Grain silo sealing
AssigneeNethchem Pty. Ltd.
InventorTimothy J. Nethery
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expansion joint for a grain silo is sealed by a mesh-reinforced diaphragm having its peripheral edge-portions bonded to surfaces of the silo adjoining the joint to form a continous seal around it. The intermediate portion of the diaphragm has a flexible bulging portion protecting the joint and spaced from it. The diaphragm is made by covering the joint with a separating strip and applying a thick continuous layer of a viscous sealing agent over the exposed faces of the strip and the adjoining silo surfaces. The mesh is incorporated into the layer and has stiffly-resilient strands extending in the direction of flexing of the diaphragm. The layer cures to form the diaphragm which separates spontaneously from the separation strip the first time the silo expands, to form a bulging portion in the diphragm around the joint.
Claims11
A grain silo having an expansion joint sealed by a bulging portion of a flexible diaphragm spaced from the joint and whose marginal edge-portions are adhesively bonded to adjoining exposed surfaces of the silo around the joint to provide continuous air-tight seals, a separating medium being located between the joint and the bulging portion of the diaphragm.
A method of sealing an expansion joint of a grain silo, comprising the steps of placing a separation medium over one side of the joint, applying over the medium and adjacent portions of the silo a continuous thick layer of a viscous compound which cures to form a flexible diaphragm covering the joint and bonded tightly to the silo surfaces surrounding the joint but only weakly to the separating medium whereby subsequent working of the joint causes the intermediate portion of the diagram to separate from the medium and form a bulge spaced from the two spaces of the joint which move with respect to one another during working of the joint.
A grain silo comprising a plinth having a substantially horizontal upper surfrace, a wall structure seated on the plinth and movable relative thereto to accommodate expansion and contraction of the wall structure relative to the plinth, the wall structure having inner and outer surfaces, and sealing means for establishing a seal between the plinth and the wall structure, said sealing means comprising a flexible diaphragm which has two marginal edge-portions adhesively bonded to said upper surface of the plinth and one of said surfaces of the wall structure respectively and also has an intermediate region, between said marginal edge-portions which bulges away from the plinth and the wall structure and is movable relative thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.