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US 4,522,320 AGranted
Kiln floor system
OwnerNorman H. Andreaseninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kiln floor system having a plurality of sequentially operated, pivotally mounted trays capable of dumping a load of grain in a minimum of time. Typical field trays of the floor are coupled in pairs to a single air cylinder for economy of operation. The gear rack associated with the turning machine is independently adjustable to insure alignment of the gear rack. The floor includes stringer gage members to insure proper installation and alignment of the stringers. A wall panel is provided for updated restoration and automation of existing kiln floors.
Claims21
A kiln floor system comprising
- frame means adapted to be supported within a kiln,
- a plurality of kiln floor sections carried by said frame means to form an upper floor surface for retaining a quantity of grain,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement between a closed position and an open position to permit grain retained on said floor surface to be dumped therefrom,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on an axis offset from the centerline of said floor sections to create a torque about sad axis toward said open position in said closed position of each of said floor sections under load of a quantity of grain,
- force applying means operatively coupled to said plurality of floor sections to maintain said floor sections in a closed configuration and to selectively cause sequential movement of said floor sections to said open configuration for dumping the quantity of grain support thereon, said force applying means includes a plurality of pivotally mounted pneumatic cylinders respectively coupled to at least one respective floor section, each of said pneumatic cylinders being spaced laterally outward from said floor sections in a direction parallel to said axis to be located in an aisle in spaced relationship adjacent said floor sections, the extensible end of at least some of said plurality of pneumatic cylinders are pivotally coupled to at least two floor sections,
- a link member coupled to said extensible end of each of said at least some of said pneumatic cylinders and coupling said at least two floor sections to said extensible end for causing initial pivotal movement on a sequential basis of said at least two floor sections during extension of said extensible end.
3 more elements
A kiln floor system comprising
- a plurality of trays pivotally mounted in parallel rows within a kiln and moveable between a closed position adapted to support a load of grain and an open position to dump the load,
- air cylinder means operatively coupled to said plurality of trays to effect movement thereof between said closed position and said open position on a sequential basis commencing from a first row,
- said air cylinder means having a plurality of air cylinders, each of said air cylinders being operatively coupled to at least a first and second adjacent row of said trays,
- linkage means coupling each of said air cylinders to said at least a first and second adjacent rows of trays, and
- said linkage means including delay means to delay movement of at least said second row of trays to said open position until movement of the first row of trays toward said open position has commenced.
2 more elements
A tray assembly for use in a kiln floor system for retaining and dumping grain comprising
- a tray frame adapted to be pivotally moved between an open and closed position,
- said tray frame having a leading edge flange and a trailing edge flange projecting outward for cooperation with a corresponding flange of an adjacent tray frame,
- a tray cover sheet for forming a portion of the floor of the kiln floor system in a closed position of said tray frame,
- said tray cover sheet having a front and rear edge portion respectively attached to said leading edge flange and said trailing edge flange,
- said front and rear edge portions being bent back over said flanges in a crimped relationship and affixed to said flanges without the presence of mechanical fasteners,
- said leading edge flange is offset in a vertical direction from said trailing edge flange, and
- said tray frame being affixed to a support member extending across said tray frame and mounting the tray frame for pivotal movement along an axis offset from the center line between said leading and trailing edge flanges.
4 more elements
A wall plate assembly for supporting the tray support tubes and torque tubes of a kiln floor system comprising
- a plurality of panels adapted to be positioned as a unitary support structure along a wall adjacent a kiln floor,
- said papels having a plurality of openings in a central portion thereof for receiving either the tray support tubes or torque tubes of the kiln floor,
- said panels having edge portion to space said central portion from the wall when positioned therealong,
- said panels having a plurality of tubular hollow bearing members aligned with said openings, and having an end plate spaced from said panels, said tubular hollow bearing members being arranged to be positioned between said panels and the wall,
- means for attaching said panels to the wall through said end plate, said tubular hollow bearing means acting to rotatably mount said tubes.
2 more elements
A kiln floor system comprising
- frame means adapted to be supported with a kiln,
- a plurality of kiln floor sections carried by said frame means to form an upper floor suface for retaining a quantity of grain,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement between a closed position and an open position to permit grain retained on said floor surface to be dumped therefrom,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on an axis offset from the centerline of said floor sections to create a torque about said axis toward said open position in said closed position of each of said floor sections under load of a quantity of grain, and
- force applying means operatively coupled to said plurality of floor sections to maintain said floor sections in a closed configuration and to selectively cause sequential movement of said floor sections to said open configuration for dumping the quantity of grain supported thereon,
- said force applying means includes a plurality of pneumatic cylinders coupled to at least one respective floor section,
- at least some of said plurality of pneumatic cylinders are coupled to more than one respective floor section, and
- delay means operatively associated with each of said some of pneumatic cylinders to delay movement to said open position of at least one of said floor sections coupled thereto.
