GB2132744A

GB2132744A - Drying floor for crops

Info

Publication number: GB2132744A
Application number: GB08323163A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Arthur Hoare
Original assignee: AVERCET Ltd
Current assignee: AVERCET Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-31
Filing date: 1983-08-30
Publication date: 1984-07-11
Also published as: GB8323163D0; GB2132744B

Abstract

A substantially flat crop-drying floor made of concrete formed with a series of substantially parallel air supply ducts (3) of rounded shape in transverse cross-section extending parallel to the floor surface (2) and located wholly below the same, and a series of substantially parallel air outlet slots (4) in the floor surface extending transversely to said ducts and opening downwardly thereinto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Crop-4rying floors This invention relates to crop-drying floors.

Such floors are conventionally supplied with a continuous flow of drying air from a blower which feeds into a main supply tunnel, extending either centrally or along one side of the floor space, and thence into a series of multi-apertured air supply ducts extending laterally from said tunnel across the floor.

Sometimes the said ducts are simply laid on top of the existing floor surface, but this creates problems when it is desired to drive a vehicle across the floor to set down or pick up the crop. It is therefore preferred that the air supply ducts be located below floor level, so that the floor can be flat. At the same time it is of course desirable to reduce as far as possible pressure drop in the air flow through the ducts, so as in turn to increase the floor area that can be efficiently covered. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved form of such a flat, ducted, crop-drying floor and means for forming the same.

Thus viewed from one aspect the invention provides a substantially flat crop-drying floor made of concrete formed with a series of substantially parallel air supply ducts of rounded shape in transverse cross-section extending parallel to the floor surface and located wholly below the same, and a series of substantially parallel air outlet slots in the floor surface extending transversely to said ducts and opening downwardly thereinto.

Such an arrangement reduces the loss of air pressure in the ducts by virtue of their rounded shape, as compared with known ducts of rectangular or polygonal section, and at the same time provides a substantially flat floor surface. Multi-apertured air outlet means, e.g. wire mesh strips, will be provided in the said slots, at the floor surface, to stop the crop from falling into the slots and ducts.

A floor according to the invention may be formed in any of a number of ways. one way is to cast the whole floor in situ. Another way is to provide concrete beams each formed with a single one of said air supply ducts and a cooperating series of said transverse air outlet slots, and to use such beams as shuttering and as a guide for the casting of the main body of the floor in sections therebetween.

Yet a third way is to provide concrete slabs each formed with a series of air supply ducts and cooperating slots and to lay the same to form the floor, thus avoiding in situ casting.

Preferably the said air supply ducts are circular in transverse cross-section.

Preferably the said air outlet slots extend substantially perpendicularly to the said ducts.

Preferably the said slots are formed with rebates at their opposite edges for the reception of multi-apertured air outlet means in strip form, e.g. wire mesh as previously mentioned.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially sectioned to show the interior, of a concrete siab according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a concrete beam according to the invention; Figure 3 illustrates the manner of casting in situ a part of a floor according to the invention; Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a slot-forming member used in the process illustrated in Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of apparatus used in casting a floor in situ according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet and region of an air supply duct in a floor according to the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a concrete slab 1, conveniently about 8' x 4' in size, for forming a crop-drying floor by laying an appropriate number of such slabs on a suitable surface in a building. The slab has a surface 2 which is to form part of the surface of the crop-drying floor, and is formed with a series of parallel internal circular-section air supply ducts 3, extending between and opening at two opposite edges thereof. The surface 2 of the slab is further formed with a series of parallel air outlet slots 4 opening downwardly into the ducts 3 and formed with rebates 5 at their opposite edges to support multi-apertured air outlet means in the form of wire mesh strips 6 (Fig. 6).

