow surface being linear along an axis perpendicular to the flow direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the material transfer chute comprising:

a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an outlet substantially defined by a linear flow surface edge.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising a housing, the housing defining a passageway, and a plurality of flow surfaces located in series in the passageway, the bulk material transfer chute being adapted to transfer a bulk material in a vertical and horizontal direction under the effects of gravity.

It will be understood that non-essential features associated with one aspect may be equally applicable to other aspects and are not repeated for brevity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a section through a bulk material transfer chute showing a bulk material approaching the chute, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a chute section of the transfer chute of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the chute section of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the hopper of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is an end view of the hopper of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a section through the bulk material transfer chute of Figure 1 showing the bulk material partially through the chute; Figure 7 is a section through the bulk material transfer chute of Figure 1 showing the bulk material fully through the chute;

Figure 8 is a section through the bulk material transfer chute of Figure 1 showing the lower chute sections being nested;

Figure 9 is a section through the bulk material transfer chute of Figure 1 showing further nesting;

Figure 10 is a section of a bulk material transfer chute showing a flow of bulk material through the chute according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 is a section of the bulk material transfer chute of Figure 10, showing a first fill position; and

Figure 12 is a section of the bulk material transfer chute of Figure 10, showing a second fill position.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Reference is first made to Figure 1, which shows a schematic section of a bulk material transfer chute, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, transferring a bulk material 12 from an elevated location indicated by "A" on Figure 1 to a lower location indicated by "B" on Figure 1 , in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

The bulk material transfer chute 10 comprises a plurality of chute sections 14A -

14E. A chute section 14 can also be seen in plan view on Figure 2 and in side view on Figure 3. As can be seen from Figures 1 to 3, each chute section 14 defines two planar walls 16, 18 and two curved walls 20, 22. The four walls 16 - 22 combine to define an inlet 24 and an outlet 26. The internal side of each curved wall 20, 22 defines a flow surface 28, 30. Each flow surface having an inlet end 32A, 32B adjacent the chute section inlet 24 and an outlet end 34A, 34B. As can be seen particularly from Figure 2, each flow surface 28, 30 is defines a concave curve 36 configured to decelerate the bulk material adjacent the outlet end 34A, 34B, as will be described in due course.

The bulk material transfer chute 10 receives the bulk material 12 from a conveyor 38 by via a hopper 40.

The hopper 40 is shown in side view in Figure 4 and front view in Figure 5. The intention of the hopper 40 is to take the flow of bulk material 12 (shown in Figure 5 on the conveyor 38, shown in broken outline) and transfer it to the first chute section 14A. As can be seen from Figure 5, but material has a substantially rectangular cross-section 42 and the hopper 40 is designed to maintain, as far as possible, this formation. Altering the flow cross-section 42 generates dust through disturbance of the flow 12 and the varying velocities of particles in the flow 12 caused by increasing or decreasing the flow cross-section 42. As far as possible is desirable to minimise the relative movement between adjacent flow particles.

The hopper 42 has a hopper inlet 44 and an outlet 54, a first hopper transfer surface 46 defined by a hopper first back wall 48 and a second hopper transfer surface 50 defined by a hopper second back wall 52. Operation of the hopper 40 will be described in due course.

Referring back to Figure 1 , the bulk material transfer chute 10 further comprises a winch 70 mounted to a framework (not shown) which pays out or reels in a pair of cables 72 (of which one is shown). Each cable 72 runs down the front and rear sides of the plurality of chute sections 14A - 14E, connecting to a spigot 74 (most clearly seen on Figure 3) to raise or lower the chute sections 14 as required and as will be discussed in due course.

Referring again to Figure 1 , the bulk material transfer chute 10 also further comprises four fixings (of which two are shown and numbered 56, 58) which are also mounted to the framework. Attached to the fixings 56, 58 are chains (of which two are shown and numbered 60, 64) which are attached by fixings 62 to the upper corner of each of the chute sections 14. These chains 60, 64 and fixings 62 set the angle of each chute section 14 with respect to the adjacent chute sections 14 to generate the optimum flow path through the transfer chute 10.

The operation of the bulk material transfer chute 10 will now be described. Referring to Figure 6, a schematic section of the bulk material transfer chute 10 of Figure 1 showing a flow of bulk material 12 in transit through the chute 10, the hopper 42 receives the flow of bulk material 12 from the conveyor 38 through the hopper inlet 44, the flow being projected by the conveyor 38 onto the first hopper transfer surface 46. The flow 12 then flows onto the second hopper transfer surface 50. The mechanics of this flow 12 through the hopper 40 is similar to the flow through the chute sections 14 and will be discussed in connection with the chute sections 14.

