Abstract:
A bulk material unloading station rapidly receives and transfers the contents of a bulk material transport vehicle. The station includes an unloading platform alignable with an existing thoroughfare at an approximate ground level. A frame disposed about the unloading platform defines a material flow control space for controlling the containment and flow rate of material unloaded from the bulk material transport vehicle. A conveyor system operably associated with the material flow control space horizontally moves the lower portion of the bulk material.

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application 60/810,496, filed on Jun. 2, 2006; and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/810,290, filed on Jun. 2, 2006, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to bulk material transportation and more specifically to unloading bulk material from belly dump hopper cars, such as hopper rail cars and hopper dumpster trucks.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     Bulk material, such as coal, mineral ore, gravel, and the like, is often transported in large hoppers on railcars or trucks. These hopper type vehicles are very efficient since they can be loaded and unloaded quickly, and can transport very large quantities of bulk material. However, while these vehicles can usually dump the material relatively quickly, moving the material away from the dump site is generally a much slower process. Consequently, dumping or discharging the bulk material from the hopper car is often slowed down by the limited ability to move the material away from the hopper as it is discharged. Several different types of unloading systems have been developed to solve the problems of unloading such hopper type cars.  
         [0006]     One type of unloading system uses a bridge disposed over a large hole. In this system, the hopper car can be driven onto the bridge and the material can be discharged while the hopper is over the hole. The bulk material can fall through holes in the bridge into the hole below. One advantage of this type of system is that the unloading time of the hopper car is only limited by how fast the bulk material can fall through the hopper gates. However, this unloading system requires significant and expensive excavation which results in extensive down time and loss of productivity of the transport vehicle thoroughfare and the unloading station during installation. Additionally, ground water contamination, environmental permits, and expense of finding bypass transport facilities during installation are also problems for these systems.  
         [0007]     Other unloading systems use mobile conveyor belts that can be positioned underneath the hopper car between the hopper gates and the ground. These conveyors capture the bulk material as it falls from the hopper and transport the bulk material from under the hopper car. These mobile conveyor systems don&#39;t require expensive and lengthy excavation; however, they take longer to offload the bulk material because the conveyor belt can only transport the amount of bulk material that will fit between the bottom of the hopper gate and the top of the conveyor belt.  
         [0008]     Another kind of unloading system lifts and tilts the hopper to dump the bulk material out of the top of the hopper. While the discharge time for these systems is comparable to the pit systems, large complex equipment is needed to lift and tilt the hopper car. Additionally, time is lost in securing and prepping the hopper car for the lift and tilt operation.  
         [0009]     Still another type of unloading system couples large pipes to the hopper and forces the bulk material contents from the hopper with suction and/or pressurized air. Such pneumatic unloaders are not as fast as gravity drop systems and have complicated hook ups that take additional time to connect.  
         [0010]     In addition to the problems noted, all of the unloading systems described above require assembly of individual components at the site of installation. This on-site construction further increases down time of the transport thoroughfare and also requires additional resources to complete the construction at the installation site.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a method and device for rapidly unloading a hopper type bulk material transport that minimizes excavation and downtime of transport facilities during installation. In addition, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a method and device to rapidly unloading a hopper type bulk material transport that provides for access to facilitate servicing and preventive maintenance. Additionally, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a bulk material unloading station formed as an integral, single unit for quick installation and configured to rapidly receive and transfer the contents of a bulk material transport vehicle.  
         [0012]     The present invention provides a bulk material unloading station configured to rapidly receive and transfer the contents of a bulk material transport vehicle. The unloading station can include an unloading platform that can be alignable with an existing thoroughfare at an approximate ground level. A frame can disposed about the unloading platform, and can define a material flow control space for controlling the containment and flow rate of material unloaded from the bulk material transport vehicle. The material flow control space can have an upper containment portion that can be disposed above the unloading platform. The upper containment portion can contain an overflow of bulk material as the bulk material is unloaded on the unloading station. The material flow regulation space can also have a lower material flow regulation space disposed below the unloading platform. The material flow regulation space can control the flow rate of bulk material unloading onto the unloading platform and can minimize the transference of horizontal or shear forces from a lower portion of material to an upper portion of material. A conveyor system can be operably associated with the lower material flow regulation space, and can operate to horizontally move a lower portion of the bulk material.  
