Bulk storage facility

An inclined wall presenting a smooth exposed surface, comprising:

• a plurality of generally rectangular wall panels arranged in a pattern, each panel having
• a smooth front face, edge surfaces, and
• a rear face,
• a gusset integral with the panel, extending from the rear face away from the smooth front face,
• having means for attaching each of a plurality of reinforcing strips thereto and including a horizontal edge surface which defines an acute angle with the front face, and
• means extending along the edge surfaces of the panel for cooperating with the corresponding means of an adjacent panel to interlock the panel against rotation about a horizontal and vertical axes;
• a plurality of flexible reinforcing members areranged in planar arrays, each reinforcing member being attached to the gusset of a corresponding wall panel and extending away from the rear face,
• a volume of particulate material surrounding the arrays of reinforcing members, contacting the rear surface, supporting the horizontal edge surface of each wall panel, and cooperating with the reinforcing members to establish a cohesive mass.

A storage facility for bulk material comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart end walls;
• a pair of inclined side walls, convergent in a vertically downward direction, each side wall being inclined relative to a horizontal plane at a predetermined angle exceeding the angle of repose for the bulk material, extending between the pair of endwalls, and including
• a plurality of generally rectangular wall panels arranged in a pattern, each panel having
• a smooth front face, edge surfaces, and
• a rear face,
• a gusset integral with the panel, extending from the rear face, having means for attaching each of a plurality of reinforcing strips thereto and including a horizontal edge surface which defines the predetermined acute angle with the front face, and
• means extending along the edge surfaces of the panel for cooperating with the corresponding means of an adjacent panel to interlock the panel against rotation about a horizontal and vertical axes,
• a plurality of flexible reinforcing members, each reinforcing member being attached to the gusset of
• a corresponding wall panel and extending away from the rear face, at least two reinforcing members being provided for each gusset, and
• a volume of particulate material surrounding the plurality of reinforcing member, contacting the rear surface, supporting the horizontal edge surface of each wall panel and cooperating with the reinforcing members to establish a cohesive mass;
• a tunnel extending between the end walls, positioned below the convergent side walls and having a longitudinal opening size to permit bulk material to pass therethrough;
• conveyor means in the tunnel for collecting and removing the bulk material;
• cover means in the tunnel for collecting and removing the bulk material;
• and
• means for agitating the particulate material, positioned above the longitudinal opening to cause movement of the bulk material through the longitudinal opening into the tunnel.

A method of constructing an inclined wall for a bulk material storage facility comprising the steps of:

• laying a horizontal course of wall panels on a prepared base, each panel having a front surface inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle exceeding the angle of repose for the bulk material;
• attaching planer arrays of reinforcing strips to the panels;
• intercalating layers of the particulate material between the planar arrays of reinforcing strips until the top of the horizontal course of wall panels is reached;
• positioning the lower edge of a second course of wall panels on the upper edge of the first course of wall panels so that the front surfaces of the first and second courses are coplanar and a horizontal edge surface is supported by the particulate material;
• and
• repeating the attaching and intercalating steps.