US1102201A - Extension and roof for silos. - Google Patents

Description

L. S. NAFZIGER.

EXTENSION AND ROOF FOR SILOS.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE17, 1013.

1 1 02,20 1 Patented June 30, 1914.

2 SHEETS SHEBTI @Hozncu L. S. NAFZIGER.

EXTENSION AND ROOF FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION FILED JUN217,1913.

1,102,201 Patented June 30,1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

qqh lf-ncooco i I I 61mm UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

LEO "S. NAIZIGER, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOIR. T0 SHEET METAL SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

EXTENSION AND ROOF FOR SILOS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO S. NArzionn, a citizen of the United States, residmg at Goshen; in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensions and Roofs for Silos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for silos and particularly to a combined extension and roof.

It is a well known fact that after a silo has been filled, the ensilage will settle from five to seven feet. As silos cost on an average of $5.00 per foot, the owner is investing from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars in silo space which is really of no value. To overcome this some farmers fasten poultry wire around the top of the silo to serve as a temporary retainer, and then fill to the top of the wire in order to insure having a full silo after the ensilage has settled. Even this makeshift is impossible in silos provided with the ordinary form of roof. Furtherinore, the ordinary roof is in the way while the silo is being filled as it interferes with the operators who trample the ensilage in order to pack it firmly. At the same time a roof is really needed in order to exclude rain and snow from the silo.

The present invention has therefore been designed to obviate the objectionable features of the various alternative structures now in use.

The object of the invention is to provide a structure adapted to be secured upon the upper end of a silo and which when in its expanded osition will serve as an extension for the $110 to enable it to contain a sufficient amount of ensilage to allow for the inevitable settling, and which may be collapsed to form a roof or cover for the silo.

An important object is to provide a structure of'this character which will be rigid when in its expanded position so that there will be no danger of the walls spreading under pressure of the ensilage, and which will have its joints so protected and formed as to prevent the entrance of water into the silo.

Other objects and advantages such as cheapness, simplicity, durability, etliciency and the general improvement of the art will Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 111143 30, 1914,

Application filed June 17, 1913.

Serial No. 774,201.

be fully brought out in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the in vention applied to a silo and in its expanded position, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view therethrough, Fig 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device showing portions in the expanded position, and other .portions collapsed, and Fig. 5 is a perspecas by bolts or rivets 4. Each of the sections 3 comprises a horizontal portion 5 ada ted to seat and be secured upon the rim of t 1e silo as by bolts, nails or spikes. From the horizontal portion 5 an inclined portion 6 extends downwardly to serve as a watershed. The vertical portion 7 is formed integrally with the portion 5 and is adapted for connection with the members to be described. At the points of union of the successive sections 3 angle braces 8 are secured for stren hening thestructure.

Hinge ly connected with the vertical portions 7 of the sections 3 as by hinges 9 are upstanding members 10 and 11 formed preferably of sheet metal and in the shape of an isosceles triangle. Upon each side of the members 10 are connected by means of hinges 12 similarbut inverted members 13 which occupy the spaces between the members 10 and 11. In order to form a perfect fit between these diiierent members, I provide flanges 14 adjacent each side edge of the members 11 which co-act as shown with flanges 15 formed on the adjacent edges of the members 13. The members 10 are provided with strips 16 which overlap the joint between the members 10 and 13. Flanges 17 are formed on the strips 16 for a purpose to be described. In order to prevent the members 13 and 11 from becoming disengaged and to prevent them from moving outwardly ll provide bars 18 pivoted as at 19- to be described. I

When the deviceis in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, it is adapted for use as an extension of the silo walls, so that sufficient material may be placed therein to allow for the subsequent settling. In this position the members 10 and 11 together with the members 13 are vertically disposed with the flanges 15 on the members 13 interlocked with the flanges 14 on the members 11, and

the junctions of the members 10 and 13 covered by the strips 16. When ensilage is placed within the device there will be considerable outward pressure on the wall formed by the interlocked sector members. By disposing the bars 18 horizontally as shown in Fig. 1 wit-h the slots 20 in engagement with the pins 21 it will be obvious that spreading of the wall sections will be efl'ectually prevented.

Tn order to adapt the device for useas a roof it is merely necessary to swing the bars 18 into a vertical position as shown at the left of Fig. 4, whereupon the members 13 and 11 may be separated by disengaging the flanges 14: and 15. The members 13 may then be swung inwardly upon the hinges 12 and disposed radially of the device as shown at the left of Fig. 4. The members 11 and the members 10 carrying the members 13 may be swung downwardly until their edges meet and they are disposed in the form of a. cone, as shown in Figs. 4i and 5. The flanges 14 may then be interlocked with the flanges 17 formed on the strips 16, thus making the joints entirely protected. This joint obviates the danger of leakage of water into the silo and thus keeps the ensilage dry. After the members have been swung inwardly and interlocked a cap 23 is placed at the apex of the resulting cone, and secured firmly in position as by means of bolts or the like.

During the fermentation of the ensilage which naturally occurs considerable gas is evolved which may be allowed to escape by removing the cap 22.

While the members 10 are described as provided with strips 16 having flanges 17 formed thereon it might be found expedient to "form the flanges integrally upon the side edges of the sections 10.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A combined extension and roof for silos comprising a ring secured upon the upper edge of a silo, a plurality of triangular members hingedly secured upon said ring,

other triangular members hingedly secured upon the edges of certain of said first, named triangular members,flanges on the edges'of said first namedtriangular members, and flanges on the free edges of said'second named triangular members, certain of said flanges being adapted to overlap when the members are in thei expanded positions, and certain of said flanges being adapted to, overlap when the members are in their 001- lapsed positions for forming watertight joints. i

2. A combined extension and" silos comprising a ringsecured upon the upper end of a silo, a plurality of triangu-v 1ar membcrs hingedly connected with said ring, a pair of triangular members hingedly secured upon the edges of each alternate one of said first named members, means for interlocking said members when in their expanded positions and means for interlocking certain of said members when in their collapsed positions for forming tight joints.

3. A combined. extension and roof for silos comprising a plurality of triangular members hingedly secured upon the upper edge of a silo, outwardly and inwardly bent flanges formed on the side edges of each alternate one of said members, a pair of triangular members hingedly connected with the side edges of each of the other alternate members, outwardly, inwardly then outwardly bent flanges on the side edges ofupon the side edges of each of the other alternate members, flanges on the side edges or said last named members, and flanges on th tree edges of said pairs of members, said first and second named flanges being adapted to interlock when the device is in its collapsed position, and said second and third named flanges being adapted to interlock when the device is in its expanded position.

5. A combined extension and roof for silos, comprising a plurality of triangular members hingedly secured upon the upper edge of a silo, flanges on the side edges of each alternate one of said members, a pair of triangular members hingedly secured upon the side edges of each of the other alternate members, flanges on the side edges roof for rot llllli llZll of said last named members, flanges on the ing a closed structure when the device is in 10 free edges of sald'pairs of members, said its collapsed position,

first and second named flanges being adapt- In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my ed to interiock when the device is in its colsignature in the presence of two witnesses. lapsed position, and said second and third LEO NAFZIGER named flanges being adapted to interlock when the device isin its expanded position, \Vitnesses:

and a cap adapted to be secured upon the JONATHAN S. Yonnn, ends of said first named members for form- N ELLIE ALBRIGHT.

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