Subterranean grain storage
AssigneePB-KBB, Inc.
InventorWilliam M. Bishop
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A subterranean cavern having gas impermeable walls is used to store grain. The cavern has a controlled atmosphere without oxygen and preferably has an atmosphere of nitrogen. Access is provided to the cavern from the surface for the loading and outloading of the grain stored in the cavern. The grain is loaded into the cavern by conveying the grain to the access and then either allowing the grain to fall through the access into the cavern or by pneumatically conveying the grain into the cavern. The grain is outloaded from the cavern by a pneumatic conveyance system.
Claims29
A structure for the storage of grain, comprising:
- an enclosed subterranean cavern which has earthen walls that are substantially gas impermeable;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said enclosed cavern;
- a controlled access into said enclosed cavern;
- means for loading said cavern with the grain;
- and
- means for unloading the grain from said cavern.
A structure for the storage of grain, comprising:
- a subterranean cavern which has earthen walls that are substantially gas impermeable;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said cavern;
- an access from the surface into said cavern;
- means for loading said cavern with the grain;
- means for unloading the grain from said cavern;
- and
- said access including a plurality of concentric pipes extending from the surface into said cavern.
A structure for the storage of grain, comprising:
- a subterranean cavern which is substantially gas impermeable;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said cavern;
- an access from the surface into said cavern;
- means for loading said cavern with the grain;
- means for unloading the grain from said cavern;
- and
- said controlled atmosphere being a gas without oxygen and said access including a plurality of concentric pipes extending from the surface into said cavern;
- and means for circulating said gas through the flow bore and annulus of said concentric pipes to control the temperature and pressure within said cavern.
A structure for the storage of grain, comprising:
- a subterranean cavern which has earthen walls that are substantially gas impermeable;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said cavern;
- an access from the surface into said cavern;
- means for loading said cavern with the grain;
- means for unloading the grain from said cavern;
- and
- said unloading means including a pipe string extending from the surface, through said access, and into said cavern to a point just above the stored grain;
- and means for increasing the pressure in said cavern to a pressure above the pressure within the flow bore of said pipe string whereby the grain flows up said pipe string to the surface.
A structure for the storage of grain, comprising:
- a subterranean cavern which is substantially gas impermeable;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said cavern;
- an access from the surface into said cavern;
- means for loading said cavern with the grain;
- means for unloading the grain from said cavern;
- and
- said unloading means including a pipe string extending from the surface, through said access, and into said cavern to a point just above the bottom of said cavern;
- and means for creating a venturi effect at the lower end of said pipe string for conveying the stored grain to the surface through said pipe string.
A structure for the storage of grain, comprising:
- a subterranean cavern having earthen walls that are substantially gas impermeable, said walls forming an enclosure in which the grain is housed;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said subterranean cavern;
- a controlled access extending externally of said cavern and into said enclosure, said controlled access preventing the ingress of air into said subterranean cavern;
- and
- means for circulating a gas without oxygen through said access and into said subterranean cavern, said substantially gas-impervious walls preventing the escape of said gas.
A combination comprising:
- grain;
- a subterranean cavern having earthen walls that are substantially gas impermeable, said walls forming an enclosure in which said grain is housed;
- a controlled atmosphere with substantially no oxygen within said enclosure;
- a controlled access extending externally of said cavern and into said enclosure;
- and
- means for circulating a gas without oxygen through said access and into said enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.