Method and apparatus for fumigating grain and other commodities in bulk storage compartments

A fumigating receptacle for use with solid fumigant that releases fumigating gas upon exposure to atmosphere leaving a generally powdered residue, having in combination:

• an outside conical wall that is pervious to the atmosphere and the fumigating gas and capable of holding the solid fumigant in the receptacle;
• an inside conical wall that is pervious to the atmosphere and the fumigating gas, said inside wall being spaced below and coaxial with the outside conical wall and cooperating therewith to define a chamber for holding solid fumigant in a relatively thin and generally conical layer, said inside wall being capable of holding the solid fumigant in the chamber for exposure to the atmosphere;
• an inlet generally at the upper end of said outside wall for admitting the solid fumigant into the chamber to be spread around the inside conical wall;
• and
• a tray supported at the lower ends of said outside and inside walls for collecting and holding the residue from the solid fumigant.

A fumigating container for use with a solid fumigant that releases fumigating gas and produces a generally powdered residue, said container having, in combination:

• an outside wall that is pervious to atmosphere and fumigating gas, and having a first preselected shape defining an inside space, an inlet opening generally at an upper end of said outside wall, and means for reinforcing said outside wall for withstanding the weight of the material to be fumigated;
• an inside wall that is pervious to atmosphere and fumigating gas, and having a second preselected shape that is substantially similar to said first shape and is disposed beneath and inside the latter to cooperate therewith in defining a chamber in the receptacle in the form of a thin layer having substantially the same shape as said walls, thereby to support the solid fumigant in said chamber in a thin layer with relatively high surface area;
• a tray;
• and
• means for mounting said tray below said outside and inside walls at the lower ends of said walls for collecting and holding residue from the solid fumigant.

A fumigant receptacle for use with a solid fumigant that releases a fumigating gas upon exposure to atmosphere leaving a powder residue, said receptacle comprising;

• an outside wall of a screen material pervious to atmosphere and generally impervious to passage of the solid fumigant, said outside wall having a generally conical shape with a slightly truncated upper apex end defining an inlet opening;
• an inside wall of a screen material pervious to atmosphere and generally impervious to passage of the solid fumigant, said inside wall having a generally conical shape and being spaced below and generally coaxial with said outside wall and cooperating therewith to define a chamber for supporting the solid fumigant in a relatively thin, generally conical layer, said inside wall having an upper apex end disposed generally coaxially in spaced relation below said inlet opening whereby solid fumigant entering said chamber through said inlet opening is dispersed by said inside wall generally throughout said chamber;
• frame means within said outside wall for maintaining said outside wall in a generally conical shape withstanding the weight of material to be fumigated;
• a tray for collecting and holding powder residue from the solid fumigant;
• and
• means for mounting said tray in an upwardly open position generally at the lower end of said outside wall.