Patent ID: 7222714

Claim:
A conveyor for particulate lading comprising: a pair of spaced apart side rails; a trough positioned between said side rails and comprising a pair of side walls and a floor; an exit port in said floor through which the granular material can pass; a seal extending along side edges of said port; and a gate assembly movable between an open position in which said exit port is open and the particulate lading can pas therethrough and a closed position in which said port is closed and the particulate lading cannot pass; said gate assembly comprising: a plate movable parallel to the direction of said conveyor; a drive for moving said plate along to switch said gate assembly between its open and closed positions; and means for vertically moving said plate between a raised position in which said plate is generally flush with said trough floor and said plate engages said seal and a lowered position in which said plate is below a level of said trough floor such that said plate can be moved beneath said trough floor.