         [0013]     The present invention also provides for a method for unloading the bulk material contents of a bulk material transport vehicle including aligning an unloading platform with an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare. A bulk material transport vehicle can be positioned on the unloading platform. The contents of the bulk material transport vehicle can be released so that a lower part of the contents fall into a hopper of the unloading station while a residual part of the bulk material remains in the transport vehicle. A conveyor system having a plurality of conveyor belts can be engaged to remove the lower portion of the bulk material contents from the hopper so the hopper can receive additional bulk material from the transport vehicle above.  
         [0014]     Additionally, the present invention also provides for a method for servicing a bulk material unloading station including engaging a plurality of jacks to raise the unloading station from a shallow underground position and expose a material flow regulation space and material transfer space, including a conveyor. The material flow regulation space and conveyor can be serviced with the unloading station in the raised position. The plurality of jacks can be lowered to lower the unloading station into a shallow underground position with a top surface of an unloading platform aligned and coplanar with an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare.  
         [0015]     The present invention also provides for a method for installing a bulk material unloading station including removing a section of a transport vehicle thoroughfare, such as a rail line or roadway. A relatively shallow excavation or hole less than approximately 6 feet can be excavated in the removed section of the thoroughfare. An unloading station having an integrated hopper and material transfer space can be placed in the excavation. The hopper can include a material storage space and a material flow regulation space. A top surface of an unloading platform in the hopper can be aligned with remaining existing sections of the thoroughfare so a bulk material transport vehicle can smoothly move from the thoroughfare to the unloading station.  
         [0016]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a bulk material unloading station in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown with a bulk material transport vehicle on an unloading platform;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 , shown in without the transport vehicle;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is cross section front view of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross section side view of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a cross section view of a transport vehicle positioned on the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a top cross section view of a conveyor system of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a cross section side view of a conveyor system of the unloading station of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross section side view of the conveyor system of  FIG. 8 ; and  
         [0028]      FIGS. 12   a - 12   d  illustrate a method for unloading a bulk material transport vehicle on the unloading station of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0030]     The embodiments of the present invention described herein generally provide for an unloading station for unloading bulk material from belly-dump, hopper style, bulk material, transport vehicle such as a railcar, semi tractor-trailer, or the like. The unloading station can be formed as an integrated, single unit that can be transported and installed without additional fabrication to the unloading station at the installation site. The unloading station can be installed and positioned in-line with an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare, such as an existing rail line or roadway. The unloading station can also be partially positioned below the grade of the existing thoroughfare in a relatively shallow below-ground, or below grade, excavation or hole. The excavation can be sufficiently deep to house or contain the unloading station yet sufficiently shallow so as to not require lateral supporting structure on the walls of the excavation.  
         [0031]     Thus, in one aspect the excavation can have a depth of less than approximately 6 feet. The unloading station can have a hopper with a material storage space disposed substantially above ground, a material flow regulation space disposed at least partially below ground, and an unloading platform disposed substantially between the material storage space and the material flow regulation space. The unloading station can also have a material transfer space disposed below the ground level under the hopper. The material transfer space can include a conveyor system to transport material away from the unloading station. Together, the hopper and the material transfer space, including the conveyor system, can be formed as an integrated, single structure that is transportable as a single unit and that can be quickly installed into an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare.  
         [0032]     In use, a transport vehicle can be positioned on the unloading platform and bulk material in the transport vehicle can be released into the hopper of the unloading station. A lower portion of material dumped from the transport vehicle can gravity feed into and through the material flow regulation space to the conveyor system in the material transfer space. The conveyor system can move the lower portion of bulk material while an upper portion of bulk material remains in and above the material flow regulation space. The conveyor system can move the lower portion of bulk material horizontally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transport vehicle toward a location below the center of the transport vehicle. The conveyor system can also move the bulk material horizontally and transversely from the location below the center of the transport vehicle a location away from the transport vehicle.  
