Vented floors and associated systems and methods for manufacture and use
OwnerJoel Micka, Jonathan Robert Princeinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vented floor structures are described herein. In some embodiments, precast vented floor structures (which can also be referred to as “air floors”) can be used in crop storage facilities, such as potato, onion, and/or other crop storage facilities. Embodiments of the vented floor structures described herein can be manufactured using a form to create air vents in the floor structure that do not require plastic shells or other ancillary structures to define or create the vent openings. Embodiments also include inserts that can be installed (e.g., removably installed) in vent openings to vary the opening size and/or configuration, or complete plug selected vent openings.
Claims33
A vented floor assembly for use in a crop storage area, the vented floor assembly comprising:
- a vented floor structure having:
- a first surface configured to support crops stored in the crop storage area,
- a second surface opposite the first surface, and
- a plurality of vent openings extending between the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- one or more vent inserts removably positionable within the vent openings to define one or more passages therethrough.
A removable vent insert for use with a vented floor structure in a crop storage area, the removable vent insert comprising:
- a plurality of outer wall portions defining an interior passageway therebetween;
- and
- one or more structural features coupled to one or more of the outer wall portions, the one or more structural features configured to (a) modify the flow of air through the interior passageway and/or (b) reduce clogging of the interior passageway,
- wherein the vent insert is configured to removably fit within a vent opening in the vented floor structure.
A method for manufacturing a vented floor structure, comprising:
- accessing a vented floor structure form having a base and a plurality of vent forms extending upwardly from the base, wherein the plurality of vent forms taper inwardly in a direction away from the base;
- filling a space around the vent forms with pourable concrete;
- and
- after the concrete sets into a cast structure, removing the cast structure from the vented floor structure form, the cast structure having a plurality of tapered vent openings corresponding to the plurality of vent forms.
A precast vented floor structure for use in a crop storage area, the precast vented floor structure comprising:
- a slab having a first surface configured to support crops stored in the crop storage area and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- a plurality of vent openings extending between the first and second surface, wherein individual vent openings of the plurality of vent openings have sidewalls formed directly by the slab and in the absence of a cast-in shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.