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a concrete beam 7 for use in forming a cropdrying floor, formed with a single longitudinal air supply duct 3 parallel to its floor-forming face 2, and a series of parallel air outlet slots 4 similar in cross-sectional shape to the slots of the slab of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated one manner of forming a part of a floor according to the invention, using beams as shown in Fig. 2. Such a beam is indicated at 7 in Fig. 3, and a similar beam forms the termination of the portion of floor 8 which has already been cast at the left-hand side of the Figure. To form the portion of floor between the formed portion 8 and the beam 7, slotforming members 9, shown in section in Fig.

4, are laid in the existing slots in the floor portion 8 and beam 7 so as to span the space therebetween. Inflatable tubular void-formers 10 are then suspended from the members 9 by ties 11, being pulled up into recesses 1 2 in the members 9 so that the parts of the void-formers in such recesses will define the communications between the air supply ducts and air outlet slots in the cast floor. Bars 1 3 held down by clamps 14 engaging in the existing slots 4 act to hold the members 9 down in the slots during casting. Shuttering 1 5 supports the void-formers 10 at each end.

It will be readily understood that when concrete is poured into the assembly illustrated in Fig. 3 a portion of floor is cast, integrally with existing floor portion 8 and beam 7, which is formed with air supply ducts and air outlet slots just like those of the slab of Fig. 1.

Preferably the inflatable and collapsible void-formers 10 are made of natural or synthetic rubber, like those sold under the Registered Trade Mark DUCTUBE. Alternatively reinforced plastics tubes may be used.

Fig. 5 shows how slot-forming members 9 carrying void-formers 10 may be supported from an existing surface 1 6 when a floor is to be cast in situ without using beams 7, the ends of the members 9 being supported by profiled metal shuttering 1 7 fixed down to the surface 16.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which a crop-drying floor formed in accordance with the invention may be associated with a main air supply tunnel into which air is supplied by a suitable blower. A terminal concrete wall 1 8 is formed integrally along the side of the floor and one side wall 1 9 of the tunnel 20 is supported in a rebate 21 thereof. The inlet ends of the air supply ducts 3 have rounded edges 22 to assist the smooth flow of air thereinto and thereby further reduce pressure loss.

Claims

1. A substantially flat crop-drying floor made of concrete formed with a series of substantially parallel air supply ducts of rounded shape in transverse cross-section extending parallel to the floor surface and located wholly below the same, and a series of substantially parallel air outlet slots in the floor surface extending transversely to said ducts and opening downwardly thereinto.

2. A concrete slab for use in forming a crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, one face of said slab being adapted to form an area of the floor surface, the slab being formed with a plurality of substantially parallel internal air supply ducts of rounded shape in transverse cross-section extending parallel to said one face, and a series of substantially parallel air outlet slots in said one face extending transversely to said ducts and opening thereinto.

3. A concrete beam for use in forming a crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, one longitudinal face of said beam being adapted to form an area of the floor surface, the beam being formed with an internal air supply duct of rounded shape in transverse cross-section extending lengthwise thereof, and a series of substantially parallel air outlet slots in said one face extending transversely to said duct and opening thereinto.

4. The invention claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the said air supply ducts are circular in transverse cross-section.

5. The invention claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the said air outlet slots extend substantially perpendicularly to the said ducts or duct.

6. The invention claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the said air outlet slots are formed with rebates at their opposite edges for the reception of multi-apertured air outlet means in strip form.

7. The invention as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet end of the or each said air supply duct has a rounded edge.

8. A crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A concrete slab as claimed in claim 2, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A concrete beam as claimed in claim 3, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of forming a crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, which comprises casting the whole floor in situ.

1 2. A method of forming a crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, which comprises laying concrete beams as claimed in claim 3 to act as shuttering and as parts of the floor, and then casting the remainder of the floor between the said beams.

1 3. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 1 2, wherein the said air supply ducts are formed by casting the concrete around inflatable void-formers and the said air outlet slots are formed by casting the concrete around slot-forming members from which the said void-formers are suspended during casting.

14. A method of forming a crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, which comprises laying concrete slabs as claimed in claim 2.

1 5. Methods of forming a crop-drying floor as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.