CA1290540C - Grain bin construction - Google Patents
Grain bin constructionInfo
- Publication number
- CA1290540C CA1290540C CA000568293A CA568293A CA1290540C CA 1290540 C CA1290540 C CA 1290540C CA 000568293 A CA000568293 A CA 000568293A CA 568293 A CA568293 A CA 568293A CA 1290540 C CA1290540 C CA 1290540C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- chamber
- bin
- grain
- annular rows
- base
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 title abstract description 7
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 69
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000005273 aeration Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims 11
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims 11
- 229940000425 combination drug Drugs 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000003822 epoxy resin Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
- Y02A40/51—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture specially adapted for storing agricultural or horticultural products
Landscapes
- Storage Of Harvested Produce (AREA)
Abstract
HOPPER BIN CONSTRUCTION
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An annular chamber is formed around the open base of a bin and includes a shut-off gate assembly in the base thereof. Stored grain fills the base of the chamber around the discharge area of the bin into the chamber up to the angle of repose of the grain. A fan unit is secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose and ambient air is discharged into the chamber and diffused through the grain mass in the base of the chamber and upwardly through the grain in the bin.
A perforated floor portion of the bin acts as the upper wall of the chamber and a percentage of the air diffuses through this perforated floor portion and assists in diffusing the air equally through the grain mass in the bin particularly towards the outer wall of the bin.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An annular chamber is formed around the open base of a bin and includes a shut-off gate assembly in the base thereof. Stored grain fills the base of the chamber around the discharge area of the bin into the chamber up to the angle of repose of the grain. A fan unit is secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose and ambient air is discharged into the chamber and diffused through the grain mass in the base of the chamber and upwardly through the grain in the bin.
A perforated floor portion of the bin acts as the upper wall of the chamber and a percentage of the air diffuses through this perforated floor portion and assists in diffusing the air equally through the grain mass in the bin particularly towards the outer wall of the bin.
Description
~5'0s~0 HOPPER BIN CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the construction of grain bins, partic-ularly hopper-bottomed grain bins which are usually cylindrical in configuration but of course can be of any shape depending upon design.
Conventionally, such grain bins are supported vertically within a ring type frame or the like having a plurality of downwardly extending ground engaging legs braced as necessary and usually with the bin having a conical upper end which terminates in a filling hatch.
The base is an inverted cone having a discharge and shut-off gate at the lower end thereof which is spac-ed above the ground for easy access and easy unloading.
When grain is stored in such bins, it is often desirable to aerate the grain either to lower the temper-ature thereof or to dry the grain towards a predetermined moisture content and usually such devices include a grat-ed floor through which ambient or warmed air may be pass-ed under pressure or other types of air intakes through which air under pressure may be circulated through the grain within the bin.
These suffer from several disadvantages, the d~
1~9~40 principle one being the difficulty in ensuring that all of the grain within the bin receives an adequate amount of circulating air in order to undertake the necessary conditioning of the grain and it is quite usual, in con-ventional systems, to find that the air is being chan-neled unevenly through the grain mass.
The present invention overcomes these disadvan-tages by providing an enclosed annular air space surroun-ding the lower end of the grain bin into which air is forced under pressure whereupon it moves downwardly an then upwardly into the grain mass through the lower end of the bin. Furthermore, the base of ~he bin above the annular air space may be perforated in a predetermined manner, to allow some air to pass there through to the underside of the grain mass thus leading towards more even distribution of air towards the perimeter of the bin.
This annular air space, in conjunction with an enlarged lower end of the bin and the perforated base panels, ensures adequate circulation of the air throughout the entire grain mass.
Another advantage of the invention is that the construction permits the grain to pass through the lower end of the bin and into the portion of the bin defining 1~9~
the annular air space but is prevented from completely filling the annular air space, due to the angle of repose of the grain, so that the majority of the air under pressure is forced downwardly through the grain in the base of the bin and then upwardly into the main volume of the bin so that the grain in the base of the bin acts as a diffuser for the air entering the bin with the remainder of the air passing upwardly through the perforated base panels.
