GB1604969A - Crop storage - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CROP STORAGE (71) We, THURLOW NUNN FARM SER- VICES LIMITED, a British Company, of Kennett, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8QT, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates generally to crop storage.

In order to store crops in a room or barn or the like, it is generally necessary to provide adequate air circulation. Previously it has been proposed to support crops on a floor having apertures therein communicating with air ducts and to blow air through the ducts and apertures.

The present invention provides an improved floor for a crop storage room and blocks for fabricating such a floor.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a block for use in fabricating a floor of a crop storage room, comprising an aperture through which air can pass from the bottom to the top of the block. and an inherently resilient insert member which has a shape complimentary to the aperture, the insert member being retained in the aperture by its inherent resilience and which is removable from the aperture. the member having a plurality of apertures therein for the passage of air. and the arrangement being such that the top of the member does not protrude substantially above the top surface of the block.

The removable insert member is readily replaceable by a similar insert member having apertures of a different size therein to suit a different crop. Optionally the insert member may be removed completely for large crops that are of a size which cannot pass through the slots in the block.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention. there is provided a floor for a crop storage room comprising a plurality of such blocks placed in juxtapositon on supports which define air ducts therebetween.

The apertures in the blocks are located above the air ducts.

A floor in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of part of a crop storage room incorporating the floor, and Figure 2 is a perspective, broken view of a floor block.

Referring to Figure 1, the floor comprises a plurality of blocks 1 arranged in juxtaposition with the ends of each block mounted on adjacent, parallel supports 2. Adjacent blocks engage each other. The supports 2 space the blocks 1 from a concrete base 3 and define parallel air ducts 4 which communicate the undersides of the blocks 1 with a main air duct 5 into which air is blown from a fan (not shown). The arrows of Figure 1 indicate the direction of air flow.

Each block 1 is of reinforced concrete and has one or more (three in the illustrated blocks) elongate, longitudinally extending slots 6 which extend substantially the width of the air duct 4 over which the block is mounted.

As best seen in Figure 2, each slot 6 has a bottom portion 7 defined by side walls 8 which taper towards each other from the bottom of the block 1 and a top portion 9 having generally parallel side walls 10 which are joined to the side walls 8 by transverse shoulders 11.

Located in the top portion 9 of each slot 6 is a removable insert 12 which is of inverted channel shape in cross-section, having a top surface 13 and side walls 14, and which has a plurality of apertures 15 in its top surface 13.

The apertures 15 may be of any suitable shape, for example transverse slits as shown, and of a size small enough to prevent the crop to be stored from falling through the apertures.

The inserts may be of metal, for example galvanized steel. or other suitable material.

The transverse slits may be formed in louvers. as for example in commercially avilable material known as i'Expamet" (R.T.M.).

The side walls 14 rest on shoulders 11 and are preferably of a height substantially the same as the side walls 10 of the slot 6 so that the top surface 13 of the insert does not protrude substantially above the top surface of the block. The insen 12 is a press fit in the slot 6 and preferably the walls 10 of the slot slope in a manner to engage and retain the insert 12 and/or the side walls 14 of the insert may slope. Alternatively, the side walls 14 may be parallel. The walls 14 flex about their junctures with the top surface 13 to permit easy insertion and removal of the insert.

For small grained crops, or crops with low air flow requirements, the inserts are used, but with other crops, for example potatoes or onions, or for crops with high air flow requirement, the inserts can be removed.

The above described floor has the advantages that it permits a good distribution of air to the crops and permits the storage of a variety of crops.

The inserts are readily replaceable by inserts having a different aperture size.

The floor can be readily installed in either new or existing buildings.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A block for use in fabricating a floor of a crop storage room, comprising an aperture through which air can pass from the bottom to the top of the block, and an inherently resilient insert member which has a shape complementary to the aperture, the insert member being retained in the aperture by its inherent resilience, and which is removable from the aperture, the member having a plurality of apertures therein for the passage of air, and the arrangement being such that the top of the member does not protrude substantially above the top surface of the block.

2. A block according to claim I, wherein said aperture in the block is an elongate slot and the inset member is elongate.

3. A block according to claim 2, wherein the slot has a top portion and a bottom portion the side walls of which portions are joined by respective shoulders which provide a seat for the member.

