GB496206A - Improvements in and relating to the preservation and storage of grain and other vegetable materials in large containers or silos - Google Patents

Abstract

496,206. Granaries ; silos ; ventilating. WEIBULL, N. R. M. Feb. 19, 1937, No. 5091. [Classes 20 (i) and 137] [Also in Group XIII] Apparatus for storing and preserving grain, copra or other vegetable materials comprises a large container or silo 1 having an openwork floor 10, a vertical drum 2 extending upwardly through the interior of the container having openings with dampers or other controlling means for placing the upper end of the drum 2 in communication, as desired, with the upper interior of the container and with the outer atmosphere, an air-distributing duct 3 extending across the container below the floor 10 and communicating with the lower end of the drum 2, air conditioning means and means for forcing air into the duct, both disposed in said duct from which the treated air flows through the openings in the floor and up through the material in a plurality of well distributed streams. As shown, grain is stored in a cylindrical silo 1 having an outer wall 15 of metal which is separated from an inner wall 16 of boards by an insulating layer 16a. The inner wall 16 is double providing an air space to which cooling air may be supplied through ducts 17 controlled by dampers 18. The cylinder 2 is heat-insulated to prevent condensation on its exterior. The air is supplied through openings 9, controlled by dampers 9a in the bottom of the silo above each of which an inverted trough 10a, 10b, Fig. 3, is supported by blocks 11. A shutter 3a provides access to duct 3. The air which has passed through the grain is caused according to the operating condition to flow, partially or wholly, back through the drum 2 or out of the silo from which it is extracted by a fan 12 and is replaced by air entering through openings 13 provided with dampers. Two fans 14 are disposed in duct 3 to cause circulation of the air in the silo and may be used alternately or together, a damper 6, Fig. 4, being provided for each fan to enable its intake to be closed. A heater 20 and a cooler 19 for the air are provided in the duct 3 and are connected to a boiler and cooling machinery respectively. The grain is fed to the silo through an elevator 40, a weighing machine 36, an elevator 42, a drying tower 33, and cleansing apparatus 34. Within the silo it is fed by a screw-conveyer 24 to an elevator 25 in cylinder 2 which delivers it to a feeding screw 26 working in a tube 31, the underside of which is cut open to allow delivery of the grain into the silo. The tube 31 and screw 26 are rotatable around the cylinder 2. The silo may be emptied by reversing the rotation of screw 24, to which the grain is delivered through openings 43, 44, and passes to the elevator 40 which feeds it to the weighing machine 36 from which it may be fed to an unloading shoot 38a, or through a screw-conveyer 37 to an unloading shoot 38. Alternatively, the grain is removed by feeding it to the elevator 40 by the screw 24, elevator 25 and screw 26. In other forms, several silos may be arranged with heating and cooling means in common.