Patent ID: 7377005
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: B62B,B65G

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for transporting particulate material comprising: a vacuum system including an air pump having a vacuum side and an outlet side, an inlet opening for receiving an inlet stream of air generated by the vacuum side of the pump and containing the particulate material to be transported, a separation system for separating the particulate material from the inlet air stream for passage of the air stream through the pump and an outlet duct for receiving the air stream from the outlet side of the pump and for transporting the particulate material from the separation system to an outlet location; an inlet nozzle assembly movable at an inlet location for collecting the particulate materials to be transported from the inlet location by the inlet air stream; and a flexible hose connected between the inlet nozzle assembly and the inlet opening of the vacuum system and arranged to provide sufficient flexibility to allow movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the inlet location; the flexible hose being arranged to provide flexibility to allow free movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the bulk supply of the crop materials; the flexible hose having at least three tubular rigid metal portions and at least two tubular flexible polymeric portions with the rigid portions and the flexible portions being connected end to end in a row alternately.