One aspect of the invention consists of an improvement to a grain storage bin which includes a main bin portion and an inverted truncated conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, and support means for said bin;
the improvement comprising in combination an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central discharge area and selectively operable shut-off gate assembly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air 1~905~0 intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
A further aspect of the invention includes the combination of a grain storage bin which includes a main bln portion and an inverted conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, support means for said bin, an associated~ chamber selectively secured concentrically around said central discharge area, a selectively operable shut-off gate assembly in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of said grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the 1~050~0 wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within the chamber and upwardly through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
Still another advantage of the invention is to provide a construction which includes easy access thus enabling the interior of the bin to be fully coated by an epoxy resin or the like if the bin is being used for or with fertilizer thus preventing corrosion from occurring anywhere upon the interior of the bin.
A still further advantage of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, easily adapted for use with existing bins and is otherwise well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantag-es as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification pro-ceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which ~90~
includes a description of the best mode ~nown to the applicants and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present lnventlon, ln which:
DESCRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grain bin showing the invention installed thereon.
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the lower end of the bin with the invention installed.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view similar to Figure 2 but taken along the line 3-3 thereof.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the perforated floor or base panels.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates generally, a hopper-type grain bin of substantially vertically sit-uated cylindrical configuration and terminating at the upper end thereof with a conical upper portion 11 having l~g~5~
a filling aperture and cover assembly 12 at the apex thereof which is conventional. The lower portion 13 of the bin is in the form of an inverted truncated conical portion 20 terminating with an open base 14, the diameter of which is approximately 4 to 5 feet depending upon the diameter of the bin.
Support structure collectively designated 15 may consist of a support ring 16 having a plurality of vertical ground engaging members 17 extending downwardly thereof either engaging a concrete base or a steel base depending upon design.
Necessary bracing is provided and although the bin shown in the attached drawings is cylindrical, it will of course be appreciated that any des~red configur-ation may be utilized depending upon design parameters.
The invention collectively designated 18 con-sists of a vertically situated annula- wall 19 extending downwardly from the sloping base wall 20 of the bin and being secured thereto in sealing relationship as by welding, riveting or other conventional means and enclosing the open base 14 of this sloping wall portion 13.
An inverted truncated conical wall portion 21 is formed or secured around the lower edge 22 of the 5~0 vertical wall 19 and terminates in a conventional discharge and shut-off gate assembly 23 at the lower end thereof, spaced below the discharge aperture 14 in the wall portion 13 as clearly shown in Figure 2.
A pressure fan assembly 24 engages through the sloping wall portion 21 adjacent the junction thereof with the vertical wall 19 and is connected to a source of electrical power ~not illustrated) thus, when operatlng, drawing ln ambient air and discharging same into the annular space 25 surrounding the lower portion of the wall 20 and defined by this lower wall portion and the vertical wall 19 together with the truncated conical wall 21.
The fan unit 24 may either be permanently sec-ured around the opening 26 within the truncated conical wall portion 21 or, may be detachably secured thereto by means of clamps 27.
When grain indicated by reference character 28 fills the bin, it flows downwardly through the aperture 14 and into the area defined by the wall 21 and discharge gate 23 and builds up slightly within the annular space as shown, terminating in the angle of repose 29 indicated.
This leaves the annular space 25 clear of grain ~g~Sd~
and the grain surrounding the aperture 14 acts as a dif-fuser for air under pressure entering via the fan unit 24. It moves upwardly through the grain within the aper-ture 14 and into the bin and diffuses through the grain mass, discharging through vents ~not illustrated) in the upper end of the grain bin.
In order to prevent any grain inadvertantly entering the fan unit, particularly when same is not operating, an arcuately curved deflector 30 is secured to the inner surface of the sloping wall 21 and spans part of this inner wall, adjacent to and below the fan unit and extends upon either side thereof. This arcuately curved deflector 30 may be secured as by welding, rivet-ing or the like with the arc following the contour of the sloping wall 21. The cross-section of this deflector may also be curved upwardly as shown in Figure 2 if desired.
It will also be appreciated that a detachable fan unit 24 together with the discharge gate 23 both allow ready access to the interior of this portion of the grain bin so that all of the interior surfaces can read-ily be sprayed with an epoxy resin layer in order to pre-vent corrosion if the bin is being used for fertilizer storage purposes. This epoxy resin coating prevents any corrosion from occurring i~, by chance, granules of 1~30S~i~
fertilizer remain within the bin after discharge has taken place.
One of the disadvantages of existing aeration systems is obtaining fairly even diffusion of the air through the entire grain mass. In the present instance, the majority of the air diffuses through the grain mass within the diffusion chamber and then upwardly through the central discharge area 14 spreading radialy outwardly to a certain extent facilitated by the conical base 13.