         [0033]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , a bulk material unloading station, indicated generally at  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown for use in rapidly unloading and transferring the contents of a bulk material transport vehicle  12 , such as a belly-dump, hopper style railcar, truck, trailer, semi-trailer or the like. The unloading station  10  can include a hopper, indicated generally at  40 . The hopper  40  can include a material storage space, indicated generally at  50  ( FIG. 3 ), disposed above the ground level  14 , a material flow regulation space, indicated generally at  60 , disposed at least partially below the ground level, and an unloading platform  30  disposed substantially between the material storage space and the material flow regulation space. The unloading station can also include a material transfer space, indicated generally at  90 , disposed below the ground level  14  and under the hopper  40 .  
         [0034]     The material storage space  50  ( FIG. 3 ) can be defined by an upper portion  42  of the hopper  40 . The upper portion  42  can be substantially above ground level and also substantially above the unloading platform  30 . The upper portion  42  can extend longitudinally along each side of the station  10  and can have sidewalls  44  ( FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ) that can extend above the ground level. The sidewalls  44  can be sized and shaped to contain overflow dust and particles of bulk material, and to keep the bulk material within the unloading station  10  as the bulk material is unloaded or dumped from the transport vehicle  12 .  
         [0035]     It will be appreciated that many bulk materials, such as sand, gravel, dirt, and the like are aggregate in nature and have particles of varying size and shape. As these bulk or aggregate materials are unloaded or dumped from a transport vehicle, the smaller particles can be expelled away from the sides of the transport vehicle by the force of the bulk material dropping from the transport vehicle hopper. Thus, the side walls  44  of the material storage space  50  can help to reduce the expulsion of bulk material from the site of the unloading station  10 , and can contain bulk material dust and other small particles within the confines of the unloading station  10 . Advantageously, containing the bulk material during unloading provides a more efficient transfer since less bulk material is lost from the load carried by the transport vehicle. Additionally, less clean up is required after unloading a transport vehicle since most of the bulk material is contained within the unloading station.  
         [0036]     The material storage space  50  can be fabricated from metal beams and metal sheeting that can be fastened or welded together to form the sidewalls  44 . The sidewalls  44  can be coupled together by transverse members  46 . The transverse members  46  can span the lateral width of the unloading station  10  and can provide support structure for the unloading platform  30 . The transverse members  46  can be supporting structural members, as commonly used and known in the art, such as metal beams, tubing, or the like.  
         [0037]     The a material flow regulation space  60  can be disposed at least partially below the ground level and under the material storage space  50 . The material flow regulation space  60  can regulate the flow rate of the bulk material moving out of the material storage space  50  and the transport vehicle  12 . The material flow regulation space  60  can also minimize the transference of momentum related forces within the bulk material during the unloading process as the bulk material is moved by the unloading station  10 .  
         [0038]     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the material flow regulation space  60  can minimize the transference of horizontal, momentum related forces, indicated as arrows  66 , from a lower, unloaded portion  14   b  of bulk material to an upper portion  14   c  of bulk material remaining in the material storage space  50 . The lower portion  14   b  of bulk material  14   a  can be the portion of bulk material that gravity feeds first from the hopper  16  of the transport vehicle  12 , through the unloading platform  30 , and into the hopper  40  of the unloading station  10 . The upper portion  14   c  of bulk material  14   a  can be the portion of bulk material above or on top of the first or lower portion  14   b  to fall through the platform  30 . The upper portion  14   c  can remain partially contained within the hopper  16  of the transport vehicle  12 , while the lower portion  14   b  is moved by the material transfer space  90 . Thus, the material flow regulation space  60  can restrict horizontal momentum related forces in portions  14   c  of the bulk material remaining in the transport vehicle  12  and near the transport vehicle hopper gates  18  so that only vertical gravity related forces, indicated by arrow  68 , can significantly act on the remaining bulk material in the transport vehicle  12 .  
         [0039]     In one aspect, the material flow regulation space  60  can have a deflection grating or baffle system, indicated generally at  200 , that can have a plurality of through holes with inclined walls so that as material moves out of the transport vehicle  12  and into the baffles, the sloped or inclined walls can reduce the velocity of bulk material as the bulk material falls by the force of gravity  68  from the transport vehicle  12 . The sloped walls can also direct the flow of the bulk material to a conveyor system  80  in the material transfer space  90 .  
