Hopper bottom for storage bin with integral aeration
AssigneeMeridian Manufacturing Inc.
InventorFranz Wall Siemens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin includes a hopper wall having an inverted cone shape supported on upright support legs. A manifold duct is supported above the hopper wall to define a manifold passage therein extending circumferentially adjacent to the peripheral edge of the hopper wall. A plurality of outlet openings formed in the manifold duct in communication from the manifold passage to an interior of the hopper wall for open communication with the grain bin thereabove. An inlet opening extending through the hopper wall in alignment with the manifold duct receives ventilation air from a blower to direct the flow through the manifold duct and into the grain bin through the outlet openings of the manifold duct.
Claims20
A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin above a foundation, the hopper bottom comprising:
- a sloped hopper wall having an inverted cone shape so as to taper downwardly and inwardly from an upper peripheral edge at a top end of the hopper wall to a central opening at a bottom end of the hopper wall, the peripheral edge being arranged to support the cylindrical side wall of the grain bin there above;
- a plurality of upright support members supporting the hopper wall above the foundation, each upright support member spanning between a bottom end arranged to be supported on the foundation and a top end supporting the hopper wall thereon;
- a toroidal manifold duct above the hopper wall extending circumferentially about the sloped hopper wall adjacent to the upper peripheral edge of the hopper wall;
- a plurality of outlet openings formed in the manifold duct adjacent the sloped hopper wall to an interior of the sloped hopper wall for open communication with the grain bin there above, the outlet openings residing above the sloped hopper wall and being located at circumferentially spaced apart locations relative to one another to direct air inwardly;
- an air inlet opening extending through the hopper wall in communication with the manifold duct, the inlet opening being arranged for communication with a blower so as to direct ventilation air from the blower and into the grain bin through the manifold duct.
A hopper bottom for a grain bin having cylindrical sidewall supported on legs, the hopper bottom comprising:
- a sloped floor extending downwardly and inwardly from the sidewall;
- an air inlet extending through the sloped floor;
- a circumferentially extending manifold duct on top of the sloped floor adjacent the sidewall and connected to the air inlet;
- a plurality of outlet opening in the manifold duct to direct air downwardly along the sloped floor from the manifold duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.