However far more even diffusion of the air through the grain, particularly through the grain situ-ated towards the outer perimeter of the grain mass, is occasioned by the portion of the floor panels forming the base 13 being perforated. Figures 4 and 5 show the pre-ferred makeup of this lower portion collectively desig-nated 13 whlch consists of a plurality of substantially triangular floor sections 31, in the form of segments 8 secured together as by welding, riveting or the like and extending from the outer curved edge 32 which is secured to the base of the main portion or vertical wall 33 of the bin and terminating at the inner, accurately curved edge 34 which defines the central base discharge area 14.
The area enclosed by the vertically situated ~290~i~
annular wall 19 is identified by reference character 35 and this is the area of the base panels which is perforated. The perforations are shown in one of the panels 31 illustrated in Figure 5 and consists of annular row5 3 6 of elongated slits 37 which are situated lon~itudinally along the length of the individuals panels as shown. The horizontal spacing 38 between these slits is the same in all annular rows 36 so that the number of slits decreases from the upper row specifically designated 36(a) towards the lower or inner row specifically designated 36(b) situated adjacent the edge 34.
This gives relatively even diffusion of the portion of the air passing through these perforations and channels it towards the outer periphery of the grain mass within the bin assisted of cburse by the major portion of the air passing through the grain mass within the base of the chamber which diffuses the air passing upwardly through the discharge area 14.
It will therefore be appreciated that the aeration system illustrated and described is readily attached concentrically to the base of the bin regardless of the cross-sectional configuration thereof.
Although the invention is illustrated and ~9(~5'~
described in conjunction with a bin having an inverted truncated conical base, it will be appreciated that it can be added to a flat bottomed bin if the bin is ele-vated and the base removed. Under these circumstances, the invention will include the inverted truncated sloping base wall portion 20 with the remainder of the invention recorded thereto. The wall portion 20 will be attached to the lower end of the bin 10 by any desired means such as riveting, weldlng, boltlng and the lik.e.
Since various modifications can be made in our invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the construction of grain bins, partic-ularly hopper-bottomed grain bins which are usually cylindrical in configuration but of course can be of any shape depending upon design.
Conventionally, such grain bins are supported vertically within a ring type frame or the like having a plurality of downwardly extending ground engaging legs braced as necessary and usually with the bin having a conical upper end which terminates in a filling hatch.
The base is an inverted cone having a discharge and shut-off gate at the lower end thereof which is spac-ed above the ground for easy access and easy unloading.
When grain is stored in such bins, it is often desirable to aerate the grain either to lower the temper-ature thereof or to dry the grain towards a predetermined moisture content and usually such devices include a grat-ed floor through which ambient or warmed air may be pass-ed under pressure or other types of air intakes through which air under pressure may be circulated through the grain within the bin.
These suffer from several disadvantages, the d~
1~9~40 principle one being the difficulty in ensuring that all of the grain within the bin receives an adequate amount of circulating air in order to undertake the necessary conditioning of the grain and it is quite usual, in con-ventional systems, to find that the air is being chan-neled unevenly through the grain mass.
The present invention overcomes these disadvan-tages by providing an enclosed annular air space surroun-ding the lower end of the grain bin into which air is forced under pressure whereupon it moves downwardly an then upwardly into the grain mass through the lower end of the bin. Furthermore, the base of ~he bin above the annular air space may be perforated in a predetermined manner, to allow some air to pass there through to the underside of the grain mass thus leading towards more even distribution of air towards the perimeter of the bin.
This annular air space, in conjunction with an enlarged lower end of the bin and the perforated base panels, ensures adequate circulation of the air throughout the entire grain mass.
Another advantage of the invention is that the construction permits the grain to pass through the lower end of the bin and into the portion of the bin defining 1~9~
the annular air space but is prevented from completely filling the annular air space, due to the angle of repose of the grain, so that the majority of the air under pressure is forced downwardly through the grain in the base of the bin and then upwardly into the main volume of the bin so that the grain in the base of the bin acts as a diffuser for the air entering the bin with the remainder of the air passing upwardly through the perforated base panels.
One aspect of the invention consists of an improvement to a grain storage bin which includes a main bin portion and an inverted truncated conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, and support means for said bin;
the improvement comprising in combination an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central discharge area and selectively operable shut-off gate assembly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air 1~905~0 intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
A further aspect of the invention includes the combination of a grain storage bin which includes a main bln portion and an inverted conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, support means for said bin, an associated~ chamber selectively secured concentrically around said central discharge area, a selectively operable shut-off gate assembly in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of said grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the 1~050~0 wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within the chamber and upwardly through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
Still another advantage of the invention is to provide a construction which includes easy access thus enabling the interior of the bin to be fully coated by an epoxy resin or the like if the bin is being used for or with fertilizer thus preventing corrosion from occurring anywhere upon the interior of the bin.
A still further advantage of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, easily adapted for use with existing bins and is otherwise well suited for the purpose for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantag-es as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification pro-ceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which ~90~
includes a description of the best mode ~nown to the applicants and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present lnventlon, ln which:
DESCRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grain bin showing the invention installed thereon.
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the lower end of the bin with the invention installed.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view similar to Figure 2 but taken along the line 3-3 thereof.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the perforated floor or base panels.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates generally, a hopper-type grain bin of substantially vertically sit-uated cylindrical configuration and terminating at the upper end thereof with a conical upper portion 11 having l~g~5~
a filling aperture and cover assembly 12 at the apex thereof which is conventional. The lower portion 13 of the bin is in the form of an inverted truncated conical portion 20 terminating with an open base 14, the diameter of which is approximately 4 to 5 feet depending upon the diameter of the bin.
Support structure collectively designated 15 may consist of a support ring 16 having a plurality of vertical ground engaging members 17 extending downwardly thereof either engaging a concrete base or a steel base depending upon design.
Necessary bracing is provided and although the bin shown in the attached drawings is cylindrical, it will of course be appreciated that any des~red configur-ation may be utilized depending upon design parameters.
The invention collectively designated 18 con-sists of a vertically situated annula- wall 19 extending downwardly from the sloping base wall 20 of the bin and being secured thereto in sealing relationship as by welding, riveting or other conventional means and enclosing the open base 14 of this sloping wall portion 13.
An inverted truncated conical wall portion 21 is formed or secured around the lower edge 22 of the 5~0 vertical wall 19 and terminates in a conventional discharge and shut-off gate assembly 23 at the lower end thereof, spaced below the discharge aperture 14 in the wall portion 13 as clearly shown in Figure 2.
A pressure fan assembly 24 engages through the sloping wall portion 21 adjacent the junction thereof with the vertical wall 19 and is connected to a source of electrical power ~not illustrated) thus, when operatlng, drawing ln ambient air and discharging same into the annular space 25 surrounding the lower portion of the wall 20 and defined by this lower wall portion and the vertical wall 19 together with the truncated conical wall 21.
The fan unit 24 may either be permanently sec-ured around the opening 26 within the truncated conical wall portion 21 or, may be detachably secured thereto by means of clamps 27.
When grain indicated by reference character 28 fills the bin, it flows downwardly through the aperture 14 and into the area defined by the wall 21 and discharge gate 23 and builds up slightly within the annular space as shown, terminating in the angle of repose 29 indicated.
This leaves the annular space 25 clear of grain ~g~Sd~
and the grain surrounding the aperture 14 acts as a dif-fuser for air under pressure entering via the fan unit 24. It moves upwardly through the grain within the aper-ture 14 and into the bin and diffuses through the grain mass, discharging through vents ~not illustrated) in the upper end of the grain bin.
In order to prevent any grain inadvertantly entering the fan unit, particularly when same is not operating, an arcuately curved deflector 30 is secured to the inner surface of the sloping wall 21 and spans part of this inner wall, adjacent to and below the fan unit and extends upon either side thereof. This arcuately curved deflector 30 may be secured as by welding, rivet-ing or the like with the arc following the contour of the sloping wall 21. The cross-section of this deflector may also be curved upwardly as shown in Figure 2 if desired.
It will also be appreciated that a detachable fan unit 24 together with the discharge gate 23 both allow ready access to the interior of this portion of the grain bin so that all of the interior surfaces can read-ily be sprayed with an epoxy resin layer in order to pre-vent corrosion if the bin is being used for fertilizer storage purposes. This epoxy resin coating prevents any corrosion from occurring i~, by chance, granules of 1~30S~i~
fertilizer remain within the bin after discharge has taken place.