         [0040]     Additionally, the size of the apertures can vary along the longitudinal length of the baffle system  200  in order to regulate the longitudinal flow rate from the transport vehicle  12  to the conveyor system  80  as described in greater detail in related U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/810,290, filed on Jun. 2, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In this way, the material flow regulation space  50  can provide a relatively even flow of material from the transport vehicle along the longitudinal length of the transport vehicle. Advantageously, controlling the longitudinal flow rate in this manner can minimize the transfer of horizontal momentum related forces on material remaining in the material storage area  50  and the transport vehicle  12 .  
         [0041]     It will be appreciated that since the bulk material  14   a  is dumped by the belly dump of the transport vehicle hopper  16  into a pile, any attempted movement of the lower portion  14   b  of the bulk material will also attempt to move the upper portion  14   c  of the bulk material. Rapid movement of the upper portion  14   c  remaining in the hopper  16  of the transport vehicle  12  can apply shear forces against the hopper  16  of the transport vehicle  12  and the gates  18  to the belly dump opening  20 . These shear forces can damage the hopper  16  or gates  18 .  
         [0042]     Advantageously, as discussed above, the material flow regulation space  60  controls both the flow rate of bulk material from the transport vehicle hopper  16  as well as the transference of horizontal momentum related forces from the lower portion  14   b  of the pile of bulk material  14   a  to the upper portion  14   c . Thus, the baffle system  200  can absorb or nullify horizontal movement related forces from the lower portion  14   b  of the pile by restricting horizontal movement of bulk material in and above the baffle. In this way, shear forces from the movement of the bulk material against the transport car hopper  16  and belly-dump gates  18  can be minimized so as to protect the gates from damage.  
         [0043]     Returning to  FIGS. 1-7 , the bulk material unloading station  10  can include an unloading platform  30  disposed in the hopper  40  substantially between the material storage space  50  and the material flow regulation space  60 . The unloading platform  30  can be positioned at approximately ground level  14 , and can function as a bridge extending over the below ground portions of the unloading station  10 . The unloading platform  30  can be alignable with an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare, such as a rail line or roadway so as to allow a transport vehicle traveling on the thoroughfare to move easily onto and off of the unloading platform.  
         [0044]     The unloading platform  30  can include a pair of rails  32  or wheel tracks (not shown) in the case the transport vehicle  10  is a semi tractor trailer. The pair of rails  32  or wheel tracks can be coupled to a pair of metal beams  38 , such as W sections or I beams. In one aspect, each metal beam  38  can be disposed under one of the rails  32  and can extend longitudinally in the direction of an existing rail line or roadway. The metal beams  38  can be sized and shaped to wholly support a loaded transport vehicle. In the case, I-beams are used reinforcing flanges can be coupled to the I-beam to provide structural support for the weight of the transport vehicle.  
         [0045]     The unloading platform  30  can also have an open floor  34 , or can have a plurality of apertures  36  through the platform  30  that bulk material can pass through when unloaded or dumped from the transport vehicle  12 .  
         [0046]     The unloading platform  30  can also be raisable between a raised position and an in-line position. In the raised position, workers and maintenance personnel can have access to the underground portions of the unloading station  10 . In the in-line position, the rails  32  or wheel tracks of the unloading platform can be aligned with the rails or roadway of an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare.  
         [0047]     The unloading station  10  can also have a material transfer space  90  disposed below the ground level  14  under the hopper  40 . The material transfer space  90  can receive bulk material from the material flow regulation space  60  through the baffle or deflector grating  200 . The material transfer space can have a conveyor system, indicated generally at  80 , to horizontally move bulk material received from the material flow regulation space  60 .  
         [0048]     The conveyor system  80  can be a system of conveyor belts that can operate to horizontally move the lower portion  14   b  of the bulk material pile  14   a  dumped from the transport vehicle  12 . The conveyor system  80  can include at least one conveyor belt  82  running longitudinally from a first end  22  of the unloading platform  30  toward a central portion  24  of the unloading platform, and at least one conveyor belt  84  running longitudinally from adjacent a second end  26  of the unloading platform  30  toward a central portion of the unloading platform. In this way, the bulk material dumped from the hopper  16  of the transport vehicle  12  into the unloading station  10  can be moved to a central collection point under the transport vehicle.  
