US2234139A - Silo construction - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1941. A. H. MARTIN ETAL 2,234,139

sILo coNsTRUcTIoN Filed Feb. 5, -1940 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SILO CONSTRUCTION Application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,424

12 Claims.

This invention r-elates to improvements in silos and more particularly to building units therefor. including a door frame with doors adapted to be applied to a silo constructed of interiitting concrete blocks. However, it is, of course, to be understood .that without material modification the major portion of the building unit including the doors and door frame are equally adaptable to other types of silos made either of sheet metal or wood.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a strong and durable building unit of the above general character which may be inexpensively manufactured and installed.

A further object is to provide a practical unit of the above character having a relatively few parts which may be easily and quickly assembled.

A further object is to provide a building unit which may be placed at any position in the usual vertical opening common to silo constructions and have associated therewith one or more additional circumferential strengthening bands as necessary or desired according to its relative location in the building.

A further object is to provide a door frame with doors provided with suitable securing means and hinges with the latter extending substantially across the entire width of the door thereby to permit the same .to be used as the steps of a ladder to permit easy climbing to the top of the silo.

A further object is to provide a unit of the above mention-ed character in which a plurality of oppositely swinging doors are mounted in each unit frame in such a manner as to permit the doors to be swung relatively inwardly and in a plane substantially tangential to the plane of the opening and thereafter lie snugly against the inner wall of the silo.

Other objects will in part be obvious from the annexed drawing and in part hereinafter indicated in connection therewith by .the following analysis of the invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts, and in the unique relation of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To ena-ble others skilled in the art fully to comprehend the underlying features of the invention, that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by the invention, a drawing depicting a preferred embodiment of the invention forms a part of this disclosure, and in such drawing like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational View of a portion 5 of the silo provided with the usual vertical side opening and showing one complete unit;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the lin-e 2-2 of Figure l, showing one of the doors swung inwardly in a dotted line-position;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a substantially central vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and more particularly to Figure 1, `li indicates a part of the usual cylindrical wall of a silo which in the present case may -be made of interftting concrete slabs or blocks 6 each provided with dovetailed or tongue and groove connections 'I as shown in Figures 2 and 3 with adjacent blocks or strips 9 secured to the door frame shortly to be described. As well known to those familiar with the subject, silos are provided with a vertically extending opening in the circumference provided with closure means of vany desired ch-aracter whereby as the silo is filled the opening may be progressively closed by doors, for example, or as the silo is emptied, then these doors are opened one by one and swung out of the way or removed entirely according vto the construction.

Likewise it is to be noted ,that it is customary to provide strengthening bands extending about the silo at intervals from top to bottom. Inasmuch as the vgreatest strain is exerted on the lower part of the silo, in order to counteract this outward pressure due vto the increasing weight of the contents of the silo, one or more additional or auxiliary strengthening bands are provided as necessary. For instance, in Figure 1 there is shown usual circumferential bands 8 in line with the joint between two door frames l0 and as herein shown two additional strengthening bands Il are provided and connected with the d0or45 frame, but in such a manner as not to interfere with the free passing of one through the opening when the doors are open.

These strengthening bands are usually provided with turnbuckles I2 to vary the tension to the desired degree and the intermediate bands Il are further provided with spacers such as the perforated angle irons I3 for holding the bands Il in properly spaced parallel relation yet permitting their terminals to extend diagonally up-c wardly and downwardly as indicated at I4 and I5 to .their point of attachment to the transverse portions I6 of the door frames. As shown in Figure 3, .these bands I4 bend inwardly at their extreme end and pass through the transverse portion I6 of the door frame and nuts I'I are screwed onto the threaded ends thereby to hold .the parts in assembled relation.

As herein shown, each frame I0 is provided with two doors 20 and 2| which are supported by means of metal hinge members 22 each of which able bracket 23 mounted upon the vertical parts I0 of the door frame. These members 22 are so shaped and const-ructed as to extend substantially across the entire width of the opening from the hinged bracket 23 on one side to a second bracket on pivotal support 24 secured to the outer face of the door ZI, for example, at the opposite side of the opening.

