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US 10,889,455 B1Granted
Grain spreading device
AssigneeAgnew Steel, Inc.
InventorsDennis E. Agnew, Tricia M. Fossum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grain spreading device for evenly distribute grain as it is poured into a storage bin. The grain spreading device generally includes a flow-control ring (e.g., an evenflow ring) adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom, and a cone movably suspended below the flow-control ring by a plurality of springs to create a variable opening between the cone and the bottom of the flow-control ring, the plurality of springs creating a restoring force, wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain on the cone moves the cone away from the bottom of the flow-control ring against the restoring force of the plurality of springs.
Claims24
A grain-spreading device, comprising:
- a flow-control ring adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom;
- and
- a cone movably suspended below the flow-control ring by a plurality of springs to create a variable opening between the cone and the bottom of the flow-control ring, the plurality of springs creating a restoring force;
- wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain on the cone moves the cone away from the bottom of the flow-control ring against the restoring force of the plurality of springs;
- wherein each spring of the plurality of springs is connected between an ear proximate the upper opening of the flow-control ring and a mounting point on the cone;
- wherein the cone comprises a plurality of channels and a plurality of peaks between the channels, each channel comprising an upper surface, wherein the variable opening comprises a plurality of gaps between the bottom of the flow-control ring and the upper surfaces of the channels;
- and
- wherein each mounting point is proximate to one of the plurality of peaks.
5 more elements
A grain-spreading device, comprising:
- a flow-control ring adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom;
- and
- means for creating a variable opening proximate the bottom of the flow-control ring, wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain inside the flow-control ring increases;
- wherein the means for creating a variable opening comprises a plurality of channels and a plurality of peaks between the channels, each channel comprising an upper surface, wherein the variable opening comprises a plurality of gaps between the bottom of the flow-control ring and the upper surfaces of the channels.
1 more element
A grain-spreading device, comprising:
- a flow-control ring adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom;
- and
- a cone movably suspended below the flow-control ring by a plurality of springs to create a variable opening between the cone and the bottom of the flow-control ring, the plurality of springs creating a restoring force;
- wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain on the cone moves the cone away from the bottom of the flow-control ring against the restoring force of the plurality of springs;
- wherein the cone comprises a plurality of channels, each channel having an upper surface;
- and
- wherein the variable opening comprises a plurality of gaps between the bottom of the flow-control ring and the upper surfaces of the channels.
4 more elements
A grain-spreading device, comprising:
- a flow-control ring adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom;
- and
- a cone movably suspended below the flow-control ring by a plurality of springs to create a variable opening between the cone and the bottom of the flow-control ring, the plurality of springs creating a restoring force;
- wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain on the cone moves the cone away from the bottom of the flow-control ring against the restoring force of the plurality of springs;
- wherein the cone is attached to a guide assembly that is slidably positioned on an interior of the flow-control ring, and wherein the guide assembly maintains an orientation of the cone relative to the flow-control ring;
- and
- wherein the guide assembly comprises a plurality of upright guides, and wherein each upright guide comprises a contact member positioned between the upright guide and an inner surface of the flow-control ring.
4 more elements
A grain-spreading device, comprising:
- a flow-control ring adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom;
- and
- means for creating a variable opening proximate the bottom of the flow-control ring, wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain inside the flow-control ring increases;
- wherein the means for creating a variable opening comprises a plurality of channels, each channel having an upper surface;
- and
- wherein the variable opening comprises a plurality of gaps between the bottom of the flow-control ring and the upper surfaces of the channels.
3 more elements
A grain-spreading device, comprising:
- a flow-control ring adapted to be positioned below a grain bin opening, the flow-control ring comprising an upper opening and a bottom;
- and
- means for creating a variable opening proximate the bottom of the flow-control ring, wherein the variable opening increases in size when a weight of grain inside the flow-control ring increases;
- wherein the means for creating a variable opening is attached to a guide assembly that is slidably positioned on an interior of the flow-control ring, and wherein the guide assembly maintains an orientation of the means for creating a variable opening relative to the flow-control ring;
- wherein the guide assembly comprises a plurality of upright guides, and wherein each upright guide comprises a contact member positioned between the upright guide and an inner surface of the flow-control ring.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.