Abstract:
The dual flange hopper tee or other fitting connects to the bottom of a hopper for use in unloading the contents thereof, and has a relatively low profile for ground clearance. When used in conjunction with a valve, the tee or other fitting can be removed from the hopper without requiring removal of the valve, and can allow opening of the valve without interfering with flow through a horizontal pipe section of the fitting.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/619,165, filed Oct. 15, 2004. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates generally to a tee or other fitting for connection to the bottom of a hopper for use in unloading the contents thereof, and more particularly, to a dual flange tee or other fitting which provides improved ground clearance compared to many prior known tee and fitting constructions, and when used in conjunction with a valve, allows the tee to be removed from the hopper without requiring removal of the valve, and can allow opening of the valve without interfering with flow through a horizontal pipe section of the fitting. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Commonly, mobile hopper trailers and vehicles are used for carrying bulk commodities such as industrial products such as pelletized plastics and the like, and food products such as milled flours and the like. Typically, the hoppers include multiple sections or compartments for receiving and holding the products, each section or compartment having a generally conical or tapered bottom portion terminating at a discharge outlet. A discharge or dump valve is typically connected to the outlet and to an inverted tee or other fitting located beneath the valve, the tee or other fitting being connected on both ends to generally horizontal pipes or hoses connected in turn to the tees or fittings of the other sections or compartments. In this manner, a generally horizontal path through the fittings connected pipes or hoses is formed for the flow of the materials discharged from the hopper sections or compartments. The discharge or dump valves can selectably be opened to allow the material to be discharged from the selected hopper therethrough, under force of gravity and/or a pressure differential between the hopper section and the flow path, vibration often being used to facilitate the material flow from the hopper and to prevent bridging wherein the material forms a self-supporting arch or dome above the discharge outlet. A pneumatic flow is typically generated through the flow path by a blower or the like disposed at one end of the flow path, to carry the discharged material through the flow path to a receiver or connection at another end of the path. 
   A disadvantage of many of the known hopper tee and other fitting constructions is that, particularly when used with a valve, they have a substantial downward extent beneath the hopper section, so as to be subject to potential damage from contact with road hazards, particularly railroad tracks and curbs, which the hoppers cross from time to time. And, another disadvantage of the known hopper tees is that if they become damaged, or otherwise are rendered inoperable, for instance, such as due to blockage therein, or the like, they cannot be easily removed from the hopper, without either removing the valve or separately securing the valve to the hopper. 
   Reference in this regard, Sisk U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,404, issued Oct. 14, 1997, which discloses a low profile flanged tee for a hopper, including in one embodiment thereof an integral flange positioned around an opening formed in a top side of an elongated hollow pipe section, which flange includes an array of holes through which bolts are passed for connection of the tee to the bottom of a hopper, typically with a valve disposed therebetween. Possible shortcomings or disadvantages of the Sisk low profile tee include that, in the event it is required or desired to remove the tee, for instance, due to damage or clogging, the valve must also be removed, or connected in some manner to the hopper separately from the tee. Additionally, when used with a butterfly type valve, the low profile design may result in a lower portion of the valve member being disposed in the horizontal flow path through the tee so as to possibly interfere with material flow therethrough. Further, it is observed that the disclosed embodiments of the Sisk low profile tee do not include bolt holes through the portions of the flange located directly above the horizontal pipe section, which could possibly lead to weakened sealing in those regions. 
   Thus, what is sought is a hopper fitting, and particularly a tee, having a low vertical profile and other advantages, which overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and disadvantages set forth above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   What is disclosed is a dual flange hopper fitting which provides one or more of the advantages, and overcomes one or more of the shortcomings or disadvantages, set forth above. 