One of the disadvantages of existing aeration systems is obtaining fairly even diffusion of the air through the entire grain mass. In the present instance, the majority of the air diffuses through the grain mass within the diffusion chamber and then upwardly through the central discharge area 14 spreading radialy outwardly to a certain extent facilitated by the conical base 13.
However far more even diffusion of the air through the grain, particularly through the grain situ-ated towards the outer perimeter of the grain mass, is occasioned by the portion of the floor panels forming the base 13 being perforated. Figures 4 and 5 show the pre-ferred makeup of this lower portion collectively desig-nated 13 whlch consists of a plurality of substantially triangular floor sections 31, in the form of segments 8 secured together as by welding, riveting or the like and extending from the outer curved edge 32 which is secured to the base of the main portion or vertical wall 33 of the bin and terminating at the inner, accurately curved edge 34 which defines the central base discharge area 14.
The area enclosed by the vertically situated ~290~i~
annular wall 19 is identified by reference character 35 and this is the area of the base panels which is perforated. The perforations are shown in one of the panels 31 illustrated in Figure 5 and consists of annular row5 3 6 of elongated slits 37 which are situated lon~itudinally along the length of the individuals panels as shown. The horizontal spacing 38 between these slits is the same in all annular rows 36 so that the number of slits decreases from the upper row specifically designated 36(a) towards the lower or inner row specifically designated 36(b) situated adjacent the edge 34.
This gives relatively even diffusion of the portion of the air passing through these perforations and channels it towards the outer periphery of the grain mass within the bin assisted of cburse by the major portion of the air passing through the grain mass within the base of the chamber which diffuses the air passing upwardly through the discharge area 14.
It will therefore be appreciated that the aeration system illustrated and described is readily attached concentrically to the base of the bin regardless of the cross-sectional configuration thereof.
Although the invention is illustrated and ~9(~5'~
described in conjunction with a bin having an inverted truncated conical base, it will be appreciated that it can be added to a flat bottomed bin if the bin is ele-vated and the base removed. Under these circumstances, the invention will include the inverted truncated sloping base wall portion 20 with the remainder of the invention recorded thereto. The wall portion 20 will be attached to the lower end of the bin 10 by any desired means such as riveting, weldlng, boltlng and the lik.e.
Since various modifications can be made in our invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
(1) In a grain storage bin which includes a main bin portion and an inverted truncated conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, and support means for said bin;
the improvement comprising in combination an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central discharge area and selectively operable shut-off gate assembly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(2) The improvement according to Claim which includes a shield partially surrounding the inner discharge area of said forced air intake means to prevent grain entering said discharge area.
(3) The improvement according to Claim 1 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(4) The improvement according to Claim 2 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(5) The combination of a grain storage bin which includes a main bin portion and an inverted conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, support means for said bin, an aeration chamber selectively secured concentrically around said central discharge area, a selectively operable shut-off gate assembly in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of said grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within the chamber and upwardly through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(6) The combination according to Claim 5 which includes a shield partially surrounding the inner discharge are of said forced air intake means to prevent grain entering said discharge area.
(7) The combination according to Claim 5 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(8) The combination according to Claim 6 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(9) The improvement according to Claim 1 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(10) The improvement according to Claim 2 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(11) The improvement according to Claim 3 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(12) The improvement according to Claim 4 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(13) The improvement according to Claim 5 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(14) The improvement according to Claim 6 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(15) The improvement according to Claim 7 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(16) The improvement according to Claim 8 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(17) In a grain storage bin which includes a substantially vertical main wall portion and an open base; the improvement comprising in combination, an inverted truncated conical base discharge portion includ-ing a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, said base portion adapted to be connected to the lower end of said main wall portion, an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central dis-charge area and selectively operable shut-off gate assem-bly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assem-bly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air intake means oper-atively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perfor-ated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(18) The improvement according to Claim 17 which includes a shield partially surrounding the inner discharge area of said forced air intake means to prevent grain entering said discharge area.
