Apparatus for drying grain

Abstract

A hydraulic torque convertor is disclosed which is particularly well-adapted for use with an apparatus for drying grain. The apparatus for drying grain comprises a conical shaped perforated floor which is mounted in a conventional grain drying bin in a raised position relative to the base floor thereof. The perforated floor has a plurality of grain discharge openings formed adjacent the outer ends thereof, each of which are selectively closed by a trap door valve means. An electric motor is operatively connected to the hydraulic torque convertor which is operatively connected to the valve means for moving the valve means between open and closed positions responsive to the temperature of the grain positioned on the floor. The hydraulic torque convertor comprises a disc shaped rotor which is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor. A housing rotatably embraces the end of the output shaft and the rotor and is operatively connected to a horizontally disposed shaft extending therefrom. The rotor has a plurality of spaced apart fins on the periphery thereof. The housing has a plurality of spaced apart fins provided on the interior peripheral surface thereof which are positioned outwardly of the rotor fins. The rotor has less fins than does the housing which serves as a gear reduction. The housing is partially filled with hydraulic fluid. Rotation of the rotor by the electric motor causes the fluid to be moved towards the periphery of the rotor by centrifugal force which causes the housing to be rotated which in turn causes the shaft connected thereto to also be rotated. The horizontally extending shaft is connected, by a chain, to a rotatable drum having an elongated flexible cable wound thereon and extending therefrom to the valve means to cause the operation of the same. A pair of stop elements are provided on the cable for limiting the movement of the cable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.