   According to a preferred aspect of the invention, a dual flange hopper fitting is disclosed including a lower hollow pipe section defining an interior cavity and at least one open end portion in connection with the interior cavity. The fitting includes an upper hollow pipe section integral with and projecting upwardly from the lower hollow pipe section, the upper hollow pipe section defining an interior passage connecting with and extending upwardly from the interior cavity to an upwardly facing upper opening. The upper hollow pipe section includes an upper portion having a pair of wings or partial flanges extending sidewardly in opposite directions therefrom, each of the wings including an upwardly facing wing surface located a predetermined distance higher than one or more upper peripheral portions of the lower hollow pipe section. The fitting further includes a separate or loose flange or ring including oppositely facing flange surfaces extending around and defining an aperture therethrough configured for cooperatively receiving, or mating or assembling with, the upper portion of the hollow pipe section such that one of the flange surfaces is positioned so as to at least generally face the upwardly facing wing surfaces of the wings and is located about the predetermined distance above the upper peripheral portions of the end portions of the lower hollow pipe section. When the flange is positioned in this manner, the other of the flange surfaces will face upwardly. The flange or ring has an array of holes therethrough positioned such that when the upper portion of the upper hollow pipe section is cooperatively received in the aperture of the flange or ring, or otherwise mated or assembled with the flange or ring, some of the holes will be positioned so as to be at least generally aligned with holes through the wings, respectively, for jointly receiving a first plurality of fasteners therethrough for attaching the fitting and the flange or ring to a bottom of a hopper beneath an opening or discharge outlet thereof, and at least one other of the holes, and more preferably several of the holes, will be located in spaced relation above the lower hollow pipe section for receiving at least one fastener therethrough for attaching the flange or ring to a bottom of a hopper independently of the fitting. A plurality of fasteners, such as threaded fasteners or the like, are insertable through the aligned holes through the flange or ring and the wings, for jointly attaching the fitting and the flange or ring to the bottom of a hopper. One or more additional fasteners are insertable through the other or others of the holes through the flange or ring, separately from the fitting, for attachment to the bottom of the hopper, such that when the fitting and the flange or ring are jointly attached to the bottom of a hopper by the first plurality of fasteners, and the flange or ring is also separately or independently attached to the hopper by the additional fastener or fasteners, the first fasteners are removable to allow detachment and removal of the fitting from the hopper independently of the flange or ring. The fitting is also installable independently of the flange or ring. 
   Additionally, a valve or valve assembly can be disposed between the flange or ring and the bottom of a hopper, and supported by the flange or ring, such that the fitting can be removed separately of the valve and replaced, as desired or required, without requiring removal of the valve or valve assembly. 
   As a result, an advantage of the present invention is that in the event of clogging or blocking of the hopper fitting, or damage thereto, it can be separately removed from a hopper and replaced, while the valve remains securely mounted on the hopper so as to be capable of preventing flow through the discharge outlet thereof. 
   As another advantage, the dual flange fitting of the invention can have a lower profile compared to known standard hopper tees and other fittings, yet it facilitates opening of the valve or valve assembly thereof without the valve member being disposed in a path of flow through the lower hollow pipe section of the fitting. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a dual flange hopper fitting of the invention which is a tee, illustrating attachment thereof to a mounting flange on a bottom of a hopper using a plurality of fasteners; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the hopper tee of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a flange or ring thereof attached to a mounting flange on the bottom of the hopper holding a valve in covering relation to a discharge outlet of the hopper, and the hopper tee positioned for attachment to the hopper; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the hopper tee of the invention showing the flange or ring superimposed thereon to illustrate cooperation therebetween and locations of holes for mounting to a mounting flange of a hopper; 
       FIG. 4  is another side view of the hopper tee of  FIG. 1 , shown attached to a mounting flange of a hopper; 
       FIG. 5  is another top view of the hopper tee; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternative tee of the invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the tee of  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , a preferred dual flange tee  10  constructed and operable according to the teachings of the present invention is shown. The dual flange tee  10 , in pertinent part, includes a vertical upper hollow pipe section  12  having sidewardly extending wings  14  and  16  at the upper extent of the section. Each of the wings  14  and  16  includes holes  18  and  20  therethrough for receiving a plurality of fasteners, such as conventional bolts  22  therethrough, for attachment to a lower ring  24 , which can also be referred to also as a loose flange, which mounts to a bottom flange  26  extending around a discharge outlet of hopper  28 . Bottom flange  26  of the hopper  28  includes an array of vertical holes therethrough at spaced locations therearound adapted for receiving fasteners such as bolts  22  therein for holding objects thereto. The lower ring  24  or loose flange is configured to cooperate with and to support or hold a valve  30  in place under the bottom-flange  26  of the hopper  28 . For this, loose flange or lower ring  24  includes an array or plurality of bolt holes  32  therethrough corresponding in pattern and location to the holes in bottom flange  26  of hopper  28 . A plurality of the holes  32  are alignable with holes  18  and  20  of wings  14  and  16 , and also with selected ones of the holes of the bottom flange  26 , for receiving fasteners such as bolts  22  therethrough, for jointly holding ring  24  and the tee to bottom flange  26 . At the same time, some others of holes  32  will be aligned at least generally with an axis of a horizontal lower hollow pipe section  34  of the tee  10 , and with others of the holes of bottom flange  26 , and can be used for supporting ring  24  and valve  30  independently of the tee, as best illustrated by  FIG. 2 . Bolts  22  inserted through all of these holes can be threadedly fastened to the hopper flange  26  located above the valve  30 , or attached thereto with nuts  36  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). 
