Patent ID: 7686545

Claim:
A bulk material storage facility comprising: a storage structure having a boundary wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface extending between a lower end and an elevated upper end, the interior surface bounding a chamber adapted to receive bulk material, the chamber comprising a lower portion and an elevated upper portion; a transfer pipe comprising: a base section having a first end disposed outside of the storage structure and second end disposed within or below the lower portion of the chamber, wherein the base section of the transfer pipe is horizontally disposed and extends through the boundary wall at the lower end thereof; and a raised section having a first end coupled with the second end of the base section and a second end disposed within the upper portion of the chamber, the second end of the raised section terminating at an outlet port disposed in the upper portion of the chamber; and means coupled with the transfer pipe for selectively conveying bulk material disposed outside of the storage structure through the base section and the raised section of the transfer pipe and out the outlet port so as to deliver the bulk material into the chamber.