Grain treatment apparatus using ozone
OwnerRoland Dean Thiessen, Lonny James Thiesseninventors
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Abstract
An ozone treatment apparatus for grain uses first and second storage bins and an auger conveyor for conveying the grain from a first end in communication with the bottom of the first bin to a second end that can be directed into either one of the top of the first bin or the top of the second bin. An ozone injector injects ozone into the auger conveyor for mixing with and treating the conveyed grain. In a first mode, the conveyor discharges the grain from the second end of the conveyor through a first discharge outlet into the first storage bin to recycle the grain during treatment. In a second mode, the conveyor discharges the grain through a second discharge outlet into the second storage bin once treatment is complete.
Claims14
A treatment apparatus for treating grain with ozone from a source of ozone, the apparatus comprising:
- a first storage bin arranged to contain a first portion of the grain therein;
- a second storage bin in proximity to the first storage bin, the second storage bin being arranged to contain a second portion of the grain therein;
- an auger conveyor arranged to convey the grain longitudinally through the auger conveyor from a first end to a second end of the auger conveyor, the first end of the auger conveyor being in communication with a bottom end of the first storage bin to receive the grain into the first end of the auger conveyor from the first storage bin;
- and
- an ozone injector arranged to inject ozone from the ozone source into the auger conveyor such that the grain conveyed by the auger conveyor is treated by the ozone;
- the auger conveyor including a first discharge outlet in association therewith, the first discharge outlet being in communication with the first storage bin adjacent a top end of the first storage bin;
- the auger conveyor including a second discharge outlet in association therewith, the second discharge outlet being in communication with the second storage bin adjacent a top end of the second storage bin;
- the auger conveyor being selectively operable in either one of a first mode or a second mode;
- in the first mode, the auger conveyor being arranged to discharge the grain through the first discharge outlet into the first storage bin;
- and
- in the second mode, the auger conveyor being arranged to discharge the grain through the second discharge outlet into the second storage bin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.