US 4,750,273 A · Computer controlled grain drying

A method of drying grain comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a grain drying apparatus including grain dryer chamber means to hold grain, grain conveyor means to urge grain into and out of said chamber means, a heater unit to communicate heated air to said chamber means to dry said grain, grain moisture meter means to measure the moisture content of grain, and dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said heater unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
(b) conveying grain into said chamber means;
(c) communicating heated air from said heater unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(d) periodically measuring the dielectric constant of said grain from a drying zone near where said heated air first communicates with said grain such that the moisture content of the grain from near the inlet of the heated air is measured and converting the measured dielectric constant to a grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(e) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the moisture content of said grain by said grain moisture meter means;
(f) communicating said grain moisture signal to said control means;
and
(g) controlling the operation of said heater unit by said dryer control means in response to the grain moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal.

5 more elements

A method of drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means to contain grain, grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said chamber means, a dryer air unit to communicate air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading grain into a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) communicating air from a dryer air unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(c) periodically measuring the dielectric constant of said grain by means of a grain moisture meter means and converting the measured dielectric constant to a grain moisture content of said grain;
(d) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(e) communicating said grain moisture signal to a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
and
(f) controlling by said grain dryer control means the drying of said grain in said grain chamber means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal.

5 more elements

A method of continuously drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means through which grain is moved to be dried, grain conveyor means to urge grain through said chamber means, an air heater unit to communicate heated air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture meter means to measure the moisture content of of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) continuously moving grain through a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) communicating air from an air heater unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(c) periodically measuring the dielectric constant of said grain and converting the measured dielectric constant to a grain moisture content of said grain by means of a grain moisture meter means;
(d) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(e) communicating said grain moisture signal to a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said air heater unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
and
(f) controlling the speed of said grain conveyor means by said grain dryer control means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture siganal to thereby control the speed of movement of grain through said grain chamber means.

5 more elements

A grain drying apparatus comprising:

(a) grain container means to contain a quantity of grain to be dried;
(b) grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said grain container means;
(c) grain dryer means to communicate drying air to grain in said grain container means to dry said grain;
(d) grain moisture meter means to measure the dielectric constant of said grain, convert the measured dielectric constant to a grain moisture content of said grain, and generate a grain moisture signal representing said grain moisture content;
and
(e) grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means and said grain moisture meter means interconnected therewith;
said control means controlling the drying of grain in said grain container means in relation to the grain moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal.

4 more elements

An apparatus to measure the grain moisture content of a grain sample comprising:

(a) a cylindrical conductive outer electrode having opposite ends, said outer electrode having an axis which is positioned vertically;
(b) a cylindrical conductive inner electrode having opposite ends and positioned coaxially within said outer electrode with the ends of said inner electrode in vertically spaced relation to the ends of said outer electrode to define an annular active region of a grain sample cell;
(c) nonconductive tubular wall means extending beyond the ends of said outer electrode and said active region of said sample cell at least to a distance such that when said sample cell is filled with a grain sample, said grain sample therein extends beyond electric field fringe regions at the ends of said inner and outer electrodes;
and
(d) grain moisture meter means connected across said inner and outer electrodes, operatively measuring the electrical capacitance between said electrodes, and generating a grain moisture signal having a signal property which represents the differnce between the capacitance of said sample cell with said grain sample therein and the capacitance of said sample cell when empty.

2 more elements

A method of drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means to contain grain, grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said chamber means, a dryer air unit to communicate air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading grain into a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) communicating air from a dryer air unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(c) periodically measuring the grain moisture content of said grain by means of a grain moisture meter means;
(d) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(e) communicating said grain moisture signal to a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
and
(f) controlling by said grain dryer control means the drying of said grain in said grain chamber means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal by controlling the length of time that grain within said grain chamber means receives air from said dryer air unit by the steps of:
(1) calculating a grain drying time period based on the measured grain moisture content;
and
(2) removing grain from said grain chamber means by said grain conveyor means upon the expiration of said grain drying time period.

8 more elements

A method of drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means to contain grain, grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said chamber means, a dryer air unit to communicate air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading grain into a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) communicating air from a dryer air unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(c) periodically measuring the grain moisture content of said grain by means of a grain moisture meter means;
(d) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(e) communicating said grain moisture signal to a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
and
(f) controlling by said grain dryer control means the drying of said grain in said grain chamber means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal by controlling the length of time that grain within said grain chamber means receives air from said dryer air unit by the steps of:
(1) continuously moving grain through said grain chamber means by said grain conveyor means;
(2) calculating a grain drying time period based on the measured grain moisture content;
and
(3) controlling the speed of said grain conveyor means in such a manner as to cause grain to remain in said grain chamber means for said grain drying time period.

9 more elements

A method of drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means to contain grain, grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said chamber means, a dryer air unit to communicate air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading grain into a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) communicating air from a dryer air unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(c) periodically measuring the grain moisture content of said grain by means of a grain moisture meter means by mechanically withdrawing a grain sample of grain from said grain chamber means by the steps of:
(1) establishing a grain withdrawal airflow between said grain chamber means and said grain moisture meter;
(2) entraining said grain sample in said withdrawal airflow;
(3) separating said grain sample from said withdrawal airflow;
(4) depositing the separated grain sample in said grain moisture meter means;
(5) measuring the grain moisture content of said grain sample by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(6) generating a grain moisture signal which represents the grain moisture content of said grain sample by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(7) establishing a grain return airflow operatively communicating with said grain moisture meter means and;
(8) entraining said grain sample in said return airflow after measuring the grain moisture content thereof to empty said grain sample from said grain moisture meter means;
(d) communicating said grain moisture signal to a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
and
(e) controlling by said grain dryer control means the drying of said grain in said grain chamber means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal.

