Conveyor transition for material handling

1. A material transition assembly for directing bulk material from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor, the upper conveyor and lower conveyor being relatively rotatable in yaw and the lower conveyor being pivotable in pitch, the material transition assembly comprising:

a lower redirection member rotatable in yaw and movable vertically relative to the upper conveyor, the lower redirection member configured to receive and redirect the bulk material from the upper conveyor; and

a bottom containment assembly movable lengthwise relative to the lower conveyor, the bottom containment assembly pivotable in pitch with the lower conveyor, the bottom containment assembly including an aperture formed therein for passing the bulk material from the lower redirection member to the lower conveyor.

2. The material transition assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an upper hood portion configured to receive the bulk material from the upper conveyor and to redirect the bulk material downward to the lower redirection member, the upper hood portion rotatable in yaw relative to the lower redirection member.

3. The material transition assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the upper hood portion includes a downwardly curved wall portion configured to interrupt and redirect the bulk material.

4. The material transition assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the upper hood portion defines an inner channel having a gradual transition in size, shape, or both.

5. The material transition assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the upper hood portion defines an inner channel having a gradually decreasing cross-sectional area.

6. The material transition assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising a flexible shroud anchored to the upper hood portion and to the bottom containment assembly, the shroud surrounding at least the lower redirection member.

7. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lower redirection member is mounted in a fixed-pitch configuration.

8. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lower redirection member includes an inwardly curved and upwardly angled inner sidewall.

9. The material transition assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the inner sidewall is configured to present a lower surface for holding the bulk material, the lower surface having a progressively narrowing surface area, thereby inducing the accumulation of the bulk material.

10. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lower redirection member includes a sidewall opposite a gap, the gap being adjacent to the aperture of the bottom containment assembly.

11. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lower redirection member is configured, in response to a change in pitch of the lower conveyor, to move vertically to maintain a desired amount of separation between the lower redirection member and the lower conveyor.

12. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom containment assembly is slideably or rollably mounted to the lower conveyor.

13. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom containment assembly includes one or more sidewall portions, top wall portions, or both, for containment of the bulk material adjacent to the lower conveyor.

14. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an extension protruding from sidewalls of the aperture of the bottom containment assembly, the extension wipingly engaging inner sidewalls of the lower redirection member for containing the bulk material.

15. The material transition assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the lower redirection member and the bottom containment assembly are configured to induce and maintain an accumulation of the bulk material supported on the lower conveyor, said accumulation of the bulk material aligned with flow of the bulk material received by the lower redirection member, thereby cushioning receipt of further bulk material.

16. A method for directing bulk material from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor, the upper conveyor and lower conveyor being relatively rotatable in yaw and the lower conveyor being pivotable in pitch, the method comprising:

receiving the bulk material at a lower redirection member disposed lower than the upper conveyor, the lower redirection member being rotatable in yaw and movable vertically relative to the upper conveyor;

redirecting the bulk material using the lower redirection member toward an aperture formed in a bottom containment assembly;

receiving the bulk material through the aperture in the bottom containment assembly; and

containing the bulk material adjacent to the lower conveyor using the bottom containment assembly.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

receiving the bulk material within an upper hood portion defining a channel for the bulk material, the upper hood portion rotatable in yaw relative to the lower redirection member; and

redirecting the bulk material downward within the upper hood portion toward the lower redirection member.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, in response to pivoting of the lower conveyor in pitch, moving the lower redirection member vertically while retaining a pitch of the lower redirection member, and moving the bottom containment assembly along a length of the lower conveyor while allowing the bottom containment assembly to pivot in pitch to maintain position overtop of the lower conveyor.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising inducing and maintaining an accumulation of the bulk material supported on the lower conveyor, said accumulation of the bulk material aligned with flow of the bulk material to the lower redirection member, thereby cushioning receipt of further bulk material.

20. A material transition assembly for directing bulk material from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor, the upper conveyor and lower conveyor being relatively rotatable in yaw and the lower conveyor being pivotable in pitch, the material transition assembly comprising:

a lower redirection member rotatable in yaw and movable vertically relative to the upper conveyor, the lower redirection member located below the upper conveyor and configured to receive and redirect the bulk material from the upper conveyor toward the lower conveyor, wherein the lower redirection member is configured, in response to a change in pitch of the lower conveyor, to move vertically in its entirety to maintain a desired amount of separation between the lower redirection member and the lower conveyor.

21. A material transition assembly for directing bulk material from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor, the upper conveyor and lower conveyor being relatively rotatable in yaw and the lower conveyor being pivotable in pitch, the material transition assembly comprising:

a bottom containment assembly movable lengthwise relative to the lower conveyor, the bottom containment assembly pivotable in pitch and movable vertically relative to the upper conveyor, the bottom containment assembly including an aperture formed therein for passing the bulk material to the lower conveyor, wherein the bottom containment assembly is movably mounted to the lower conveyor.

22. The material transition assembly of claim 21 , wherein the bottom containment assembly includes a top wall portion configured to contain the bulk material within a space defined between the lower conveyor and the bottom container assembly.