Patent ID: 8267635

Claim:
A silo comprising: a wall defining an interior and an exterior; a floor attached to the wall; an opening in the floor; at least one reciprocating frame positioned immediately above and parallel to the floor; a stuffing box adjacent an opening in the wall; a hydraulic cylinder adjacent the stuffing box; a push-rod extending from the hydraulic cylinder, through the stuffing box, into the opening in the wall, and connecting to the reciprocating frame for actuating movement of the reciprocating frame across the floor, wherein the stuffing box forms a floating seal around the push-rod capable of moving angularly and laterally with the push-rod to accommodate misalignment, the stuffing box including: scraping means surrounding the push-rod for removing material from the push-rod as it exits the opening in the wall; an angular floating seal housing connected to the scraping means for accommodating angular movement of the push-rod; a lateral floating seal housing connected to the angular floating seal housing for accommodating lateral movement of the push-rod; a flexible connector having a first end attached to the exterior wall and a second end attached to the lateral floating seal housing; and a separate rod extending through the flexible connector and the lateral floating seal housing, wherein the flexible connector flexes to accommodate push-rod movement.