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US 12,173,527 B2Granted
Grain bin ducting systems
AssigneeWPS Investments Limited
InventorsJason Griffith, William Strelioff, Sean Strelioff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Grain bin ducting systems are disclosed that more evenly disperse air through a grain bin while also preventing moisture from building up on the top and sides of a grain bin, which can lead to undesirable moisture levels for parts of the grain bin or even ruin grain. Airflow resistance may be reduced in a grain bin by having the air travel in a horizontal direction through the grain bin instead of a vertical direction. Normally, the radius of the grain bin is substantially less than the height of the grain bin, so the resistance to airflow is substantially lower than in typical grain bin ducting systems.
Claims18
A grain bin, comprising:
- a central air distribution tube configured to disperse air outward from a center of the grain bin;
- a wall;
- one or more insulated channels located within the wall of the grain bin, the one or more insulated channels configured to function as air ducts such that, in operation, at least some of the dispersed air from the central air distribution tube flows through grain in the grain bin towards the one or more insulated channels and out of the grain bin via the one or more insulated channels;
- a plurality of channel air vents for each of the one or more insulated channels, wherein top portions of the one or more insulated channels extend partially outward through a roof of the grain bin via respective channel air vents;
- and
- channel air vent covers covering top portions of the one or more insulated channels and the channel air vents, the channel air vent covers configured to allow the dispersed air exiting upwards through the one or more insulated channels to be exhausted outside the roof of the grain bin, wherein
- at least part of portions of the one or more insulated channels facing towards the central air distribution tube are perforated, and
- the channel air vent covers comprise insulation covering interior walls of the channel air vent covers, the top portions of the one or more insulated channels are solid, preventing the dispersed air from entering a space between grain stored in the grain bin and the roof of the grain bin, or both.
5 more elements
A grain bin, comprising:
- a central air distribution tube configured to disperse air outward from a center of the grain bin;
- a wall;
- one or more channels located within the wall of the grain bin, the one or more channels configured to function as air ducts such that, in operation, at least some of the dispersed air from the central air distribution tube flows through grain in the grain bin towards the one or more insulated channels and out of the grain bin via the one or more channels;
- and
- insulation located between the one or more channels and the wall, wherein
- at least part of portions of the one or more channels facing towards the central air distribution tube are perforated,
- the central air distribution tube is positioned vertically in a center of the grain bin and the dispersed air is dispersed horizontally outward from the central air distribution tube towards the one or more channels, and
- a height of the central air distribution tube is shorter than an overall height of a center of the grain bin by an amount that is greater than a radius of the grain bin defined from a center of the grain bin to the wall of the grain bin.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a central air distribution tube configured to disperse air outward from a center of the apparatus;
- a wall;
- a plurality of insulated channels located within the wall comprising respective top portions that extend outward through a roof of the apparatus, the plurality of insulated channels configured to function as air ducts such that, in operation, at least some of the dispersed air from the central air distribution tube flows through grain in the grain bin towards the plurality of insulated channels and out of the apparatus via the plurality of insulated channels;
- channel air vents for each of the plurality of insulated channels, the channel air vents covering the top portion of the respective channel that extends out from the roof of the apparatus;
- and
- channel air vent covers covering the top portions of the plurality of insulated channels and the channel air vents, the channel air vent covers configured to allow the dispersed air exiting upwards through the plurality of insulated channels to be exhausted outside the roof of the apparatus.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.