The invention is an apparatus and method for draining a viscous material, such as a molten polymer, from a vessel that contains the material. A ram-type valve is mounted on the outside of the vessel in line with a drain opening in the vessel. The valve is enclosed in a removable housing mounted on the outside of the vessel. During a process run, the valve piston closes off the drain opening, and an inert atmosphere inside the housing prevents oxygen from forming polymer "gels" that can plug the drain opening. When it becomes necessary to drain the vessel, a remote control valve actuator moves the valve piston out of the drain opening, so the polymer can flow out of the vessel.
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