   The upper hollow pipe section  12  is preferably relatively short in height and substantially uniform in internal diameter, defining an upper opening  38 . Upper opening  38  connects with a generally vertical internal passage  40  which extends upwardly through upper hollow pipe section  12 , from a horizontal internal cavity  42  ( FIG. 1 ) through lower hollow pipe section  34 . Internal cavity  42  is preferably open on both opposite ends, as illustrated by opening  44 . Lower hollow pipe section  34  includes opposite end portions  46  and  48 , which are connectable, respectively, in the well known conventional manner to hoses or pipes (not shown) for conveying material therethrough. 
   The upper hollow pipe section  12  is preferably of equal or slightly larger diameter than the lower horizontal pipe section  34 . For example, one embodiment can have a 5″ diameter vertical pipe section and a 4″ diameter horizontal pipe section. Other configurations can include, but are not limited to, a 4″, 6″ or 8″ diameter vertical pipe section and a 4″ horizontal pipe section, all of which are preferably of uniform diameter. The juncture between the upper and lower pipe sections is preferably approximately a straight intersection, the inner surfaces of adjacent portions of the upper and lower pipe sections being oriented at about a 90° angle. 
   Valve  30  is a conventionally operable device or assembly including a generally ring shape housing having a passage therethrough and a valve member in the passage movable in the conventional manner by an external handle or the like (not shown) between a closed position for preventing flow through the passage, and an open position for allowing flow therethrough. Valve  30  includes upper and lower seal elements therearound, illustrated by upper seal element  50  ( FIG. 1 ), which can be a rubbery gasket or the like, positioned for forming sealed conditions with bottom flange  26  of hopper  28  around the discharge outlet thereof, and with tee  10  around upper opening  38 , respectively, upper hollow pipe section  12  preferably including an upwardly facing surface  52  sealably engageable with the lower seal element for this purpose. Surface  52  is preferably annular, and has an outer diametrical extent smaller than an inner diametrical extent of ring  24 , to allow cooperative receipt of the upper portion of upper hollow pipe section  12  within the aperture defined by ring  24 , and such that upwardly facing wing surfaces of wings  14  and  16  will be located in facing relation to a downwardly facing surface of ring  24  when tee  10  is attached. Surface  52  and/or the upwardly facing wing surfaces of wings  14  and  16  are preferably located a predetermined spaced distance higher than an upper periphery of end portions  46  and  48  of lower hollow pipe section  34  of tee  10 , such that when the tee is attached to the hopper, adequate clearance is provided for the bolts  22  located in the holes through ring  24  above the end portions  46  and  48 . Surface  52  should also be spaced adequately above the wing surfaces, such as about equal to the thickness of ring  24 , to facilitate forming the sealed condition with the lower seal element of valve  30  when tee  10  is installed. 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another dual flange hopper tee  54  constructed and operable according to the teachings of the present invention is shown, like parts of tee  54  and tee  10  being identified by like numbers. Tee  54  is a bottom dump type tee, including a bottom dump opening  56 , and ears  58  and  60  extending diagonally outwardly therefrom and disposed for receiving threaded fasteners for holding a bottom cover (both not shown) for closing opening  56  in the well known manner. Tee  54  includes an upper hollow pipe section  12 , a lower hollow pipe section  34  and wings  14  and  16 , constructed and operable as described above, in combination with a ring  24 , for attaching to the bottom of a hopper. 
   Advantages of the dual flange tees  10  and  54  of the invention include about a one inch increase in ground clearance compared to traditional tees. The invention also allows removal of the tees  10  and  54  without removal of the valve  30 . Also, when the valve  30  is open, the valve member thereof does not drop into the flow through the internal cavity  42  of lower pipe section  34 . 
   It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments, for instance having different diameter pipe sections, without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown.