Patent ID: 8584912

Claim:
A system for handling and discharging bulk material, comprising: a. a container for containing bulk material; b. an opening formed in a lower portion of the container for permitting the bulk material to flow there through; c. a discharge valve mounted adjacent the opening formed in the container and movable between a lower first position where the discharge valve closes the opening and an upper second position where the discharge valve is positioned such that the opening formed in the container is open; d. wherein in the upper second position, the discharge valve permits the bulk material to flow downwardly and around the discharge valve in an annulus flow pattern, and through the opening in the container; and e. the discharge valve including: i. a pair of generally flat surfaces that form at least a part of an upper portion of the discharge valve; ii. the pair of generally flat surfaces of the discharge valve tapering generally inwardly and upwardly; iii. wherein the pair of generally flat surfaces meet at a top of the discharge valve to form an edge that extends horizontally across the top of the discharge valve; and iv. a round base and opposed sides that curve upwardly from the base and join the flat surfaces.