4. A block according to claim 3, wherein the member is of inverted channel shape in cross-section, the free edges of the sides of the channel being adapted to engage the respective shoulders.

5. A block according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the sides of the member are parallel.

6. A block according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the sides of the member are inherently resilient.

7. A block according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the side walls of the top ponion of the slot are parallel.

8. A block according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the side walls of the bottom portion of the slot taper towards each other from the underside of the block.

9. A block according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures in the insert member are in the form of transverse slits.

10. A block according to claim 9.

wherein the transverse slits are formed in louvers.

11. A block according to any of the preceding claims wherein the block has a plurality of such apertures and corresponding insert members.

12. A block according to claim 1, for use in fabricating a floor of a crop storage room.

constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 13. A floor for a crop storage tom comprising a plurality of blocks according to any preceding claim arranged in juxtaposition on supports.

14. A floor according to claim 13, wherein the supports define air ducts through which air can flow from a main duct to the bottoms of the blocks.

15. A floor according to claim 14, wherein the supports are elongate and parallel.

16. A floor according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the ends of each block, are mounted on the adjacent supports, the or each aperture in each block extending substantially the whole width of the air duct between said supports.

17. A floor according to any of claims 1316, wherein adjacent blocks are in engagement.

18. A floor according to claim 13 for a crop storage room, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (18)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. crop to be stored from falling through the apertures. The inserts may be of metal, for example galvanized steel. or other suitable material. The transverse slits may be formed in louvers. as for example in commercially avilable material known as i'Expamet" (R.T.M.). The side walls 14 rest on shoulders 11 and are preferably of a height substantially the same as the side walls 10 of the slot 6 so that the top surface 13 of the insert does not protrude substantially above the top surface of the block. The insen 12 is a press fit in the slot 6 and preferably the walls 10 of the slot slope in a manner to engage and retain the insert 12 and/or the side walls 14 of the insert may slope. Alternatively, the side walls 14 may be parallel. The walls 14 flex about their junctures with the top surface 13 to permit easy insertion and removal of the insert. For small grained crops, or crops with low air flow requirements, the inserts are used, but with other crops, for example potatoes or onions, or for crops with high air flow requirement, the inserts can be removed. The above described floor has the advantages that it permits a good distribution of air to the crops and permits the storage of a variety of crops. The inserts are readily replaceable by inserts having a different aperture size. The floor can be readily installed in either new or existing buildings. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A block for use in fabricating a floor of a crop storage room, comprising an aperture through which air can pass from the bottom to the top of the block, and an inherently resilient insert member which has a shape complementary to the aperture, the insert member being retained in the aperture by its inherent resilience, and which is removable from the aperture, the member having a plurality of apertures therein for the passage of air, and the arrangement being such that the top of the member does not protrude substantially above the top surface of the block.

2. A block according to claim I, wherein said aperture in the block is an elongate slot and the inset member is elongate.

3. A block according to claim 2, wherein the slot has a top portion and a bottom portion the side walls of which portions are joined by respective shoulders which provide a seat for the member.

4. A block according to claim 3, wherein the member is of inverted channel shape in cross-section, the free edges of the sides of the channel being adapted to engage the respective shoulders.

5. A block according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the sides of the member are parallel.

6. A block according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the sides of the member are inherently resilient.

7. A block according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the side walls of the top ponion of the slot are parallel.

8. A block according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the side walls of the bottom portion of the slot taper towards each other from the underside of the block.

9. A block according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures in the insert member are in the form of transverse slits.

10. A block according to claim 9.

wherein the transverse slits are formed in louvers.

11. A block according to any of the preceding claims wherein the block has a plurality of such apertures and corresponding insert members.

12. A block according to claim 1, for use in fabricating a floor of a crop storage room.

constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A floor for a crop storage tom comprising a plurality of blocks according to any preceding claim arranged in juxtaposition on supports.

14. A floor according to claim 13, wherein the supports define air ducts through which air can flow from a main duct to the bottoms of the blocks.

15. A floor according to claim 14, wherein the supports are elongate and parallel.

16. A floor according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the ends of each block, are mounted on the adjacent supports, the or each aperture in each block extending substantially the whole width of the air duct between said supports.

17. A floor according to any of claims 1316, wherein adjacent blocks are in engagement.

18. A floor according to claim 13 for a crop storage room, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.