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US 4,053,991 AGranted
Automatic control for maintaining equilibrium temperature/moisture between stored grain and atmosphere
OwnerSylvester L. Steffeninventor
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OwnerSylvester L. Steffeninventor
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for maintaining an equilibrium of temperature and moisture between grain stored in a grain bin and the surrounding atmospheric air. A grain temperature sensor and an air temperature sensor are connected to a comparator circuit which compares the relative temperatures. When a predetermined temperature differential between the grain and the atmospheric air is exceeded, the comparator circuit switches on an activating circuit which, in turn, completes an electrical circuit to the fan motor. When the fan is running, outside air is circulated through the grain to bring the temperature and moisture of the grain and the outside air back into an approximately equilibrium condition, plus or minus an allowable temperature differential. When the temperature differential between the grain and the atmospheric air is reached, the fan motor is turned off. When the temperature of the atmospheric air rises above a predetermined level, a cut-out device will disable the actuating circuit to thereby prevent outside air from being circulated through the grain. Under these conditions, the grain may be held in a cured state for an almost indefinite length of time with no deterioration of the grain.
A method for storing seed grains in a grain bin having air impervious sidewalls, a roof, a grain storage chamber, means within said grain storage chamber for sensing the temperature of grain within said grain storage chamber, plenum chambers disposed on opposite sides of said grain storage chamber, one of said plenum chambers being an intake and the other an exhaust, said plenum chambers having air pervious means where the plenum chambers are in communication with the grain storage chamber, means for sensing the temperatue of atmospheric air, fan means attached to said grain bin for selectively supplying atmospheric air to the intake plenum chamber, an exhaust means in the grain bin in communication with the exhaust plenum chamber, said method comprising:
An apparatus for storing seed grains including a grain bin having air impervious sidewalls, a roof, a grain storage chamber, means within said grain storage chamber for sensing the temperature of grain stored within said grain storage chamber, plenum chambers disposed in opposite sides of said grain storage chamber, one of said plenum chambers being an intake and the other an exhaust, said plenum chambers having air pervious means where the plenum chambers are in communication with the grain storage chamber, means for sensing the temperature of atmospheric air, fan means attached to said grain bin for selectively supplying atmospheric air to the intake plenum chamber, and an exhaust means in the grain bin in communication with the exhaust plenum chamber, the improvement comprising;
The apparatus of claim 15 including a means responsive to the atmospheric air temperature for disconnecting said comparators and said control means when said atmospheric air temperature exceeds a predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.