         [0049]     In one aspect, the conveyor system  80  can include three longitudinal belts  82   a ,  82   b , and  82   c  extending from the first end  22  to the central portion  24  of the unloading station, and three corresponding belts  84   a ,  84   b , and  84   c  running from the second end  26  to the central portion, as shown in  FIG. 9 . In the case where the conveyor system  80  has three longitudinal belts, the three belts can be aligned side by side, parallel to one another, to substantially cover or cross the lateral width of the unloading station  10 . In this way, the conveyor system  80  can maximize the capture and transfer of bulk material falling from the material flow regulation space  60 .  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7  and  9 , a transverse conveyor belt  86  can be disposed under the central portion  24  of the bridge and under the two longitudinal conveyor belts  82  and  84 . The transverse conveyor belt  86  can run transverse to the longitudinal axis, indicated by dashed line at  15 , of the transport vehicle and can extend across the bridge  20 . In one aspect, the transverse conveyor can extend uphill and away from the unloading station in order to move material from below the unloading station to an above ground access point. For example, the transverse conveyor can be a  60  foot continuous belt with a portion below the unloading station  10  and a distal end away from the unloading station. In another aspect, an uphill conveyor belt  88  can be associated with the end  87  of the transverse conveyor belt  86  and can receive material from the transverse conveyor belt  86 . The uphill conveyor belt  88  can transport the bulk material up and out of the below ground portions of unloading station  10 .  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIGS. 10-11 , the conveyor belts of the conveyor system  80  described above can be continuous belts  98  disposed around a plurality of wheels. The plurality of wheels can include a head wheel  90  disposed at a head end of the continuous belt. The head wheel  90  can tension and direct the motion, or track, of the continuous belt. The plurality of wheels can also include a drive wheel  92  disposed at a central portion of the conveyor. The drive wheel  92  can engage and turn the continuous belt to convey the contents of the hopper car. The continuous belt  98  of the conveyors can form an S-curve around the drive wheel  92  and an idler wheel  94  disposed adjacent the drive wheel. A second idler wheel  96  can stretch and tension the continuous belt  98 .  
         [0052]     Advantageously, the S-curve, or serpentine configuration of the continuous belt  98  can minimize the vertical height of the conveyor and, thus, can decrease the size of the hole below ground necessary to house the underground portion of the unloading station  10 . Additionally, the S-curve more evenly distributes load from the drive wheel throughout the continuous belt and tensions the belt against the weight of the bulk material.  
         [0053]     In the case of three longitudinal belts described above, the conveyor system  80  can include a plurality of head wheels  97 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Each head wheel  97  can be disposed in one of the continuous belts  82   a ,  82   b ,  82   c ,  84   a ,  84   b , or  84   c , and each head wheel  97  can independently tension and direct the motion of the continuous belt in which the head wheel is disposed. A common tail wheel  96  can be disposed through all of the plurality of continuous belts. The common tail wheel, or idler wheel  96 , can tension all of the belts at a common end.  
         [0054]     Returning to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , a power supply station can supply power to the conveyor system. For example, the power supply station can have diesel motor  120  coupled to hydraulic pumps  122 . The hydraulic pumps can supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic motors  124  coupled to the drive wheels of the continuous belts in the conveyor system  80 . Other types of power supplies, such as electric motors, pneumatic compressors, and the like, can also be used to power the unloading station, as known in the art. Additionally, a controller  126  can be coupled to the power supply and motors so that the entire unloading station  10  can be operated by a single user.  
         [0055]     Together the hopper  40  and the material transfer space  90  can form the unloading station  10  as an integrated structure that is transportable and installable as a single unit. Advantageously, the integrated structure of the unloading station  10  can be relatively compact, thereby reducing the distance, indicated as D in  FIG. 3 , between the uppermost surface of the wheel paths  38  and a lowermost surface of the material transfer space  90 . For example, the unloading station can have a distance D of less than approximately 50 inches. In this way, the total height of a corresponding excavation below the grade of the thoroughfare can be minimized, thereby reducing construction and installation time.  
