GB2027180A

GB2027180A - Silo

Info

Publication number: GB2027180A
Application number: GB7924973A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-07-27
Filing date: 1979-07-18
Publication date: 1980-02-13
Also published as: GB2027180B

Abstract

A silo with a side wall 10 and floor 12 has a receptacle 14 on the floor. An aperture 26 in the receptacle is openable and closable by a shutter 24, operated by a push rod 28 from the exterior of the silo. When the aperture is open, the contents of the silo can be extracted through a tube 16 to the exterior by an auger in the tube. Ventilating ducts 20 radiate from the receptacle. The ducts 20 and tube 16 are made of mesh material, the openings of which allow passage of air but not of the contents of the silo. By removing the auger and connecting a fan to the outer end 18 of the tube 16, a crop stored in the silo can be conditioned. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in silos This invention relates to silos, for example for containing grain.

The invention provides a silo having a floor and a side wall, a receptacle in or on the floor, a tube extending from the receptacle to the exterior of the silo, an auger which is insertable in the tube so that it extends from the receptacle to the exterior and can be rotated to extract material in the silo through an aperture in the receptacle, and means for propelling air which is connectable to the tube to blow or exhaust air through the tube, there being openings communicating between the receptacle or the tube and the interior of the silo, which openings permit the passage of air but not substantial ingress of material from the silo, whereby the air propelling means can ventilate material in the silo.

Preferably the aperture is closable when the air propelling means is in use so as to prevent material which might interfere with the ventilation entering the receptacle. Suitably, the aperture is closable by a shutter slidable between an open and a closed position. Desirably, the means for closing the aperture is operable from the exterior of the silo. For example, this may comprise a push rod connected to the shutter and passing to the exterior through the side wall.

The receptacle may have one or more subsidiary ventilating ducts extending therefrom, some at least of said openings communicating between the receptacle or tube and the interior of the silo being provided in the ducts.

A silo incorporating the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective and partially cut-away view of the silo, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the silo.

Referring to the drawings, the silo has a cylindrical steel side wall 10 built on a concrete base 12. In the centre of the base 12 is a sump (not shown) over which is positioned a low rectangular steel box-like receptacle 14. From one side wall of the receptacle 14 there extends a tube 16, which passes through the side wall 10 at 1 8.

From the other three side walls of the receptacle 14, there radiate tubes 20, forming ventilation ducts, which do not quite reach the wall 10 and the free ends of which are closed. The tubes 1 6, 20 are removably located in hoods 34 around apertures in the side walls of the receptacle 14.

Regions 32 in the top of the receptacle 14, and also the tubes 1 6 and 20, are made of a mesh material, the openings of the mesh being of such size that air can pass through it but material to be stored in the silo (for example grain) cannot enter the tubes from the silo.

As seen best in Fig. 2, the top of the receptacle 14 is provided with two angle members 22 which form a channel with inturned lips. An aperture 26 into the receptacle 14 is provided at one end of the channel. A shutter 24 slides in the channel over the aperture 26 to open or close it. The shutter 24 can be slid by means of a push rod 28 which is affixed to the shutter and passes to the exterior of the silo, where it terminates in a handle 30. Pulling or pushing the handle 30 therefore opens or closes the aperture 26.

The tube 1 6 is made of sufficient diameter (for example about eight inches) to permit the insertion of a generally conventional auger from the end 18 outside the silo. When it is desired to empty the silo, therefore, the shutter 24 can be opened by means of the handle 30, so that material in the silo falls through the aperture 26 and can be extracted by rotating the auger, for example to some form of conventional secondary loading device outside the silo. When material such as grain is being stored and it is not yet desired to empty the silo, however, the auger can be withdrawn and the shutter 24 closed and instead the end 1 8 of the tube 1 6 can be attached to a conventional centrifugal fan. The end 18 may be provided with means for mounting and securing the fan and/or a drive motor for the auger.The fan can be arranged either to blow air through the material stored in the silo, or to suck it through. In either case, the closed shutter 24 and the mesh size of the tubes 16, 20 and regions 32 prevent material from the silo fouling the fan.

The silo may have an open or a closed top, and may also be provided with heaters for drying the grain or other material. Such arrangements are described in our co-pending Patent Applications Nos. 2812/75, 16331/76 and 24174/76 (Serial Nos 1531421 and 1531422).

1. A silo having a floor and a side wall, a receptacle in or on the floor, a tube extending from the receptacle to the exterior of the silo, an auger which is insertable in the tube so that it extends from the receptacle to the exterior and can be rotated to extract material in the silo through an aperture in the receptacle, and means for propelling air which is connectable to the tube to blow or exhaust air through the tube, there being openings communicating between the receptacle or the tube and the interior of the silo, which openings permit the passage of air but not substantial ingress of material from the silo, whereby the air propelling means can ventilate material in the silo.