5 more elements
A kiln floor system comprising
- frame means adapted to be supported within a kiln,
- a plurality of kiln floor sections carried by said frame means to form an upper floor surface for retaining a quantity of grain,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement between a closed position and an open position to permit grain retained on said floor surface to be dumped therefrom,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on an axis offset from the centerline of said floor sections to create a torque about said axis toward said open position in said closed position of each of said floor sections under load of a quantity of grain,
- force applying means operatively coupled to said plurality of floor sections to maintain said floor sections in a closed configuration and to selectively cause sequential movement of said floor sections to said open configuration for dumping the quantity of grain supported thereon,
- said force applying means being a plurality of pneumatic cylinders, gear rack means mounted above said frame means and arranged to mesh with at lesat one pinion of a turning machine, said gear rack means includes a plurality of elongated gear rack sections lying end to end,
- adjustment means coupled to each of said gear rack sections, said adjustment means acting to provide vertical movement of one of said gear rack sections independently of the others, and
- said adjustment means including a movable member coupled to each of said rack sections and being capable of being positioned in a plurality of positions in contact with a respective one of said gear rack sections and being arranged to raise or lower the gear rack section for attaining and maintaining alignment of the gear rack sections.
5 more elements
A kiln floor system comprising
- frame means adapted to be supported within a kiln,
- a plurality of kiln floor sections carried by said frame means to form an upper floor surface for retaining a quantity of grain,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement between a closed position and an open position to permit grain retained on said floor surface to be dumped therefrom,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on an axis offset from the centerline of said floor sections to create a torque about said axis toward said open position in said closed position of each of said floor sections under load of a quantity of grain,
- force applying means operatively coupled to said plurality of floor sections to maintain said floor sections in a closed configuration and to selectively cause sequential movement of said floor sections to said open configuration for dumping the quantity of grain supported thereon,
- said frame means includes a plurality of parallel stringer members attached together end to end in a plurality of rows,
- locating means mounted on some of said stringer members to provide proper side by side alignment of the stringer members, said locating means having a locating member extending across said rows of parallel stringer members in attachment to stringer member in predetermined holes in said stringer members in at least some of said rows, said locating member automatically establishing proper side by side alignment of said stringer members during erection of the kiln floor system.
4 more elements
A kiln floor system comprising
- frame means adapted to be supported within a kiln,
- a plurality of kiln floor sections carried by said frame means to form an upper floor surface for retaining a quantity of grain,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement between a closed position and an open position to permit grain retained on said floor surface to be dumped therefrom,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on an axis offset from the centerline of said floor sections to create a torque about said axis toward said open position in said closed position of each of said floor sections under load of a quantity of grain,
- force applying means operatively coupled to said plurality of floor sections to maintain said floor sections in a closed configuration and to selectively cause sequential movement of said floor sections to said open configuration for dumping the quantity of grain supported thereon,
- said frame means includes a plurality of parallel stringer members,
- saddle means supporting said floor sections on said stringer members,
- each of said floor sections are pivotally supported on a respective tubular member, said tubular member being rotatably carried by said saddle means, and
- said force applying means includes a plurality of torque tubes respectively connected to each of said floor sections, said torque tubes being carried by said saddle means.
6 more elements
A kiln floor system comprising
- frame means adapted to be supported within a kiln,
- a plurality of kiln floor sections carried by said frame means to form an upper floor surface for retaining a quantity of grain,
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on said frame means for movement between a closed position and an open position to permit grain retained on said floor surface to be dumped therefrom.
- each of said floor sections being pivotally mounted on an axis offset from the centerline of said floor sections to create a torque about said axis toward said open position in said closed position of each of said floor sections under load of a quantity of grain,
- pneumatic cylinders operatively coupled to said plurality of floor sections to maintain said floor sections in a closed configuration and to selectively cause sequential movement of said floor sections to said open configuration for dumping the quantity of grain supported thereon,
- each of said floor sections includes a tray frame having a leading and trailing edge flange respectively confronting adjacent floor sections in said closed position thereof, the upper surface of said leading edge flange being vertically spaced from the upper surface of said trailing edge flange, each of said floor sections further include a tray sheet affixed to said tray frames, said tray sheet having edge portions respectively being bent back over said leading edge and trailing edge in a crimped configuration in attachment thereto without physical fasteners, an elongated tubular member afixed to said tray frame and extending generally across the width thereof along said axis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.