         [0056]     Additionally, the integrated structure of the unloading station  10  can facilitate quick installation into an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare. In this way, the bulk material unloading station  10  can be an integrated, modular unit that can be fabricated and shipped as a complete or single unit to the location the station  10  will be inserted into an existing rail line or roadway.  
         [0057]     It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the unloading station  10  can be fabricated as an integrated structure and transported as a single unit. It will be appreciated that such a fabrication process speeds up the installation time of the device since additional fabrication need not be performed at the installation site. In contrast, other unloading stations are often assembled at the site of installation and require significant down time of the rail line or roadway. Thus, the unloading station of the present invention provides significant savings with respect to excavation, construction, fabrication, and down-time of existing facilities.  
         [0058]     As noted above, the unloading station  10  can be at least partially contained within a hole or excavation in the ground, or below the grade of an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare, such as a rail line or roadway. Specifically, the bulk material unloading station  10  can be positioned in an excavation  70  with a total below ground depth less than approximately the combined height of the material flow regulation space  60  and the material transfer space  90 . In one aspect, the below grade or below ground portion of the unloading station  10  can have a depth of less than approximately 72 inches. In another aspect, the below grade portion of the station can have a depth of less than approximately 50 inches. In yet another aspect, the total below grade portion of the station can have a depth of 42 and ⅝ inches where the grade is measured from the transport vehicle thoroughfare, rail line, or roadway.  
         [0059]     It is another particular advantage of the present invention that the total below grade or below ground portion of the unloading station  10  is relatively shallow. Because the bulk material unloading station  10  has such a shallow below ground depth, the unloading station  10  can be positioned in line with an existing thoroughfare with a total below ground depth sufficiently shallow so as to not require lateral supports in the corresponding excavation. It will be appreciated that typical gravity feed dump stations require a total depth sufficient to contain an entire transfer vehicle load. In some cases these holes must be up to 20 feet deep or more. While this type of system enables quick unloading times, these dump stations also require significant and expensive excavation and support structure to maintain the walls of the excavation. Unfortunately, such large excavations and construction of the corresponding support structure usually result in lengthy down time for an existing rail line or roadway. In contrast, the unloading station  10  of the present invention only requires a relatively shallow excavation and correspondingly short installation time since such a shallow excavation does not require any additional construction to laterally support the walls of the excavation.  
         [0060]     Another advantage of using a shallow excavation with the unloading station of the present invention is that the width of the excavation can also be smaller than a typical below ground unloading station. It will be appreciated that a conveyor moving bulk material from a below ground excavation to an above ground deposit point must have an incline angle sufficiently shallow so as to prevent bulk material from sliding off or back down the conveyor. Consequently, the length of the below ground portion of the conveyor must be sufficiently long so as to accommodate the required angle. Thus, the excavation must be large enough to accommodate the below ground length of the conveyor. In contrast, the shallow depth of the unloading station of the present invention allows the conveyor to rise from the below ground portion immediately adjacent the unloading station, and excavation along the sides of the unloading station can thus be minimized, or in some instances may not be required at all. Thus, the unloading station of the present invention reduces the depth and width of excavation needed, thereby reducing down time of the transport vehicle thoroughfare during installation.  
         [0061]     In use, a transport vehicle  12  can be moved onto the unloading station  30  with the hopper  16  of the transport vehicle positioned over the unloading platform. The hopper gates  20  on the transport vehicle hopper  16  can then be opened and the contents of the transport hopper  16  can fall from through the unloading platform  30  and into the material flow regulation space  60 . The material flow regulation space  60  can slow the fall of the bulk material and can direct the bulk material onto the longitudinal conveyor belts  82  and  84  below the material flow regulation space. The longitudinal conveyor belts  82  and  84  can be engaged to horizontally move the lower portion  14   b  of the bulk material  14   a  parallel to the longitudinal axis  15  of the transport vehicle  12  to a central region under the vehicle. The bulk material can then fall from the longitudinal belts  82  and  84  onto the transverse belt  86  and the transverse belt can move the bulk material out from under the transport vehicle  12 . Thus, the hopper  40  can receive the lower portion  14   b  of the contents of the bulk material transport vehicle  12  and direct the lower portion  14   b  of the bulk material pile  14   a  to the conveyor system  80  that can remove the lower portion  14   b  of the bulk material pile from the hopper  40  so the hopper  40  can receive additional bulk material from the upper portion  14   c  of the bulk material pile  14   a . Thus, the hopper  40  and the conveyor system  80  can operate together to continuously empty, or drain, the contents of the bulk material transport vehicle  12 .  
