System for loading particulate matter into a transport container

1. A method of loading particulate matter into a transport container having at least one chamber with a peripheral region using an apparatus comprising a rotatable member configured to be positioned at least partially into an opening for the chamber comprising the acts of:

locating the apparatus adjacent the opening for the chamber by movement relative to the transport container;

initiating a flow of particulate matter from the apparatus to dispense particulate matter into the container through the opening;

immersing the rotatable member at least partially in the dispensed particulate matter;

rotating the rotatable member to facilitate the dispensing of particulate matter within the chamber; and

pushing the particulate matter into the peripheral region within the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of rotating the rotatable member within the particulate matter to increase the density of at least a portion of the particulate matter that has been dispensed into the chamber.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

positioning the rotatable member at a height within the chamber to be at least partially submerged in the particulate matter that has been dispensed into the chamber; and

rotating the rotatable member within the particulate matter to increase the density of at least a portion of the particulate matter that has been dispensed into the chamber.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotating comprises rotating the rotatable member in a substantially horizontal plane.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotating comprises rotating the rotatable member around a substantially vertical axis.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising loading particulate material from a hopper.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising loading particulate material through a loading spout.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising loading particulate material through a loading spout and through the apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising relocating the apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the relocating comprises moving the apparatus along the transport container.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the relocating comprises moving the transport container.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising relocating the apparatus after a chamber is partially filled with particulate matter.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the rate of relocation of the apparatus is such that the rotatable member remains at least partially immersed in the particulate matter for at least a majority of the time during the loading of a chamber with particulate matter.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transport container comprises multiple chambers, the method further comprising relocating the apparatus from adjacent the opening for a first chamber after loading the first chamber with particulate matter to adjacent the opening for a second chamber.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rate of relocation of the apparatus is such that the chamber is loaded with particulate matter until it is substantially full.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating the rotating of the rotatable member after the chamber is partially filled with particulate matter.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the particulate matter that has been loaded into a chamber forms a pile, the method further comprising initiating the rotating of the rotatable member when the height of the pile reaches the rotatable member.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising increasing the rotational speed of the rotatable member during the loading of the particulate matter.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulate matter comprises dried distillers grains.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transport container is a railcar.