2. A silo according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is closable when the-air propelling means is in use so as to prevent material which might interfere with the ventilation entering the receptacle.

3. A silo according to claim 2 wherein the aperture is closable by a shutter slidable between an open and a closed position.

4. A silo according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein there is provided means for closing the aperture which is operable from the exterior of the silo.

5. A silo according to claim 2 together with claim 3 wherein a push rod is connected to the shutter for operation thereof, the push rod

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in silos This invention relates to silos, for example for containing grain. The invention provides a silo having a floor and a side wall, a receptacle in or on the floor, a tube extending from the receptacle to the exterior of the silo, an auger which is insertable in the tube so that it extends from the receptacle to the exterior and can be rotated to extract material in the silo through an aperture in the receptacle, and means for propelling air which is connectable to the tube to blow or exhaust air through the tube, there being openings communicating between the receptacle or the tube and the interior of the silo, which openings permit the passage of air but not substantial ingress of material from the silo, whereby the air propelling means can ventilate material in the silo. Preferably the aperture is closable when the air propelling means is in use so as to prevent material which might interfere with the ventilation entering the receptacle. Suitably, the aperture is closable by a shutter slidable between an open and a closed position. Desirably, the means for closing the aperture is operable from the exterior of the silo. For example, this may comprise a push rod connected to the shutter and passing to the exterior through the side wall. The receptacle may have one or more subsidiary ventilating ducts extending therefrom, some at least of said openings communicating between the receptacle or tube and the interior of the silo being provided in the ducts. A silo incorporating the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective and partially cut-away view of the silo, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the silo. Referring to the drawings, the silo has a cylindrical steel side wall 10 built on a concrete base 12. In the centre of the base 12 is a sump (not shown) over which is positioned a low rectangular steel box-like receptacle 14. From one side wall of the receptacle 14 there extends a tube 16, which passes through the side wall 10 at 1 8. From the other three side walls of the receptacle 14, there radiate tubes 20, forming ventilation ducts, which do not quite reach the wall 10 and the free ends of which are closed. The tubes 1 6, 20 are removably located in hoods 34 around apertures in the side walls of the receptacle 14. Regions 32 in the top of the receptacle 14, and also the tubes 1 6 and 20, are made of a mesh material, the openings of the mesh being of such size that air can pass through it but material to be stored in the silo (for example grain) cannot enter the tubes from the silo. As seen best in Fig. 2, the top of the receptacle 14 is provided with two angle members 22 which form a channel with inturned lips. An aperture 26 into the receptacle 14 is provided at one end of the channel. A shutter 24 slides in the channel over the aperture 26 to open or close it. The shutter 24 can be slid by means of a push rod 28 which is affixed to the shutter and passes to the exterior of the silo, where it terminates in a handle 30. Pulling or pushing the handle 30 therefore opens or closes the aperture 26. The tube 1 6 is made of sufficient diameter (for example about eight inches) to permit the insertion of a generally conventional auger from the end 18 outside the silo. When it is desired to empty the silo, therefore, the shutter 24 can be opened by means of the handle 30, so that material in the silo falls through the aperture 26 and can be extracted by rotating the auger, for example to some form of conventional secondary loading device outside the silo. When material such as grain is being stored and it is not yet desired to empty the silo, however, the auger can be withdrawn and the shutter 24 closed and instead the end 1 8 of the tube 1 6 can be attached to a conventional centrifugal fan. The end 18 may be provided with means for mounting and securing the fan and/or a drive motor for the auger.The fan can be arranged either to blow air through the material stored in the silo, or to suck it through. In either case, the closed shutter 24 and the mesh size of the tubes 16, 20 and regions 32 prevent material from the silo fouling the fan. The silo may have an open or a closed top, and may also be provided with heaters for drying the grain or other material. Such arrangements are described in our co-pending Patent Applications Nos. 2812/75, 16331/76 and 24174/76 (Serial Nos 1531421 and 1531422). CLAIMS

5. A silo according to claim 2 together with claim 3 wherein a push rod is connected to the shutter for operation thereof, the push rod extending to the exterior of the silo through the side wall.

6. A silo according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tube and/or the receptacle comprises a mesh material forming said openings.

7. A silo according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the receptacle has one or more subsidiary ventilating ducts extending therefrom, some at least of said openings communicating between the receptacle or tube and the interior of the silo being provided in the ducts.

8. A silo according to claim 7 wherein the ducts comprise a mesh material forming said openings,

9. A silo substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.