         [0062]     In this way, the unloading station  10  of the present invention can rapidly empty and remove the contents of the hopper  16  of a transport vehicle  12 . For example, in one aspect, the flow rate for transferring material from the transport vehicle can be approximately 1 ton per second, or approximately 100 tons per 100 seconds. Thus, the entire contents of the transport vehicle can be rapidly removed by the unloading station  10  of the present invention.  
         [0063]     Returning to  FIG. 3 , the unloading station can also have a plurality of jacks  100  extending from the metal beams  38  to a ground or support surface in the hole. The plurality of jacks  100  can raise the unloading station  10  to allow access for maintenance personnel in the material flow regulation space and to the conveyor system. In one aspect the unloading station  10  can have a jack  100  on each end of each of the pair of metal beams  38  for a total of 4 jacks. The jacks  100  can raise the unloading station  10  up to a height greater than approximately 24 inches. It will be appreciated that the jacks  100  can be raised by common power sources known in the art, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric motors and cylinders. The jacks  100  can also lower and align the rails  32  or roadway with the existing rail lines or roadway to ensure a smooth transition from the existing transport vehicle thoroughfare to the unloading station  10 . The jacks can be locked into a position by a lock pin  113  or other locking devices as known in the art. The jacks can be powered by the power supply and operated by the controller  126  described above.  
         [0064]     In another aspect, the unloading station  10  can have a pair of lifting jacks  100  and a pair of safety locking jacks (not shown). The lifting jacks can lift the unloading station as described above, and the locking jacks can extend from the lifted unloading station to a ground surface. The locking jacks can be locked in the extended position to prevent the unloading station from lowering back into the excavation. Such locking jacks can be advantageous when using hydraulic lifting jacks because the hydraulic system can be turned off for servicing when the unloading station is in the lifted position. Thus, the locking jacks can maintain the unloading station in the lifted position even when the hydraulic system and hydraulic jacks are turned off.  
         [0065]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 12   a - d , the present invention also provides for a method for unloading the bulk material contents  14  of a bulk material transport vehicle  12  including aligning an unloading platform  30  with an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare  1   10 . A bulk material transport vehicle  12  can be positioned on the unloading platform  30 , as shown in  FIG. 12   a . The contents  14  of the bulk material transport vehicle  12  can be released so that a lower part  14   b  of the contents fall into a hopper  40  of the unloading station  10  while a residual part of the bulk material remains in the transport vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 1   2   b . A conveyor system having a plurality of conveyor belts can be engaged to remove the lower portion of the bulk material contents from the hopper so the hopper can receive additional bulk material from the transport vehicle above, as shown in  FIGS. 12   c - 12   d.    
         [0066]     Additionally, the present invention also provides for a method for servicing a bulk material unloading station including engaging a plurality of jacks to raise the unloading station from a shallow underground position and expose a material flow regulation space and material transfer space, including a conveyor. The material flow regulation space and conveyor can be serviced with the unloading station in the raised position. The plurality of jacks can be lowered to lower the unloading station into a shallow underground position with a top surface of an unloading platform aligned and coplanar with an existing transport vehicle thoroughfare.  
         [0067]     The step of engaging the jacks can include actuating a power supply and power transfer system such as hydraulic actuators and pumps, pneumatic compressors, electric motors, and the like.  
         [0068]     The present invention also provides for a method for installing a bulk material unloading station including removing a section of a transport vehicle thoroughfare, such as a rail line or roadway. A relatively shallow excavation or hole less than approximately 6 feet can be excavated in the removed section of the thoroughfare. An unloading station having an integrated hopper and material transfer space can be placed in the excavation. The hopper can include a material storage space and a material flow regulation space. A top surface of an unloading platform in the hopper can be aligned with remaining existing sections of the thoroughfare so a bulk material transport vehicle can smoothly move from the thoroughfare to the unloading station.  
         [0069]     It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth herein.