The flow 12 exits the hopper 40 through the hopper outlet 54 and falls under gravity onto the first chute section 14A. During this fall, the flow 12 will accelerate under the effect of gravity which draws dust surrounding the flow 12 into the flow 12.

The flow 12 impacts the first chute section flow surface 28 at an angle of less than 60°. An angle less than 90° reduces retardation of the flow which is common in the prior art systems. An angle of less than 60° assists in gathering the flow with minimal retardation of the particles or disturbance to the cross-section of the flow 12. As will be noted from Figure 2 and Figure 3, the curved walls 20, 22 which define the flow surfaces 28, 30 are linear across their width and curved along their length. This is designed to maintain the flow 12 with a relatively undisturbed cross-section. It will be noted that the curved walls 20, 22 taper slightly inwardly such that the width of the outlet 26 is narrower than the width of the inlet 24. This is to assist in nesting of the chute sections 14 as will be described in due course.

The flow of bulk material 12 then flows down the concave flow surface 30 of the first chute section 14A. The concave nature of the flow surface 28 retards the flow 12 in a controlled fashion to a velocity substantially the same as the velocity of the flow 12 at the hopper outlet 54.

The flow of bulk material 12 then flows off the flow surface outlet end 34B and falls under gravity onto the second chute section 14B. During this fall, the flow 12 will accelerate under the effect of gravity which draws dust surrounding the flow 12 into the flow 12.

Again, the flow 12 impacts the second chute section flow surface 30 at an angle of less than 60°, the flow suffering minimal retardation of the particles or disturbance of the cross-section of the flow 12.

The flow of material 12 flows through the plurality of chute sections 14A-14E, as shown in Figure 7, a schematic section of the bulk material transfer chute 10 of Figure 1 showing a flow of bulk material 12 in transit through the chute 10 and exiting the final chute section 14E. Upon exiting the final chute section 14E, the flow of bulk material forms a pile 80 at the lower location B.

As the pile 80 grows, the winch 70 is activated to reel in the cables 72, causing the final chute section 14E to lift away from the lower location B and nest with the penultimate chute section 14D, the nesting being facilitated by the taper of the curved walls 20, 22, as shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 9, further nesting of the chute sections 14 continues as the pile 80 grows.

Reference is now made to Figure 10, which shows a section of a bulk transfer material chute generally indicated by reference numeral 110 transferring a bulk material 112 from an elevated location indicated by "A" on Figure 10 to a lower location indicated by Έ" on Figure 10, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

The bulk material transfer chute 110 is for filling a silo 182 and as such it can be fixed in position within the silo 182. The chute 110 comprises a plurality of chute sections 114 each having a curved wall 120 defining a flow surface 128 which are fixed relative to one another by being welded to a rear plate 184 and a front plate (not shown).

As there is only a front and rear plate 184, the sides 186, 188 are open. This arrangement allows the silo 182 to fill up. The bulk material flows through the transfer chute 110 in a largely similar way to that described in connection with the first embodiment. However as the bulk material 112 starts to pile up at the bottom, as shown in Figure 11 , the material spills out the right side 188 of the chute 110. Once the angle of repose is reached, the flow 112 will back up material transfer chute 110 leaving a void 190 beneath the lowest flow wall 120E. When the flow 112 backs up to the top of the lowest flow surface 128E, as shown in Figure 12, the flow 112 will spill out the left side 186 of the chute 110, filling the area to the left of the chute 110 and the void 190.

Various modifications and improvements may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in a further embodiment, the chute could be identical to the chute 110 of the second embodiment but have closed sides. The rigid nature of such a chute would permit not only vertical transfer of bulk material under gravity from an elevated location to a lower location but also a degree of horizontal transfer.

Similarly, the curved walls of the second embodiment could be movable with respect to the housing, when the chute is not in use, to permit different flow rates to be achieved.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising: a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an inlet end and an outlet end; wherein each flow surface is configured to decelerate the bulk material adjacent the outlet end.

2. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the chute sections are arranged such that, in use, a bulk material transferring from an elevated location to a lower location, passes through each chute section in series.

3. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outlet end of a preceding chute section flow surface is spaced away from the inlet end of a subsequent chute section flow surface, the preceding and subsequent chute sections being arranged in series, such that the flow of material falls from the preceding chute section flow surface onto the subsequent chute section flow surface.

4. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 3, wherein each flow surface comprises a bulk material receiving portion configured to receive the flow of bulk material from the preceding chute section.

5. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the subsequent chute section is arranged with respect to the preceding chute section such that, in use, the flow of bulk material engages the subsequent chute section flow surface bulk material receiving portion at an engagement angle, the engagement angle being acute.

6. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engagement angle is less than 75°.

7. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the engagement angle is less than 60°. 8. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in use, a bulk material flows along a flow surface in a flow direction, wherein each flow surface is non-linear along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

9. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 8, wherein each flow surface is concave towards the outlet end along an axis parallel to the flow direction. 10. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein at least a region of each flow surface is of a constant radius along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

11. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in 8 or 9, wherein at least a region of each flow surface is parabolic along an axis parallel to the flow direction. 12. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each flow surface comprises a plurality of regions, each region being linear or non-linear along an axis parallel to the flow direction. 3. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each flow surface defines a surface profile towards the outlet end, wherein the surface profile is configured to decelerate the flow.

14. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 13, wherein the surface profile is an undulating surface profile.

15. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 14, wherein the undulating surface profile comprises a plurality of protrusions.

16. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 15, wherein the protrusions comprise ridges. 17. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the surface profile comprises a combination of ridges and recesses.

18. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 13, wherein the surface profile comprises a roughened surface.

19. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 8 to 18, wherein each flow surface is linear along an axis perpendicular to the flow direction.

20. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 8 to 18, wherein each flow surface is non-linear over its length and is linear across its width.

21. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 8 to 20, wherein each flow surface terminates at the outlet end in a linear edge, the linear edge being perpendicular to the flow direction.

22. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each chute section comprises a plurality of walls.

23. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 22, wherein each chute section comprises at least one flow wall and a plurality of sidewalls, the/each flow wall defining a flow surface.

24. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein at least one chute section may be moveable with respect to at least one other chute section.

25. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 22, 23, or 24, wherein all the chute sections are relatively movable.

26. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 22 to 25, wherein the chute sections are flexibly connected. 27. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 22 to 26, wherein chute sections are moveable from a nested configuration to a deployed configuration, the chute sections being spaced apart in deployed configuration.

28. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 27, wherein, in use, a proportion of the chute sections are in the nested configuration and a proportion of the chute sections are in the deployed configuration.

29. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein at least one chute section is fixed with respect to at least one other flow section.

30. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 22 to 29, further comprising a housing, wherein the plurality of chute section flow surfaces are each connected to the housing

31. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least one flow surface is fixed with respect to at least one other flow surface.

32. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 30 or 31 , wherein the flow surfaces are rigidly fixed to the housing. 33. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 30 or 31 , wherein the flow surfaces are moveably fixed to the housing.

34. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 30, 31 or 32, wherein the housing defines a passageway.

35. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 34, wherein the passageway is a closed sided passageway.

36. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 34, wherein the passageway is a partially open sided passageway. 37. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 22 to 29, wherein each chute section comprises a pair of flow walls and a pair of sidewalls, the flow walls being opposed and connected by the sidewalls.

38. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 37, wherein the walls of each chute section may combine to define a chute section inlet and a chute section outlet. 39. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 38, wherein the/each flow surface inlet is at or adjacent the chute section inlet and the/each flow surface outlet is at or adjacent the chute section outlet.

40. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 38 or 39, wherein the chute section inlet and/or the chute section outlet is rectilinear. 4 . The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in claim 38, 39 or 40, wherein the chute section inlet and the chute section outlet are rectangular.

42. The bulk material transfer chute as claimed in any of claims 38 to 41 , wherein outlet defines a smaller cross-sectional area than the inlet.

43. A bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising: a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an inlet end and an outlet end, the chute sections being arranged such that bulk material flows along each flow section in a flow direction, each flow surface being non-linear along an axis parallel to the flow direction.

44. A bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising: a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an inlet end and an outlet end, the chute sections being arranged such that bulk material flows along each flow section in a flow direction, each flow surface being linear along an axis perpendicular to the flow direction.

45. A bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the material transfer chute comprising: a plurality of chute sections, each chute section defining at least one flow surface, each flow surface having an outlet substantially defined by a linear flow surface edge.

46. A bulk material transfer chute for transferring a bulk material from an elevated location to a lower location, the bulk material transfer chute comprising a housing, the housing defining a passageway, and a plurality of flow surfaces located in series in the passageway, the bulk material transfer chute being adapted to transfer a bulk material in a vertical and horizontal direction under the effects of gravity.