(19) The improvement according to Claim 17 which includes a main bin portion and an inverted trunc-ated conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, and support means for said bin; the improvement comprising in combin-ation an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central discharge area and selectively oper-able shut-off gate assembly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a por-tion of the forced air passes upwardly through said per-forated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(20) The improvement according to Claim 18 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(21) The improvement according to Claim 17 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(22) The improvement according to Claim 18 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(23) The improvement according to Claim 19 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(24) The improvement according to Claim 20 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(25) The improvement according to Claim 21 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(26) The improvement according to Claim 22 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(27) The improvement according to Claim 23 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(28) The improvement according to Claim 24 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
the improvement comprising in combination an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central discharge area and selectively operable shut-off gate assembly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(2) The improvement according to Claim which includes a shield partially surrounding the inner discharge area of said forced air intake means to prevent grain entering said discharge area.
(3) The improvement according to Claim 1 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(4) The improvement according to Claim 2 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(5) The combination of a grain storage bin which includes a main bin portion and an inverted conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, support means for said bin, an aeration chamber selectively secured concentrically around said central discharge area, a selectively operable shut-off gate assembly in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of said grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within the chamber and upwardly through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(6) The combination according to Claim 5 which includes a shield partially surrounding the inner discharge are of said forced air intake means to prevent grain entering said discharge area.
(7) The combination according to Claim 5 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(8) The combination according to Claim 6 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(9) The improvement according to Claim 1 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(10) The improvement according to Claim 2 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(11) The improvement according to Claim 3 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(12) The improvement according to Claim 4 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(13) The improvement according to Claim 5 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(14) The improvement according to Claim 6 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(15) The improvement according to Claim 7 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assembly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizontal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(16) The improvement according to Claim 8 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(17) In a grain storage bin which includes a substantially vertical main wall portion and an open base; the improvement comprising in combination, an inverted truncated conical base discharge portion includ-ing a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, said base portion adapted to be connected to the lower end of said main wall portion, an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central dis-charge area and selectively operable shut-off gate assem-bly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assem-bly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air intake means oper-atively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perfor-ated whereby a portion of the forced air passes upwardly through said perforated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(18) The improvement according to Claim 17 which includes a shield partially surrounding the inner discharge area of said forced air intake means to prevent grain entering said discharge area.
(19) The improvement according to Claim 17 which includes a main bin portion and an inverted trunc-ated conical base discharge portion having a floor and a central discharge area at the base thereof, and support means for said bin; the improvement comprising in combin-ation an aeration chamber sealably secured concentrically around said central discharge area and selectively oper-able shut-off gate assembly means in the base of said chamber spaced below the central discharge area of the base of said base discharge portion of the bin, grain in said bin flowing through said central discharge area and building up within the lower end of said chamber upon said shut-off gate assembly and upwardly within said chamber to a natural angle of repose of the grain, and forced air intake means operatively secured through the wall of the chamber above the angle of repose of the grain, the floor of the discharge portion of the bin enclosed by said chamber being perforated whereby a por-tion of the forced air passes upwardly through said per-forated floor portion and a portion of the air passes through the grain within said chamber and up through the central discharge area of the bin, said grain within said chamber acting as an air diffuser.
(20) The improvement according to Claim 18 in which said chamber includes an annular vertical wall secured around the floor of the discharge portion of the bin and depending therefrom and an inverted truncated conical wall portion secured by the upper end thereof to the lower end of said vertical wall and terminating in said shut-off gate assembly.
(21) The improvement according to Claim 17 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(22) The improvement according to Claim 18 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(23) The improvement according to Claim 19 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(24) The improvement according to Claim 20 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(25) The improvement according to Claim 21 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(26) The improvement according to Claim 22 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(27) The improvement according to Claim 23 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
(28) The improvement according to Claim 24 in which said forced air intake means includes a fan assem-bly selectively moving ambient air into said chamber, said perforated floor including a plurality of annular rows of slot type perforations with the longitudinal axes of the slots being orientated vertically and the horizon-tal spacing between adjacent slots in all of said annular rows being substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8713029 | 1987-06-03 | ||
| GB878713029A GB8713029D0 (en) | 1987-06-03 | 1987-06-03 | Hopper bin construction |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1290540C true CA1290540C (en) | 1991-10-15 |
Family
ID=10618329
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000568293A Expired - Lifetime CA1290540C (en) | 1987-06-03 | 1988-06-01 | Grain bin construction |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1290540C (en) |
| GB (1) | GB8713029D0 (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-06-03 GB GB878713029A patent/GB8713029D0/en active Pending
-
1988
- 1988-06-01 CA CA000568293A patent/CA1290540C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8713029D0 (en) | 1987-07-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |