System, method and apparatus for cleaning a grain bin or silo
OwnerDavid Dale Aliginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blower mount couples a blower near a radially distal end of a sweeper in a grain bin. The blower mount positions the blower in a configuration to discharge blown air, under generally normal atmospheric pressure conditions toward at least one or both of the lower surface of the grain bin or a sidewall of the grain bin. The moving grain can then be moved toward a center of the grain bin for subsequent discharge out of the grain bin. Various embodiments of the blower mount are possible, such as a blower mount formed generally as a plate and a blower mount formed generally from a round rod, which may be coiled to form a torsion spring.
Claims27
A blower mount for a sweeper that pivots near a bottom of a grain bin, the blower mount comprising:
- a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly connected to the sweeper near a radially distal end thereof, and wherein the second end is fixedly connected to a blower that, when powered and selectively actuated, emits blown air toward at least one of the bottom of the grain bin or a sidewall of the grain bin;
- and
- wherein the mount is configured to rigidly couple the blower to the sweeper.
A sweeper assembly for a grain bin comprising:
- an elongated body defining an arm that extends from a proximal first end to a distal second end, wherein the arm rotates about a vertical pivot axis near the proximal first end, wherein during rotation the arm moves close to a lower surface of the grain bin to stir or agitate grain within the grain bin;
- and
- a blower mounted to the arm near the distal second end, wherein the blower, when powered and selectively actuated, emits blown air toward at least one of the lower surface of the grain bin or a sidewall of the grain bin.
A method comprising:
- selectively activating a blower mounted to a sweeper in a grain bin, wherein the blower is mounted near a radially distal end of the sweeper;
- rotating the sweeper about a center pivot axis;
- blowing air, from the blower, toward at least one of a lower surface of the grain bin or a sidewall of the grain bin while the sweeper is rotating;
- and
- causing grain to move toward a center of the grain bin.
A storage bin having an internal cleaning system, said storage bin being adapted or suitable for storing grain or aggregate and the internal cleaning system comprising:
- at least one control for controlling operating of the internal cleaning system;
- a sweeper assembly having a drivable sweep arm having a first end pivotally coupled to permit the sweep arm to rotate or pivot in the storage bin;
- an air generator situated proximate to a second end of drivable sweep arm;
- and
- said at least one control being adapted to energize the sweeper assembly to rotatably drive said sweep arm in the storage bin and substantially simultaneously or independently control said air generator to blow air at a predetermined cubic feet per minute in order to cause said grain or aggregate to move away from an interior wall of said storage bin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.