Air system

A method of controlling a grain handling system, the steps comprising:

• providing a blower motor, a variable frequency drive operatively connected to the blower motor, a pressure relief valve, an actuator operatively connected to the pressure relief valve, a first sensor, and a central controller operatively connected to the variable frequency drive of the blower motor, the actuator of the pressure relief valve and the first sensor;
• blowing pressurized air into a tube by the blower motor;
• providing grain into the tube from a source of grain;
• transporting grain through the tube by air movement through the tube;
• detecting when a plug has occurred in the tube by the central controller;
• initiating an unplugging routine by the central controller in response to detecting a plug has occurred by ramping up output of the blower motor using the variable frequency drive while moving the pressure relief valve between an open position and a closed position using the actuator thereby causing surges in air pressure in the tube.

A grain handling system, comprising:

• a tube means for transporting grain;
• a means for blowing pressurized air into a tube by a blower motor;
• a means for providing grain into the tube from a source of grain and thereby causing grain to be transported through the tube by air movement through the tube;
• a means for detecting when a plug has occurred in the tube by a central controller;
• a means for initiating an unplugging routine by the central controller in response to detecting a plug has occurred by ramping up output of the blower motor using a variable frequency drive while moving a pressure relief valve between an open position and a closed position using an actuator thereby causing surges in air pressure in the tube.