It will thus-be seen byreferring to Figure 2 that on releasing a .locking ymeans 25 which in this case is merely a pivoted clamp movably mounted upon the door -by bolt 26 and having its opposite end 21 engaging the outer face of the metallic transverse portion I6 of the door frame, the door may be swung inwardly about its hinge bracket V2,3 lto a position closely adjacent the inner Wall of the silo. The peculiar'pivotal connection at each end of the arm 22 permits this 'door to maintain a position at all times substantially parallel to the plane o f the opening or parallel to a tangent tothe silo opi-positie to the door iny any position.

Referring to Figure 14, it will be seen that the door 20 is preferably constructed of a double thickness of good high-grade fir timber, the two layersbeing arranged with the inner layer v2l] extendingy below the outer layer 28 as shown in this View, thereby vproducing an overlap joint and holding the lower door 2I in closed position, thus requiring that the upper door 28 be opened first. Thisconnection is substantially air and weatherproof and does away with the necessity of an additional clamping means 25 at both the top and bottom of each door. In other words, one clamp 'at'the top of the door 20 and another clamp at the'bottom of the door ZI each engaging the transverse -'portions It` of the door frame will be sufl'i'cient.

ey unit as made yforlcormr'ete silos usually includes the metallic angle iron/frame III-I6, and thev two doors 20-'2I as well as the associated concrete vertical strips 9 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 LAwhich unit may be readily assembled with the other concrete units going into'the main portionof vthe silo. If, however, the door frame unit isemployed in a` sheet metal silo or one made ofwood, then vthese vertical side strips 9 are easily removed or omitted and the angle irons IIl'will interfit with and be secured to the wrought iron sheets or the woodenvstaves of the silo according to the construction used. v

It Vwill be noted particularly that this building unit will not warp, rot, crack or waste away. The doorsgwith the peculiar se'lfftightening` locking -means or -latchesmake the silos substantially air and weather tight. The frames permit one or moreadditionalbinding rods to be conveniently passed about the silo without in any way interfering withthe opening or- Vertical doorway as and when desired. The peculiar form of hinges notonly providea safe and reliable ladder when y-the1 doorsy are closed, extending substantially the enti-re .widtlrlI of j the opening, v:but also'prevent. loss is carried a't one end by a suitof the doors as might occur if the doors were bodily removed from the silo. The hinges also permit the doors to be swung inwardly out of the weather during the empty season in compact relation and directly against the interior walls of the silo.

By providing the doors and door frames in units as herein shown the silo can be built to any desired height as it merely involvesthe placing of one unit on top of the other. The entire frame is made of relatively inexpensive angle irons preferably welded together to provide the individual frames. The superimposed frames are conveniently bolted together one above the other as necessary. The entire construction involves relatively few parts which may be inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed without Vthe necessity of skilled labor.

"ting certain vfeatures that, from the standpoint ofv the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specic aspects of the invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims. v

We claim:

l. A building unit for silo construction com'- prising a rectangular frame having a plurality of doors mounted therein hinged alternately to swing in opposite directions, hinge members constituting steps and extending substantially across the face ofthe unit, a hinge support on the frame for" one'end of each of vsaidI steps, the hinge supports being on opposite sides of the frame, a pivot mounted on each doorfor the opposite end of its step, and locking means carried by each door adapted to' coact with the frame whereby when 'both doors are opened the entire frame is unobstructed.

2. A building unit of the character set forth in claim (l), in which said steps comprise strips of metal, the body portion of which is substantially parallel to the face of the unit, and the ends of which are bent inwardly to connect with the hinge and pivot whereby the doors may swing inwardlyl and oppositely into substantial engage-E rnentV with the interior walls of the silo.

3. A building unit of the character set forth in claim (l), in which each door is made of a doublev thickness of material of different area to provide an overlap joint therebetween and to permit the upper door to be opened independentlyl of rvthe door the'rebelow.-

4. A building unit for silo construction cornprisinga rectangular metallic frame having hinge pins secured to the opposite vertical sides with one at a higher level than'- the other,l a step mou-ntedron eachof said hinge pins, doors for vclosing the frameopening, a pivot pin connectsilo, said bands comprising substantially parallel metallic members each terminating in diagonally disposed ends, said diagonal ends each beingseparately anchored to the top and bottom trans- Verse portions of the frame, respectively.