12 more elements

A method of drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means to contain grain, grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said chamber means, a dryer air unit including air heater means to communicate air to said chamber means to dry again therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said dryer air unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) loading grain into a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) entering a desired drying air temperature into a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, a dryer air unit including an air heater means, and a grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
(c) heating said air by said air heater means;
(d) sensing the temperature of air heated by said air heater means;
(e) controlling the operation of said air heater means by said dryer control means to normally maintain said desired drying air temperature;
(f) communicating the heated air from said dryer air unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(g) entering a desired grain moisture content into said grain dryer control means;
(h) periodically measuring the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(i) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(j) communicating said grain moisture signal to said grain dryer control means;
and
(k) controlling by said grain dryer control means the drying of said grain in said grain chamber means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal by the steps of:
(1) averaging, by said grain dryer control means, each grain moisture content reading with a selected number of previous grain moisture content readings resulting in an average grain moisture content;
and
(2) upon said grain moisture signal representing a grain moisture content wetter than said desired grain moisture content and the current average grain moisture content being not greater than said desired grain moisture content, controlling said air heater means to maintain a drying air temperature which is warmer than said desired drying air temperature by a selected temperature increment.

13 more elements

A method of continuously drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means through which grain is moved to be dried, grain conveyor means to urge grain through said chamber means, an air heater unit to communicate heated air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said air heater unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) continuously moving grain through a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) entering a desired drying air temperature into a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, an air heater unit, and a grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
(c) sensing the temperature of air heated by said air heater unit;
(d) controlling the operation of said air heater unit by said dryer control means to normally maintain said desired drying air temperature;
(e) communicating air from said air heater unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(f) entering a desired grain moisture content into said grain dryer control means;
(g) periodically measuring the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(h) generating a grain moisture signal representative of the grain moisture content of said grain by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(i) communicating said grain moisture signal to said grain dryer control means;
(j) controlling the speed of said grain conveyor means by said grain dryer control means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal to thereby control the speed of movement of grain through said grain chamber means;
(k) averaging, by said grain dryer control means, each grain moisture content reading with a selected number of previous grain moisture content readings resulting in an average grain moisture content;
and
(l) upon said grain moisture signal representing a grain moisture content wetter than said desired grain moisture content and the current average grain moisture content being not greater than said desired grain moisture content, controlling said air heater unit to maintain a drying air temperature which is warmer than said desired drying air temperature by a selected temperature increment.

11 more elements

A method of continuously drying granular material including grain in a grain dryer apparatus including grain chamber means through which grain is moved to be dried, grain conveyor means to urge grain through said chamber means, an air heater unit to communicate heated air to said chamber means to dry grain therein, grain moisture means to measure the moisture content of grain, and grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said air heater unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;

said method comprising the steps of:
(a) continuously moving grain through a grain chamber means by means of grain conveyor means;
(b) communicating air from an air heater unit to said chamber means to dry said grain;
(c) periodically measuring the grain moisture content of said grain by means of a grain moisture meter means by mechanically withdrawing a grain sample of grain from said grain chamber means by the steps of:
(1) establishing a grain withdrawal airflow between the grain chamber means and said grain moisture meter means;
(2) entraining said grain sample in said withdrawal airflow;
(3) separating said grain sample from said withdrawal airflow;
(4) depositing the separated grain sample in said grain moisture meter means;
(5) measuring the grain moisture content of said grain sample by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(6) generating a grain moisture signal which represents the grain moisture content of said grain sample by means of said grain moisture meter means;
(7) establishing a grain return airflow operatively communicating with said grain moisture meter means;
and
(8) entraining said grain sample in said return airflow after measuring the grain moisture content thereof to empty said grain sample from said grain moisture meter means;
(d) communicating said grain moisture signal to a grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said air heater unit, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected thereto;
and
(e) controlling the speed of said grain conveyor means by said grain dryer control means in relation to the moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal to thereby control the speed of movement of grain through said grain chamber means.

13 more elements

A grain drying apparatus comprising:

(a) grain container means to contain a quantity of grain to be dried;
(b) grain conveyor means to move grain into and out of said grain container means;
(c) grain dryer means to communicate drying air to grain in said grain container means to dry said grain;
(d) grain moisture meter means to measure the grain moisture content of said grain and generate a grain moisture signal representing said grain moisture content;
(e) grain dryer control means having said grain conveyor means, said grain dryer means, and said grain moisture meter means interconnected therewith;
said control means controlling the drying of grain in said grain container means in relation to the grain moisture content represented by said grain moisture signal;
and
(f) grain sampling means communicating with said grain container means and interconnected with said dryer control means whereby said sampling means withdraws grain from said grain container means, deposits same as a grain sample in said grain moisture meter means, and empties said grain sample from said meter means after the grain moisture content of said grain sample has been measured, said grain sampling means including:
(1) a grain sample conduit communicating with said grain container means;
(2) blower means interconnected with said grain dryer control means, communicating with said grain sample conduit, operative to generate a grain withdrawal airflow in said grain sample conduit to urge grain thereinto and move said grain toward said sample cell, and operative to generate a sample cell emptying airflow to empty a grain sample from said sample cell;
(3) grain separator means between said sample conduit and said sample cell to separate said grain sample from said withdrawal airflow;
(4) sample cell valve means associated with said sample cell to control the entry of grain into said sample cell;
and
(5) a sample cell emptying conduit communicating with said sample cell and said sample cell emptying airflow to receive a grain sample which has been in sample cell.

11 more elements

Computer controlled grain drying

Life of this patent

Computer controlled grain drying

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims55