# US 8,783,444 B2 · Alignment assembly for a modular tower dryer

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- Number: US 8,783,444 B2
- Document ID: US8783444B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/684,639
- Filed: 2012-11-26
- Published: 2013-03-28
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-27
- Assignees: Sukup Manufacturing Company
- Applicants: Sukup Manufacturing Company
- Inventors: David J. Brownmiller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783444B2

## CPC

- G01B 5/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B5/24 takes precedence)
- B65G 21/00: Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

An alignment and bracing assembly and method of using the same to erect a bucket elevator. The assembly has first and second cross braces that are attached to trunking members of a bucket elevator in spaced relation where a plate is secured to each of the cross braces. The plate includes diagonal sections for additional bracing and in addition alignment openings so that alignment pins can be disposed therethrough to align additional sets of trunking members with one another during the erection process. The alignment pins are also used for the erection of a modular tower dryer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular grain storage or drying device formed of a plurality of vertically stacked modules having an alignment assembly, comprising:
a first module having an exterior wall;
a second module having an exterior wall;
the first module having a first column having a first alignment bracket;
the first alignment bracket having a support section that engages the first column, and an alignment pin having a tapered portion at one end, the alignment pin secured to the first alignment bracket;
the second module having a second column having a second alignment bracket;
the second alignment bracket having an opening;
wherein when the first module and the second module are stacked the opening of the second alignment bracket receives the alignment pin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The modular grain storage or drying device of claim 1 wherein the first alignment bracket is positioned adjacent a top edge of the first column and the second alignment bracket is positioned adjacent a bottom edge of the second column.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The modular grain storage or drying device of claim 1 wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are in vertical alignment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The modular grain storage or drying device of claim 1 wherein the second bracket has a support section that engages the column and terminates in a flange that extends outwardly from the support section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The modular grain storage or drying device of claim 1 wherein the alignment pin has a threaded portion and is secured to the first alignment bracket by a first attachment element and a second attachment element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The modular grain storage or drying device of claim 1 wherein the first alignment bracket has a pair of flanges with an opening therein and the second alignment bracket has a flange with an opening therein, such that when the first module and the second module are stacked the openings in the flanges of the first alignment bracket and the opening of the second alignment bracket are spaced in vertical alignment with one another.

### Claim 7

A modular grain drying device formed of a plurality of vertically stacked modules having an alignment assembly, comprising:
a first module having an exterior wall and a plenum wall in spaced alignment thereby forming a grain drying path;
a second module having an exterior wall and a plenum wall in spaced alignment thereby forming a grain drying path;
the first module having a first column having a first alignment bracket;
the first alignment bracket having a support section that engages the first column, and an alignment pin having a tapered portion at one end, the alignment pin secured to the first alignment bracket;
the second module having a second column having a second alignment bracket;
the second alignment bracket having an opening;
wherein when the first module and the second module are stacked the opening of the second alignment bracket receives the alignment pin.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The modular grain drying device of claim 7 wherein the first alignment bracket is positioned adjacent a top edge of the first column and the second alignment bracket is positioned adjacent a bottom edge of the second column.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The modular grain drying device of claim 7 wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are in vertical alignment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The modular grain drying device of claim 7 wherein the second bracket has a support section that engages the column and terminates in a flange that extends outwardly from the support section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The modular grain drying device of claim 7 wherein the alignment pin has a threaded portion and is secured to the first alignment bracket by a first attachment element and a second attachment element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The modular grain drying device of claim 7 wherein the first alignment bracket has a pair of flanges with an opening therein and the second alignment bracket has a flange with an opening therein, such that when the first module and the second module are stacked the opening in the flanges of the first alignment bracket and the opening of the second alignment bracket are spaced in vertical alignment with one another.

### Claim 13

A method of assembling a modular grain storage or drying device formed of a plurality of vertically stacked modules having an alignment assembly, comprising:
providing a first module having an exterior wall and a first alignment bracket connected to the first module;
connecting an alignment pin having an elongated shaft and a tapered end to the first alignment bracket;
providing a second module having an exterior wall and a second alignment bracket connected to the second module, the second alignment bracket having an opening;
stacking the first module and the second module in vertical alignment with one another;
aligning the alignment pin of the first alignment bracket with the opening of the second alignment bracket;
receiving the alignment pin of the first alignment bracket in the opening of the second alignment bracket.