6. A building unit for concrete silo construction comprising a rectangular metal door frame tted therein and having closures for the same, and two auxiliary bands connected with the frame and l0 adapted to extend about the silo, said bands comprising substantially parallel metallic members each terminating in diagonally disposed ends, said diagonal ends each being sparately anchored to the top and bottom transverse portions of the frame, respectively, means adjacent the diagonally disposed ends of said bands for holding the main parts of the bands in spaced relation, and means associated with the bands for regulating their tension.

7. A building unit for silo construction cornprising a substantially rectangular metallic frame, said frame being provided with a plurality of inwardly swing doors, hinges for said doors comprising strips of metal substantially parallel to the face of the unit but spaced therefrom, brackets secured to the opposite sides of the frame forming pivot pins for the ends of said hinges, the respective opposite ends of said hinges being pivotally secured adjacent the opposite edges of the respective doors whereby they extend substantially across the unit from one side to the other to provide steps, and permit the doors to swing inwardly from the face of the unit and back against the interior wall of the silo maintaining at all times a position substantially parallel to the face of the unit and when open leave the frame unobstructed.

8. A building unit for silo construction comprising a substantially rectangular frame of angle 40 irons7 two oppositely and inwardly swinging doors mounted therein, hinges for said doors comprising strips of metal substantially parallel to the face of the unit but spaced therefrom, means secured to the frame at one side forming a pivot 45 for one of said hinges, similar means secured to the opposite side of said frame to which the other hinge is secured, the respective opposite ends of said hinges being pivotally secured adjacent the opposite edges of the respective doors whereby 50 said hinges extend substantially across the unit from one side to the other to provide steps, said hinges and connections permitting the doors to swing inwardly from the face of the unit and back against the interior wall of the silo thereby 55 to leave the entire frame unobstructed.

9. A building unit for silo construction comprising a substantially rectangular frame, the side members of said frame having associated therewith concrete strips adapted to intert with 60 adjacent units of the silo, said rectangular frame being provided with two inwardly swinging doors, hinges for said doors comprising strips of metal substantially parallel to the face of the unit but spaced therefrom, brackets secured to the frame 65 at the sides forming pivotal supports for said hinges, the respective opposite ends of said hinges being pivotally secured adjacent the opposite edges of the respective doors whereby they extend from one side to the other to provide steps, said connections permitting the doors toswing inwardly from the face of the unit and back against the interior wall of the silo to leave the entire frame opening unobstructed, and bands adapted to pass about said silo at right angles to the side walls of the frame and having securing means on the ends thereby to permit the ends to extend diagonally to points of connection with the upper and lower transverse members of said frame respectively, ywhile maintaining the major portion of the bands in parallel relation.

l0. A building unit for silo construction comprising a substantially rectangular frame of angle irons, the side members of said frame having associated therewith concrete strips adapted tointerfit with adjacent units of the silo, said rectangular frame being provided with two oppositely and inwardly swinging doors, hinges for said doors comprising strips of metal substantially parallel to the face of the unit but spaced therefrom, a bracket secured to the frame at one side for forming a pivot pin for one of said hinges, a similar bracket secured to the opposite side of said frame to which the other hinge is secured, the respective opposite ends of said hinges being pivotally secured adjacent the opposite edges of the respective doors whereby they extend substantially across the frame from one side to the other to provide steps, said pivotal connections permitting the doors to swing inwardly from the face of the unit and back against the interior wall of the silo and leave the opening in the frame entirely unobstructed, and two bands adapted to pass about said silo at right angles to the side walls of the frame and each having its ends terminating in a diagonal connection with the nearest transverse member of said frame.

1l. A building unit for silo construction comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be mounted in the door front of the silo, two doors in said frame hinged to open in opposite directions, and a hinge member for each door constituting a step extending horizontally substantially acrossA the door and pivotally mounted on the unit frame at one end and on its door at the opposite end, the pivotal mountings on the frame being on opposite sides thereof, whereby the doors may be swung inwardly to entirely clear the opening in the unit frame.

12. A silo having a door front, a plurality of rectangular metal lframe units mounted therein, each unit having two doors hinged tol open in opposite directions, Iand a hingle member for each door constituting a step extending horizontally substantially across the door and pivotally mounted on the unit frame at one end and on its door at the opposite end, the pivotal mountings on the trame being on opposite sides thereof, whereby the doors may be swung inwardly to entirely clear the opening in the unit frame.

ADAM H. MARTIN. BENJAMIN H. MARTIN.

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