Black_Rose2007/07/29 18:59:47조회수 89

2.00.07 - Hopper

2.00.07 - Hopper

Hopper is a special kind of semitrailers which is applied for transportation of some kinds of loose cargoes and, first of all, agricultural product (grain, beans, sunflower seeds), and also fodder phosphates, mixed fodders, granulated forages, malt and of some other cargoes. Its distinctive feature is that unloading is carried out through special funnels, located in the bottom, and the cargo is loaded in bunkers with the walls oblique from top to bottom which look like a gondola by shape. Such design has been invented aiming at fast unloading, depending on the bunkers volume and for modern hoppers this procedure takes only 2–3 minutes.
A semitrailer for distant transportations of grain usually consists of two bunkers of identical capacity. To improve the strengthening and aerodynamic properties the side walls of cargo bunkers are increased and closed, and the hopper body takes the integral form similar to the form of a usual trailer. Firms-manufacturers produce a number of dimensional versions of hoppers, the largest of which have the following characteristics:
• body dimensions – 53' x 102" x 114"
• volume – 3800 cubic ft
• weight – 17.6 thousand lbs
In such trailers it is possible to transport cargo over 60 thousand lbs. Grain hoppers are designed so that they could be used starting with harvesting on a field and finishing by transportation of grain to elevators, flour mills, or seaports. The top part of a hoppers body is equipped with special units to rise a loaded semitrailer by portal cranes which allows quick unloading of grain directly in a vessel hold – the whole operation, including uncoupling of road trains, slinging and rise of a trailer, pouring cargo out, takes not more than 20 minutes.
Specific character of cargoes (food raw stuff, forages), causes a choice of material for manufacturing body parts of hoppers. More often stainless steel with a corrosion-resistant coating is used, and in some cases, if a customer wishes, stainless steel are applied.